FRIED. The Burnout Podcast

Hey, FRIED fam! On today’s episode of The Burnout Podcast, Cait is answering written questions from bosses and leaders, asking how to deal with burnout while balancing all of the other concerns of their company and employees. How can you maintain a healthy workplace culture while recovering from burnout? How do you deal with employees who punch up out of frustration? What if restructuring the business to promote a healthier workplace results in layoffs? First, Cait makes the distinction between what is and is not a leader’s responsibility. It is their responsibility to implement, enforce and model a healthy and productive workplace culture. It is not their job however, to fix it individually. Hiring an outside party is essential regardless of cost. She reveals one of the biggest drivers of employee burnout, its actual physical effects, and the point at which leaders may just need to get over themselves. As a boss, you’ll learn #straightfromcait how to positively influence company culture so that everyone wins. Quotes“We have to understand that if your workplace culture was healthy, it’s more likely that you wouldn’t have ended up here.” (1:39 | Caitlin Donovan)“You don’t do it alone. You get support. This is something you have to invest in. It might not have been in your budget. And guess what? You have to do it anyway.” (4:21 | Caitlin Donovan) “If you are someone who typically burns out, and you’re a people pleaser and a perfectionist, as a business owner, you’ve likely hired other people who are people pleasers and perfectionists. So, you might have employees who are holding on just to help you out and really they’ve wanted to go for two years.” (5:08 | Caitlin Donovan) “I’m not actually sure that we can challenge the assumption that the burden of setting and resetting the culture rests in the leader, because it does. Leaders have to be the drivers of change and employees can contribute to that but not before the leader sets the tone and the direction. That is literally the job.” (12:25 | Caitlin Donovan) “One of the things during burnout—and this is fascinating—is you lose some of your peripheral vision, actually, physically, lose peripheral vision. This kind of also works in a brain way. You also can’t see solutions that are not right in front of you. So, when you’re burnt out you kind of tunnel vision yourself and it’s really hard for you to see the bigger picture and how everything is interacting.” (14:45 | Caitlin Donovan) Linkshttps://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/post/karina-schneider-how-to-prepare-for-your-return-to-work-after-burnout-or-mental-health-leavehttps://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/post/straightfromcait-what-can-companies-do-to-reduce-burnout-riskhttps://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/post/straightfromcait-how-companies-can-use-burnout-to-heal-culture-issuesConnect with Cait:Initial Call with Cait: bit.ly/callcaitInitial Call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Life coach Andrea Owen discusses building shame resilience and the armor of behaviors like perfectionism and people pleasing. She emphasizes the importance of reaching out to trustworthy individuals for support and allowing others to show up for you. Building resilience to shame is essential as it is a common human emotion. Embracing emotional vulnerability and processing difficult emotions are key for personal growth and freedom.

Dr. James Gordon, Harvard educated psychiatrist, founder and CEO of the Center for Mind Body Medicine, is recognized throughout the world for his use of self-awareness, self-care and group support to heal population-wide psychological trauma. He joins us on this episode of FRIED to discuss techniques featured in his new book “Transforming Trauma: The Path to Hope and Healing.” He begins by dispelling two prominent myths. Trauma is not relegated only to those who have extreme experiences. We all have dealt with or will deal with trauma sooner or later. Divorce, death of loved ones, facing immortality, major career setbacks or disappointments, all have traumatic impacts. What’s more, contrary to popular belief, we are not doomed to carry our trauma with us for the rest of our lives. We can not only heal ourselves but in doing so come through the other side as better human beings—wiser, kinder and more thoughtful. One highly effective component of Dr. Gordon’s recovery program as described in “Transforming Trauma” is the method of shaking. For those stuck in a freeze response, shaking our bodies, often to music, brings us back into the present. He tells a beautiful story of his time spent working in Haiti with a group of female nursing students who were barely out of their teens. They had recently lost 90 of their classmates and friends to the 2010 earthquake. Dr. Gordon led them through a shaking exercise and the results were both life affirming and hilarious. Another element that keeps us frozen is our judgment—of ourselves and others– a vicious cycle that prevents us from feeling joy and spontaneity. Dr. Gordon explains how we can free ourselves from this rigid, dogmatic state. Any trauma recovery program should be comprehensive, and requires experimentation and mindfulness of our own needs. When we free ourselves from our frozen state we open our minds to infinite possibilities.Quotes“If trauma doesn’t come early in life because, in fact, you have been abused or neglected or you have a congenital deformity of some kind or because you live in a community of violence or poverty, it will likely come in young adulthood or midlife, when we have terrible disappointments, when relationships break up.” (4:31 | Dr. James Gordon)“Change is possible and you can create that change yourself.” (11:04 | Dr. James Gordon)“[Shaking] is the body’s natural way of dealing with certain kinds of overwhelming stress. This is a method that is native to vertebrates, in general. You can see it if you have a dog who’s been in a fight with another dog. After that fight, you pull the dog away on the leash, and the dog is going to shake. It’s shaking off that high level of stress that’s come about from that confrontation. So, it’s part of us, biologically.”(16:00 | Dr. James Gordon)“It’s a vicious cycle, in which you’re judging others and you’re looking for their judgment, it just goes on and on. It’s what inhibits change and it’s what inhibits joy, and certainly inhibits spontaneity.” (16:00 | Dr. James Gordon)“That mind, which can be so useful, needs to be a tool. It shouldn’t be running us.” (40:24 | Dr. James Gordon)Linkshttps://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/home/search/traumaConnect with Dr. James Gordon:Website: cmbm.orgLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgordonmd Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.comhttps://caitdonovan.comBook an Initial Session with Cait: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Hey FRIED Fam,Welcome to a very special sponsored episode where we dive into the transformative journey of Lee Dryburgh, a longevity and biomarker industry expert whose personal and professional experiences offer invaluable insights into wellness, burnout recovery, and the revolutionary impact of accessible health data.Key Highlights & Timestamps:The Catalyst of Change [00:01:13-00:07:23]: Lee shares his early burnout story, starting from his high-pressure career at Cisco, leading to a pivotal moment of physical and emotional collapse at an airport. This experience forced him to reconsider his lifestyle and embark on a decade-long sabbatical in Ljubljana, Slovenia.Post-Burnout Growth & Self-Discovery [00:07:23-00:18:26]: Lee discusses the profound personal growth following his initial burnout. He speaks about the importance of slowing down, embracing the present, and how a series of unfortunate events, including tumultuous relationships and familial losses, led him to therapy and a significant mental shift towards "beingness."Journey Into Functional Medicine [00:19:36-00:28:00]: A chance encounter with a blood lab revealed Lee was pre-diabetic, sparking his interest in functional medicine, biomarker optimization, and the role of diet in health. His exploration into supplements and continuous health monitoring transformed his well-being.Introduction to SiPhox Health [00:28:00-00:42:39]: Lee explains his collaboration with SiPhox Health, a company aiming to democratize access to health data through at-home blood testing. He highlights how understanding biomarkers can aid in managing stress, inflammation, and overall health, emphasizing the kit's role in proactive health management and burnout recovery.This episode not only sheds light on the physical and emotional facets of burnout but also introduces groundbreaking tools for health optimization. Lee's story is a testament to the power of introspection, the value of health data, and the potential of technology to enhance our well-being.For more details on SiPhox Health and to take advantage of a special discount for FRIED listeners, visit siphoxhealth.com/fried.

Hey listeners! I'm Sarah Vosen, and I am delighted to be with you today. In this episode, I will discuss the importance of tuning into your body's signals for guidance, decision-making, and prioritizing self-care practices during burnout recovery. Follow me as we do an exercise to identify what physical sensations signify yes or no answers to better understand your body’s needs. Tune in to boost your intuition and make choices aligned with your needs during burnout recovery! Episode Highlights:Learning to recognize and differentiate between yes and no feelings in the body through sensory exploration of scenarios. Sarah guides listeners in an exercise to tune into their body's physical sensations when imagining saying yes or no to different scenarios. This helps them recognize what a yes and no feel like nonverbally so they can better understand their body's signals.Prioritize self-care practices based on your body’s signal. Rather than overloading your plan with various self-care practices, Sarah encourages you to list options and check in with your body. This helps you prioritize based on current needs indicated by your body's response, whether a clear yes or no.When dealing with tough decisions that require steps you're hesitant about but are necessary for your goal, Sarah suggests paying attention to that resistance. This helps you determine what kind of support you need to take those initial steps, adding depth to your decision-making process. The process of listening and trusting will get easier as you continue practicing..Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.comBook an Initial Session with Cait: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried

Today, I have a special guest who will share her amazing story of overcoming burnout. She is Emily Ballesteros, a resilience advocate with a background in industrial organizational psychology. She has transformed her own experience of prolonged exhaustion into a powerful journey. She will reveal the insights and solutions she discovered along the way, culminating in her upcoming book, "The Cure for Burnout," set to launch on February 13, 2024. Fried fam, get ready for an inspiring conversation with Emily about resilience and the path to overcoming burnout.Episode Highlights:In this insightful episode, Emily dives into the dynamics of internal and external validation, urging listeners to prioritize internal fulfillment over societal expectations. She shared practical advice on crafting a high-quality life, emphasizing the significance of personal values in decision-making.Experimentation takes center stage as a tool for personal growth, challenging the fear of making the "right" choices. The episode explores burnout recovery, assuring listeners that the tools gained during recovery serve as a safeguard against complete regression.The concept of burnout by boredom is introduced, highlighting the need for novelty and variety in life to prevent chronic disengagement. The hosts discuss finding balance between external and internal perspectives, especially when facing discomfort or dissatisfaction.Connect with Emily Ballesteros:https://www.emilyballesteros.com/ https://www.instagram.com/emilybruth/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-ballesteros Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.com https://caitdonovan.com Book an Initial Session with Cait: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried

Hey everyone, it's Cait Donovan here, and I'm thrilled to dive into a topic that's been buzzing in our Facebook group - kickstarting your burnout recovery. I get it, finding the right starting point is tricky because your burnout journey is as unique as you are. So today, we're going to have a reflective journey with questions designed to guide you through your burnout recovery.Episode Highlights:These ten questions will help you reflect deeply on yourself. Understanding where your life feels unfair or where you're using energy without fulfillment is important for planning your recovery strategy.You might be thinking, "Do I have to answer all ten questions at once?" Absolutely not. The great thing about this process is that you can go at your own pace. Take a break, reflect, and when you're ready, move on to the next question. The goal here is to make progress, not achieve perfection.Here’s a key point – looking for patterns in your responses. Pay attention to recurring themes as you go through these questions. These patterns can provide valuable insights into areas of your life that may need attention and transformation.The most important part: Start with the easiest change. When it comes to recovering from burnout, simplicity is your best friend. Begin with manageable shifts; gain momentum before taking on more complex challenges. By choosing the easiest path initially, you not only make tangible progress but also develop a mindset that allows for gradual, sustainable change.This is not about following someone else's journey. It's about understanding your unique needs and creating a recovery plan that suits you.Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.comhttps://caitdonovan.comBook an Initial Session with Caitl: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED’s group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried

Dr. Monica Wang, a veterinarian who overcame burnout and incorporates Chinese medicine, discusses her journey. Topics include burnout in veterinary school, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, self-care, setting boundaries, and achieving work-life balance. She encourages aligning self-care with personal values and seeking external support. The myth of 'Work Harder' trap is dispelled, emphasizing that more effort isn't always the answer. Small changes, reflecting on experiences, and feeling safe are key to burnout recovery.

Hey fried fam, it's Sarah, and today, I want to dive into a transformative experience from my life in 2022. This journey not only marked my recovery but ignited the realization that giving myself permission to have what I want is crucial. In this episode, we'll explore the importance of recognizing your needs, confronting fears, and embracing the healing path. So, buckle up, my fellow burnout warriors, as we talk about the empowering journey of self-discovery.Episode Highlights:Your needs are just as important as anyone else's. Grant yourself the freedom to prioritize what you truly want and need in your life.Setting boundaries and communicating effectively can make a huge difference. When I faced challenges in my relationship, I realized the importance of standing strong and saying no when necessary. It's about recognizing when a situation isn't serving you and having the courage to clearly communicate your needs.Embrace your emotions, even the uncomfortable ones. Trust me, it's crucial to honor what you feel. Take a moment to acknowledge your emotions, explore their roots, and determine what you truly need in those moments. This emotional self-awareness is a key part of the healing journey.Lastly, something close to my heart—reparenting your inner child. I've been there, and I understand. Show yourself compassion for past experiences, address unmet needs from your childhood, and nurture your inner child with love and support. It's about building trust within yourself and creating that internal safety for healing. Take care of your inner child; they deserve it. Connect with Sarah:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahvosenlac/ Book an Initial Session with Cait: bit.ly/callcait Book a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahv 

In today's episode, Sarah and I discuss the topic of sleep, particularly from the perspective of Chinese medicine. They also talk about the phases of burnout and how they can impact sleep patterns for certain individuals.Episode Highlights:Cait and Sarah delve into the Chinese medicine perspective on sleep, introducing the concept of Yin and Yang. They use the Yin Yang symbol to explain the interdependence of these opposing forces, describing Yin as cold, dark, still, and moist, while Yang is associated with warmth, activity, and movement. They explain how balance between Yin and Yang is crucial for overall well-being and that disruptions in this balance can affect sleep.They encourage listeners to consider the Chinese medicine perspective on sleep and explore the principles of Yin and Yang balance. They want listeners to view sleep through this lens, understanding the interplay between Yin and Yang as they aim to provide a fresh perspective that may help listeners make different choices to improve their sleep.Remember, understanding the phases of burnout and recognizing how imbalances in Yin and Yang can impact sleep patterns. The goal is to empower everyone with a new understanding of sleep and potential strategies for achieving better sleep quality.Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.comhttps://caitdonovan.comBook a free 1:1 call: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfriedhttps://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/post/riley-jarvis-the-big-secrets-of-exceptional-sleep-with-the-sleep-consultanthttps://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/post/kristen-holmes-stay-ahead-of-your-health-with-whoop