Is "Work-Life Balance" actually making you miserable? If you feel like you are constantly failing to keep the scales level, it’s because you are chasing a myth. In this episode, we expose why the "50/50" split is a recipe for burnout and why you should aim for Harmony instead.

We dive deep into the concept of "Continuous Partial Attention"—that exhausted state where you are physically present with your family but mentally checking emails under the dinner table. You’ll learn why high performers need to "oscillate" rather than flatline, and how to use the "See-Saw Method" to ditch the guilt and get your focus back.

Plus, a special listen to the new podcast theme music written and recorded by Wade and Tan Fehr!

In This Episode:

• (00:00) - The "Antique Scales" Trap: Why balance requires you to freeze like a statue

• (02:40) - New Music Reveal: Shout-out to Wade & Tan Fehr

• (04:51) - "Continuous Partial Attention": Why you are halfway everywhere

• (07:14) - The See-Saw Method: Why life needs to move to be fun (08:13) - Rhonda’s Real Life: Navigating "Sprint" vs. "Support" seasons

• (13:32) - How the Paced App breaks the "Zombie State" (and the "Cousin's Lunch" dilemma)

• (16:08) - The 3-Step Work-Life Harmony System

  
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Concept: Continuous Partial Attention (Linda Stone)

• Concept: Oscillation (Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz)

• Music: New Theme Music by Wade and Tan Fehr

  
  

This Week's Challenge:Identify your season. Are you in a Sprint Season (Work-Heavy) or a Support Season (Life-Heavy)? Name it, accept it, and pick your one "Non-Negotiable" anchor to protect this week.

🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA

• Website: rhondalavoie.com

• The Paced App: getpaced.app

• Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie

• Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie

• TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast written and recorded by Wade and Tan Fehr.

#WorkLifeBalance #ProductivityTips #TheRhondaLavoiePodcast #PacedApp

Struggling with holiday burnout and feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks on your to-do list this December? You are not alone. We have somehow convinced ourselves that the holidays aren't just a season, but a competitive sport where we are trying to "gold medal" in baking, wrapping, and crying in the car.

In this episode, Rhonda breaks down the absolute absurdity of the things we do to ourselves in the name of holiday spirit. From the deep regret of the "unpaid internship" that is the Elf on the Shelf , to the "hostage negotiation" of taking a family holiday photo, we are keeping it real. If you are ready to stop trying to win every event and actually survive the holidays with your sanity intact, this episode is your permission slip to lower the bar.

We also discuss why "numbing out" by doomscrolling in the pantry is a sign of overwhelm, and how to use the Paced App to reclaim your peace.

In This Episode:

(00:00) - Why December feels like a competitive sport and the "Holiday Triathlon"

(01:39) - The Elf on the Shelf Regret: Why it becomes a panic attack at 11:30 PM

(03:33) - The Holiday Card Photo: Why it’s basically a hostage negotiation

(05:23) - Stop Doomscrolling: Using the Paced App to numb out less and rest more

(07:12) - The Baking Guilt Trap: Why "outsourcing" cookies is a system, not laziness

(10:34) - The Wrapping Paper Marathon: When your gifts start looking like ransom notes

Resources Mentioned:

The Paced App: A gentle pattern interrupt to help you stop doomscrolling when you are stressed. Join the waitlist at getpaced.app.

This Week's Challenge:When you feel the pressure to bake from scratch, remember: buying cookies from a local maker supports another woman's side hustle and keeps your kitchen clean. That is not lazy; that is a system.

🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA

• Website: rhondalavoie.com

• The Paced App: getpaced.app

• Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie

• Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie

• TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast: "Sunny Days" by Jimmy Gunnarsson via Descript.

#HolidayBurnout #MomGuilt #KeepItReal #RhondaLavoie #DecemberChaos

Have you ever had a "What If" idea that you immediately killed with "How?"

How could I possibly start that business? How could I write a book? How would I find the time?

That "how" is just overwhelm in disguise. It traps us in analysis paralysis, often leading us right back to the "mind-numbing pit" of doomscrolling to escape the pressure. In this episode, I’m sharing the origin story of the Paced App. It wasn’t a lightning strike moment, and it wasn't a result of a relentless, sleepless hustle.

The truth? I sat on the idea for six months. And that gap wasn't a failure—it was marinating.

Join me as I break down how a random podcast episode and a $6 coffee helped me stop worrying about the "how" and simply get curious. We’ll talk about why you don’t need a five-year plan to start, and how shifting your mindset from "relentless" to "curious" can finally help you get out of your own way.

Tired of losing hours to the scroll? You're not alone. It’s not a moral failing; it’s a design problem. I'm building a tool to help us take back control. Join the 'Paced' app waitlist at getpaced.app.

In This Episode:(00:00) - The "Pit of Despair" and the Facebook post that started it all (03:07) - The six-month gap: Why delays are often "marinating," not failing (03:54) - The Distraction: Building a Real Estate dashboard instead of the dream (06:30) - The "Nudge": How a Mel Robbins episode connected the dots (08:54) - The "UnFancy" First Step: Ordering a coffee and opening Gemini (14:35) - The Lesson: Why you need to be "Curious," not "Relentless" (17:00) - Why the "How" is just overwhelm in disguise (18:13) - Recap & Your Weekly Challenge

Resources Mentioned:

• The Mel Robbins Podcast

  Gemini (Google AI)

• Ep. 6: How I Use AI as My Creative Partner

  TOT Cafe

This Week's Challenge: The 10-Minute Investigation. I don't want you to be relentless this week; I just want you to get curious. Identify one recurring idea—that little "what if" that keeps popping up. Give that idea the "unfancy respect" of a 10-minute investigation. Go to a coffee shop, open a document, or ask AI one question. Don't commit to building it, just get curious and see what happens.

🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA

Website: rhondalavoie.com

Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie

Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie

TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie

Follow the Paced App journey: getpaced.app

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast: "Sunny Days" by Jimmy Gunnarsson via Descript.

#GetCurious #PacedApp #AvoidantCoping #Overwhelm #PersonalGrowth

Ever feel that jolt of anxiety when your phone "dings"? You're in an important meeting or at dinner with your family, and even if you don't look, the sound alone shatters your focus. Let's be honest: this isn't a personal failure or a lack of willpower. It's a system designed to work against you, based on a "dopamine loop" that keeps you hooked.

In this episode, Rhonda shares her "aha moment" about phone notifications and gives you the simple, "unfancy" 3-step system she used to take back control. This is the "Notification Detox". We'll talk about the real cost of "context switching" (it takes 23 minutes to get your focus back!) and walk through the "Audit, Purge, and Reintroduction" plan.

This isn't about perfection; it's about awareness. Often, we're not just scrolling; we're using our phones as an "unconscious escape" from feelings like overwhelm or exhaustion. Tired of this feeling? You're not alone. I'm building a tool to help. Join the "Paced" app waitlist. Link in bio.

In This Episode:

Let's be honest: criticism stings. We're wired for connection, so the fear of being judged is a powerful (and totally human) trigger. How often does that feeling make you "just check your phone for a minute," only to look up 45 minutes later wondering where the time went?

You're not scrolling because you lack willpower; you're scrolling to escape a feeling. That's a normal response, not a personal failing.

In this episode (Part 2 of our series on judgment), we move from the "them problem" to the practical fix: Forging Your Armor. I'll share Dr. Brené Brown's "arena" strategy and explain why you must stop taking feedback from people in the "cheap seats". We'll build a complete system to build real resilience, including how to identify your "Success Squad" and implement three daily skills: adopting a growth mindset , using the "Tuesday Rule" for self-compassion , and a simple CBT tool to finally silence your inner critic.

Tired of this feeling? You're not alone. I'm building a tool to help you notice that pattern and get your power back. Join the 'Paced' app waitlist. Link in bio.

In This Episode:

This Week's Challenge: Identify your "Success Squad". Take out a single sticky note and write down the names of the only people whose opinions truly matter—the ones who are in the arena with you and have earned the right to give you feedback. This is your "square squad". For the next week, when you feel a wave of criticism, look at that list and ask: "Is this voice on my note?" If not, it's irrelevant noise from the cheap seats.

🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA

Website: rhondalavoie.com

Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie

Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie

TikTok:@ rhonda.lavoie

Follow the Paced App journey: getpaced.app

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast: "Sunny Days" by Jimmy Gunnarsson via Descript.

#FearOfJudgment #ImposterSyndrome #BreneBrown #Resilience #AvoidantCoping

The fear of judgment keeps too many amazing people playing small. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Rhonda Lavoie gets brutally honest about the times she was the judge, teaching you the system of Self-Analysis. You'll learn why that frustrating, neutral reaction to your biggest ambitions—like the Paced App—is a "Them Problem," a reflection of their own baggage and fear, not a verdict on your worth.

In This Episode (Video Timestamps):

• (00:10) - The primal reason we fear judgment: Your anxiety is just your primal survival instinct at work.

• (01:50) - The framework: Why stepping into The Arena means criticism is a certainty.

• (02:30) - The hard truth: Why your own internal criticism is the root of the Them Problem.

• (03:23) - Failure 1 (Upward Comparison): Rhonda's unfiltered "What could you write a book about?" moment.

• (04:56) - Failure 2 (Fear of Loss): The internal battle when a friend joined the competition.

• (06:33) - Let's Make This Real: The 30-second self-analysis challenge.(07:08) - The Passive Them Problem: Why the Paced App conversations "fall flat".

• (08:37) - Rhonda's self-analysis: The 5 reasons for the neutral reaction (Intimidation, Envy, Fixed Mindset, etc.).

• (11:49) - The Lesson: Understanding their Anchor and seeing criticism as "mere data" about their internal state.

• (13:35) - Tease for Part 2: Forging Your Armor and curating whose opinion matters.

  
  

Resources Mentioned:

• This episode discusses concepts related to Dr. Brené Brown's work on vulnerability and The Man in the Arena.

• Follow the Paced App journey: getpaced.app.

  
  

This Week's Challenge: The next time you criticize someone else's big dream, stop and ask yourself: "What insecurity of mine is this reflecting?"

🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA

Website: rhondalavoie.com

Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie

Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie

TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie

Check out the Paced App: getpaced.app

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast: "Sunny Days" by Jimmy Gunnarsson via Descript.

Feeling curious about AI but mostly just overwhelmed or intimidated? You're not alone! So many creators and entrepreneurs feel stuck, staring at a blank page or getting generic results from tools like ChatGPT or Gemini. The biggest mistake? Treating AI like a vending machine instead of a creative partner.

In this episode, I share my practical, "unfancy" system for shifting your mindset and integrating AI into your workflow. Stop letting the "what ifs" paralyze you and start using AI to amplify your creativity and get back valuable time. It's all about Getting It Done, Keeping It Real.

In This Episode:

• (00:02:03) - The Vending Machine Mistake & The Mindset Shift: From Tool to Collaborator

• (00:04:03) - Avoiding the "Robot Voice": You're the Creative Director

• (00:05:01) - My 4-Stage AI Workflow: Ideation, Research, Drafting & Repurposing

• (00:05:19) - Stage 1: Ideation & Brainstorming (Beating the Blank Page)

• (00:06:33) - Stage 2: Research & Synthesis (Your Research Assistant)

  
  

• (00:07:47) - Stage 3: Drafting & First-Pass Content (The "Sh*tty First Draft")

• (00:08:42) - Stage 4: Polishing & Repurposing (My Podcast Clip System)

• (00:10:10) - Real Story: How AI Solved My Content Command Centre Overwhelm with Apps Script

• (00:16:10) - The Art of the Prompt: Giving Clear Instructions

• (00:16:50) - Tip 1: Give it a Persona ("Act As" Framework)

• (00:18:49) - Tip 2: Provide Context & Constraints (The "Brief")

• (00:19:53) - Tip 3: Iterate (Treat it Like a Conversation)

• (00:21:48) - Addressing the Fears: Will AI make you lazy, less smart, or steal your voice?

• (00:27:18) - The Paced Connection: Intentional Creation vs. Unmindless Consumption

• (00:28:18) - Your Weekly Challenge: One Simple Step with the "Act As" Framework

  
  

Resources Mentioned:

• AI Tools (General Concepts): ChatGPT, Google Gemini

• Google Workspace: Google Sheets, Google Calendar, Google Apps Script

• Concept: Anne Lamott's "Shitty First Draft"

  
  

This Week's Challenge:

Pick one small, repetitive task you dislike. Try using the "Act As" framework: give AI a specific persona (like 'expert copywriter' or 'meticulous assistant'), provide clear context and constraints for the task, and see how the results improve. Just start the conversation!

🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA

• Website: rhondalavoie.com

• Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie

• Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie

• TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie

• Check out the Paced App: getpaced.app

  
  

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast: "Sunny Days" by Jimmy Gunnarsson via Descript .

#AIforCreators #AIWorkflow #ArtificialIntelligence #ContentCreation #ProductivityHacks #EntrepreneurLife #StopOverwhelm #CreativePartner #PromptTips #GettingItDoneKeepingItReal

We spend so much time preparing for the fear of failure, but what if the thing holding you back is actually the fear of success?

Success means change, new expectations, and leaving the safety of who you've always been. In this vulnerable episode, I share my real-time struggle with what author Gay Hendricks calls the "Upper Limit Problem"—the subconscious ways we sabotage ourselves when we exceed our internal thermostat for success.

Using my journey with the Paced app as a real-world example, we'll dissect the four hidden barriers that make us feel "fundamentally flawed" and I'll teach you the 3-step "Success Planning" system I use to fight back. This is the system you need to define your goals, plan for the "good problems" success creates, and finally give yourself permission to evolve.

In This Episode:

• (00:53) - Why the fear of success can be just as paralyzing as the fear of failure.

• (01:49) - Understanding the "Upper Limit Problem" from Gay Hendricks' book, "The Big Leap".

• (02:40) - The four hidden barriers that cause us to self-sabotage.

• (04:26) - My real-time story of hitting my own upper limit with the Paced app.

• (05:19) - How to fight back with a 3-step system: "Success Planning".

• (05:53) - Step 1: Define what success really looks like on your own terms.

• (07:11) - Step 2: Proactively map out your "success problems".

• (09:34) - Step 3: The most crucial step—giving yourself permission to evolve.

• (10:37) - Recap & Your Weekly Challenge.

  
  

Resources Mentioned:

• "The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level" by Gay Hendricks.

  
  

This Week's Challenge:

• Take one of your big goals, write down what success looks like, and then list three new good problems that success will create.

  
  

🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA

• Website: rhondalavoie.com

• Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie

• Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie

• TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie

• Follow the Paced App journey: getpaced.app

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast: "Sunny Days" by Jimmy Gunnarsson via Descript.

#FearOfSuccess #ImposterSyndrome #SelfSabotage #PersonalGrowth #UpperLimitProblem #GettingItDoneKeepingItReal #RhondaLavoiePodcast

In this first "Check-in," Rhonda gives a huge thank you for the incredible launch week and shares a look behind the scenes at her other big passion project: an app she's developing called Paced.

Learn the "why" behind the app, the simple philosophy of taking back "your time, at your pace," and how the journey of building it has been a real-life example of the very principles discussed on this podcast—setting big goals, breaking them down into systems, and learning to "bounce back faster" from inevitable "hiccups".

In This Episode:

(00:04) - A Huge Thank You for the Launch

(00:51) - What I'm Building: An Introduction to the Paced App

(01:08) - The Philosophy: Taking Back Your Time, at Your Pace

(01:29) - The Journey: A Real-Life Example of "Bouncing Back Faster"

(01:47) - How to Follow the Paced Journey

(01:54) - Teaser for Next Week's Episode

Resources Mentioned:

• Paced App Website: getpaced.app

🔗 CONNECT WITH RHONDA

• Website: rhondalavoie.com

• Instagram: @rhonda.lavoie

• TikTok: @rhonda.lavoie

• Facebook: Rhonda Lavoie

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast: "Sunny Days" by Jimmy Gunnarsson via Descript.

#TheRhondaLavoiePodcast #PacedApp #GettingItDoneKeepingItReal #PersonalGrowth

If you've ever been stopped in your tracks by the fear of failing, this episode is for you. In this direct, "tough love" episode, Rhonda confronts the "what if" list that paralyzes us and reframes the entire concept of failure. Learn the "Fear Autopsy"—a simple, practical system for dissecting what you're really afraid of—and discover why the only guaranteed way to fail is to not give yourself the opportunity to try.

In This Episode:

(00:03) - The Hook: You're Asking the Wrong Question About Fear

(00:54) - My Story: Feeling Trapped and the "What If" List

(02:16) - The "Fear Autopsy": A 3-Step System to Dissect Your Fear

(04:08) - The Reframe: Why You're Already Failing

(05:12) - The Science (Part 1): What is "Catastrophizing"?

(06:10) - The Science (Part 2): The Cost of Not Trying & "Loss Aversion"

(08:00) - Recap & Your Weekly Challenge

Resources Mentioned:

• Concept: Catastrophizing

• Concept: Loss Aversion (from Daniel Kahneman)

  
  

Music for The Rhonda Lavoie Podcast: "Sunny Days" by Jimmy Gunnarsson via Descript.

#TheRhondaLavoiePodcast #FearOfFailure #Mindset #GettingItDoneKeepingItReal