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As I reflect on this year, I’ve noticed something new: I’m way less interested in chasing those giant, shiny achievement goals. Instead, I’m soaking up the everyday moments—and loving it. Honestly, that’s a twist for me, but then I stumbled on an interview that totally lit the spark.

When I picked up How to Calm Your Mind, I didn’t realize it was exactly what I needed.

Chris Bailey—productivity whiz, calm connoisseur, and all-around brilliant storyteller—shares this vivid moment where he spotted himself in the overflow drain of his bathtub (yep, that’s what that random metal thing is called) looking utterly wiped out. Next day? Public anxiety meltdown.

Sound familiar? We’ve all been there, somewhere on the anxiety spectrum. And guess what? The lowest point on that spectrum isn’t zero—it’s something deeper: true calm. But, uh, how do we even get there?

Chris says it starts with understanding burnout. Real burnout comes with three heavy hitters: exhaustion (check), cynicism (hello, eye rolls), and inefficacy (the opposite of feeling productive). And the culprits? Six sneaky factors—found at work and in life—that, when misaligned, push you to the edge.

Then there’s dopamine, that pesky chemical our brain craves but rarely gets from the right sources. Chris introduces a “Stimulation Fast”—basically detoxing from hollow dopamine hits like, yep, social media. Sure, TikTok’s fun, but swapping it for something truly fulfilling (knitting? gardening? birdwatching?) is a game-changer.

At its core, most of us want a meaningful life. So here’s the mic-drop question Chris leaves us with:

Are you chasing a life that you value—or one the world values?

What’s Inside:

• Why exactly would you want to calm your mind?
• Burnout is more than just exhaustion. What are the three symptoms?
• Six factors at work that contribute to burnout, stress, and anxiety... Can you fix them?
• Do you need stimulation fast? Taking a look at empty sources of dopamine?

This interview was the catalyst for a deep look inward, and I'm focusing less on huge achievements and more on the value I find in my day-to-day. Where are you on that spectrum? Let me know on Insta!

Mentioned in This Episode:
Chris Bailey
Fit Feels Good
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Oonagh on Insta