TECC 155: Strategies for Taking Control of your Mindset

In this episode of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, I interview Allison Johanson, a licensed clinical social worker about strategies for taking control of your mindset even when your life is in upheaval. Engineering Quotes: Here are the key points about taking control of your mindset: Make a list of the things that are distracting to you, as well as the things that you would like to accomplish. Organize your brain when it is unorganized, and focus on what is important. One of the biggest things people struggle with is relationship changes. e.g. getting married, divorced, moving, death or having a child. We have six spots in the working memory of our brain. When a person has too many things they think about at once, their brain goes into survival mode, and the part of the brain that makes the decisions starts to shut down. Come up with 2 to 3 solutions for each problem you have and create a pro and con list for each of those solutions. There are just as many neurotransmitters in our gut than there are in our head. Consider taking a long exhale breath as this will naturally tell your body that you are not in danger. This will also tell your body that you are not in survival mode, and will allow you the space you need in order to go into that part of your brain and to take control of your mindset. The ability to be able to acknowledge something and not having to fix it immediately is something that is rare and powerful these days. Doing things that are practical, like being aware of your surroundings or taking a few deep breaths in the middle of your day will help to regroup your brain. The more you can let your body communicate to your brain, the more your brain is going to start working again. More in this episode… In the Take Action Today segment of the show, we will give you an example of a real-life struggle for engineers and will also give you some pointers on how to resolve it. About Allison Johanson Allison is passionate about helping working women and the companies they work for thrive in creativity, innovation, and Health. She has been a licensed clinical social worker practicing in therapy since 2012 and has been in the field since 2007. Allison has extensive training in several therapeutic techniques with scientific backing and continues to grow in her training yearly. She has a relaxed laid back style in her presenting and will make sure that the audience leaves with tangible techniques that will help them grow. Allison teaches each technique with purpose and will not only tell how to do the technique but will also tell why the techniques work. You can learn more about Allison on Facebook, LinkedIn, or her website. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle Resources and links mentioned in this session include: Allison's Facebook Page Allison's LinkedIn page Allison's Website The Engineering Mastermind This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code PREP and enter the raffle here: www.ppi2pass.com/civilprep What strategies can I use to take control of my mindset? We would love to hear any questions you might have or stories you might share on taking control of your mindset. Please leave your comments, feedback or questions in the section below. If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download. Download the Productivity Routines To your success, Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP Engineering Management Institute