An Interview with MUUD’s Wellness Experts: Trina Tran

“To me, mental wellness is not just a state of being but a staple in our everyday lives. Just because you can't see something directly, does not mean it is not vital or significant.”

For the March edition of the MUUD Ringer, we talked to our Program Manager, Trina Tran. She’s been with MUUD for almost a year as part of our Business Marketing and Product Ideation teams, and is a huge part of our process and success. The Ideation team is where MUUD’s creative juices flow and we work to bring you the most innovative and supportive product possible. Read on for Trina’s thoughts on health and wellness.

How has your background and experience led you to MUUD?

Like others on this team, I have always been interested in the mind and positive health. I got my BA in Psychology and minor in Linguistics at UCSB, where I started my first job at a mental health center. Though I did enjoy my time there and built some strong relationships in that community, I wanted to do more. I gained a good amount of project management skills from working at a restoration and construction company, and that is where I realized I wanted to obtain further education within applied psychology. Fast forward a few years, I got my master's in Applied Psychology from USC, where I also developed a strong interest for research and user experience. I was super ecstatic to come across MUUD at the right time and had the opportunity to connect and work with this awesome team.

What does mental wellness mean to you?

To me, mental wellness is not just a state of being but a staple in our everyday lives. Since I was a little girl, I felt the importance of mental health, but I could not quite understand it or put it into words because it was more abstract at the time. Just because you can't see something directly, does not mean it is not vital or significant. Our brain is just as important as our beating hearts. Without mental wellness, life would not be as fulfilling, pleasant, or even functioning in my opinion.

What do you do as part of your wellness routines?

With my busy schedule, it is quite difficult to keep everything intact and great all the time if I am being completely honest. Regardless, I remind myself to try to keep to certain routines and build better habits to keep myself sane. I make sure to compartmentalize my life and carve out time for family, friends, work, pets, and definitely "me" time. Every day it helps when I spend just 5 minutes thinking about things I am excited for in life and what I am grateful for. I make sure to exercise my body and brain when I can, which also includes creativity and music.

What makes you excited to be a part of MUUD?

My reasons for being excited about MUUD have been the same since I started until now. I am stoked to be working with such a passionate team of intelligent individuals and I admire the values and visions of this company. I believe MUUD will do great things that will positively impact mental and community wellness.