Call Her Brilliant

Are you “mostly handling it”? Looking like you’ve got it together on the outside, but on the inside you’re one unexpected deadline from not handling it? Wow, have I been there! 

In today’s episode, I share my own story of barely keeping it together on the inside. Once I started paying closer attention to what I was doing in my free time, I realized that work wasn’t my only problem. 

You’ll learn three steps that will save you from burnout and might even help you make time to check something off your bucket list like me.

Show Highlights

[02:10] - I started my business on the side, but I didn’t leave any free time for myself.

[04:15] - Taking breaks wasn’t enough.

[05:16] - Our tendencies at work don’t go away when we get home.

[07:20] - I describe what I noticed after making time for one activity I love.

[08:27] - Step #1: Decide what you want to do in your free time.

[08:42] - Step #2: Leave space in your schedule after work.

[09:00] - Step #3: Get started!

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The Insider’s Guide to Stop Procrastinating

Have you ever been worried that you are teetering on the edge of totally burning yourself out? I know I’ve been there and to be honest, I’ve been over that edge before, too. Working all the time. Setting impossible standards for myself. And burning out trying to do it all. 

In this episode, you’ll learn why we set ourselves up for burnout, five signs to watch out for, and one strategy to get your energy, motivation, and self confidence back on track.

Show Highlights

[01:47] - Check out episode 117 to hear the story about how I accidentally became a neuroscientist.

[03:11] - A case of memory issues, but a totally healthy brain.

[04:57] - About half of my patients were like this. High achievers with healthy brains taking on too much.

[06:44] - Burnout might have a delayed effect.

[08:07] - Here are the signs to watch out for. Sign #1: Every time you take a vacation, you get sick.

[08:41] - Sign #2: Your memory feels like a sieve.

[09:14] - Sign #3: You’re exhausted but you can’t fall asleep.

[09:34] - Sign #4: Headaches and muscle tension.

[10:02] - Sign #5: You are cranky.

[11:01] - Train your brain to notice your successes.

[13:00] - Burnout can sneak up on you.

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The Insider’s Guide to Stop Procrastinating

Have you ever felt guilty when you rest or take a break from work? Ever feel like you can’t step away from work because you have so much you are thinking about? You’re not alone. 

In fact, there’s a famous psychology study that explains why this happens! But, the result of the study might surprise you.

Make sure you listen on to also learn a simple strategy to shift your brain out of work mode at the end of the day so you can enjoy your evenings and free time without thinking about work.

Show Highlights

[02:33] - Participants in this study rated super boring tasks.

[03:20] - The results of this study were surprising!

[04:05] - What is cognitive dissonance?

[06:07] - When we aren’t working or we take a break, we feel guilty.

[07:13] - Create boundaries for your brain between work and rest time.

[09:11] - Download your Daily Productivity Checklist to help.

[09:47] - Our brains need rest.

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The Insider’s Guide to Stop Procrastinating

You may have heard that the color of a room can change the way we get things done. But what about changing the light?

In this episode, you’ll learn about a famous psychology study involving changing the lighting in a building to boost productivity. You might be surprised by what it taught us about our brains.

Stick around, because at the end of the episode I’ll share a strategy to help turn off your inner perfectionist, get more done, and have energy left over at the end of your work day

Show Highlights

[01:44] - Ever wonder if the lighting in your office space changes your productivity?

[03:01] - This study showed that productivity changed when the light changed.

[03:45] - The Hawthorne Effect is all about how our behavior changes when we think we are being watched.

[05:02] - There are signs that your mental defaults could be keeping you stuck.

[06:19] - Done is better than perfect.

[07:09] - Sometimes that drive for perfection is a fear of failure.

[08:27] - It’s not the level of lighting that makes the difference.

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The Insider’s Guide to Stop Procrastinating

For most of us, saying no is super difficult. This is even more true for recovering perfectionists! But why is it such a challenge?

In this episode, you’ll learn about a famous and deceptively simple study involving looking at lines on a screen. You’ll learn what it taught us about people-pleasing and how we change our behaviors when we’re with other people. You may be surprised by this study and what it means for that one mental habit that’s draining your time and energy - worrying what everyone else thinks.

Be sure to listen all the way through for my step by step system to saying no to extra work without feeling guilty. You can say no and you can do it confidently.

Show Highlights

[01:51] The Asch Conformity Study is similar to a brain teaser.

[03:45] This study showed that often we will conform to the majority.

[05:30] Using a simple sticky note, try this quick activity.

[06:24] It’s really hard to say no to the extra work you are asked to do. Here are some steps to saying no more confidently.

[07:04] Step 1: Use a script.

[08:19] Step 2: Remind yourself why you’re saying no.

[08:58] Step 3: Practice.

[10:01] Our brains are wired to care what other people think and that’s not always a bad thing, but it can lead to people-pleasing.

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Download Your Daily Productivity Checklist

As a recovering perfectionist myself, I know firsthand the struggle to stay focused and get through that never-ending checklist. But you know what? There’s a famous psychology study that teaches us about our brain’s ability to focus attention … and it’s not about doing more. 

It all started with a gorilla costume!

In this episode you’ll learn five tried and true strategies that work to help you stay focused. Strategies to help you avoid burnout, feel less stressed, and reduce some of the work your brain has to do. So you’ll save energy and time to focus on the things that truly matter.

Plus, you’ll get to learn a super cool study that you can use with your friends and family… and you will certainly start noticing the distracting gorillas in your day to day life!

Show Highlights

[01:48] Imagine you are a participant in this study. 

[03:08] We miss so much happening around us. Do this activity now to see what you’re missing.

[04:43] Our brains start ignoring certain things, but our technological world is extremely distracting and pulls at our focus.

[06:00] Strategy 1: Declutter your space.

[06:46] Strategy 2: Take regular breaks more often than you think.

[07:54] Strategy 3: Resist the urge to multi-task. 

[08:58] Strategy 4: Keep a notepad handy for when a stray thought comes up.

[09:52] Strategy 5: Be clear on your priorities everyday.

[11:47] To use this psychology study on your family and friends, go to The Invisible Gorilla and press play. 

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Download Your Daily Productivity Checklist

This episode of The Bold Life marks the first installment of a special series that I am calling The Neuroscience of Success! Each week, I’ll be sharing a really interesting neuroscience or psychology study and what we discovered about our brains as a result, starting with the topic of this episode – self-doubt and lack of confidence!

Listen in as I focus on how to rewire your brain so you can stop focusing on all your mistakes and build up confidence instead! Cells that fire together wire together, so we need to practice actively focusing more on our wins and less on our mistakes!

My challenge to you this week is just that – to try to make a list of your wins and focus on those rather than your mistakes, and until next time, be sure to check out my Time Freedom Toolkit and to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app!

Show Highlights

[0:00] – Welcome to the Neuroscience of Success series!

[1:36] – Nicole's experience when she first went to university

[2:40] – The story of Henry Molaison

[6:25] – What Henry's case has taught us about memory

[7:26] – What does Henry's case have to do with our self-doubt?

[9:28] – The “cells that fire together wire together” principle and what it means

[10:38] – Some of us tend to be harder on ourselves than we are on others.

[11:58] – Nicole's challenge for us this week

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The Time Freedom Toolkit

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The way that we humans experience time is just that – uniquely human, but why does it cause us so much stress and pressure? I’m here to help answer that question and share lessons from the book Four Thousand Weeks to help you feel less stress and pressure because of time!

Listen in as I talk about what I learned about the time pressures I put on myself from this book. And why I think we might need to rethink our priorities and expectations (especially us recovering perfectionists) so we can have more balance in our lives.

My challenge to you this week is to reflect on how you want to spend your time, and until next time, be sure to check out my Time Freedom Toolkit and to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app!

Show Highlights

[0:06] – We are diving deep into time and mortality today!

[2:37] – Why Four Thousand Weeks isn’t really a book about productivity.

[3:57] – Why breaks and rest feel so uncomfortable

[5:48] – It all comes back to how much we value our time.

[6:35] – A story about a client and why we struggle to prioritize ourselves

[8:28] – Should we get rid of to-do lists?

[10:25] – Your challenge this week.

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Oliver Burkeman - Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

The Bold Life - 91: How To Get Comfortable Doing Nothing

The Time Freedom Toolkit

Procrastination – we all do it, but did you know that it's possible that you're procrastinating without even realizing it? But don't worry, I am here to help you recognize the signs of procrastination when it's hiding in plain sight! I share four common signs of procrastinating that sneakily disguise themselves as productivity, and what you can do to start taking action! 

Listen in to hear a real-life example where I thought I was being productive only to realize I was actually procrastinating. How worrying about messing up can hold us back. And my challenge to you this week to get your brain out of procrastination mode, and ready to get stuff done..

Be sure to download my free workbook to help you stop procrastinating, and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app!

Show Highlights

[0:00] – It's possible to procrastinate without noticing.

[1:36] – How I got stuck in a technology sinkhole working on a new project a few months ago.

[3:19] – Sign #1 of hidden procrastination.

[5:02] – Sign #2 of procrastination disguised as work.

[6:38] – What’s sign #3?

[8:13] – Sign # 4 procrastination in disguise

[8:48] – How can we combat these signs?

[9:02] – Your challenge for the week.

[10:28] – Episode recap and key takeaways.


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The Time Freedom Toolkit

Your Insider’s Guide to Stop Procrastinating

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Failure is the worst. 

It feels terrible when you’ve worked so hard for something and you have a setback or your plans turn into a dumpster fire of disaster. But here’s the tough part: failure isn’t avoidable.

It’s going to happen. Especially if you’ve set big goals for yourself. 

Learn four steps to get your brain out of the spiral of self-doubt, judging yourself, and wanting to hide under your bed after you mess up. Then use these tools to regain your courage and confidence to take action, bounce back from failure, and keep going toward those goals.

Even when you feel like a mess. 

Show Highlights

[01:37] I’ve always been a bit of an overachiever and I believed that working hard equals success. 

[03:50] Listen as I share one of my biggest failures. 

[05:37] Why not matching for any residencies was the best thing that could have happened to me. 

[07:27] It’s hard for me to talk about this one big experience, but it really has been so important for my life. 

[09:40] My four step process for bouncing back from failure. 

[11:29] A quick exercise you can do to balance your feelings after failure. 

[13:58] Your episode recap. 

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Download Your Daily Productivity Checklist