Less Stress, More Fun

It's time for new adventures! Enjoy this last episode of my beloved "Less Stress, More Fun" podcast! #podcast #endings #beginnings #lessstress #morefun © 2024 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is your ikigai? Is it something you find…or can it be something you choose and create? Don’t let finding your purpose stress you out when there is a “Less Stress, More Fun” approach instead.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about:  The concept of “ikigai”  Creative ways to use this concept in your life  Resources mentioned:  “How to Ikigai” (Tim Tamashiro, TEDx...

Let’s reflect on the year that’s wrapping up. How do you want to remember it?  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about:  The value of reflecting on a time period or a project  How to perform a retrospective  How to apply the lessons learned from your retrospective  Resources mentioned:  “Guide to Lessons Learned in Project Management” ( Smartsheet )  “Retros...

Which version of you do you prefer? Of all the personas that you wear each week, there might be one you prefer or aspects of each you want to celebrate.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about:  Why we morph and how it’s a good thing  Personas of behavior and thinking  Celebrating your favorite persona(s) the “less stress, more fun” way  Resources mentioned:  “D...

Consider what is a LOT of money to you compared to, “Meh, that’s not that much.” Money can be an emotionally charged topic for us…and yet so much about money is relative to your own perspective and environment.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about:  Why I consider money to be “relative” (and what that means)  Reasons money is a central topic of our thinking  Suggestion...

Let’s talk about practical stress reduction: breathing techniques!  Now, I know, I know, this is a frequently discussed topic. Still, the reason we hear so much about the fundamental act of breathing is because learning these techniques can make a real difference in how you manage stress and show up calm, cool, and collected in your everyday life.  As a bonus, I’ll be throwing in a few s...

We’re in relationships constantly. With our families, with our careers or businesses, with ourselves. A key way to enjoy the less stress, more fun way of life is assessing times when a relationship is lopsided from either too much giving (offers) or too much taking (asks).  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: The concept of “asks” and “offers”  Ways to detect when one of the re...

This is the holiday season and that often means family gatherings. In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: How a relationship with your elders can add to your life  Ways you can honor your elders  Inspiration for becoming the kind of elder you want to be Resources mentioned: “The Wisdom of Elders: How the wisdom of elders can promote social well-being in troubled times.” ( Psycholo...

Do you love to receive messages from others? How about sending messages? Today I’ll share one of the best ways I know to manage stress and have more fun. Who knew messaging could be part of living the “Less Stress, More Fun” way?  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about:  The concept of messaging as a way to practice a “Less Stress, More Fun” life  Why messaging is so powerful&...

This podcast was inspired by an average American GenX mom going down a rabbit hole of 80s music videos with her Gen Z kids. It got me thinking about the concept of nostalgia…and what I’ve learned over the years about why our teen years make such an impression on us for life.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: The “reminiscence bump” How your view of history and the future influenc...

Are you a good listener? Enjoy listening to my thoughts on this topic.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: The unexpected joys of listening The act of listening The art of listening Questions that amplify paying attention How to make listening easy/easier Resources mentioned: “About Motivational Interviewing” ( Stephen Rollnick, co-founder ) “You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missi...

In recent conversations, it’s come to light that some of us equate “comfort” with “security.” But what are comfort and security, and what do they have to do with each other?  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: Trends I see in ideas of comfort and discomfort  Comfort as a stand in for security  The concept of vs. the reality of what it means to be secure  Tips for sup...

What is your balance of online life compared to offline life?  Let’s explore what you can do to have a less stressful, more fun offline existence.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: My journey with balancing my online participation with my offline, real time participation Conversations IRL with people about their virtual lives Experiments you can run to test and refine your r...

Some humans love to plan. Analyze. Research. This is our attempt to control the outcome. But nothing beats the lessons learned from taking action.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: What causes people to avoid taking action Sneaky ways inaction can show up The incredible benefits of learning from experience Balancing the stress of “might do it wrong” with “didn’t do anything” Reso...

Do you love where you live? Your home, your neighborhood, your community, your country…your earth? I have been flirting with falling more in love with where I live. In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: Location is not just a state of mind. But mindset matters.  Why you might cultivate a desire to love where you live even if you intend to leave  Ideas for how to fall in love with...

There are so many ways to add flavor to your life! What are you hungry for? What do you want to taste in this garden of life?  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: The concept of choosing life’s spices to make life more flavorful Finding areas of your life to experiments with the concept of flavorful seasonings Ideas for making your life more zesty and fun by putting this concept int...

There seems to be a myth that parenting means experiencing guilt. Yet why would that be true? I think parenting guilt is a waste of time and energy. And, more importantly, parenting guilt can deplete the joy you - and your kids! - experience from your parenting.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: The concept of parent guilt (bi-directional!) The unexpected costs of feeling guilty...

There’s much talk about the routines of “doing.” Morning routines, email routines, etc. Yet how often do you notice and optimize your mental routines?  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: Ways you can observe your most and least helpful mental routines Deciding what mental routines to work on adjusting Fun games you can play to adjust your mental routines Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduc...

This is the “Less Stress, More Fun” podcast’s 100th episode! Today I thought I’d talk about how fun it is to have “favorite things”...and how playful it is to let those evolve over time.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: The joys of creating this podcast A few of my favorite things Embracing your favorites Resources mentioned: “My Favorite Things” song from the movie “The Sound o...

When people don’t meet expectations, it can be stressful. How do you handle it when there is a clear expectation for performance that is not being addressed?  Let’s talk about accountability conversations! In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: When to have a conversation How to prepare for a conversation The powerful generosity of holding each other accountable Resources mentioned: “A...

Sometimes life is super busy. And sometimes we’re surprised by quiet periods in one or more areas of our life.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about 3 suggestions for managing the stress of “not enough to do” compared to the stress of “too much to do”  Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/ #podcast #busy #motion #hu...

Everything has a cycle that includes beginnings and endings. Sometimes in life, it seems as though we face a lot of endings. This episode is for those of you who might love a fresh, shiny new beginning yet wonder how to gracefully navigate endings whether expected, foreseen, and abrupt. In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: Seeing endings as the natural autumn and winter of our lives Diffe...

Do you make decisions easily? If you’re like most people, the answer is “it depends.” Will you decide to brush your teeth today? Where will you go for dinner with your family? When is it time to make a career change? Life is a series of decisions, and the impacts of those decisions vary widely.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: What I observe from individuals around the world aro...

Do you love to get lost along the side roads and unexplored alleys of life? Or do you like to go from A to B with the least muss and fuss? Today we’ll talk about how to embrace life’s detours the “Less Stress, More Fun” way.  In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: My personal experience with predictability and detours How detours are the norm, the rule rather than the exception How to...

Today’s podcast is a fun and delicious metaphor to describe choosing focus and then living into that focus. I hope you are inspired to eat the enchilada, whatever that ends up meaning for you. In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about: The value of choosing 1 thing you love and want to bring to life in the world How to choose your “enchilada” Eating the enchilada even when you’re just sick of e...