In this episode, Gena interviews Elke Wallace, founder of Mastering Your Mind Matters and host of the Exploring Brain and Mind podcast. Elke shares her journey as a Performance Enhancement Specialist with expertise in various psychological techniques. She delves into the impact of chronic stress on IT professionals, highlighting the symptoms of burnout and the importance of maintaining brain health through proper nutrition, hydration, and movement. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Chronic stress can lead to anxiety-like symptoms, reduced immune function, and cognitive issues such as brain fog and decreased concentration. IT professionals, in particular, may experience these effects due to long hours, constant adaptation to new technologies, and high-pressure environments.

• Key indicators of burnout include difficulty concentrating, physical symptoms like headaches, inability to relax or sleep, irritability, and emotional exhaustion. Recognising these signs early can help individuals seek appropriate support and intervention.

• Proper nutrition and hydration are crucial for brain health. Consuming organic, home-cooked meals rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats can nourish the brain, while staying hydrated supports cognitive function.

• Regular physical activity, even simple movements like walking or stretching, can enhance brain function by increasing oxygen flow and stimulating neurotransmitter production. Incorporating movement into daily routines is essential for maintaining mental resilience.

• Techniques such as box breathing, meditation, and taking breaks from screens can help manage stress. Engaging in mindfulness practices, including walking meditation and connecting with nature, can also promote mental well-being and improve focus.

BEST MOMENTS

"If we reduce the amount of activities or things that we need to think about, it can lead to loss of brain power."

"Chronic stress is just a temporary condition that sometimes is good for the body... but the prolonged exposure to stress is what we care about."

"Learning new skills is great for the brain. The brain needs stimulation. The brain doesn't like to hang around lazy because then the brain power kind of goes down."

"If you notice you can't concentrate properly, you notice a lack of being able to function, you feel you've got some sort of brain fog. That could be warning signs for burnout."

"I have noticed my kidneys, they give me nudges. If I don't drink enough, then I can feel either the right or the left one."

GUEST BIO

Elke Wallace is the founder of Mastering Your Mind Matters and host of “Exploring Brain and Mind” podcast that launched on 15 January 2025. 

She is a Performance Enhancement Specialist, a certified Neuro-Link Master Practitioner with a background in CBT Counselling and Groupwork, Mindfulness and NLP and Timeline Therapy (practitioner level).

She offers brain and emotional intelligence assessments, tailored coaching and mentoring services, brain optimisation and stress management workshops online and in-person and a brand-new group program, the Mind and Goal Accelerator. 

She is also a published co-author of five collaborative books, one of them is The Stress Maze by Lead Author Andrea Hochgatterer. 

Social Media links:

Facebook profile:

https://www.facebook.com/elke.wallace

Facebook business page:

https://www.facebook.com/ElkeWallaceBusiness/

LinkedIn profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elke-a-wallace/

LinkedIn business page:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastering-your-mind-matters/?viewAsMember=true

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elkeawallace/?hl=en

TikTok: 

https://www.tiktok.com/@e.a.wallace

HOST LINKS

https://genafrangina.com/podcast/

https://www.facebook.com/gena.frangina

IG: @gena.frangina

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/