Pause Purpose Play

Preventing burnout with Dr Claire Plumbly

This week I'm joined by the brilliant Dr Claire Plumbly, who shares her exciting journey of writing her first book on burnout, diving into how chronic stress can really take a toll on our minds and bodies. With practical tips on managing burnout, recognising internal pressures, and practicing self-care, this episode is packed with useful advice! 

 

 

01:28 The Concept of Burnout

01:44 Writing the Book: Inspiration and Challenges

02:26 Understanding Burnout as Trauma

06:15 Recognising Burnout Symptoms

08:04 The Three C's for Nervous System Health

12:27 High-Functioning Burnout

13:29 Practical Tips for Managing Burnout

32:13 Entrepreneurship and Burnout

38:31 Connecting with Others and Finding Support

 

Do you feel overwhelmed? Too busy to stop? Resisting slowing down?

Then you need a break, before you break!

Download my free guide to help you spot the signs of overwhelm, learn simple ways of slowing down, and understanding what’s getting in the way of you giving yourself the permission to rest and recover. 

https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/calm/

 

About Dr Claire Plumbly:

 

Claire is a Clinical Psychologist & Director of Good Therapy Ltd, a psychological therapy centre based online and in Taunton, Somerset. Her private practice specialises in trauma-related issues and Claire herself has a specialism in sexual assault; early life traumas, and of course burnout.

Her debut book ‘Burnout: How to Manage Your Nervous System Before It Manages You’ is out in the UK this summer. It will show you how to harness the power of your nervous system, despite the persistent demands of modern life.

 

Forms, finances and random f*ckery for ADHD business women, part 3

We're diving into a topic close to my heart: the chaotic world of unfinished projects that seem to plague us ADHD-ers. I share a laugh-and-cry kind of story from our amazing ADHD Club, and together we explore some fun and practical ways to finally get things done.

 

I also chat about the importance of self-compassion, managing impulse control, and why taking breaks is your secret weapon against burnout. Plus, stick around till the end because I've got a special freebie to help you tackle those dreaded Access to Work forms!

 

So, if you want to turn your chaos into calm, hit play and let's get started!

 

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:07 Understanding ADHD and Unfinished Projects

03:52 Real-Life Example of ADHD Challenges

06:29 Strategies to Tackle Unfinished Projects

11:14 Community Support and Encouragement

15:05 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

Forms, Finances and Random F*ckery for ADHD Business Women - Part 2

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, I dive into the often daunting task of form-filling for ADHD business women. I offer four handy tips to break down this overwhelming task into manageable and even enjoyable chunks.

 

I explain the crucial importance of these forms for accessing things like government support and business funding, and provide practical, compassionate strategies to tackle them head-on.

 

Join me in turning this 'boring beast' into a more playful process and stay tuned for the next episode that promises more tips!

 

00:46 The Importance of Filling Forms

01:54 Why ADHD Brains Avoid Forms

03:07 Tips for Tackling Forms: Chunky

05:56 Tips for Tackling Forms: Funky

07:48 Tips for Tackling Forms: Junky

08:59 Tips for Tackling Forms: Monkey

10:44 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Form, finances and random f*ckery for ADHD business owners, part 1

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

Support, systems and self-compassion for sustainable success

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

"Sleeping Well: Dr. Ranj Singh on Anxiety, Wellbeing, and Self-Compassion"

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 

Snacking well with ADHD - avoiding crashes and binges

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.

 

https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/adhdclub

"If I was 10% kinder to myself, I'd be less effective in life"

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:

https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/adhdclub

Perfectionism and Generational Trauma, with Zoe Blaskey

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 

 

Resistance to rest, and rest as resistance

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/