An Interview with MUUD’s Wellness Experts: Shona O’Bryant

“I would say mental wellness, to me, is intimately knowing oneself and allowing emotions to flow, not getting caught up by any one of them or assigning more or less value to any one feeling.”

Happy April everyone! 🌷 This month, we talk to Shona O’Bryant, a Program Manager on our Product Integration team. This team is focused on the hardware design of our upcoming mental wellness-oriented devices. Shona has done amazing work and we loved getting the chance to hear her thoughts on health and wellness!

How has your background and experience led you to MUUD?

MUUD is really a perfect fit for me. My background is in design, psychology, and speculative design (essentially innovating systems and products that don’t exist yet). MUUD incorporates all of these passions: my love for user centric problem solving in design, my advocacy and interest in mental health and wellness and finally the excitement I get for designing for the future.

What does mental wellness mean to you?

Mental wellness is a difficult one to pin down. Earlier in my life and career I would have said the lack of “negative emotions” like hurt, anger, sadness. Now it’s not as simple, and yet much more achievable. I would say mental wellness, to me, is intimately knowing oneself and allowing emotions to flow, not getting caught up by any one of them or assigning more or less value to any one feeling.

What do you do as part of your wellness routines?

I have a pretty thorough wellness routine that includes maintaining a solid support group of fantastic and emotionally intelligent people. Taking time to connect with myself and my partner. Trying to exercise my brain and body at least for a little while each day (even if it’s just walking to the train station) and finally just trying to have fun. Having fun is one of the newest and most rewarding parts of my wellness routine.

What makes you excited to be a part of MUUD?

First, the product itself is just so exciting! I can’t say much but there’s so much to look forward to. I also love the diversity of people we have here. I love being in the same room as people who work in psychology, software, UI/UX, bio engineering and management,. It creates such a rich experience for us all! I’m also just glad to be a part of a project that I feel will genuinely help others and leave a positive impact.