Imagine if you could follow your ambition without drowning in it – how much more fulfilling life would be? That’s what Pause Purpose Play is all about – finding balance over burnout by setting you free from needing to be perfect, so that you can take action and get started with what matters to you, instead of getting stuck in procrastination and holding yourself back with self-limiting beliefs your inner critic tells you. In this podcast, Michaela Thomas, Clinical Psychologist, Couples Therapist and founder of The Thomas Connection, shares bite-sized learning around psychology of performance, habits, self-confidence, stress, anxiety, perfectionism, parenthood and couples relationships. The podcast will mix solo episodes with guest interviews; diving deep into their professional zone of genius and learning about how they have found pause, purpose and play in their life and in their work. My new book, The Lasting Connection, is available now from all good bookshops.
Episodes
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Jul 25, 2024
Thursday Jul 25, 2024
In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, I kick off a three-part series to help my fellow ADHD entrepreneurs tackle dreaded business finances. After a lightbulb moment with my ADHD assistant, Zoë, I realised many of us hate dealing with invoices and forms. So, tune in to get given five ways to approach your finances with an ADHD brain! These tips will help you manage cash flow, reduce stress, and keep your creativity flowing. And hey, if you need more support, check out my latest masterclass on sustainable ADHD business success. Let's make this fun and get you paid!
00:48 The Struggle with Forms and Finances
01:29 Understanding ADHD and Executive Functioning
02:24 The Importance of Invoicing
04:09 Why ADHD Brains Struggle with Business Finances
05:07 Five Solutions to Improve Invoicing
05:23 Solution 1: Gamify Your Invoicing
06:18 Solution 2: Change the Context
07:17 Solution 3: Reward Yourself
08:03 Solution 4: Automate the Process
10:03 Solution 5: Outsource the Task
13:14 Conclusion and Masterclass Information
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
How do you balance your business and life with an ADHD brain?
In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host and Clinical Psychologist Michaela Thomas, returns from a podcast break to discuss the importance of clarity and self-care to have balance between work and life, prioritising family right now.
Michaela explores themes of compassion, perfectionism, and ADHD, sharing personal insights on balancing family life and professional responsibilities. She introduces a framework for sustainable success, focusing on support, systems and self-compassion.
You’re also invited to catch a replay of a masterclass on how to balance your business and life with an ADHD brain, here:
Balancing your Business with an Ambitious ADHD Brain - The Thomas Connection
The doors are open NOW to Michaela’s ADHD membership community, The ADHD Club for ambitious women with bright and busy brains. Join here: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/adhdclub
00:14 Reasons for taking a break from the podcast
01:00 Clarity and Family Priorities
02:17 The links between ADHD and perfectionism
03:06 Support, Systems and Self-Compassion
03:49 The Venn Diagram Framework
12:38 Permission to Seek Support
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
Having trouble sleeping? Join for some useful tips as Clinical Psychologist Michaela Thomas chats with the brilliant Dr. Ranj Singh - NHS Doctor, Furniture Village Sleep and Wellness Ambassador and TV presenter - about sleep, anxiety and wellbeing.
Discover how sleep is linked with hormone regulation, anxiety, stress, burnout - and even ADHD.
Dr. Ranj shares his top tips for better sleep hygiene, managing stress, and sprinkling some self-compassion into your daily routine. Plus, hear how Dr Ranj handles criticism from social media trolls with grace, and why dancing like nobody's watching might just be the lift we all need.
Ready to give yourself permission to have better sleep? Tune in now!
Connect with Dr Ranj Singh on Instagram: @drranj
We cover:
01:06 The Importance of Sleep
04:22 Short-term and Long-term Effects of Poor Sleep
07:44 Improving Sleep Quality
13:40 Self-Compassion and Sleep
18:05 Purpose and Meaning in Life
24:41 Navigating Social Media and Comparison
28:00 Balancing Inspiration and Pressure
29:33 The Reality of Imperfection
33:19 Finding Joy in Social Connections
38:34 The Power of Authenticity
44:46 Handling Criticism and Social Media
48:19 Final Takeaways and Self-Compassion
Think your sleeping problems are linked with ADHD?
Take a look at Michaela’s ADHD membership community, The ADHD Club:
www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/adhdclub
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Welcome back to the Pause Purpose Lay podcast with me, Michaela Thomas. In this episode, we explore how to snack well with ADHD by understanding interoceptive cues, common sugar cravings, and the importance of self-compassion. We discuss the challenges ADHD individuals face with food, the impact of ignoring hunger signals, and practical tips to avoid energy crashes and binges. Additionally, I explain how to give yourself permission to snack and manage your energy levels. For those interested, I am offering access to my recent workshop recording on this topic. Join us as we navigate snacking strategies and move away from shame and self-criticism.
Thursday Jun 06, 2024
Thursday Jun 06, 2024
In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play Podcast, I discuss the impact of self-kindness on productivity and success, particularly for individuals with ADHD. I address common concerns about self-compassion leading to laziness and explain how being kinder to oneself can enhance effectiveness, reduce burnout, and foster a growth mindset. I also outline three key points: the benefits of kind self-correction vs. self-criticism, the importance of setting boundaries, and the role of rest and recovery in achieving high performance. Plus, I let you know about an upcoming masterclass focused on balancing business and ADHD.
Links:
Thursday May 23, 2024
Thursday May 23, 2024
In this episode, we explore how generational trauma and self-criticism is ‘handed down’ from our parents as a blueprint for how we then parent ourselves. I talk to transformational coach and host of the Motherkind podcast, Zoe Blaskey, about her recovery journey from perfectionism and alcohol. We discuss how inherited patterns aren’t our fault, but it IS our responsibility to notice and become aware of them. With gentle, compassionate noticing of our self-critical thoughts and perfectionistic behaviours, we have a choice of which thought to believe in and which action to then take. We also let go of the pressure to parent perfectly, embracing the fact that we WILL ‘mess up’ our kids.
- How almost breaking from becoming a mum lead to creating Motherkind
- The cycle of ‘Hurt, heal, help’
- Pain leading to a deeper level of understanding and purpose
- Recovery journey - a daily practice
- Perfectionism as a survival tactic that doesn’t help in the long term
- Motherhood made negative coping mechanisms resurface
- Parents handing down a faulty road map
- Developing an internal kind parental voice
- Clarity in values makes hard stuff worth it
- Journalling gives choice over which thoughts to listen to
- Can’t change until you’ve sat with the pain for long enough
- Generational cycles of trauma
- Choosing one thing to change - trusting yourself
- Constant state of flux instead of ‘balance’
- Boundaries have costs
Find out more about Zoe at www.motherkind.co
Instagram: @zoeblaskey
Burn Bright - transformational group coaching for the ambitious working woman who needs to be nicer to herself to calm the overwhelm
https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright/
Find me at www.thethomasconnection.co.uk
Instagram: @the_thomas_connection
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thethomasconnection
Pause Purpose Play Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/pausepurposeplay
Thursday May 09, 2024
Thursday May 09, 2024
In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, I tackle the often-neglected concept of rest, especially for individuals with ADHD and perfectionists. I present rest as the best-kept secret of high performance, crucial for achieving more and preventing burnout. The episode explores the resistance many feel towards allowing themselves to rest, labelling rest as an act of rebellion against the pressures of a perfectionist, patriarchal society. Through listener questions and personal insights, I discuss the importance of rest for both mental and physical well-being and introduce the Pause Purpose Play Mini Mastermind designed to help ambitious women find balance, meaning, and fun. The episode emphasizes that resting and recovering are essential for achieving ambitious goals sustainably, without falling into the burnout trap.
https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/pause-purpose-play/
Thursday May 02, 2024
Thursday May 02, 2024
This episode features a deep and personal conversation with Holly Matthews, a TV actress turned self-development coach, about the themes of bravery, authenticity, and dealing with grief. Holly shares her journey, starting with her early career in television, her approach to living with bravery and courage rather than confidence, and how writing a bold letter as a child kickstarted her acting career. She discusses the importance of having awkward, gray-area conversations, embracing life's nuances, and how she challenges herself to live boldly. Holly also opens up about the impact of her husband Ross's death from brain cancer on her and her children, how she navigated grief, and how the experience reinforced her determination to help others feel 'more happy and less crappy.' The conversation touches on dealing with ADHD, the value of asking for what you want, and the importance of dropping the ball sometimes to manage the juggle of life's challenges. Holly also provides insights into dealing with online negativity, emphasizing the power of seeing oneself through others' eyes and maintaining authenticity in the face of criticism.
https://www.iamhollymatthews.com/
https://www.instagram.com/iamhollymatthews/
https://www.tiktok.com/@iamhollymatthews
To be one of Michaela's inner circle women in her transformational group coaching, Burn Bright, apply now: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
This podcast episode features a heartwarming conversation between myself and Rachel Maloy, a facilitator of Singing Mamas groups. We discuss the profound impact that singing can have on mental health and well-being, especially for mothers. Rachel shares her personal journey of battling severe anxiety and depression after her son's birth and how discovering Singing Mamas became a pivotal moment in her recovery. She emphasizes the importance of singing as a form of emotional release, community building, and self-care. The episode also includes snippets of Rachel singing, along with a discussion about the benefits of singing for both adults and children, highlighting how it can improve confidence, mental health, and provide a sense of belonging. Rachel encourages listeners, especially mothers, to give themselves permission to prioritize their well-being through singing, exemplifying that everyone can sing and it is never too late to start.
Find me at www.thethomasconnection.co.uk
Instagram: @the_thomas_connection
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thethomasconnection
Pause Purpose Play Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/pausepurposeplay
Edited by MyPodcastAssistant