Episodes
When we notice the warning signs of burnout, we can end up either doing things that don’t help in the long-term, or we ignore the problem. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when they feel like they’re burning out, and how to avoid them. Download the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for reflection and to submit for your appraisal as part of your CPD. Download the Stress Curve handout Join the You Are Not a Frog Facebook group Mentioned in this episode: FREE WEBINAR – How...
Published 05/27/24
Research shows that loneliness could be as detrimental to our health as cancer, and it’s not an issue affecting older people, but those in their teens and 20s. This episode offers practical steps to help you create more healthy, high-quality connections in your life. LinksThe dangers of loneliness – TEDx St AlbansDownload the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for reflection and to submit for your appraisal as part of your CPD.Join the You Are Not a Frog Facebook group Mentioned in this...
Published 05/20/24
Get more control over your time by clearly defining and enforcing your personal boundaries. Discover why it feels like people overstep them, and what to do when that happens. LinksDownload the THRIVE Week PlannerDownload the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for reflection and to submit for your appraisal as part of your CPD.Join the You Are Not a Frog Facebook group Mentioned in this episode: Beat Stress & Thrive course Beat burnout and find balance – even in a high-stakes role with...
Published 05/13/24
When someone on your team isn't pulling their weight, it's not only demoralising for the rest of the team, but detrimental to the person in question. If performance management isn’t put into practice, workplaces can become toxic, which can hamper performance and lower job satisfaction. High-functioning teams enable everyone to speak up, challenge each-other, and share their mistakes and learning. And it all starts with giving feedback. Download the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for...
Published 05/06/24
If you’re caught in a cycle of constant work, you might feel like you can't afford even a short break. But that only leads to burnout, so what do you do if you feel you’re too busy to take a break? LinksHow to Avoid Amygdala Hijack Part 1 – Episode 169How to Avoid Amygdala Hijack Part 2 – Episode 171Download your THRIVE Week PlannerDownload your Overwhelm SOS guide Mentioned in this episode: 🚨 Escape the urgency trap! Get your most important work done and find the time to enjoy your life
Published 04/29/24
Lots of us struggle to express ourselves in the way we want to at work. But finding our voice is just the beginning – the next step is using it effectively. Download the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for reflection and to submit for your appraisal as part of your CPD.Join the You Are Not a Frog Facebook group More episodes of You Are Not a Frog: How to Increase Your Confidence and Impact – Episode 198, with Dr Claire KayeWhat to Do When Your Strengths Have Side Effects – Episode 97, with...
Published 04/22/24
Comparing ourselves to others can be toxic, and lead us to ignore our own needs, and forget our unique limits. It’s time to follow our own path, to note when we're "shoulding" on ourselves, to stop feeling guilty about our differences, and to ditch the idea that we're somehow wrong for having different constraints. Download the Thrive Week PlannerDownload the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for reflection and to submit for your appraisal as part of your CPD.Join the You Are Not a Frog...
Published 04/15/24
Making the right decision can feel tricky, especially when they involve important life transitions. But there's a way out, and it starts with asking ourselves some fundamental questions around why we want what we want, and what we truly hope to gain when we get it. Download the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for reflection and to submit for your appraisal as part of your CPD.Download your free Overwhelm SOS guideJoin the You Are Not a Frog Facebook groupThe Mole and the Mountain: A little...
Published 04/08/24
If you're questioning whether a job or a relationship is right for you, it's worth exploring further, and taking those thoughts seriously. Remember that change is often a sign of growth, not failure. So focus on the potential positives that can arise from change, rather than asking “what if it doesn’t work?” Download your free Overwhelm SOS guideHow to Ditch the Saviour Complex and Feel More Alive – Episode 88, with Rob BellHow to Decide if You Need to Stay or Leave a Difficult Situation –...
Published 04/01/24
It’s easy to to find ourselves thinking that money holds the key to our happiness, security, and freedom. We can project our desires and aversions onto money, believing that once we have “enough”, we can finally get the life we want. But thinking like this often keeps us from truly living our lives; instead we're stuck constantly chasing the next thing. ⭐️ Work Well Webinars Money is a story we create, not something with inherent power. It's a piece of paper; a digit in a computer we assign...
Published 03/25/24
What happens when we're not feeling well, or when we're feeling overwhelmed at work? Often, we turn to our colleagues for support. But what happens when that support doesn't come, or it's not as helpful as we’d hoped? 🛟 Download your free Overwhelm SOS guide When we're all in the same boat, it's tricky to get a different perspective. Even well-meaning advice from a colleague can feel misplaced or missing the mark, as it’s shaped by their own experiences and limitations. This can leave us...
Published 03/18/24
Women in medicine are often undervalued and taken less seriously than their male counterparts. They’re also made to feel less safe at work, and encounter pushback when they make a complaint. This week’s guest is Professor Dame Jane Dacre, and the episode is recorded in partnership with the Physician Mums Facebook Group (PMGUK). In her discussion with Rachel, Dame Jane lays out what needs to change at structural and interpersonal levels. She invites members of the industry to shine a light on...
Published 03/14/24
Saying what you really feel – especially in a high-stress job – is no easy task. Crucial conversations are often avoided for fear of damaging relationships. These unaired grievances get bottled up and over time can increase our level of stress. ⭐️ Work Well Webinars But there are three core conditions for effective conversation that can help here: empathy (stepping into someone else’s shoes), unconditional respect (accepting the other’s right to be as they are), and congruence (expressing...
Published 03/11/24
We often set goals in the belief they’ll make us happier. But setting goals alone might not be enough to truly help us thrive.In this quick dip, Rachel discusses why that’s the case, and offers a different approach to finding satisfaction and success. ⭐️ Work Well Webinars It all begins with a shift in focus from goals to desires. Instead of starting with specific goals, we should first identify what we truly desire and what our basic needs are. This helps us align our actions and routines...
Published 03/04/24
There are times working in medicine or other high-stress jobs, when you feel trapped and unhappy. And maybe you’ve told yourself you have no other option but to stay put. These “shoulds” can come from societal expectations or the idea that you’ve put so much into your job already that it would be silly – or even irresponsible – to quit now. ⭐️ Work Well Webinars These myths and pressures keep us feeling stuck, and prevent us from exploring alternative possibilities within or outside of our...
Published 02/26/24
We’re all seeking the perfect job or career path that will bring us happiness and fulfilment. But while we’re focused on achieving success, we can overlook the bigger stuff – and it’s possible that our current career trajectory might not take us there. That’s why we need to find and then follow our North Star. Finding it starts with prioritising four fundamental needs: feeling fully human, deep connections, meaning and purpose, and growth and learning. By aligning our goals with these needs,...
Published 02/19/24
We all experience moments of feeling stuck. Sometimes we have the motivation, but something’s in our way. On other days the simplest things can feel like pushing a boulder up a hill. Now matter how competent we know we are, that feeling of inertia can wreak havoc on our self-confidence. If we’re going to get unstuck and move forwards, we first need to find out what’s blocking us. ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now The solution is to take a conscious leadership approach. This means shifting our...
Published 02/12/24
If you were in a life-or-death scenario and the only path out was over hot coals, would you take it? Of course. But when it comes to situations that are making us uncomfortable or even miserable, we seldom want to experience that discomfort to get to what we know will be better for us. ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now In this quick dip episode, Rachel explores the importance of considering the long-term impact of our work, and offers a single question you can ask yourself right now, to...
Published 02/05/24
If you’re in a job where you use your brain a lot, it can be easy to feel disconnected from your body and emotions. This in turn can lead to a lack of self-awareness and even difficulty in expressing yourself. That lack of awareness changes how we outwardly express ourselves, even in ways we’re not aware of. But by becoming consciously connected with our body, we can get a bit more control over our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and over how others see us. ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket...
Published 01/29/24
We all experience shame from time to time, but when it becomes toxic, we can end up in a shame spiral from which it's difficult to escape. When we’re called out on something about which we feel shameful, it can make us defensive. And so often, no-one can punish us as harshly as we punish ourselves. In this quick dip episode, Rachel shares her strategy to break free from shame spirals and cultivate a healthier mindset; by sharing our shame, taking some perspective, and seeking support from...
Published 01/22/24
When we’re presented with a difficult problem, naturally we use logic and reasoning to solve it. But some problems – like stress and burnout – can’t be solved with logic alone. The left hemisphere is the area of the brain focused on tasks, logic, and problem-solving. But the right hemisphere deals with relationships, connections, and new perspectives. It’s also visual and metaphorical, so it can help us see problems in a different way. So our right brain can help us live more easily with...
Published 01/15/24
So you’ve got a problem, maybe a relationship issue at work or difficulties managing your workload. You’ve talked it with friends, but the solution won’t present itself. Often the problem isn't that we lack solutions, but rather that we haven't fully understood what the problem is in the first place. In this quick dip episode, Rachel shares her three-step model to help you identify and address the real problem you’re facing. It involves recognising we have choices, embracing our human needs...
Published 01/08/24
Faced with a difficult situation, we often ask the question “should I stay or should I go?” It could be about work, a relationship, or something more personal. We all face this question at various times in our life, and it can be overwhelming to make a choice when we’re scared of the unknown. This week, we’re revisiting a discussion with Corrina Gordon-Barnes, about how to tackle the decision-making process. Instead of relying on traditional methods like pros and cons lists or seeking advice...
Published 01/01/24
If you have a high-stakes job like medicine, shame can show up in unexpected and unwelcome places. Doctors have incredibly high societal expectations, with constant pressure to be invulnerable. It’s time to challenge these unrealistic expectations and foster an environment that supports doctors in their vulnerability. This week, we’re featuring one of our most popular and impactful episodes from 2023 to help you identify and combat shame. In this episode, Dr Sandy Miles discusses the impact...
Published 12/25/23
The Christmas season can be a time of stress and disappointment, especially when our expectations don't match up with reality. We can find ourselves dealing with difficult family members, feeling overwhelmed with work and family obligations, or experiencing a general sense of dissatisfaction.But there’s plenty we can do to make the festive period more enjoyable and less overwhelming. This week, we’re revisiting a previous conversation on the podcast, with Corrina Gordon-Barnes. In her chat...
Published 12/18/23