86: How PMs Manage Energy and Mental Health

In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board member Soumeya Benghanem welcome Leslie Thomas Jr. (Microsoft) as they discuss how PMs manage their energy and mental health. Work and personal life can be physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. So how can we recharge ourselves to keep thriving and stay motivated? Join today’s conversation as they share some tips on how they manage their energy and some self-care tips to keep us mentally healthy. 

Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.

What to Listen For:

• 00:00 Intro
• 05:38 What’s draining your energy?
• 11:40 Bringing your team along in the journey
• 15:25 Body doubling
• 17:27 Doing work that involves working with people
• 18:27 Go back to the things that gave you a lot of energy
• 20:00 Gratitude
• 21:11 How can you separate yourself from work?
• 23:51 “Gratitude and anxiety can’t exist at the same time…”
• 27:02 Use anxiety to your advantage
• 28:52 Anxiety vs. Pressure
• 34:02 Reward yourself
• 36:30 What is mental health?
• 38:57 Having a mindfulness practice
• 40:49 Start your day with a walk
• 42:57 Prioritize what’s important to you
• 46:34 How to say no and set boundaries
• 50:37 Final thoughts