Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

Burnout prevention for female managers often starts with a hard truth: your team's hesitation to use initiative mirrors your own high-functioning anxiety. Jamie, a funeral director, has a conscientious team—yet they keep checking, waiting, and avoiding decisions. In this conversation with Cheryl Paris, discover why words like 'professional' and 'use your judgment' carry hidden meanings that freeze your team's nervous system. Learn how decoding your own workplace stress and perfectionism gives your team permission to think and lead.

Your team isn’t “lacking initiative” if they’re busy trying not to get punished by surprise standards. We tell the story of Jamie, a 32-year-old funeral director who cares deeply about families and holds high professional standards, yet feels exasperated when her team double-checks everything, waits for approval, and seems afraid to make decisions.

We dig into the real culprit behind so much workplace stress and anxiety at work: expectations that sound clear but aren’t. Words like “professional,” “warm,” “sensitive,” and “use your judgment” can feel obvious to the person speaking because they come with a full mental picture. But when the picture stays in a manager’s head, the team can only guess. After a few rounds of “That’s not what I meant,” people learn that the safest move is to ask first, copy the boss on every message, and avoid the risk of being wrong.

From there, we map the cycle: high stakes make control look like care, retroactive corrections create fear, fear produces overchecking, and overchecking becomes “evidence” that the team can’t be trusted. We also bring in professional reflection, not as self-blame, but as a leadership tool to ask: what pattern am I part of, and what am I creating through my habits?

You’ll leave with a simple practice you can use today: make one important standard visible before the work starts so initiative becomes safe again. If this hits close to home, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more leaders can replace anxiety with clarity.

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

Work anxiety management can become another full-time job—constant monitoring, techniques, and self-optimisation that keeps your nervous system locked in high alert. In this episode, we explore why high-functioning anxious women often miss the biggest recovery tool: permission to stop managing. You'll learn the nervous system reset that matters most, how to recognise when anxiety management is draining you further, and the counterintuitive truth about sustainable stress recovery for burnt-out leaders.

Anxiety at work can hijack your whole day, and the worst part is how quickly “managing it” becomes another job you never applied for. Cheryl sits down with psychotherapist Elke to make calming down simpler, more physical, and far more realistic, especially for busy people who do not have time to overthink every symptom. We focus on what helps your nervous system feel safer, not on chasing a perfect routine.  

We dig into practical, body-based stress and anxiety tools you can use anywhere: hydration as a baseline, breathing that actually feels doable when you are already activated, and why the vagus nerve matters when anxiety shows up as tension, nausea, a tight throat, or a racing heart. Elke also explains havening, a gentle touch technique that sends a nonverbal “you are safe” message to your system when words like “relax” do nothing. From there, we build a personal “calm list” so you have steps to follow even when your mind is spinning, plus the idea of layering supports when you need “heavy artillery” to bring your stress level down.  

We also get honest about gratitude: not as a cheesy slogan or toxic positivity, but as science-backed attention training that can reduce perfectionism and grow real joy over time. If you want practical workplace anxiety strategies, nervous system regulation ideas, and a simple daily practice that saves time and energy, you will leave with a clear plan. Subscribe, share this with someone who is carrying too much, and leave a review with the one tool you want to try first.

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

High-functioning anxiety often masquerades as productivity. Your body sends distress signals—tension, racing heart, exhaustion—while your mind insists you're fine and in control. With guest Elke Scholz, we explore why high-achieving women experience this body-mind disconnect and share a powerful nervous system reset you can use at your desk in 2 minutes. Stop ignoring what your body is telling you about work stress before it becomes burnout.

Your body can be in full panic while your mind insists you’re okay, and that disconnect is one of the most confusing parts of work stress anxiety. Cheryl sits down with Elka to trace anxiety back to its less obvious roots, especially for high-functioning women juggling careers, caregiving, and the pressure to be “good” at everything. Instead of treating anxiety as one big problem, we treat it like a set of clues and start narrowing it down.  

We dig into physical drivers that often get missed: caffeine tolerance, alcohol rebound anxiety, sugar crashes, dehydration, and the way sleep debt can wreck your emotional resilience after just a couple of nights. Elka shares how food sensitivities can trigger a body-based anxiety attack even when you feel mentally fine, plus why hormones and blood markers matter. If your finances are fine, your relationship is solid, and you still feel like you’re “freaking out”, we talk about why thyroid issues and iron deficiency are worth checking with a professional.  

Then we zoom out to modern overstimulation and the stress of constant inputs. Phones keep us in FOMO and alert mode, and Elka describes the striking difference between frantic scrolling and the calm that comes from quiet, nature, and gentle sensory grounding. We also name the “shoulds”, perfectionism, and self-doubt that push high standards into chronic anxiety, and we touch on high sensitivity, memory triggers, and trauma held in the body.  

If you want practical coping tools, Elka offers a free two-page PDF you can pick from, plus Cheryl shares a playful idea for a movement-ready playlist to help refill your cup. Subscribe for more conversations on work anxiety and nervous system regulation, share this with someone who’s quietly carrying too much, and leave a review so more listeners can find the support.

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

Why does work anxiety feel like it appears out of nowhere? In this episode, Cheryl Paris talks with Elke Scholz about high-functioning anxiety, the difference between fear, stress, worry, and anxiety, and how your body uses the anxiety scale and physical signals to ask for attention. Learn why shame isn't the answer—and what your nervous system is actually trying to tell you.

Anxiety can hit during the most ordinary moment and that’s exactly what makes it so unsettling. We’re talking about the mystery of “random” anxiety and why it often isn’t random at all once you understand how your nervous system stacks small stressors. I’m joined by Elka, who brings a grounded, practical lens to work stress and anxiety, especially for high-functioning women who keep ticking the boxes while feeling uneasy inside.

We unpack the difference between fear, anxiety, and stress in plain language. Fear is the immediate alarm that pushes you to act, while anxiety is often anticipatory, your mind scanning ahead for what might happen next. Elka shares a memorable story that makes this distinction click, then we explore how anxiety can actually be useful information: a signal to check your finances, your health, or your environment, instead of spiralling into repetitive worry.

From there we get very practical. We talk about why anxiety can flare up when you’ve done something safely a hundred times, how dehydration can raise anxiety first thing in the morning, and why reaching for coffee before water can make things worse. Elka also introduces a simple 0–10 scale to track your anxiety level, find your slippery slope, and set clearer boundaries at work before you hit overload.

If you want calmer mornings, better self-awareness, and tools for stress management that don’t require fancy gear, press play. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s been silently coping, and leave a review so more people can find support.

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

High-functioning anxiety and perfectionism can make you feel like nothing your team does is ever good enough. But here's the truth: the problem isn't their work—it's your nervous system running on overdrive. Learn how burnout disguises itself as impossible standards and what to do about it without lowering your impact.

A team can look “high performing” on the surface while quietly losing its nerve underneath. I’m Cheryl Paris, and I’m telling the story of Isabel, a capable new manager who wants to do a great job and ends up doing something many of us do under pressure: fine-tuning competent work until her team starts working for her approval instead of working from their own judgment. The work isn’t wrong, unsafe, or off-brief, but it keeps getting adjusted because it isn’t quite how she would have done it. That difference between preference and principle is where work stress and anxiety begin to grow. 

We unpack what this pattern does to a team: people stop asking “Is this good work?” and start asking “Will Isabel like it?” They rehearse minor decisions, re-check messages, and avoid initiative because the standard seems to change after the task is finished. Then we flip the lens to the manager’s side. When you step into a bigger role, the gap between responsibility and direct control can feel like an exposed nerve. Perfectionism and micromanagement can become a way to feel safe, even when it costs trust, speed, and psychological safety. 

I share two practical tools to break the loop without “lowering standards.” First is the Cola Principle: good, better, best, matched to purpose, risk, and time. Second is a quick decision filter before you edit: is it wrong, is it risky, or is it simply different? Different is allowed to be irritating, but it’s not an emergency. You’ll also hear how to set clear outcomes and boundaries upfront so competent people can deliver quality in more than one way. 

If this resonates, subscribe for more practical ideas on leadership, work stress, anxiety, and healthier standards, share it with a manager who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one “different but fine” choice you’ll stop correcting this week?

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

If you’ve ever gone home and realised your mind is still “on shift,” you’ll relate to Ella. She’s a lead electrician on construction sites, responsible for ensuring safe and compliant work, and she has a strong team around her. However, she keeps finding reasons to double-check, answer one more question, and verify what her deputies have already confirmed.

 While this may seem like dedication, it gradually transforms her into a human fuse box through which every decision must pass. That’s where work stress and anxiety begin to take their toll.

We explore a common leadership trap that appears in both construction and corporate environments: confusing high standards with high involvement. High standards represent the goals we strive to achieve, while high involvement reflects the personal control we exert to ensure those goals are met.

 When these two concepts become tangled, delegation can feel risky, leading the team to rely on the leader’s confidence rather than developing their own. As team members hesitate, the leader intervenes more frequently, and both sides gather “proof” that this pattern is necessary.

We then propose a practical alternative: structured trust.

Instead of simply suggesting leaders “trust more,” we outline a system that makes trust tangible and measurable through clear standards, evidence of competence, defined decision-making rights, established review points, and transparent escalation procedures.

 We also introduce the ABGW method (Awareness, Balance, Growth, Well-being) to help leaders remain accountable without being constantly on call. We conclude with a simple three-question exercise for you to try this week.

If you find this helpful, please subscribe, share it with a colleague who might be feeling overwhelmed, and leave a review so that more people can discover the show. What’s one decision you could delegate to a capable team member today?

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

High-achieving women often push harder to manage stress—but what if the real stress recovery strategy is play? Join Cheryl Paris and Zander Phelps as they unpack why nervous system regulation through play isn't a distraction, it's a leadership tool. Discover how making work feel safer and more playful actually cuts stress and rebuilds resilience.

Productivity advice usually sounds like more discipline, more pressure, and one more system to follow. We go the other direction: what if the simplest way to improve performance is to make work feel safer and more playful?

 I’m Cheryl Paris, and I’m joined by Zander  Phelps to unpack why play at work is not a distraction. It is a stress-reduction tool that helps teams think clearly, collaborate better, and stay creative when deadlines hit.

We talk leadership and workplace culture head-on: the “fish rots from the head” problem, why psychological safety matters more than perks, and how a team’s mood often mirrors what leaders tolerate. 

Zander shares practical ideas that leaders can introduce with almost no budget, from small recurring games to a one-minute dance party that resets energy without derailing the day. We also get real about resistance: how rigid workplaces can punish lightness, and why cultural change needs visible permission from management.

If you need language that lands with decision-makers, we map out a constructive way to pitch play using outcomes leaders care about: productivity, creativity, burnout prevention, and employee retention. We also dig into the neuroscience of stress and play, including cortisol, fight-or-flight, and how the brain finds solutions faster when it is relaxed.

 Finally, you’ll get a realistic daily “prescription” for busy adults, including laughter practice, simple movement, and quick vagus nerve calming techniques you can use anywhere.

If this sparked an idea for your team, subscribe for more conversations on work stress and anxiety, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more leaders find it. What is one playful reset you would actually try at work?

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

When work stress hits, your first instinct is to think harder—but that's exactly what keeps high-achievers stuck. In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Zander, a play coach who treats play as a nervous system regulation skill, not childish filler. Discover why rational problem-solving fails when anxiety takes over, and why a five-minute play break might be the stress recovery tool you've been missing. Perfect for burnt-out managers and overwhelmed leaders who've tried meditation but can't shut off their minds.

Five minutes. That is all it might take to change the chemistry of your day, especially when work stress and anxiety start creeping in before the next meeting. Cheryl sits down with Zander, a play coach who treats play like a serious nervous system skill, not a childish extra. 

We get honest about why “just calm down” fails when your brain is in fight or flight, and why the fastest path back to clarity often runs through your body, not your thoughts.

We dig into the science in plain language: play signals safety, which helps cortisol drop and opens the door to dopamine, oxytocin, and a steadier mood. Then we get practical with tools you can use in real workplaces.

 Cheryl shares her mission to build a 365 song playlist you can dance to at work, because most songs are about five minutes and that is enough time for a genuine reset. 

Zander breaks down juggling as an “ultimate brain exercise,” explaining how cross body patterns and rhythm can pull you into a focused, relaxed play flow state even if you start with one ball.

We also explore footbag as a portable, low stakes way to move, coordinate, and connect, plus the surprising impact of making something by hand and gifting it to others as a form of kindness and stress relief. If you want actionable stress management, workplace wellness ideas, and a fresh approach to nervous system regulation, press play, then stand up and move.

Subscribe for more practical tools, share this with a friend who is running on fumes, and leave a review if it helps. What song would you add to the five minute work dance playlist?

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

When did you last genuinely play—not perform, not doom-scroll, but actually play? In this episode, we explore why nervous system regulation and burnout prevention start with reclaiming unstructured play, the stress recovery strategy high-achievers unconsciously abandoned. We'll unpack how adult play interrupts the stress cycle your mind can't think away, with practical ways to bring it back into your week. Perfect for your lunch break or gym workout.

When was the last time you genuinely played, not performed, not scrolled, not numbed out, but actually played? That is our genuine suggestion to you in this episode.

 We start there and quickly land on a surprising point: adult play is not a childish extra; it is one of the best practical ways to calm stress, clear brain fog, and get back to creative thinking when work feels like too much.

We talk with Zander, the “Z Play coach,” about reintroducing play in a way that feels safe and mature. That means building small triggers you can use in the moment: simple body cues, tiny movements, and tactile tools that remind your nervous system it can stand down. 

We also dig into why play and productivity are not enemies. When stress locks you into fight or flight, you lose flexibility, focus, and good judgement. A short pattern break can change your state fast enough to change your day.

Then we go into the real world problem: the office that starts cheerful and feels drained by 11am. Emotions are contagious, so we explore self regulation, finding a comrade, and what leaders can do to create a workplace culture where people do better work because the environment stays light.

You will also hear a story about a team that used five minutes of Nerf gun chaos to reset the whole room and get back to work smiling.

If you want practical stress relief, better focus, and more joy at work without pretending life is perfect, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels burned out, and leave a review with your favorite small “play cue” so we can try it too.

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode.

When you're exhausted, measuring progress feels impossible—and the traditional metrics fail you. In this episode, discover how to track real wins in burnout recovery: regulated nervous system moments, boundaries you kept, and the tiny brave steps high-achieving women overlook. Learn why progress looks different when you're rebuilding, and why that's not failure—it's wisdom.

Remember this: that “tiny” step you took today might be the bravest thing you have done all week.

When work stress, anxiety, and burnout recovery start to feel like yet another performance review, it is easy to believe you are falling behind, failing at boundaries, or doing wellbeing “wrong”. 

Guess what? I want to challenge that because I see it differently.

Progress is not only the dramatic, visible, social-media-friendly kind. Sometimes it arrives quietly, and it still counts.

We start with a quote I keep on my wall: every step you take, no matter how small, is a step towards a brighter, more balanced future. Then we walk through why this matters for capable, high-functioning people who expect themselves to recover quickly and completely.

Using Allie’s story as a mirror, we talk about the hidden pressure of trying to renovate your whole life in weeks, and how that can lead to burning yourself out while trying to recover from burnout.

From there, we get practical. I explain how acknowledging emotions like anger and anxiety is not the same as acting them out. 

Awareness creates space between emotion and reaction so you can choose a conscious response. We explore the ABGW Method® and how it reframes stress management as transforming energy into awareness, balance, growth, and sustainable wellbeing. We also talk about journaling as a simple tool to turn emotion into information, build healthier boundaries, and move at a pace that fits your real life.

If this lands for you, follow Work Stress Anxiety, share it with someone who needs permission to notice their progress, and leave a review so more people can find the support they deserve. What is one small step you have taken recently that you have not given yourself credit for?

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:

https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first:

https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

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

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.