Dr. Simone’s Mind Space

Step up and take space: It’s a women’s world

Over the years, I felt hmm should I really show my female side at work, in public? Nja, not so much! I never liked the idea to be reduced just to the clothes I’ve been wearing, the look. I’ve focussed on the competitive side, the hardworking, dedicated part in me and had that to become the center of my being. My love for the beauty of things, fashion, jewellery, my softer, more vulnerable part was put aside. 

This year, I’ve launched UNE SUR CENT, my own company emphasizing female empowerment, intellectual freedom, and the opportunity to choose to maintain a career. All women can and are entitled to have it all. Be feminine and make an impact on the global scene. Combining our passion for intellectual freedom with feminine details, jewellery, and clothes. Highlight the female power. 

 

This weeks conversation with the Prada Stockholm and London female leaders emphasized my vision and goal with UNE SUR CENT. Proud to make an impact and initiate change. It’s a women’s world. 

 

#drschwankinsights #drsimonesmindspace #unesurcent #podcast #femaleentitlement #femaleentrepreneur #consulting  #counselling #mentoring  #femaleempowerment #advocacy #corporate #lifestyle 

@prada

@unesurcent

@drschwank

Career and Performance Assessments

Working with school placement assessments since over 10 years provided me soo much joy. The families I’ve encountered over the years shared my initial self-trial. The tests knew me better than I knew myself! Parents over the years shared their assessment experience, telling me that they’ve recognised their child to 99% in the reports provided by me. It’s such a wonderful endeavour to be able to share a child’s strength with the parents and give an objective interpretation of feelings and thoughts parents and children themselves had for a long time. It’s simply magic, a real endorphin booster. Completing an assessment isn’t only beneficial for young children and adolescents, it’s a great opportunity for adults figuring out their next career step or personal life trajectory. It’s a reassuring process, often stirring up new ideas, encouraging one to step out of one’s comfort zone, on to new adventures. 

From research we know, that personality is rather stable over life, yet with commitment and dedication, we can change our personality traits, which we favour less about ourselves. I. e. someone with low levels of dutifulness and self-discipline, can improve their level of the former, by continuously working on these areas. The more we know about who we are, the better we can improve our selves and excel our performance. Our personality has a greater impact on our academic and career success than our IQ, since motivation, dutifulness, and achievement striving are essential to get ahead in life. People with GRIT, the latest definition of consciousness will be successful either way. The inner flame of motivation, the intrinsic motivation, is the driving force to success. 

#drschwankinsights #drsimonesmindspace #unesurcent #podcast  #success #personalitytest #career #school #performance #grit

 #zurich #femaleentrepreneur #consulting #femaleempowerment 

@drschwank

@unesurcent

One, two or three children? The Chinese Child Policy Shift

The Chinese child policy and its aftermath. Research insights from the one, to the two, to the three child policy. 

Living in Shanghai during the one child policy and initiating my research in Shanghai 2015, right at the shift to the two child policy, I’ve always been fascinated by the impact of the policy on women’s lives. From an individual, family setting, societal, and national perspective. A public health, women’s health, psychological, and economical perspective. 

As long as education is immensely competitive, expensive, and women’s career prospects not improved after more than one child, the situation of the number of children per family won’t change. China’s number of children per family continued to drop, after an initial small rise, following the implementation of the two child policy. Disregarding the governments relaxation of the child policy, allowing families to have three children. Without government massive incentives, families won’t consider multiple children. If China’s families won’t have more children, the age gap will increase and the growth of the economy is in severe danger. Having a massively increasing aging population, a very low retirement age, and a whole generation of single children, the pressure on the current families in reproductive age is immense. China is facing a challenge many middle income countries are encountering, however with a higher pace, as a consequence of the one child policy. It remains a big question mark how China will counter this major threat to its economic growth. 

 

#drschwankinsights #drsimonesmindspace #unesurcent #podcast  #mentalhealth #chinachildpolicy #shanghai  #china #zurich #femaleentrepreneur #consulting #counselling #mentoring #femaleempowerment #advocacy

@drschwank

@unesurcent

 

Vacation mode

Now even more than ever, it’s important to set up your out-of-office notification. And yes, do so prior to taking off for vacation.  

The pandemic had both down and upsides in the corporate world. Especially, the topic of work-life balance has been challenged. The work environment moved into people’s homes, the division of work and private life fused. People’s mental load increased, due to a lack of boundaries between the two lives: work and private life. People increased their working hours and productivity has been rising, counterintuitively to what companies were afraid to happen. The dip in productivity didn’t occur, but employees more and more describe a fatigue of digital work, home office, lack of physical connection with colleagues, and a sense of being on 24/7. No proper physical distinction of spaces: work vs. home. 

 

Steps to take:

• Set boundaries
• Don’t forget your out-of-office notification
• Divide your home to clear work vs. living space 
• Read emails during specifically set times and not before going to bed
• Return to the office gradually 

@drschwank

@unesurcent

Fashion, sophistication, and female power

Fashion is art in a self-expressed way. Women around the world dress differently to express their heritage, sense of community, and unique selves. Wearing clothes is a statement of strength and power, when chosen wisely and in line with the own persona. Investing in high quality pieces that last many seasons is both a pleasure to wear and a great contribution to the environment.

Dress for success

Dress in outfits

Create your personal uniforms 

Less is more

Invest in statement pieces

Play with accessories

Skip trends, focus on your personal preferences

 

#drschwankinsights #drsimonesmindspace #unesurcent #podcast  #fashion #success #sustainability

 #zurich #femaleentrepreneur #consulting #femaleempowerment 

@drschwank

@unesurcent

@modincommunication

@phiatelier

 

The journey of the self

Today’s podcast is life from LA. Dr. Schwank and Charlotte, an American student she counseled a few years back during her study abroad in Sweden, delve into essential self-improvement and self-care strategies. Together they cover themes such as  prioritizing “me” time whilst balancing family and/or couple time, co-dependence,  the cyclical relationship between healthy functioning and a healthy environment, and why we should all be our own priorities. 

Charlotte speaks from her own experience regarding the analogy of “putting your own oxygen mask on first” and how while this may  instinctively sound selfish, focussing solely on the wellbeing and goals of oneself can be incredibly rejuvenating and inspiring for others as well. Through setting boundaries and  self-affection, you can become a role model for employees, friends, and  even your partner and children! Charlotte also shares practical tips for how she was able to heal and come into her own once again, regaining control of her life-narrative after enduring relationship hardships and self-doubt. 

 

 

#podcast #counseling #selfempowerment #selfesteem #selfefficacy #creativity #emergingadulthood #studyabroad #covid19 #mentalhealth #depression #anxiety #drschwankinsights #drsimonesmindspace #unesurcent #stockholm #sweden #losangeles #zurich #switzerland #awomemsworld

 

@drschwank

@unesurcent

Do video games cause aggression?

Today’s podcast uncovers the «myths», prejudice around computer games and aggressive behavior. Research shows no causal connection between violence in media and violence in society.

Marc shared an interesting statistic based on thousands of pupils he has encountered in workshops over the years: FIFA, the soccer game, triggers most frustration and therefore anger among players. Surprised? Yes, but just think about fans of football teams around the world. The emotional attachment, the identification with «their» team is incomparable. The same thing goes for FIFA and only more so because the gamer cannot project failure. He is the player on the football field.

Take home for all listeners, especially parents: «Relax. Computer games will not turn your kids into gun-toting psychopaths. The influence of media compared to real-life role models is marginal». 

 

#podcast #computergames #videogames #interactiveentertainment #aggression #frustration #players #creativity #adolescents #selfefficacy #skills #careerbooster #covid19 #mentalhealth #depression #anxiety #drschwankinsights #drsimonesmindspace #unesurcent #zurich #switzerland 

 

@drschwank

One, Two or Three Children? The Chinese Child Policy Shift

The Chinese child policy and its aftermath. Research insights from the one, to the two, to the three child policy. 

Living in Shanghai during the one child policy and initiating my research in Shanghai 2015, right at the shift to the two child policy, I’ve always been fascinated by the impact of the policy on women’s lives. From an individual, family setting, societal, and national perspective. A public health, women’s health, psychological, and economical perspective. 

#drschwankinsights #drsimonesmindspace #unesurcent #podcast #narcissisticpersonality #mentalhealth #chinachildpolicy #shanghai #femaleentrepreneur #consulting  #counselling #mentoring  #femaleempowerment #advocacy

@drschwank

@unesurcent

Working and conducting research around the globe: my travel diary

This episode is a travel journey through the different stops around the world, conducting research and working as a consulting psychologist in Shanghai, New York, Stockholm, and Zurich. 

 

@drschwank

@unesurcent 

From my psychology practice to the podcast

Many women I’ve encountered through the years in my practice in Shanghai, New York, Stockholm, and Zürich share similar challenges with their narcissistic partners. I’ve decided to discuss this very peculiar personality disorder in a podcast, especially since I’m part of a Columbia University program focussing on an evidence-based approach in treating people with narcissistic personality disorders (NPD). 

 

Steps to take:

• Talk and disclose to a friend, don’t protect the narcissistic person. 
• Be open and share what’s happening behind the scenes. 
• What you need is a support network around you. 
• Reassurance and appreciation for you as a person. 
• Have the freedom to move on.

 

#drschwankinsights #drsimonesmindspace #unesurcent #podcast #narcissisticpersonality #mentalhealth #practicetopodcast #corporate #lifestyle #femaleentrepreneur #consulting  #counselling #mentoring  #femaleempowerment #advocacy

@drschwank

@unesurcent