How can understanding our mental health make us better UX designers and more empathetic human beings?

This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week here in the US, so I wanted to do something a little different for episode 99.

The current state of the industry and the job market is nothing to mess with. If layoffs haven't impacted you, you likely know someone who has been affected. Then, there are the ever-present issues of low maturity and the mess of being on a software team.

If you spend any amount of time online, social media and doom scrolling are likely to significantly affect your overall well-being.

Of course, this isn't even considering the potential for childhood trauma and how that impacts us as adults.

To put it simply, shit is crazy right now.

But why is this so important?

It's important because our job as designers often goes well beyond pushing pixels and moving shapes around an artboard. It involves dealing with people and stressful situations on a daily basis.

Critically, if you're struggling with mental health, it's nearly impossible to do our jobs well.

Instead of a typical interview, I had a candid conversation with my friend and fellow designer, Hang Xu, about our experiences with mental health and how childhood trauma has shaped our approach to dealing with struggles in life and work.

There aren't any key takeaways this week and no key learnings.

This episode is simply two friends discussing their own personal experiences. Hopefully, our experiences resonate with you, and you take something personal away from our conversation.

Perhaps the only key takeaway this week is if you feel like you're struggling with mental health, remember that you're not alone. And never be ashamed to talk to someone about it.

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They don't teach this stuff in school Learn the things they left off the syllabus. Get your copy today! Also available at these fine retailers

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🎙️ In case you missed them... The Importance of Cultural Context with Ruby Pryor Discover how cultural nuances shape user experiences and learn strategies for creating designs that resonate across diverse international audiences. Let’s dig into the nuances of designing for a global audience with Ruby Pryor, founder of Rex Consulting. A Software Engineer’s Framework for Career Success Dagna Bieda discusses her book “Brain Refactor” and how tech professionals can optimize their mindset for success. She explores common career obstacles and strategies for overcoming them. Steering Your UX Career Across International Borders Discover how to navigate the complex landscape of international job hunting. Joseph Mercieca shares invaluable insights on adapting your application strategy, portfolio, and interview techniques to different cultural contexts across Europe and beyond.

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