The Mental Mile

We take you behind the scenes of our most exciting interviews with self-care expert, psychologist, accomplished author and yogi Suzy Reading. We chatted with her last month via Instagram LIVE to break down how to welcome in a New Year amid a pandemic. We dive into her Vitality Wheel, goal setting and loose intentions, and taking time to celebrate our wins!

Connect With Suzy Reading: @suzyreading, Suzy's website + blog + books https://www.suzyreading.co.uk/

Shop Our Books: Kjersti's book Running for Mental Health + Kristi's eBook Self-Care Inspiration for Busy Parents 

Connect on Instagram: @thementalmile @parentselfcare @kjersti_running_therapy

Put on your run gear, lace up your shoes, and join Kjersti for a guided body scan meditation to be used while running or walking.  

Kjersti will guide you through a gentle warm-up, and help you attune inward starting at your toes working all the way up the body to the top of your head.  Finish with a guided cool-down.  

This meditation is meant to help you turn your attention inward, and provide you a sense of tranquility, peace, and ease.  There is no pace goal, no distance goal, just present-moment awareness as you move.  It is a great tool for de-stressing and grounding ourselves in the present moment via the mind-body connection. 

Kjersti is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT 53781) in the state of California and a certified Long Distance Running Coach (NAASFP).  As well she is co-host of The Mental Mile Podcast.  She often runs or walks with therapy clients, and trains runners in the art of mindful-running.

Check out her book Running for Mental Health: A How-To Guide available on her website, www.kjerstinelson.com and Amazon Prime. 

*Before starting any new exercise routine, always consult first with your primary care physician.  Do not do this exercise if you are not healthy enough to participate.  As with any exercise always be aware of your surroundings and practice safely.

Be well, run well <3 

In this episode we talk about how to get your sleep back on track after binge-watching a great show, using sleep mantras to your advantage, building micro rest moments into your day, mindfully choosing when to sacrifice sleep for fun, and our thoughts on sleep and screen time (hint: we might blow your mind!). We end with our favorite episodes of the podcast to wrap up Season 1. We will be back in February of 2021 with Season 2. Take care parents!

In this episode we mention: Australian psychologist @suzyreading + mindfulness expert @drshaunashapiro

Shop Our Wellness Books: Kjersti's book Running for Mental Health + Kristi's eBook Self-Care Inspiration for Busy Parents The Mental Mile

Instagram: @thementalmile @parentselfcare @kjersti_running_therapy

In this episode Kjersti and Kristi interview Natalie Nelson-Marsh, PhD (https://www.up.edu/directory/Natalie-Nelson-Marsh.html). an Organizational Communication Professor at University of Portland who teaches organizational communication and researches nontraditional and postmodern organizing. She is also CEO/Consultant of Nelson-Marsh Consulting, LLC where she helps individuals and organizations create healthy work cultures.  

Dr. Natalie discusses ways that parents (especially moms) can get back into the workforce.  She discusses how cultural narratives have shaped our views on leaving and reentering the workforce.  She suggests countering those narratives by developing a new narrative around relevant experiences (including parenthood) + using language that speaks to the audience. It is possible to be fully prepared, and empowered, to find the right job and the right environment. Good news, you are likely more qualified than you think! Listen in to find out why.

In this episode we mention:

AND 

Shop Kjersti's book Running for Mental Health 

Shop Kristi's eBook Self-Care Inspiration for Busy Parents The Mental Mile 

Instagram: @thementalmile @parentselfcare @kjersti_running_therapy

Join us as we pick business and success coach, Rachel Letham's brain about how to stay healthy and balanced while building a business, navigating career pivots, and incorporating more self-care snacks into your daily life. Rachel is a new mother, business and success coach, self-care expert, and now the author of an amazing new self-care eBook! (Updated show notes version)

Connect with Rachel Letham: "Self Care for the Seasons" eBook, Rachel's Instagram + Self Care Survival Kit Instagram + Coaching website

Connect with Kjersti + Kristi: Shop Kjersti's book Running for Mental Health, Shop Kristi's eBook + Merchandise + The Mental Mile on Instagram

Join us as we pick business and success coach, Rachel Letham's brain about how to stay healthy and balanced while building a business, navigating career pivots, and incorporating more self-care snacks into your daily life. Rachel is a new mother, business and success coach, self-care expert, and now the author of an amazing new self-care eBook! 

Connect with Rachel Letham:

In this episode Kjersti and Kristi discuss the creation of Kristi's newly illustrated e-book, Self-Care 101 for Busy Parents, as well as the positive response from a few individuals regarding Kjersti's book, Running for Mental Health, A How-To Guide.  

Kristi shares about some of her recent collaborations and presentations that have inspired her to increase how much movement she includes in her self-care routine.  

Kjersti shares about a recent visit to the beach with her kids --during the school day-- underscoring the silver lining of schooling-from-home during a pandemic.  

Kjersti and Kristi share about some professional connections that have been made over instagram, and ooh and ahh about how magical it all seems. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Our favorite coffee:

The second part of our interview with Paula Quinn focuses on self-care during difficult times, and the career decisions many parents face about working outside of the home. 

Connect with Paula Quinn of Coming Up Rosies:

Connect with Kjersti + Kristi:

We were honored to interview Paula Quinn, mother and founder of the Coming Up Rosies non-profit. Quinn is also the author of a new children's book, "My Hair Went On Vacation." She shares about her daughter's Alopecia diagnosis, and how her family began their mission to raise their children with confidence, compassion, and empathy. 

Connect with Paula Quinn of Coming Up Rosies:

Connect with Kjersti + Kristi:

Kjersti and Kristi discuss different methods of sleep training, and what worked and didn't work in their personal situations.  In this episode you'll hear personal anecdotes, tips, and advice regarding sleep-training for babies.  The sleep training methods mentioned are:  

The following books are mentioned in this podcast:  

Kristi's sleep consultant: Dr. Angelique Millette 

The National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Duration Recommendations: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times. 

As always, Kjersti and Kristi divulge a current "favorite".  This week we shared our favorite wines, for all you well-deserving, tired parents out there.   Kristi shared Whispering Angel Rose. Kjersti shared Rombauer Zinfandel (red), and Hannah Sauvignon Blanc (white).  

Check out our books! Kristi's book: Self-Care 101 for Busy Parents (e-book) Kjersti's book: Running for Mental Health, A How-To Guide.