Crina and Kirsten Get to Work

Play! Yes, You Can (and Should) Be Amused at Work!

You need play, you are never too old for play, play is fun - and play at work makes work so much better.  Bring on the joy!
 
What is play? It is an in the moment activity with the goal of amusement or fun.  Our mammalian brains love play.  The bigger the brain in an animal, the more play the animal seems to engage in.  This is because play is how we learn and explore the world - and mammalian brains have made this activity feel good so that we are motivated to do it.  In one study of play in bears, bears who played more were more likely to survive.
 
But what about play at work?  Research has found evidence that play at work is linked with less fatigue, boredom, stress, and burnout in individual workers.   Play is also positively associated with job satisfaction, sense of competence, and creativity.  
Studies show that when a participant receives a task that is presented playfully, they are more involved and spend more time on the task. It also improves our emotional, attitudinal, cognitive being.  Teams of workers can benefit from play via increased trust, bonding and social interaction, sense of solidarity, and a decreased sense of hierarchy. 
Furthermore, findings suggest that play at work can benefit whole organizations by creating a friendlier work atmosphere, higher employee commitment to work, more flexible organization-wide decision making, and increased organizational creativity.  WOW!
As we mature, we develop a style or mode in which we are most comfortable being playful. Dr. Stuart Brown, author and founder of the National Institute of Play, calls these styles of playfulness, “play personalities.”  These are not based on scientific data, rather Dr. Brown discerned them from thousands of interviews and observations:
Connector, Joker, Kinesthete, Explorer, Competitor, Director, Collector, Artist/Creator, Storyteller, and Connector.  
 
Which play personalities speak to you?
 
Read more at: 
How to Have Fun at Work Science of People
Cultivating a sense of playfulness at work and in life
Forced Fun Sucks - So Why Do Organizations Keep Doing It?
How to Have Fun at Work
Everything You Wanted To Know About Play At Work (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Stuart Brown: Play is more than just fun | TED Talk

The Four Hurdles Women Face at Work

On this episode of Crina and Kirsten Get to Work, our hosts reset the state of women at work after a restful and relaxing hiatus.  
 
Joan Williams and her daughter Rachel Dempsey, wrote What Works for Women at Work.  Joan has decades of experience as a law professor and she runs a project focused primarily on women at work called Work Life Law at Hastings Law School.  Rachel is a journalist.
 
The authors have characterized womens’ experiences at work into four patterns:
 
Prove it Again stems from assumptions about how women will behave at work.  This pattern looks like being penalized for mistakes that men make with little or no consequence; having to defend your decision or back it up with data, even if you are a seasoned professional; and the “stolen idea.”
 
The Tightrope stems for the precarious balance women are expected to strike between masculinity and femininity.  This pattern looks like being “too much” or “not enough”, being either a bitch or a doormat; and being pressed into traditionally feminine roles, such as taking notes. 
 
The Maternal Wall stems from the strong negative competence and commitment associations triggered by motherhood and prescriptive bias (mothers should be at home). Joan and Rachel say “the ideal worker is expected to be unreservedly devoted to work, while the ideal mother is expected to invest similar levels of devotion to her children. As a result motherhood is perceived as incompatible with high levels of work effort.”  This pattern looks like not getting hired or promoted because of the assumptions others make about the obligations of motherhood.
 
The Tug of War stems from women working in what is a dysfunctional system.  Rather than supporting each other, we can pit ourselves against one another, we can also buy into male norms. Sometimes our different strategies to deal with a dysfunctional system pit us against each other.
 
Joan and Rachel remind us of a few important premises when we consider these four patterns:
There is a stubborn gap at the top between men and women and their success at work
A lot of what we are told at work is wrong
Denial does not help - we cannot assume our excellence will save us from these experiences
Everyone's a little bit sexist
Know the rules, then break them - “there is no right way to be a woman” 
 
The book is full of strategies to address the four patterns and a chapter on lessons learned from the research. 
 
Joan’s Work LIfe Law institute has developed what they refer to as bias interrupters, which are assessments and training to address the bias which is the root of the four patterns.  Check out Bias Interrupters on the Work Like Law website.
 
Joan and Rachel’s book is a comprehensive look at women’s experience at work.  They remind us what we experience is real, they help us to clearly define that experience and they provide excellent strategies, tools, lessons and stories for us to best manage that experience.  

Managing Work, Life and Saying ”No”

A key to time management is learning how to say, “no.” Join us in this final rerun of the summer and revisit time management, how your values dictate your priorities, and when to say, “no”. 

Rest Is So Much More Than Sleep

We know you will enjoy the chance to revisit this important topic as part of our summer focus on rest, relaxation and vacations! As a reminder...Our minds and bodies need rest from things like mental stimulation, social encounters, creative endeavors and emotional outputs. Taking time to truly rest your mind, body and soul is the ultimate self care regiment and a direct line to ease, meaning and joy at work, and in life!
 
SHOW NOTES
 
 
 
Why do We Working Women Need Rest?
 
According to Saundra Dalton-Smith in The 7 Types of Rest that Every Person Needs,  “[w]ithout attention to rest, we are creating a culture of high-achieving, high-producing, chronically tired and chronically burned-out individuals.”  According to psych central, 70 percent of visits to the doctor are due to stress-related health issues. “Rest is the only way to engage the part of our nervous system that allows for relaxation.” It is literally vital for our physical and mental health.”  The 7 types of rest that every person needs | (ted.com)
 
What Does the Data Say about the Effectiveness of Rest?
 
Researchers at Stanford did a series of experiments looking at the effects of walking on creativity, as measured by a test of divergent thinking—which asked people to come up with novel ways of using an everyday item, like a brick or a doorstop. The researchers compared participants’ performance under four conditions: while walking on a treadmill, while seated inside, while walking outside, or while being wheeled outside in a wheelchair. Their results showed that walking and being outside each separately led to better performance on the test. Moreover, in one experiment, the researchers showed that the benefits of walking on creativity did not fade immediately, but carried over into performance on future tests. ”https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_resting_more_can_boost_your_productivity
 
The company Basecamp added another day to the weekend and found productivity unchanged.  Workers got done in 4 days what had taken 5.  8 Minute Read Why Restorative Rest Makes You More Productive And How To Achieve It
 
How Do We Achieve the Restorative Rest 
 
Whether you schedule a walk with a friend (or by yourself), commit to get up from your desk once every hour to get a glass of water, meditate for 10 minutes before you start your day or book your solo vacation - get it on your schedule!  
 
If you want to restore your creative energy - get inspired by listening to music, getting outside in nature, watching the sunset or enjoying beautiful art. If you want to restore your physical energy, sleep - of course, but also just sitting.  If you find yourself irritable and unable to concentrate, you may have expended too much mental energy - which is classic Kirsten.  Schedule a time to take a breath.  Crina schedules lunch and commits to healthy, nutritious food and it is an anchor in her day and restorative in many ways. If you are on sensory overload - turn everything off and shut your eyes - just for 10 deep breaths - and avoid going home and turning the tv on - find some quiet. Emotional energy is complicated - are you holding others emotions or has life just sent you on an emotional roller-coaster?  Identify what you need - maybe you need to authentically express your emotions in a safe place or to wrap a metaphorical quilt around your tender soul?  Social rest is an obvious one for those of us who are introverts - we need time to ourselves, and so do those of us who are extroverts - we just tend to need less of it and sometimes not realize it.  Spiritual rest is the energy to find deep meaning, a sense of purpose and belonging and love.  When those things are missing from our lives, it may be time to up our spiritual energy quotient.  It could be faith or religion, but Dalton-Smith suggests that you can cultivate a sense of purpose with music, uplifting and inspiring videos, focusing on the magical - such as the bloom of a flower or dew on a leaf - and then going back to these moments when you feel disconnected.
 
Check out Dalton-Smith’s article above - it is a rich trove of ideas and the inspiration for this show.

Self-Care (still) Requires That You Crush the Patriarchy

This episode is #3 in our summer of rest, relaxation and (appropriately) encore episodes! We know you'll love this rerun and find inspiration in our exploration of this very important topic!
 
SHOW NOTES 
 
Caring for yourself is not self-indulgent, it's essential to your well-being. Regardless of what you're told by the patriarchy, self-care is a way of life, not a product you can buy.Lets all remember the quote from poet and writer Audre Lord who writes, “Caring for myself is not self- indulgence. It is self preservation, and this is an act of political warfare.” 
Crina and Kirsten talk about self-care from the Audre Lorde perspective. Not as a massage or a bottle of fancy bath bubbles, but as actions that put our needs before those of others to create practices that are restorative. Crina and Kirsten discuss their own restorative practices and how to create those so that you can bring your best self to all things, including your work.
GOOD READS
The history of self-care
The problem with self-care

Burnout–it’s still a thing

Burnout is still an issue for so many of our listeners. In fact burnout is so pervasive that over seventy-five percent of the workforce is currently, or has previously experienced it.  As a refresher, it feels like depletion, exhaustion, disconnection, negative emotions and reduced capacity...sound familiar?  You’re not alone! 
 
SHOW NOTES
Burnout is a  real diagnosis - and defined as “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” by the World Health Organization.  This relatively new diagnosis is defined as a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: 1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; 2) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and 3) reduced professional efficacy. Burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.”
 
Christina Maslach (creator of the Maslach Burnout Inventory) first identified the syndrome - and it came out of her work with healthcare workers and their families.  Here are her inventory questions:
 
How often are you tired and lacking energy to go to work in the morning?
How often do you feel physically drained, like your batteries are dead?
How often is your thinking process sluggish or your concentration impaired?
How often do you feel emotionally detached from co-workers (or customers) and unable to be sensitive to their needs?
 
Does it sound like you?  If you are like most of us - yes, at least some teimes.
 
How does this happen?  When we carry too much for too long and cannot effectively process our emotions, our neurological system gets overloaded - and we are unable to effectively deal with this overload.
 
Who does this happen to?  Well, all of us, but those of us that are anxious or have a low self esteem or poor boundaries are thought to be more likely to suffer burnout, according to a study of Spanish nurses.  According to authors Rachel Montane and Erika Pryor, women of color also carry the emotional burden of discrimination, fear of retaliation - and of course much of the emotional labor of diversity in the workplace..
 
Employers contribute to burnout by unfair treatment, an unmanageable workload, unrealistic deadlines, poor communication and a lack of support.
 
Enter Drs. Emily and Amelia Nagoski, authors of Burnout, who just happen to be identical twins.  They have concluded, based on their research, that the key to preventing burnout is to manage the emotions you are having so that we do not become emotionally exhausted.  They encourage us to process the emotion - actually turn towards it, and feel it.  Scary!!  But we can do it.
 
Here are the twins’ suggestions to deal with, process and get on the other side of our emotions.
 
Engage in physical activity
Try breathing exercises
Make positive connections with people you love and care about (call someone or better yet go for a walk with a friend)
Laugh - a great big belly laugh
Hug for 20 seconds - the full slightly uncomfortable 20 seconds
Cry - they promise it will not go on forever
Be Creative - paint, sing, dance, write
 
The key is to send our body a signal that the danger is over, we are safe.  And how do we know our emotions have been processed and we are “done?”  The twin doctors promise your body will tell you.
 
Be aware of your depletion clues.  Are you sleeping well and enough?  Are you engaging in activities where you do not think of work? Are you taking breaks at work?  Do you have work-life boundaries?
 
The solution to burnout is actually more than self-care.  It is more about managing emotions.
  
While burnout is prevalent, there are things we can do to recognize our vulnerability, determine whether it is happening to us and work to relieve that chronic stress through the processing of emotions.  
 
More good reads:
How to Recover From Burnout & Love Work Again According to Science
 
How to Eliminate Burnout and Retain Top Talent
 

You (still) Need More Vacations

Crina and Kirsten are on summer break and recommend revisiting one of their favorite episodes: “You Need More Vacations.”  Follow their lead, take another listen and plan some refreshing, rejuvenating, reviving, restoring and revitalizing time away from work.  Enjoy!  
SHOW NOTES
Before our hosts take off on the vacation topic, they consider the advantages of shorter, yet still meaningful breaks in your day.  Crina talks about her time with trees, and as usual, Kirsten has her head in a book called Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday, which discusses the benefits of space to your intellectual, physical and spiritual well-being.  
 
The data about vacations very clearly tells us that vacations increase productivity and satisfaction in the workplace.  In fact, studies show that even planning your vacation can lift your spirits.  And, just an additional 10 hours of vacation can improve performance according to a study by Ernst & Young.
 
Too many people let cost, pets, concern about work coverage, too much work, fear of being gone from work or home get in the way of what is an uplifting and rejuvenating experience, including the 52% of Americans who do not use all of their vacation.  WHAT??!!
 
Our host end this show with some tips about how to make getting out of and coming back to the workplace easier, a discussion about whether you work while you are on vacation (mostly no) and how to make the most of your time away.  So get out there and enjoy!
 
GOOD READS
5 reasons you need to take a vacation according to science.
Opinion | Relax! You'll Be More Productive
Why You Need to Take a Vacation (Even When You Can't Afford One)
USTravel.org
What to Do With a Day off
 

Words Matter–The English Language Holds Women Back

The words we use shape the impressions, attitudes and opinions we hold about women. According to new research, language also impacts the jobs we apply for, the amount of money we earn and the way we’re evaluated at work. In other words–language holds women back.
DISCLAIMER: This episode addresses language and gender - language also impacts race and other aspects of identity, including sexuality and non-binary gender identity.  These are real issues, but there is not enough research nor do we have the expertise on the topics, so those issues are not addressed in this episode.
 
SHOW NOTES
Phrases like the girls out front, man up and drama queen are demeaning and degrading to women.  Other feminine words have been made derogatory - such as the word mistress, which used to define a role in a household and is now a word to describe a woman engaging in infidelity.  
 
Another impact on language is whether or not it is gendered.  Languages like French and Spanish are gendered, meaning that some words are designated as feminine or masculine  For example, in Italian an apple is feminine and bread is masculine - not the case with English.  Why is that and what is the impact?  Owen Ozier and Pamela Jakiela conducted a study for the World Bank, which analyzed over 4000 languages and found that 38% of those languages are gendered - and for women who speak primarily a gendered language are 15% less likely to participate in the workforce as compared to those women who speak a non-gendered language - that is 125 million women.  They also found people who speak a gendered language are more likely to agree with statements like “On the whole, men make better business executives than women do” or “When jobs are scarce, men should have more right to a job than women.” And women hold these attitudes just like men.
 
In addition to participation in the workforce, language impacts how we attract candidates, advancement and retention for women in the workforce.
 
The language in job descriptions can attract - or not - women to apply for jobs.  It may be hard to believe that simple changes to language could lead to more women in the workplace.  Instead of male coded words like “dominate,” “competitive” and “drive” -  words like “team” and “interpersonal” and phrases like “we will support you with the tools you need to do your job” can attract women to apply.  
 
We also see gender bias in the language in performance reviews, which affects retention and promotion.  In a study involving military performance evaluation, researchers concluded more negative characteristics were recorded for women than for men.  They also found that the negative characteristics attributed to women were about their personality rather than their performance.  
 
So what to do about this?  Be specific, and careful and thoughtful; use tools like Ongig to evaluate the language.
 
Gendered Languages May Play a Role in Limiting Women’s Opportunities, New Research Finds
masculine- and feminine-coded words
The coded language that holds women back at work - BBC Worklife