Do you drive in a car? Do you walk anywhere? Do you clean your floors? Cook? Fold laundry?
Do you ever feel like you're chugging along, too busy to absorb or work on anything new, but wish you could? Wishing there was a way to overcome that nagging sense of discontent/isolation/stagnancy (fill in your blank here).
Yep, me too. I was recently struggling with all of the above: after relocating to a new town (read: zero friends) and trying to get settled (why does everything break the minute you move into a new house?), I was felt like I was just barely staying afloat. I was working full time day and night, while also building and establishing my local therapy service, while also trying to soak in every last morsel of my growing daughter (when did she learn that word?! why is she suddenly so big?), while maintaining never-ending shopping lists in my head, while trying to get dinner on the table... and... what's that? Do the toilets need cleaning AGAIN? Does the dog need to pee AGAIN? We are short on milk ALREADY and there is a child is climbing up my leg begging for it!? Is this for real?
I was on auto-pilot; hustling big time. And I was feeling majorly frustrated at anything that wasn't time well spent on helping me reach my goals or get my work done. I felt mounting resentment over the tasks sitting on my shoulders; I often thought to myself that they were all just in the way of me bettering myself, my life, my practice, and my business. And those are all the things I wanted desperately to improve the most.
THANKFULLY my long-time friend and also boss-mom/entrepreneur Sasha of Smitten Paper Co. heard my cry. "I think you'd like this podcast..." she texted me one day. Podcast? This was a sphere I was just not tuned into. I clicked, put in some long-lost earbuds, and quickly discovered that I should have been all along.
Podcasts are like a continuous IV of betterment/insight/motivation/information/knowledge/human company. What's powerful about listening to a podcast that feels particularly relevant to you is the basic fact that as humans we tend to become what we absorb. Like a version of "you are what you eat"; you are what you fill your ears, mind, and soul with.
Now I look for reasons to spend time on those mundane tasks that felt like a waste! Because, well, they no longer are a waste. Does the kitchen need cleaning? I'm on it. Did you say it's an hour drive to that children's museum? No worries....
One recent morning Sasha and I met up for some mama-preneur solidarity while our daughters played. What was supposed to be a couple hours turned into all day. After the 9th diaper change, endlessly wrangling our escape artist children, and wolfing down late-lunch burgers, we finally admitted it was time to part ways. Strollers tucked into trunks and babes secured in their car-seats, we each got into our cars and rolled the windows down to say goodbye. We both enjoyed one last laugh as our phone Bluetooth automatically streamed into our car speakers: we were listening to the exact same episode of the exact same podcast. Now that's what I call a day well spent.
The following is a library of podcasts that may be particularly helpful in a given area. I am not endorsing these podcasts personally: they result from my research into podcasts that have been cited by others as high-quality and high-impact. Descriptions of the podcast were taken from the podcast information provided. I will always endorse therapy first as the most deep and long-term modality for change and lasting insight. These podcasts are no replacement for therapy, but I hope they can help enhance the life you're already living or start inspiring the life you wish to live. Enjoy!
On Making A Change/Enacting Motivation:
The Relaunch Podcast: On breakthrough, persistence, and maximizing results
The Tony Robbins Podcast: Why live an ordinary life, when you can live an extraordinary one?
The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes: Find out what makes people great
Tiny Leaps, Big Changes: Wellness, Inspiration, Self-Help, & Motivation for Your Daily Life
The Brendon Show: Messages for how to live an extraordinary life
For Answers to Those Burning Questions:
Dear Sugars Radio: Author Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond answer all questions no matter how deep or dark
Dr. Laura Call of the Day: "No nonsense advice with a strong sense of ethics, accountability, and personal responsibility."
On Discovering Purpose, Meaning, and Happiness:
Life on Purpose: On how to live your life more deliberately
Happier with Gretchen Rubin: Bestselling Author of book by the same name continues to tackle the subject!
10% Happier: Can you be ambitious and still strive for enlightenment?
The Minimalist Podcast: Live a meaningful life with less
On Marriage:
Better Conversations on Money + Marriage: On transparency, conversation starters, and more
Confessions of a Terrible Husband: On improving, and "rocking" your relationship.
The Smalley Institute Podcast: All things marriage!
ONE Extraordinary Marriage Show: On sex, love and commitment
The Stupendous Marriage Show: Tackling marriage issues and establishing healthy relationships
On Calming Down (helpful for marriage too!?)
Zen Habits Radio: Because life is busy and reading is hard!
Tara Brach: Healing through meditation and listening
On Self-Help:
Optimal Living Daily: The best of personal development, minimalism, and productivity
Life Is a Marathon: Insight, information, and inspiration
The Overwhelmed Brain: Personal growth for critical thinkers
On Understanding the Self:
Hidden Brain: A conversation about life's unseen patterns
Arming the Donkeys: the hidden logic that shapes our motivations
Waking Up: Human mind, society, and current events
The Psychology Podcast: Insight into mind, brain, behavior, and creativity
On Getting Through Your 20s:
Millenials: A podcast about coming of age as a millenial
Phew! That's all for now! If you've made it this far I'll also add that I recommend you download the PODCAST app for your smartphone. It's mobile and ready for you anytime you are.
Happy listening, happy life.
-Lauren
Lauren L. Drago, MSEd, LMHC, LPC is the founder of Lauren Drago Therapy in Old Saybrook, CT and in greater CT, NY & PA. She specializes in working with smart, insightful and capable women to overcome stress, anxiety, loss of identity, self-limiting beliefs, perfectionism, marriage strain, and the pressure of "trying to do it all." Lauren has a passion for helping others to achieve the happy, fulfilling, productive, and meaningful life they deserve by changing how they experience and understand their world. She believes that every woman can and should live out her personal definition of her own best life. Follow Lauren on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Call (860) 339-6515 for your free initial 15-minute consultation.
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