The FlowCast

Welcome back to another episode of The FlowCast, where we dive deep into topics related to finding flow and performing your best. In today's episode, we're shining a spotlight on an issue that affects countless individuals in the workforce – workplace burnout. As always, we've got an insightful presentation lined up for you, so lean in and get ready to gain some valuable knowledge. I recently had the honour of delivering a presentation on managing workplace burnout and fatigue for Peterborough County. The response was overwhelming, with attendees finding the information both practical and eye-opening. This recording was a practice run from that presentation so that you can get the value of everything discussed as well! In our quest to understand burnout better, we also explore different ways to measure stress. From stress trackers to heart rate variability, we'll talk about both objective and subjective methods. We even analyze the trends in stress levels throughout the week, uncovering patterns that may surprise you. Ultimately, the key takeaway from today's episode is the importance of understanding the sources of stress in our lives to prevent burnout. So sit back, relax, and prepare to embark on a journey towards workplace recovery and prevention of burnout.

In today's episode, we're focusing on the essential pillars of recovery: sleep, movement, nutrition, and understanding change, adaptation, and stress management.Did you know that each dimension of health has its own stress cycle? Physical stressors are necessary for growth and performance, while mental stressors help us stay focused and prevent boredom. Emotional stressors strengthen our relationships and foster gratitude, while social stressors are inevitable and require healthy approaches to conflict resolution.We'll also discover how facing existential stressors and navigating life transitions helps us grow stronger. Movement stress and recovery are influenced by the fatigue and energy demands of physical activity, and the neurological, mechanical, and mental aspects of each activity determine its impact on our stress levels.Join us as we explore the importance of the stress-rest cycle and adequate recovery time to prevent burnout and maximize the benefits of movement. We'll delve into the crucial role of high-quality sleep in muscle growth and recovery, and how breath work activities, active recovery, and bodywork can enhance physical recovery.

Welcome back to another episode of The FlowCast! In today's episode, we're diving deep into the world of HRV (Heart Rate Variability) and exploring its importance in measuring recovery and bounce back from physical or mental efforts. We'll explore what HRV is, how to measure it using devices like Apple Watches, Whoop bands, Oura rings, and Fitbits, and the significance of long-term trends over daily fluctuations. Join us as we discuss the average and long-term trends in HRV, understanding good and bad numbers, and how to interpret and make modifications based on HRV data to improve performance and prevent burnout. We'll also touch on the impact of HRV on illness prediction and recovery time, as well as its implications for athletes and their training regimens. So sit back, relax, and get ready to dive into the fascinating world of HRV on The FlowCast! Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to our channel and like this video to help us reach more people. Let's find our flow together!

"On this episode of The FlowCast, host RJ Kayser delves into the importance of measuring recovery. The episode begins with the speaker suggesting alternatives to vices such as watching TV or consuming unhealthy food, which often serve as coping mechanisms for underlying stress. Addressing stress is crucial for long-term recovery, and the impact of stress on recovery will be explored in future episodes.

The speaker then introduces objective measurements like heart rate, heart rate variability, and breath rate as ways to assess recovery. Blood and urine measurements for cortisol levels are not practical for most people, so devices like Apple Watch, WHOOP, Ring, and Fitbit are recommended. These devices provide scores for readiness, recovery level, and stress using algorithms. Trends in heart rate over time can reveal levels of stress and recovery, but it is important to establish personal baselines before using the device during stressful periods.

In addition to objective measurements, subjective measurements play a key role in understanding recovery. Factors such as stress levels, feelings of readiness, and perceived exertion in the gym can be assessed subjectively using a scale from 1 to 10. The speaker suggests assessing stress levels and recovery scores in the morning and at the end of the day.

The episode emphasizes the importance of looking at both subjective and objective measurements to get a complete understanding of recovery. It also touches on the potential pitfalls of relying solely on technology and the need for self-awareness in managing stress and recovery. Examples from strongman competitions and other performance situations highlight the importance of being prepared and achieving optimal baseline levels of stress and replenishment for peak performance.

The episode concludes by discussing the variations in measurements provided by different devices such as the Ora Ring, WHOOP, Fitbit, and Apple Watch. Despite these differences, the devices tend to be consistent in the numbers they provide, enabling users to track their recovery trends over time.

Overall, this episode of The FlowCast offers valuable insights into measuring recovery and stress levels, providing listeners with practical advice for optimizing their performance and well-being."

Topics Covered:

- Recovery in our thirties

- Seeking support for managing stress in our thirties

- Importance of sleep in our thirties

- Recovery in our forties

- Strategies for boosting recovery in our forties

- Protein needs and recovery in our forties

- Recovery in our fifties and beyond

- Importance of support system and stress management in our fifties and beyond

- Consistency and prioritizing recovery throughout our life cycle

Recovery in our Thirties:

- Making time for hobbies and activities for joy and balance

- Seeking support from friends, family, or professionals

- Importance of sleep in managing stress

Recovery in our Forties:

- Need for moderation and extended recovery time

- Strategies for boosting recovery

- Importance of protein intake

Recovery in our Fifties and Beyond:

- Focus on recovery becomes crucial

- Importance of support system and stress management

Tips and Recommendations:

- Prioritizing recovery and self-awareness in our twenties

- Developing self-awareness through meditation and objective measurements

- Active recovery techniques, such as sauna and cold plunges

- Mindfulness practices like journaling for stress management

- Setting boundaries to maintain balance and avoid burnout (book recommendation: "Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend)

Why do so many people fail to achieve their resolutions?

Let's talk about 3 of the biggest mistakes most people make and how you can fix them to accomplish more of your goals for 2023.

Stop living your life off of a to-do list and shift towards being intentional with how you prioritize your schedule.

Subscribe to the FlowCast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-flowcast/id1456647259

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7aLgfpdYSHi0PaLwv9yq6D?si=H0BGWz9tTcyzc6VFh2MBUQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowspaon/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlowSpaON/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/flowspaon

The FlowCast is brought to you by Flow Spa. Flow Spa is Peterborough’s float therapy and sports recovery centre, dedicated to providing the ultimate relaxation experience. Whether you need physical relief from pain or a deep state of mental relaxation and calm or the best methods of recovery from athletic training, Flow Spa is where you can Find Your Flow.

Subscribe to the FlowCast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-flowcast/id1456647259

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7aLgfpdYSHi0PaLwv9yq6D?si=H0BGWz9tTcyzc6VFh2MBUQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowspaon/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlowSpaON/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/flowspaon

The FlowCast is brought to you by Flow Spa. Flow Spa is Peterborough’s float therapy and sports recovery centre, dedicated to providing the ultimate relaxation experience. Whether you need physical relief from pain or a deep state of mental relaxation and calm or the best methods of recovery from athletic training, Flow Spa is where you can Find Your Flow.