"USE THESE HABITS To Get Out Of An UNMOTIVATED RUT Today!" | Arianna Huffington & Jay Shetty | Summary and Q&A

Transcript

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Summary

In this podcast episode, Jay Shetty interviews Ariana Huffington, the CEO and founder of Thrive Global. They discuss the importance of self-knowledge and the need to examine our lives and habits without judgment. They also talk about the challenges and trends in well-being and burnout over the past year, as well as strategies for improving sleep and reducing addiction to social media scrolling. They explore the connection between well-being and diversity in the workplace, and the importance of compassionate directness and setting cultural values. Ariana shares her personal challenges and opportunities during the past year, and highlights the significance of prioritizing sleep and overall well-being for achieving a meaningful and successful life.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the key role of self-knowledge in our lives?

Self-knowledge is crucial because it allows us to examine our lives and habits without judgment. It helps us understand ourselves better, and in turn, make more informed decisions about our well-being and overall life satisfaction. By knowing ourselves, we can identify areas for improvement and take steps towards positive change.

Q: How has the pandemic exacerbated the challenges of well-being and burnout?

The pandemic has intensified existing challenges in mental health, including depression and anxiety. It has also led to increased stress levels, which have further negatively impacted physical health, such as diabetes and heart disease. However, the pandemic has also forced us to recognize the importance of well-being and the need for behavior change. It has become an opportunity to address these issues and prioritize our overall well-being.

Q: How can microsteps help in making behavioral changes for better sleep?

Microsteps are small, actionable steps that make behavior change more manageable. In the context of improving sleep, a microstep could be setting a specific time to end the workday and marking it with a ritual. It could involve turning off the phone and charging it outside the bedroom, or even starting with just putting the phone on airplane mode and keeping it away from the nightstand. These small steps, gradually implemented, can lead to significant improvements in sleep quality.

Q: How can we overcome addiction to social media scrolling?

Addiction to social media scrolling is a real issue that affects our well-being. One approach is to remove the apps from the front page of our phones, making it less accessible and intentional to open them. It's also important to curate our social media feeds, avoiding comparison-driven content and focusing on sources that bring us joy and inspiration. Additionally, incorporating microsteps like daily 60-second resets and setting intentions before reaching for our phones can help break the cycle of compulsive scrolling.

Q: How can individuals create change in their organizations when it comes to health and wellness?

It's encouraging to see that discussions about well-being and transformational change have become more mainstream in companies. Regardless of position or seniority, individuals can contribute to change by raising their hand, expressing their needs, and suggesting ideas. Collaborating with colleagues and leaders to implement well-being programs or sharing resources and ideas for improving health and wellness can make a difference. Thrive Global even offers the Thrive Reset app, which can be downloaded by anyone for support and guidance.

Q: How can we cultivate compassionate directness in our relationships?

Cultivating compassionate directness requires creating an environment where people feel safe to express their concerns and frustrations without fear of judgment. As a leader, it's essential to encourage open communication and create a culture of belonging. Asking questions about examples of being direct or expressing disagreements during interviews can help identify individuals who align with compassionate directness values. Honoring and valuing different perspectives and providing feedback in a supportive manner promotes healthier relationships and a more inclusive work environment.

Q: What are some signs of burnout that individuals should be aware of?

Signs of burnout can manifest in various ways, but common indicators include feeling negative and cynical about work or life, experiencing a sense of drudgery even in tasks that were once enjoyable, and reduced productivity. It's important to notice patterns of negativity, fatigue, and reliance on unhealthy coping mechanisms like excessive sugar intake. Regular self-assessment and having an accountability buddy who can provide constructive feedback can help identify the signs of burnout and encourage proactive steps towards self-care and recovery.

Q: How can we find balance between pushing forward and practicing self-care?

Ariana highlights that balance, as typically defined, is elusive. Instead, she emphasizes establishing baseline practices that are non-negotiable for personal well-being, such as prioritizing sleep. Taking care of ourselves allows us to show up as our best selves and be more productive. Ariana further advises being mindful of mental and physical fatigue, and being willing to reschedule certain tasks if needed. Recognizing that downtime is necessary and being intentional about self-care contributes to a healthier and more meaningful life overall.

Q: How can we recognize the importance of investing in our health for increased productivity?

Investing in our health, including sleep, exercise, and diet, can actually enhance productivity and efficiency. By taking care of our bodies and minds, we have more energy, clarity, and focus. Ariana emphasizes that investing in health should not be feared as a hindrance to success, but rather as a means to achieve even more. Being intentional about self-care can lead to better decision-making, increased creativity, and enhanced overall well-being.

Q: How can compassionate directness and diversity intersect in creating a healthy work culture?

Ariana highlights the importance of compassionate directness in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. When individuals are exhausted and running on empty, they are less empathetic and less likely to create a culture of belonging. Prioritizing well-being and avoiding burnout allows individuals to be more open and receptive to others' perspectives and experiences. By fostering an environment of compassionate directness, organizations can better address issues of unconscious bias, promote diverse perspectives, and create an inclusive work culture that is conducive to overall success.

Q: What has been Ariana's biggest challenge and opportunity over the past year?

Ariana shares that the rapid growth of Thrive Global has been a challenge, especially in hiring key roles without being able to meet candidates in person. It required developing new intuitive abilities to assess and connect with individuals through virtual means. The pandemic has also been an opportunity for transformational change. It has brought widespread recognition of the importance of well-being and has created a catalyst for addressing long-standing societal issues, such as inequality and burnout. Ariana emphasizes the need to seize this opportunity for positive change and prioritize well-being in all aspects of life.

Takeaways

The podcast episode covers the significance of self-knowledge, the challenges of well-being and burnout, strategies for improving sleep and reducing addiction to social media scrolling. It highlights the importance of integrating well-being and diversity in the workplace and fostering a culture of compassionate directness. Ariana shares personal challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the need to prioritize sleep and overall well-being for a meaningful and successful life. The key takeaways include the importance of self-examination, the benefits of microsteps for behavior change, and the recognition that investing in health enhances productivity and overall well-being. It also encourages individuals to be mindful of burnout signs, cultivate compassionate directness, and leverage accountability partners for personal growth. Finally, the episode highlights the opportunity for positive change and transformational improvement in the wake of the pandemic.