WHAT MOTIVATES ME?

Katie Elliot: My kids are both away at camp and so getting a little time to remember what a quiet, clean house is. We're talking about motivation today and what motivates us.

HOW TO GET MORE MOTIVATED

Katie : The first thing that comes to my mind is the frustration I get with myself when I am not motivated. I compare myself to my colleagues who are motivated. If I'm willing to be vulnerable, am I truly motivated?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MOTIVATE YOU?

Katie, on a scale of one to ten, think about a checklist from one not a big deal to ten. Action tends to motivate me more so than just thinking about things.

WHAT MOTIVATES AND DEMOTIVATES PEOPLE

For me, one of the things that motivates me is the ability to dream or to think big. It's a very important principle that you just stated is that it's not a one size fits all.

MOTIVATION AND JOY

For me, it's do I look through a lens of duty or do I Look through a Lens of desire? For most of my life it has been through a lenses of duty. Now I've gotten older and recognized that I have desires, things that energize me.

DUTY VS. DESIRE IN THE WORKPLACE

Katie, I love the dichotomy between duty and desire. Can I lean into my desire things that motivate me because I just want to do that or it's enjoying to me?

HOW TO MOTIVATE YOUR PATIENTS

As healthcare professionals, the relational connectivity we have with our patients is so essential.

WHAT ARE THE OUGHTS AND SHOULDS IN OUR LIFE?

When you think about oughts and shoulds, there's a phrase that we use in my nutrition counseling lab called we don't should on people. What if we are doing that to other people?

WHAT'S A DEMOTIVATOR?

Katie: I think whenever I see individuals who are not given a chance to grow and be successful, that can be a demotivation. When given the opportunity of pastry, bread or vegetables, then certainly that I'm going to choose the bread now.

KATIE ON INTRINSIC VS. EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION

I would consider both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. I would hold both hands open and hold on to them loosely. There's not a magic recipe to how we can intrinsically or extrinsically motivate ourselves. I think it's fluid and we've got to be open to shifting and pivoting.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTIVATION IN HEALTHCARE

I want each of us as a healthcare professional to hold that mirror up for just a second. I know I got into healthcare first and foremost from that intrinsic motivation. But then feeling guilty for thinking about the money or oh, should money ever factor into any decision. This is another example of the both.

DIETITIANS AND THEIR SALARY

Dietitians are one of the healthcare professionals who are in the lower how do I say this nicely, we're just not paid that well. This isn't just about money. Extrinsic motivators can be a variety of things. Can I do some other things to have greater engagement for all of us in the work we do?

WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU TO BE MOTIVATED?

If we're having to face unmotivation on a daily, hourly basis for an extended period of time, it's just not a sustainable healthful way to live. I wonder if that could potentially be the start of stress and burnout in professions. What worked for me to motivate me in the past may not motivate me right now.

MOTIVATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY

Demotivation and being unmotivated thrives in being alone. In solitude, we need to be with and for other people to help figure those things out. Having people to mentor you is also important.

SIX MOTIVATORS OF THE ENNEAGRAM

There's an assessment called the IEQ nine, and it's the Enneagram on steroids. What are some of those things that motivate me? I am a huge fan of assessments. That's just a tease of things to come.

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF THE ENNEAGRAM

Next time, we're going to begin talking about some generational, not only differences, but the similarities and how they play into some of the things we've talked about. Stay tuned as we begin to unpack that further.

THE TOPIC OF BURNOUT ON THIS WEEK'S

Burnout affects every healthcare professional across the entire continuum of healthcare. What we might do today is uncover for some people possibly recognizing that this is something they're experiencing and they didn't even know it. Some things we talk about today, we'll definitely discuss next week.

THE HELP OF OTHERS WITH BURNOUT

Yes, burnout can be very lonely. There's something just having that solidarity of there's other people here. Those comparisons can certainly be challenging. So I'd love for us to explore that a little bit how bad burnout is.

IN THE COMPARISON OF BURNOUT AND SACRIFICE

This is another example of where we're going to encourage our listeners to put themselves at the front of the line in those comparisons. If we feel alone, that pushes us more into our loneliness. That can be a very easy place for any of us to get trapped in.

NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS EXPERIENCE BURNOUT

Study shows that about half of healthcare professionals experience burnout. About a third of them are thinking about leaving the profession. To burn out in a single day, this is an ongoing process.

HAVE YOU GOT BURNOUT IN YOUR HEALTH CARE?

Do you think burnout is inevitable? Do you think we should just accept the fact that the longer you're in health care, you're going to be burned out at some point? We should always be on the alert with, how are we doing?

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF GET THROUGH BURNOUT

Alan: What are some of the messages I've told myself in the midst of burnout? He says it's okay if I'm exhausted. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Toughen up. Sometimes people think Burnout is about the individual, but it's a result of the whole system.

LEADERS: RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF BURNOUT

"This is a time for leaders. If I'm for you and then do I have the courage to say something, I will tell you, " she says. Are we acknowledging our colleagues or are we contributing to others? Burnout is something passionate people need to be aware of.

BURNOUT AND EATING

What are you noticing physically? Maybe I'm noticing some tension, stress. Maybe my shoulders are really tight. It's important to recognize not only, okay, my engine lights on, but then we ask the question, so now what?

HOW TO GET BACK TO WORK WHEN YOU'RE BURNING OUT

When I'm burned out, my mind goes on an infinity loop, nonstop. I've got to disrupt that mindset. What are those things that I enjoy that give me life? Can I find those moments? What may energize me may not energize you.

HOW TO GET OUT OF THE PHONE TRAP

Katie: What are some things that you do when you don't have that hour and a half to go for a run or other things? It starts with the mindset. I also have had to really reframe my relationship with my phone. We need others to see our own face, she says.

PUTTING MYSELF AT THE END OF THE LINE

Katie: What if there's someone that the engine light is not on and I don't know if I'm headed toward burnout. She says it comes back to actually putting yourself first and taking that time to get to know yourself. Why does this really matter? Annalyn asks.

"IT'S NOT OKAY TO PUT YOURSELF FIRST"

Alan: Who am I to put myself ahead of others? Because ultimately, what's the end game? I want to create an environment where it is sustainable for the health of myself and my team, my family, my organization. It's not okay to just keep doing our day to day with that engine light that's flashing.

THE TALK OF BURNOUT

Alan: We say awareness is the first step. This is not a podcast of self contempt, others contempt. The reason we want to have these conversations is we want all of us to grow healthier. What are some of the next steps?

HOW TO GET OUT OF BURNOUT

Even when we talk about burnout, is there a one size fits all definition here? Can I appreciate a lens that's different than my own? Stay tuned, because we're going to begin to unpack some of those issues in upcoming episodes.

SERVING OTHERS: THE SACRIFICE AT WORK AND HOME

We're going to be talking about sacrifice at work but also at home and what does that look like. What we're talking about today is how do I serve my families and also serve myself in that process? We hope that these tips are helpful in the both.

HAVE YOU BEEN SACRIFICIAL?

For me, it always gets back to I could do more. There's always going to be more to do. If this becomes the norm versus the exception, it leads to a path of being sacrificed. We'll talk about burnout in the next couple of weeks.

HEALTHCARE LEADERS: THE NEED TO COMPETE

For me, there is a line that got crossed from pure humility. I'm here to serve and to sacrifice for others. For me, though, I cross the line into pride. Where is that line and how do we draw that line?

PUT YOURSELF FIRST IN SACRIFICE

There's a difference between putting yourself first or deciding that you will always be last. I see that as a working parent, both at work and at home, unless I'm intentional about putting myself first. How can we look at sacrifice with a more healthy mindset?

THE NEED FOR TRUSTFUL ADVISORS

I think it really illustrates the value of having people that can bring high challenge to us. If you don't have them, it's not easy to find. We can't just put our heads down and keep chugging along until a critical event happens. How are my relationships, who's speaking into my life?

HOW TO STOP THE DARK SPIRAL

If my tank is full, I have a higher capacity. There are physical things like sleep and nutrition and these are all things that at some point I want to get to. If I am sacrificing myself, the tank is low, the deep dark spiral happens. But if I am resting and in relationship and getting good sleep, then thattank is full.

WHEN SACRIFICE IS ACTUALLY ENERGIZING

Is there a difference between that healthy sacrifice and unhealthy sacrifice? When I'm leading with rest, the sacrifice comes from more of a health and it's energizing. Work is not bad when it becomes more sacrificial than it should be.

CHOICES MADE: RECHARGING YOUR SOUL

Katie, are there intentional opportunities that I can recharge knowing my schedule never goes 100% according to my plan? I love that you brought it down to choices because we do have choices and sometimes we're not always going to make the right choice. One of the most powerful words is the word no.

RECHARGING WITH NO AND YES

Can I say no to something that involves others? It is still very difficult for me why, when I do that, guilt and shame makes an appearance. Are there some intentional times where I can say yes to me, which means I have to says no to others?

HOW TO DEAL WITH GUILT AND SHAME

Let the guilt and shame come. For me, the way I look at it is I try to think of the big picture. It then helps me better serve those that I'm called to serve.

KATIE ON HOW TO TALK TO YOURSELF

Katie, I'm hearing you give yourself grace and compassion here as a mom. Trying to talk to myself the way I would to someone else in the same situation has been really helpful for you. We encourage you to try something. Maybe it didn't work for you, okay?

SELF- ASSESSMENT OF SACRIFICE

We've talked about different ways to approach sacrifice in a healthy way. How to identify it when it's unhealthy. I would encourage all of us to do a quick self assessment.

WHAT IF I ASPIRATED OTHERS TO DO AS I DO

What if I'm asking those around me to be sacrificed for the sake of the profession, work, family, friends? And why would you not? Or isn't that something you should do? You signed up for this. That's a badge of honor.

THE NEED FOR SACRIFICES

How do we define sacrifice? For different people, it's going to look different ways. Getting into the unrealistic or the impossible is really then warning lights for sacrifice.

BURNOUTS AND THE GOOD

How challenging is it to tell good people who want you to do good things? In making these tough decisions, it's our hope that it will lead to greater health.

LEADING WITH REST

Alan: Resting has always been hard for me. How do I intentionally put rest first versus if I have any time left over, I'll rest it's whatever's left at the end of the day. In these three easy steps, you will be able to come from a place of rest.

WHAT DOES REST LOOK LIKE?

For me, rest needs to be the opposite of work. Resting is getting in my kitchen and making something with my hands, baking, being creative. Our brains are more efficient when they get to rest. We need a rest period for the body to replenish.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS: REST OVER PERFECTION

Alan: When I don't have the time throughout my 8, 10, 12 hour shift to stop, to rest, to eat, whatever that may be, I seek progress towards rest over perfection. Katie: One thing that could really help in that challenge is embracing 80s music.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SLEEP AND REST

One in three adults don't get enough sleep, according to the CDC. Alan says he can see some value in rest. But he doesn't see value in sleep because he's not getting anything done. Both are needed.

KATIE ON THE NEED FOR SLEEP

The difference between sleep and rest is more of that psychological or spiritual where we can fool ourselves into not needing it. The one thing I've been trying to do lately is to stop using my phone an hour before bedtime. For me it comes back to that intentionality paying attention to how I feel after I do something.

PUTTING THE PHONE AWAY FOR AN HOUR

Katie, what do you do when you put your phone away for an hour? What does that hour then look like before? Maybe it's doing a crossword puzzle or doing something with your hands. Maybe somebody would want to ask someone to help them be accountable to it.

RESTING YOUR BRAIN:

Alan: Having the phone in my vicinity was a distraction. Are there potentially limiting beliefs that are keeping us from resting? How do I sacrifice without being sacrificed? This will be a theme that we will come back to.

KATIE ON REST AND BURNOUT

Katie: The concept of doing versus being. Made me think of burnout. If we do want this to be sustainable, we need to look for those solutions together. Making sure that we're tying it to that sustainability pieces is really important.

HOW TO HELP YOUR PEOPLE REST

Do you see people around you that need rest and how can you help them rest as well alongside you? This does tie back into leadership and I appreciate you bringing this up. Leaders have to walk the talk.

WHAT IS A PERFECT LEAD?

And so I want to encourage all of our listeners, your leaders, your men and women of influence, healthcare professionals, and you lead well beyond the workplace. Am I modeling for my family, for my colleagues, what this looks like? We are encouraging you to be intentional in this.

A LITTLE MORE SLEEP FOR YOUR CAREER?

Most of us have developed habits over time that have made us very successful. What is something tangible we can do that's very realistic? I try to get outside as much as I can. Ask others if they've noticed any difference.

HOW TO REST YOUR LIFE

When I put rest in first, I'm actually more productive and I am more fun to be around. For any of us who can be hard on ourselves to give ourselves grace. It's okay not to get it right the first time.

REST: A CONVERSATION ON HEALTH

Rest, sleep, many of these things, health that we've talked about, these themes will continue to go from podcast to podcast. We'll talk a lot about the "and" versus the "or." Katie, as always, enjoyed our conversation and our time together.

THE WHY BEHIND OUR PODCAST

We're already into episode two of our podcast. Today we're going to go behind the curtain a bit and share why we decided to do what we did in this timing. We also want to give listeners a little insight into our own stories.

EPISODE 8: WHY THIS PODCAST?

Alan: Why this podcast? It's talking not just to people, but talking with people. The curiosity piece, I think is a big thing. We see so many challenges in today's day and time. And the opportunity to do this with you and then to connect with our listeners, that's just a natural part in my sweet spot.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS PODCAST?

Katie: I love that we're even talking about the why. Part of the why is I think we all need encouragement, whether we're healthcare professionals or not. As healthcare professionals, it's just really tough right now. So I think that mindset shift of being able to be encouraging is just really what we need.

HOW TO BE POSITIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

As a healthcare professional, have you ever experienced times where you found it difficult to be positive in the midst of difficult situations? We're going to talk a lot about the need to connect relationally, personally and professionally.

PHARMACIST: FEAR OF FAILURE

Is that fear of failure? And what does that look like, how do we define it and how can we imagine that for ourselves? This is a time where we want to encourage all of our listeners to lean into something. It may be looking at something in a different lens.

KATIE ON BEING POSITIVE

There's a difference between being positive and also, I don't know if this is a buzzword, but like the toxic positivity. With my health, that was an area where I really just had to stay positive.

HOW TO BE POSITIVE (FOR ME)

When I'm more positive intentionally, I can see that ripple out to my friends and my family and to my colleagues. Being positive feels like writing with my non-dominant hand. But darn it, sometimes I really have to think about it and practice it.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CURIOUS?

There's a difference in curiosity in interrogation, and I'm sure all of us have been on the other side of an interrogation. As healthcare professionals, we're lifelong learners, so learning something new? Yes. Why for you would curiosity be something that piques your interest?

WHY WE DO THIS: THE WHY

Why are you choosing to do this podcast now? I think now is the time because there is such a need. We all need to have fun for. Things to be lighter, lighthearted, and also serious. It can be fun and serious.

NEXT STEP: THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

We're going to tackle some of these issues from a variety of perspectives. We talked about last time, some generational differences in the workplace. Many places now, in healthcare and elsewhere, have four generations working side by side. Lots of opportunity, lots of similarities, lots of differences and potential challenges.

THE MYTH OF MULTITASKING AND REST

An episode is coming up about multitasking and the myth of multitasking. We're also going to talk about rest. Is there a difference between rest and sleep?

HOW TO GROW HEALTHIER

But then we want to also inspire and encourage. The why, for me in this is how do we all, ourselves included, grow healthier in all different aspects of life. We're not prescriptive, but we are going to give those real practical tips. Stay tuned for that.

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: REFLECTION AND REST

Katie: I'm a huge advocate for reflecting and reflection. Coming back and reflecting on the why is important. It can help refocus and recenter me. All right, sounds like we'll see you on our next episode, where we are talking about leading with rest.

THE CHECKUP WITH KATIE AND ALAN

The Checkup with Katie and Alan podcast will not only provoke disrupt, it will also inspire. Because we all need encouragement. Plus, we're going to share practical ways that we can all grow. If you enjoy stories, like to learn, want to grow and are open to change, this is the place for you.

MEET KATIE ELIOT

Alan introduces co host Katie Eliot, fellow healthcare professional, running aficionado and co host. Eliot is a registered dietitian nutritionist by training. Also an educator. Working with all the different professions is one of her passions.

FOOD AND THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

What drew you in initially to being a nutritionist and really understanding food? We're going to talk more about diet, health, wellness throughout our time. We want you to connect relationally. The value of food and health, how can we enjoy both? How can we become healthier?

WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT BEING ON THE PODCAST?

Alan: I'm a pharmacist of goodness over 25 years now. My initial desire is to be part of improving others health, being in health care. We want to encourage you and help you become healthier as you serve those around you. We're going to do that largely through stories.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE A COACH?

Alan: The best part of being a coach is I get to carry a whistle and yell at people. He says he enjoys coming alongside great people and helping them grow. Alan: It's important to have someone coming alongside and encouraging you. That's why we're doing this podcast together.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS: GROWTH

We want to give all of our listeners permission to invest in your own growth. As you grow healthier, the people around you will become healthier. We're going to talk about these topics very real. But we're also going to really encourage you to be very intentional in what that health could look like.

A TASTE OF THE JOURNEY

We're going to ask you to step out in the things that are unknown, very unfamiliar, and maybe very uncomfortable, but in that you may discover, wow, I never thought I could enjoy this. This is still ongoing for each one of us. We hope that you'll join us on this adventure.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Many healthcare professionals feel a sense of guilt for putting themselves first. We're going to talk about mindset as well as what might be resistance to me in sleeping that extra hour or saying no to that opportunity to serve in my community. Often there is a cost to any of these decisions.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING BEING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

The expectations for healthcare professionals has never been higher. As more and more healthcare professionals are leaving their professions for other careers, the demands on the existing healthcare professionals have only continued to grow. What we want to do is encourage you as to what are some tangible things that you can do.

A MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE

What is it like as healthcare professionals working in a multigenerational workplace? All of us bring differences in our generations and our backgrounds, our life and work experience. We're going to examine things from that multi generational workplace. What can we do from an encouraging perspective as we move forward?

THE NEED FOR REST AND SLEEP

We need to get back to the basics on what does it look like to rest and to play and to do things that nurture our soul. One of the challenges I found myself as a working professional with a family is I find myself multitasking a lot. These are issues that we're going to tackle.

A PODCAST FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS?

Our first podcast is about getting rest, eating well, dealing with stress, appreciating one another. We want you to invite friends, family, colleagues who you think might be interested in wanting to learn more. The next episode will talk about the why.

This is the introduction of the podcast