Stop the mental pinball machine

Stop the mental pinball machine

Internationally certified individual and team coach Angela van Dorssen talks about her daily practice. Since March 2020, she has also been certified as a neurotransformational coach.

“During our session, I’d like to talk about how to switch off from everything that’s going on around me at the office. I’m a wreck by 3 o’clock and completely exhausted when I get home. When I’m at the office, I’m always aware of the people around me. What do they think about me? It’s a new assignment and I want to do it well.” This was a voice message left by a young professional in preparation for our coaching session later that week. It’s a familiar story; I hear it from almost everyone after the summer holidays. We want to live a slower, less frazzling pace of life.

How does our brain work?

To put it very simply, our brain is programmed to keep us safe. It spends all day scanning, as it were, the environment for danger. It looks for stability and that gives us a sense of control. What few people know is that in the event of too much or too little stress, we experience something very different physically, but our brain reacts in the same way. Signs of under- or over-stimulation include thinking in terms of black and white, inability to take decisions, making bad decisions, lack of empathy, uncontrollable impulses, poor memory and chaotic thoughts (source: BEabove Leadership).

The mental pinball machine

We have unknowingly emerged from the corona period mentally drained. Over the past two years, our brains have worked overtime looking for stability in a constantly changing world. Akin to a pinball machine, our brains were constantly active. And that’s exhausting. Now we’re returning to the office, enjoying life again and therefore being exposed to more stimuli, we’re starting to notice the mental impact of this period. We’re low on mental resilience and find it hard to switch off. And if you’ve had the virus, you may still find it difficult to concentrate or feel overloaded (www.postcovidnl.nl).

Doing less at a slower pace

It won’t help to keep pushing yourself in the same way. Self-care is the key. Managers would do well to be clear when prioritising tasks. Doing less at a slower pace also enables us to remain productive in the long term.

Experiment with office days and how you structure them in consultation with your team. Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. Constantly running between activities sets off the pinball machine. Do one thing at a time. Turn off, for example, the sound on your computer and telephone to avoid feeling overloaded. A good night’s sleep, healthy food, physical activity and meditation or breathing exercises can all help to replenish your mental resources.

The same applies to me. It’s a challenge, what with my ambitious mind and the addiction to dopamine I developed from crossing off things from my never-ending to-do list every day. More relaxation, less pinball! I’ve started my own journey, what about you?

Individual coaching