Wellness Podcast

In this episode, I talk about how I realized I was burned out (rather than just feeling icky about starting a new project), and my plan for fighting burnout, using ideas from the book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. #1 go for a long walk/coffee/call a friend (checks off both exercise and positive social interaction), #2 write all my thoughts in my jo...

In this episode, I give 6 quick steps to get your project organized and out the door! I also talk about how some projects can be done/completed but others go on forever, and that is OK too (like my house project). Action item: think of a project, and come to this episode ready to listen with a pen and paper (If you want to work on organizing your project into manageable tasks) or just listen for f...

In this episode, I talk about the different ways walking can help you (think/calm down/feel grounded when stressed or anxious, etc.) and how a walk can be short or long, slow or fast, and how it is a great way to help those who may be starting a stressful time now (finals, holidays, whatever). Action item: go for a walk!

In this episode, I define "nerding out" (using my own vast experience of being a nerd for basically my entire life), I give some examples from my own life (and an awesome example from my mom), and talk about why "nerding out" is good for your mental health. Hint: it has to do with connection!

In this episode, I talk about the definition of success that I grew up with, which focused on money, power and stuff, I talk about how I think the definition of success (at least for some people) is changing, ever so slowly, and what my own definition of success is for me (having meaning in my life, love and kindness). Action item: make a list of a couple of things that define success for you and...

This week, I talk about how to get back on track when you get derailed from your plans/schedule. 4 quick tips 1) Accept your situation 2) Make changes/drop things/figure out what you NEED to do now and what can wait until later 3) Enjoy as much as you can what you DO have rather than wishing for what cannot be and 4) promise yourself you will get back on track next week! Action item: Next time you...

In this episode, I talk about 6 ways to tackle the holidays this year so that they are less stressful and MAYBE more fun?: 1) create a brain dump of all the things you need to do 2) edit it 3) edit it again (based on, do you really need/want to do each thing or does someone else you care about really need/want you to do that thing 4) delegate what you can 5) start now! and 6) try to change what yo...

I know this is a tough one, but I talk about 4 things that could be happening to someone we perceive to be lazy (or to you, if others perceive you to be lazy). 1) Procrastinating perfectionists, 2) just effing tired/overworked and need a break/nap/coffee 3) dealing with mental health issues/anxiety/life issues 4) prioritizing other things. Action item: the next time you come across a "lazy" person...

In this episode, I talk about how we are often taught (especially those of us who are women or grew up/were socialized as women) that self care is selfish and that we should put others' needs in front of our own, when really that's not true. One way to help us break out of this is to talk to ourselves like we would talk to our friends. I also discuss What is self care and 2 tests of if something i...

In this episode, I talk about how, despite our best efforts, sometimes we just need to push hard to finish a big project or a bunch of school assignments or whatever. I give 5 specific ways that we can make this process less stressful/scary and less hard on our bodies/mental health as well.

In this episode, I talk about how you won't actually feel happier "when" you get that first job, graduate, or get married/have a kid. Your "real" life is now, and so this means that you need to take care of yourself as if your real life is happening now, not later, "when..." I give examples from momming and tenure and also college students and "pushing through" extra busy times (which I think is a...

This week, I talk about 5 ways that we can work smarter, not harder, to be more like the people in Denmark! In Denmark (according to the Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos), people work less but are more productive, leave work to pick up their kids, and also do not consider those who work extra hours to be "go getters" but believe that such people have trouble with time management! Action item:...

In this episode, I define what meditation is, talk about my own (sparse) experience with it so far, give some examples of why it is "good" for us (think improved attention, emotion control and decreased anxiety/depression?). I give a couple of examples of different kinds of meditation and an action item for you all and for me: Try to meditate just 3 minutes each day this week! The book I mention i...

In this episode, I define "Imposter Syndrome" (doubting your abilities, feeling like a fraud), I give some examples and talk about 3 ways to do battle with it. 1) Name it 2) normalize it and 3) Fight it through self affirmations, reading/learning (when we really don't know something), fake it til you make it? and know that every successful person has failed many, many times. I mention Brene Brown'...

In this episode, I talk about the definition of trust, and how to be a trustworthy person, using the BRAVING framework from Brene Brown's book, Dare to Lead. (Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Non-judgment and Generosity). Action item: find one BRAVING element that you can work on this week and try it! (I am going to work on Vault- not sharing secrets/information that is/a...

In this episode, I talk about fixed vs growth mindset (from Dr. Carol Dweck), and how I've applied a growth mindset to fixing my house, to differing degrees of success depending on the thing. Sometimes, we failed completely (we had to call an electrician for the light) but other times, succeeded completely (painting!) or partially (fixing the porch), but we had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Fail...

In this episode, I talk about how when we think we are multitasking, we are often just switching back and forth between two (or more) tasks quickly, not actually "multitasking." I talk about a couple of books, one called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, and Peak Mind: Find your Focus, Own your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day, and the Happiness Lab, a podcast by...

In this episode, I talk about a "traditional" vs "nontraditional" path, give an example of my own nontraditional path to tenure, and talk about why this will be the last episode of this podcast until the fall! This episode is a little more about letting go of the "rules" of life that are not helpful to us, like that we have to go to college at age 18 or we have to stick to one career path. Action...

In this episode, I talk about my favorite metacognitive study tips! Even if you aren't a student, these tips can be helpful for learning/remembering things at work or home as well. First I talk about what to NOT do to study (re-read the entire chapter! Re-read your notes). Then, I give some tips on how to study/think/learn better, including chunking study time, using concept maps, spaced versus ma...

In this episode (Title from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure), I talk about being kind to each other, especially to those who mess up. The teller at the bank, the Dell fixer guy (or whoever), let's just assume that they are trying their best to do their jobs and if they aren't doing great, let's give them a break just this once. And if these people work with us or for us or we work for them, let...

In this episode, I talk about how actually, quitting can be a good thing- not when we quit something because it is "too hard" but when we quit because the thing is not serving us anymore. I talk about how, in the past, I refused to quit things even when I hated them and there was no reason to keep going (books, mostly). I suggest as my action item, re-assessing what we are doing and why, and what...

In this episode, I talk about actually 8 tips and tricks, both from this article: https://www.ucdenver.edu/student/health-wellness/healthy-happy-life and also from my own experience as a person who has had significant trouble sleeping for the past couple of years due to all the things. Pick one (or a few) and see if it works for you!

In this episode, I talk about how, especially at this time of year for college/grad students (or also everyone), it is so easy to drop sleep first- that is, sleep just a little less to get a little more "done." I give evidence from this article (and some of my own experience): https://www.ucdenver.edu/student/health-wellness/healthy-happy-life about why sleep is necessary and so important, especia...

In this episode, I explain an alternate definition to the traditional "extroverts love people and introverts fear people" definition of introverts and extroverts (hint: it has to do with the size of your social "cup"!), and I give some examples of a few easy things that helped me decide that I am maybe best defined as an ambivert (in the middle of introvert and extrovert) or even maybe a shy/anxio...

In this episode, I talk about how at this time of the year, I always feel the itch to clean/organize my house, and thanks to two of my favorite experts on organizing/cleaning, Gretchen Rubin, author of Outer Order Inner Calm (and many other excellent books) and Marie Kondo, I know a bit more about why it helps me feel better and how to get started. A few key tips: 1) if you can do a task in under...