6 LinkedIn courses to deal with pandemic-related stress

November 3, 2020 3:00 PM

As the pandemic rages on and election stress and uncertainty causes stress and distraction, employee motivation is running on empty. But LinkedIn is offering courses to help workers get their spark back.

“We know employees are having a hard time bringing their whole selves to work,” says Jolie Miller, LinkedIn Learning’s head of business content strategy. “Our most popular course discusses how to make your emotions work for you and get your energy back so you can bring your best self to work.”

LinkedIn and Glint — the professional network’s employee engagement platform — found that burnout is up by 33% compared to last year, with survey respondents reporting high levels of stress, anxiety, fatigue and feelings of overwhelm. Miller says the pandemic is certainly to blame, but employees are experiencing its effects in very different ways.

“Unfortunately, a lot of folks are dealing with a variety of grief: loss of loved ones, loss of opportunities, travel, promotions,” Miller says. “It’s important to explore the whole spectrum and support employees who are on this journey in unique ways.”

To help employees excel even during times of stress, LinkedIn Learning created six new courses on topics like meditation, enhancing resilience, and dealing with grief and loss. Check out the full list ofcoursesavailable in their mental health track:

Dealing with grief, loss and change as an employee

Feelings of loss can hold you back; this psychologist provides strategies for dealing with these feelings during the pandemic.

“Negotiating change and loss is no easy endeavor,” says Joan Rosenberg, psychologist, two-time TEDx speaker and member of the Association of Transformational Leaders. “By taking this course, you’re already taking steps to help manage feelings of discomfort during these changing times.”

Supporting your mental health with working from home

Remote work has its perks, but it also comes with unique mental health challenges. A performance consultant provides strategies employers can use to keep up their resiliency.

“Eating a few extra donuts or pizza for a while, but after some time the pounds start to creep on. The same thing goes for your mental health. You can deal with pressure, stress or loneliness while you’re working from home for some time, but eventually those things will affect you and your well-being,” says Amy Brann, the author of “Engaged and Make Your Brain Work” and the founder of Synaptic Potential — a digital brain training platform.

Avoiding burnout

A behavior coach teaches employees how to keep burnout at bay.

“Sometimes it seems the demands on you at work and at home are always becoming more difficult,” says Todd Dewett, PhD, a management and organizational behavior expert, educator at LinkedIn Learning and TEDx speaker. “Sometimes, stress gets too high, and we don’t manage stress effectively. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Mindful meditations for work and life

Learn from LinkedIn’s own meditation specialist how the practice can improve mental clarity and stave off burnout.

“Have you ever wondered how you can be super successful at work, while maintaining a calm, zen-like approach? Powerful skills like meditation and visualization have not only helped me manage stress, but have allowed me to create the life I really want,” says Scott Shute, head of mindfulness and compassion at LinkedIn.

Managing your emotions at work

A behavioral expert teaches employees how to control their emotions so they can have productive, meaningful connections with their colleagues.

“Now, more than ever, we’re being encouraged to be our real selves at work,” says Jay Fields, somatic educator and coach. “I think that’s great because it invites us to be a human being. But I also recognize that it’s challenging; bringing our real selves means that our emotions also show up with us. There’s nothing wrong with emotions, but we’re often unskilled at managing them, especially during charged conversations and emergencies.”