Los Angeles Therapist Dr. McClenahan offers new productivity counselling service

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Dr. McClenahan discusses how to counsel patients to be more productive in his Downtown Los Angeles practice. Mental health and stress reduction requires a new approach to guilt free self help.

Lack of rest is a multi-billion dollar problem for US businesses, thru reduced productivity. In 2016, the RAND Corporation found that sleep issues cost the US alone over $411 billion a year and over 1 million lost days.


Connor McClenahan, PsyD is trying to find ways to help individuals in Los Angeles cope with the stress of the conflicting needs between rest and high productivity work.


“People aren’t getting the rest they need, and it affects all areas of their lives. Adults holding multiple jobs or who have long commutes don’t get enough rest,” says Doctor Connor McClenahan, a psychologist practicing in Downtown Los Angeles, “and I don’t think it’s because they don’t value rest. They feel immense pressure, constantly, to hold things together. It prevents them from relaxing, much less having time to reflect on goals and set realistic work targets.”


Benefits of rest are well known and researched. Improved focus, increased work productivity and reduced sicknesses all are benefits. People who take time to rest in between tasks get tasks done faster, and with more creativity. Rest reduces risk of burnout, and costly impulsiveness trigger behaviors as well.


“Patients can sometimes roll their eyes at the idea of getting more rest. They usually feel it’s some kind of luxury,” says McClenahan.


“There are many models and approaches to this, but our guidance is to help people get away from this idea of rest as a day at the spa, and more toward how they process big emotions.”


Rest doesn’t always mean rearranging your schedule, or taking more time off without serious job consequences. The idea of taking more time off as an ideal of self-care can leave people feeling guilty. Many people want to take large chunks of time off, but simply can’t due to their work schedule or parenting demands.


Does that mean one should use one of the many selfhelp apps available to manage tasks or guide them thru mediation (Eg Headspace) ?


Many people do turn to apps for stress relief. While some people find it helpful, many people just don’t use it effectively. “The problem is,” states McClenahan, “most people don’t need one more tool or app. They know what to do, but they keep bumping up against bigger obstacles that keep them from moving forward”.


“In fact that temptation in switching from a good app back to social media browsing is probably is adding to the problem. In our practice we recommend a different approach so you don’t waste time worrying about a task. You want to let your brain let go of a task so it can actually think differently about it.”


In an April 2017 article in Psychologytoday.com, the prefrontal cortex part of your brain is listed as handling concentration, logical thinking, and providing willpower to override impulses. This part of your brain suffers when it’s overworked. “Your prefrontal cortex is like a muscle”, McClenahan adds, and holding onto tasks can cause fatigue and poor decision-making. The 2017 article lists common solutions, such as going for a walk, having a snack, having a power nap, meditating, doing an alternate right brain activity.


“Passive processing something I recommend often for people who struggle with work anxiety, or even with creative blocks,”, says McClenahan, “it’s about letting your mind wander when you feel anxious, or when you can’t solve some problem.” “.


People are afraid of being judged by their peers and coworkers and especially their managers. For those that work in a Downtown LA office tower, people often can’t get up from their desk and say they are going for a walk outside. This kind of social pressure can keep professionals from getting the rest they need. McClenahan reports this is a complaint he see’s often in industries like law firms: “There seems to be a professional culture that says ‘if you rest you’re loafing, and it shows that you don’t care about your job.’”


“In the end, everyone carries the same guilt about rest,” advises Dr. McClenahan. “It’s one thing to know resting is helpful, it’s another to overcome the emotional and social barriers that keep people from the rest they need. That’s what we do. We think people can feel like themselves again – less anxious, less depressed – when they get the help they need overcoming those barriers.”


The downstream benefits of reducing your daily stress and getting more done then can include less anger and frustration, less dependence on caffeine, and recognition of the factors that cause stress eating and other negative coping behaviors.


To learn more and find a counselor that can guide you to reduced stress, please visit https://connormcclenahan.com or visit their office in downtown Los Angeles in the financial district, on 5th and Grand at 520 S Grand Ave #671, Los Angeles, CA 90071. Call 323-580-6711 for consultation.

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