Life can feel so overwhelming sometimes, especially with the nonstop pace of the modern world. But what if you learned to embrace the messiness that comes with life and concentrated more on what really matters to you rather than attempting to control everything?Building on the themes from his previous bestseller, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Michael is joined by returning guest Oliver Burkeman to break down his new book, Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. Oliver and Michael dig into key ideas, such as the limits of control, the traps of overachievement and information overload, and how to face life challenges with a proactive, value-driven mindset. You'll love Oliver’s powerful metaphors, like navigating a kayak instead of steering a superyacht, which really brings home the beauty of going with life’s flow while staying grounded and intentional. This is an incredible resource that offers daily insights designed to inspire action, so join us for this empowering conversation and start your journey of embracing imperfection and living a more meaningful life. Listen and Learn:  Oliver’s philosophy behind 'Meditations for Mortals' The Evolution from 4,000 Weeks to Meditations for Mortals Embracing the concept of imperfectionism by being finite, taking action, letting go and showing up  Embracing life’s chaos with the kayak vs. superyacht metaphor The insecure overachiever and learning to break free from productivity guilt Dealing with the overflow of information and discerning what truly deserves your attention The paradox of life's endless problems and the freedom found in embracing them How to apply imperfectionism in your daily life  Balancing empathy with boundaries and why other people's problems aren’t yours to solve Resources: Oliver’s books:  Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals Oliver’s Website: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ Connect with Oliver on X: @oliverburkeman About Oliver BurkemanOliver Burkeman is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Four Thousand Weeks and The Antidote, and for many years wrote a popular weekly column on psychology for the Guardian, 'This Column Will Change Your Life'. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychologies, and New Philosopher.Related Episodes242. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management with Oliver Burkeman 257. The Gift of Being Ordinary with Ron Siegel 321. Imposter No More with Jill Stoddard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meghan Riordan Jarvis, a trauma-trained psychotherapist and author, delves into the complexities of grief in this heartfelt conversation. She explores the concept of viewing grief as trauma, shedding light on emotions like anger and guilt that often accompany loss. Meghan emphasizes the importance of open discussions about death and offers practical coping strategies, such as letter writing. She shares personal stories about her own experiences with loss, encouraging more honest conversations and highlighting the continuing connections we can maintain with our loved ones.

Stephanie Foo, a New York Times bestselling author and radio producer, shares her journey of healing from complex PTSD in a heartfelt discussion. She distinguishes between PTSD and C-PTSD, emphasizing the importance of understanding these differences for effective support. Stephanie delves into her therapeutic experiences, including EMDR and yoga, and highlights how community and relationships have been crucial in her recovery. The conversation offers practical advice and wisdom for anyone navigating their own healing path or supporting others.

In this very special roundtable episode of Psychologists Off the Clock, our cohosts Debbie Sorenson and Emily Edlynn gather a panel of experts—including Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Ellen Galinsky, and Devorah Heitner—to discuss an issue many parents face today: the impact of smartphones and social media on children’s mental health. Bringing their unique perspectives together, they look at the often-alarmist messages surrounding technology use in youth, offering a balanced and hopeful perspective rooted in evidence-based science and field and personal experience. Some of the key topics they talk about include addressing parental stress around technology, shifting from rigid monitoring to supportive mentoring, and how cultivating digital literacy and independence in our children. Please tune in for thoughtful, evidence-based strategies that prioritize your children’s well-being and growth and reassure you that healthy digital citizenship is within reach without having to resort to fear-based tactics. Listen and Learn: Meet the experts - Emily Edlynn, Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Ellen Galinsky, and Devorah Heitner What are the effects of alarmist tech narratives? How do extreme views impact youth mental health? Lessons from public health campaigns on tech use Parents and community roles in digital literacy: How can we work together? Navigating the pressures of intensive parenting around tech Understanding the complex link between tech and mental health What science really says about technology’s impact on kids Recognizing data cherry-picking in tech research Teen suicide and the importance of careful data interpretation Key findings from the National Academy on social media How do teens really feel about tech? Harnessing positive peer influence on tech habits The critical role of sleep in teen well-being School tech policies: What can parents do? Ways to involve kids in creating tech solutions How fear-based messaging affects kids Parental roles: Monitoring vs. mentoring Building executive function skills through balanced tech use Resources:  Tracy’s New York Times review of The Anxious Generation: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/books/review/jonathan-haidt-the-anxious-generation.htm Devorah’s Newsweek article: https://www.newsweek.com/everyone-wants-save-children-social-media-what-about-rest-us-opinion-1922435  Emily’s debate with Jonathan Haidt:  You can watch it in its entirety here or this clip on YouTube. And you can follow the story of her participation in the debate on her Substack newsletter here https://emilyedlynn.substack.com/p/david-meet-goliath and here https://emilyedlynn.substack.com/p/sextortionist-rings-and-other-fear  The Surgeon General’s advisory on Parental stress: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/parents/index.html  A commentary by Emily, Debbie, and Yael on the advisory: https://emilyedlynn.substack.com/p/is-parent-stress-breaking-news  About our panelists:  Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and neuroscience and Director of the Emotion Regulation Lab at Hunter College. Ellen Galinsky is President of Families and Work Institute and the elected President of the Work and Family Researchers Network. Devorah Heitner, PhD is the author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive and Survive in the Digital World. Emily Edlynn, PhD is a psychologist and the author of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout and Raise Competent, Confident Children and the emotions journal for kids, In Your Feels. And of course you all know her as a cohost of Psychologists Off the Clock.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have an insightful discussion with Ruth Whippman this week, who urges us to rethink masculinity and nurture boys in a way that honors their mental health and emotional depth. A mother of three and the insightful author of Boy Mom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity, Ruth brings a personal and societal viewpoint to the intense pressures that often shape modern masculinity. She sheds light on the cultural forces that define "being a man" and shares her journey in challenging these norms. We also learn about Ruth’s experiences as a mother, how society's expectations affect boys from an early age, and the importance of fostering boys' emotional development and accepting their complete human complexity. We hope you join us for this compassionate and in-depth conversation and broaden your understanding of how we can change how we see and raise boys today. Listen and Learn:  The impossible expectations facing boys and men today—how do they find their way forward? How Ruth, a mother of three boys navigated feminism, fear, and future masculinity in a conflicted cultural moment  Are we burdening boys with blame from the past? The science behind why boys need more nurture early on but often receive less and how it creates an emotional gap with lasting effects How early affection shapes moral growth and how gender impacts this Are boys being deprived of friendship lessons that promote emotional depth and connection because of the way they are portrayed in the media? Precarious masculinity: how shifting ideals are creating a public health crisis for boys and men Hyperconnection and disconnection and how masculinity ties into mental health risks for boys The dark online world of 'incels,' where toxic masculinity and vulnerability collide in horrific ways The need to rethink how we approach boys' emotional growth beyond "masculinity" norms Resources:  Boymom, Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity Website: https://www.ruthwhippman.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@ruthwhippman Social Media:  https://www.instagram.com/ruthwhippman/ https://twitter.com/ruthwhippman https://www.facebook.com/RuthWhippman/ About:  Ruth Whippman is an author, journalist and cultural critic and the mother of three boys. A former BBC documentary director, she has written for the New York Times, Time magazine, The Guardian, HuffPost, and other publications. She is the author of the book America the Anxious, which was a New York Post Best Book of the Year and a New York Times Editors’ Choice and Paperback Row pick. Her latest book is Boymom, Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity.Related Episodes: 374. Developing and Deepening Connections with Adam Dorsay 361. Dudes and Dads: Men’s Mental Health with Danny Singley 360. The Laws of Connection with David Robson 331. Seeing Others: The Importance of Being Recognized and Valued with Michele Lamont 325. Unseen, Unheard, Undervalued with Janina Scarlet 304. The Emotional Lives of Teenagers with Lisa Damour Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross White, an award-winning clinical psychologist and professor, dives into the concept of psychological flexibility and its role in achieving a fulfilling life. He argues that the relentless pursuit of productivity may hinder true well-being. The conversation explores how embracing rest can transform burnout into balance. Ross illustrates the importance of navigating 'get,' 'threat,' and 'reset' modes, suggesting that small steps can lead to discovering one's purpose. Listeners are encouraged to seek strength in adaptability, much like a tree that bends to survive.

Paula Freedman-Diamond, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of "Toxic Striving," sheds light on how hustle culture and wellness ideals can warp our self-worth. She discusses the anxiety linked to perfectionism and the societal pressures that fuel toxic striving. Paula encourages embracing intuitive eating and flexible living to prioritize personal values over external expectations. She also emphasizes the necessity of setting boundaries with social media to protect mental health, aiming to help over-achievers find balance and self-compassion.

Mary Anderson, a licensed psychologist and speaker, shares her insights on balancing high achievement with happiness. She discusses her concept of the 'Troublesome Trifecta'—cognitive distortions that hinder progress. Mary emphasizes the importance of striving for excellence instead of perfection and how celebrating small victories fuels motivation. Listeners learn strategies for overcoming anxiety, reframing negative thoughts, and building genuine connections. Her approach encourages embracing mistakes and cultivating a compassionate mindset to unlock true potential.

Lindsay Cormack, an Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Diplomacy Lab, discusses her book, How to Raise a Citizen. She emphasizes the significant role parents play in nurturing politically engaged children. The conversation tackles the challenges of discussing politics at home, combating misinformation, and promoting civic responsibility. Lindsay shares strategies for fostering political awareness and encouraging kids to participate in their communities, ultimately empowering the next generation of informed voters.

Join Dr. Michael Alcee, a clinical psychologist and mental health educator, as he reveals the artistic side of therapy. He discusses the powerful blend of creativity and science, emphasizing how humor, metaphor, and emotional connections enhance therapeutic relationships. Alcee shares his transformative experiences, including insights from luminaries like Irving Yalom, and highlights the importance of intuition and improvisation in practice. Explore how merging left-brain logic with right-brain creativity can elevate both therapist and client experiences.