We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanja Schroeder and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tanja, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My biggest mistake was not understanding that rest and recovery is part of the balance.
I’ve always worked hard and it’s not until recently that I have learned how productive rest can be. When I first became a manager, I was barely keeping up. I’d sleep with a little notebook next to me and write down ideas to add to my never-ending to-do list. It only grew from there. I was obsessed with work, professional development, networking, and outcomes…to the point of going back to school and pursuing higher education. For the record, I’m not saying personal/ professional development is a bad thing, it’s just that I was running myself headfirst into major burnout. There was no sense of balance.
Today, working hard is still as important, especially as an entrepreneur. But I define hard work differently. Hard work involves slowing down, resting, and recharging. Lately, when I’m feeling like I have too many things to do, I stop and meditate (my younger self is scoffing at me right now!). It’s become the best tool! It’s in that moment of stillness that sometimes my plan changes completely. My mindset shifts, the brain fog clears, and a fresh perspective emerges.
This is the overall mindset shift that I want to bring into work cultures. We are so committed to our ways of thinking and doing. I want to disrupt traditional work environments, invite opportunities for rest, and see the change in productivity, creativity, and of course employee wellness.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m a burnout coach and started my own business called Link! My approach is unique in the way that it combines my organizational knowledge with wellness practices. Having worked at so many different levels, including leadership and as a consultant, I can understand the challenges someone is facing at work on an operational and individual level.
I work with employees 1-1 but also facilitate team-wide restorative events such as breathwork sessions, Yin yoga, or even Reiki. I partner with organizations with the intention that wellness is supported from within the organization, to make these practices more accessible, and to contribute to a cultural change and shift around hustle culture. I am passionate about supporting women, as they are facing the highest levels of burnout in the workforce. I saw it in myself, and I see it in my network, but that is not an exclusive demographic as we all face challenges at work. Ultimately, work is a part of our lives and I want to help make it a healthier experience for everyone.
Creating healthy work environments has been a passion of mine for years, but like I said earlier, the missing element was the balance. In consulting, I focused mainly on the system and structure of an organization to impact the employee experience. Are the job descriptions aligned? Are communication streams clear? Do employees have the training and tools required for success? etc. Link is all about connecting wellness and work. Incorporating balance, a pause, intention, tools to manage stress, opportunities for self-reflection… breaking up our regular patterns, behaviors, and expectations, infusing our daily routines with new energy.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, we’d start where I live, Barrio Logan! We’d get coffee at Por Vida and go to a pop-up market at Mujeres. We’d check out my next favorite place in San Diego, Seaport Village! It’s such a nostalgic place for me, and you can’t beat the view for a rest stop at Mike Hess. We’d go over the bridge into Coronado and spend some time at the dog beach with my dog, Romeo. Then we’d come back and get a burger at The Balboa Bar and Grill in Bankers Hill- the best burgers in SD! Of course, we’d do a walk through Balaboa Park since we are in the neighborhood and I worked in the park for a long time! Before heading home, we’d stop for some ice cream at Mutual Friends in South Park and explore the local shops like Trash Lamb Gallery. Being a born and raised local, we’d spend at least one day at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, my early stomping grounds, and check out the shops along the 101! We’d take the scenic route of course ;).
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m going to shout out the co-workers! What is work without our work besties? I have been fortunate to have made many lifelong friends through work. It’s these people who we lean on during our hardest times. It’s a unique bond you establish with co-workers. They are people who you can laugh with, cry with, vent to, and grow with. Over the years, it’s been the advice of caring colleagues who have said, “You are working too hard,” “I found this opening you should apply to,” “Let’s start our own business…” and you never know, all of those conversations are seeds for change. When I was blinded by my burnout, it was a co-worker who looked me in the eyes and said, “This place has infiltrated its way into every aspect of your life. You need to let it go.” I was unwilling to see that and unwilling to make a change. I was too tired to consider a change. I’m grateful for their honesty, their compassion, and their nudge to get me out of my comfort zone. And you know what, at that time, I still didn’t even recognize the burnout, I just took their word for it. So like I said… seeds :). I’m grateful for the seeds my co-workers planted and how it’s played a role in the direction of my life.
Website: https://www.linkwellnesscoaching.com/
Instagram: link.coaching
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanja-schroeder/
Image Credits
Stephanie Photography