Episode 202: Break Free from Overwhelm with 3 Proven Strategies to Unlock Your Flow
This is the Mindset for Life podcast, a place for personal stories, coaching, neuroscience and my favorite positive psychology tools to master life, relationships and work. I'm your host. Bethanie Hansen. Read on for an episode summary, action items from the episode, and coaching tips. A transcript is available in the podcast player tool. And, if today is the right time for you to work with a coach, the contact form is available on this page.
Episode Summary:
If you're feeling buried under tasks, stretched thin, and mentally exhausted before your day even starts, this episode of Mindset for Life is your lifeline. I'm going to walk you through my personal journey of overwhelm and discovering the incredible power of flow - that magical state where work feels effortless and time just flies. You'll learn the neuroscience behind why we get stuck in stress mode, plus three game-changing positive psychology exercises that can help you shift from chaos to calm. I'll share how I juggled teaching, parenting, and doctoral work and looked for a reset, just like you might be doing right now. In this episode, I'll give you practical tools to reset your brain, boost your creativity, and work with more purpose. By the end of this episode, you'll understand how overwhelm is a mindset you can change, and you'll have actionable strategies to help you show up as your best, most productive self. Ready to transform how you work and live? Let's go.
Actions to Try It Out
Ready to Transform Your Mindset?

First, try the one-task focus technique - pick something important, set a timer for 20-30 minutes, and go all in. No emails, no phone, just pure concentration. Can't do 30 minutes? Start with 10! Working from home with kids? Maybe it's during naptime or after bedtime.

Next, practice mindful transitioning - it's basically a reset button between tasks. Take a deep breath, stretch, walk up and down stairs, or just stand up and shake it out. No stairs? No problem - do a quick stretch or take three deep breaths.

The gratitude reframing. It's super simple. Each morning, jot down one thing you're genuinely grateful about in your work. Maybe it's a supportive colleague, a project you're excited about, or just having meaningful work. The key is making these strategies work for YOUR life, not some perfect ideal. You're not aiming for perfection; you're aiming for progress.

Remember, every small shift counts. You've got the power to break free from overwhelm and step into your flow. Your best self is waiting - and trust me, he or she's incredible. So take that first step, be kind to yourself, and watch how things start to change. You've got this!

Ready for Your Own Coach?

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This episode's theme song is "Take It Up A Level" by Bethanie Hansen and SUNO AI. Used with Permission. Like what you read here? In this podcast, I’m sharing some core principles I’ve learned in coaching that have completely changed my life. And I share them in workshops with my clients. With a personal coach, you can take it deeper, to make these changes a lasting part of your life. You can figure out where to start and how to get the changes you really want.