Empowering Women's Mental Well-Being: Q&A with 5 OpenUp colleagues
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are proud to take yet another opportunity to acknowledge the incredible contributions that women have made to both society and the workplace.
Therefore, it is equally important on this occasion to recognise the challenges that women continue to face both personally and professionally. One such challenge is the need to prioritise mental well-being in a world that often places immense pressure on being the cliché female character.
In this article, we interviewed five inspiring women at OpenUp. These women are not only experts in their field but also advocate for mental well-being. They share their insights, challenges and strategies to stay motivated and care for their mind. Their experiences and expertise offer a unique perspective on the importance of self-care, resilience, and community support, which are especially relevant in these unprecedented times.
Joanne Bottell, Product Owner at OpenUp
Q) What are the main mental well-being challenges that you face as a woman on a daily basis?
“I spend a lot of time thinking about how others perceive me which can lead me to fall into people-pleasing behaviours. It impacts my mental well-being as I find myself doing things that aren’t really what I want just because I don’t want to let others down. This means I end up exhausted or annoyed that I am not spending time on myself. I’m currently reading the book ‘Please Yourself’ by Emma Reed Turrell to try and understand how I can set better boundaries and reduce my guilt about putting my needs first. People pleasing isn’t only experienced by women, however, I do feel that the societal construct of women being ‘nice’ and ‘caring’ has led to many of the females in my life feeling the same way as I do. In general, I’m less comfortable in the space of assertiveness than I’d like to be, but I’m working on it.”
Q) How do you cope with them and how do you take care of your mental well-being?
“In my pursuit to be less of a people pleaser, I’m trying to set clear boundaries of what is and what isn’t for me. For life’s other challenges, I love to exercise and meditate. Exercise really helps reset my mind after a busy day at work, and as someone who tends to overthink, getting out of my brain and into my body is always good news. Morning meditation helps me to stop rushing into the day and instead take a moment to check-in with myself. When all else fails, chocolate and a good movie from my teenage years usually do the trick!”
Camille Toutain, Content Specialist at OpenUp
Q) What are the main mental well-being challenges that you face as a woman on a daily basis?
“As a woman who is also part of the LGBTQI+ community, I have my fair share of mental well-being challenges. One of the biggest is dealing with gender-based violence and discrimination. It’s exhausting to see the increase in violence against women and the continued rollback of women’s rights worldwide. It’s disheartening to see that women today have fewer rights than our mothers did in many places, and it certainly takes a toll on my mental well-being.”
Q) How do you cope with them and how do you take care of your mental well-being?
“To deal with these challenges, I make a conscious effort to prioritise self-care and set aside time for myself. Whether it’s listening to a podcast, doing a creative activity, or indulging in some guilty pleasure TV, taking care of my own needs is essential for my mental well-being.
I also surround myself with kind-hearted people who lift me up and provide support. And when I need a dose of inspiration, I turn to feminist authors like Bell Hooks and Audre Lorde. Lorde’s quote “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare” always reminds me that taking care of myself is not only important but also a way to fight back against societal violence.”
Svenja Müller, Account Executive at OpenUp
Q) What are the main mental well-being challenges that you face as a woman on a daily basis?
“I would say to be represented and often also to feel heard. On the one hand, this reflects definitely at work if you look into leadership and decision-makers, but also in politics and in other areas of life. And another thing is that I often have the feeling that people reduce you to your appearance, that just because you wear red nails or red lipstick, you can’t be smart or you don’t have anything to say.”
Q) How do you cope with them and how do you take care of your mental well-being?
“I definitely think that speaking out loud about it, saying ‘hey, this is how I feel’ and also creating some awareness can already make a difference. And how do I personally deal with my mental well-being? On one hand, I recharge my emotional batteries by talking with friends and on the other hand by finding a balance through yoga and sports.”
Floortje Mast, Customer Success Manager at OpenUp
Q) What are the main mental well-being challenges that you face as a woman on a daily basis?
“I would say mainly the stress of wanting to do everything right and thinking of so many things that need to be taken care of. It can get really busy in my head with all the things that I want to do.”
Q) How do you cope with them and how do you take care of your mental well-being?
“Saying no to things that are too much or that I know I do not have time for. But also tuning out and focusing on the things that I enjoy and give me peace.”
Marta Montesdeoca Romero, HR Manager at OpenUp
Q) What are the main mental well-being challenges that you face as a woman on a daily basis?
“One of the main ones is the mental load at home, I think unfortunately this topic is not yet talked about enough and not understood enough by many people, regardless of their gender. Historically the role of the woman has been to enable other people’s dreams and needs, so it takes a lot to question the amount of energy and mental space that you are dedicating to these things. Not so easy to see…Professionally, although, I have learned to overcome it over the years, especially when I first stepped into a leadership role I would highlight the ‘impostor syndrome’. In general, I was always putting others first and disregarding my own boundaries and needs.
If I think about the current political developments and state of the world, of course, it worries me to see how certain women’s rights are being lost or regressed in some parts of the world. Quoting Simone de Beauvoir: “never forget that it only takes one political, economic or religious crisis for women’s rights to be put in jeopardy. Those rights are never to be taken for granted, you must remain vigilant throughout your life”.
Q) How do you cope with them and how do you take care of your mental well-being?
“To cope I like to be as informed as possible, I love reading about these topics and discussing them with my sister or friends. It really makes me feel like I am not alone, especially on those topics that are still quite taboo in our society.
To take care of my mental well-being I try different tips and tricks, for example:
- Although I am not super consistent all the time, I like to end every day by writing down 3 things that went well that day, and 3 things that I am grateful for on that day;
- I like doing yoga and meditation and coming up with my own mantras;
- Going outside, and spending time in nature or in my garden. This is very important to me;
- I like lifting my mood in the mornings when I need it with some happy and meaningful tunes. Lately, this song has been my go-to;
- And when I really need it I give myself pep talks, sometimes in my head, sometimes in the mirror, and sometimes it’s a song…”.
Here is the powerful message we are left with: Taking care of our mental well-being is not only essential for our personal well-being but also for the collective strength of our communities. We must continue to choose to challenge the stigma and discrimination and prioritise our peace of mind, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
We hope that these stories have motivated you to take proactive steps towards taking care of your own mental well-being. Let’s celebrate the resilience and strength of women everywhere, and continue to advocate for the importance of mental well-being and self-care, not just today but every day.
If you’re feeling inspired, we encourage you to take action today. Whether it’s reaching out to a trusted friend, seeking professional help, or practising self-care techniques, every step towards mental well-being counts.
