Episode Summary
If you find yourself constantly stressed out and on the edge of burnout, it's time to take a breath. Author Amelia Nagoski and Dr. Cynthia Stonnington talk about the reasons why women and gender diverse people are prone to burnout — and what you can do to break out of stress-inducing patterns.
Episode Notes
We talked with:
- Amelia Nagoski, D.M.A. (it stands for Doctorate of Musical Arts) is the co-author, with her sister Emily, of the New York Times bestselling "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" and the "Burnout Workbook."
- Dr. Cynthia Stonnington is a professor of psychiatry and the associate medical director of the Office of Joy and Wellbeing at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. She is the previous chair of Psychiatry & Psychology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where she remains an active staff member. She's the author of "Burnout in Women Physicians: Prevention, Treatment, and Management."
We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
- Stress is a cycle. Amelia breaks down the difference between what's causing your stress (stressors) and the physical effect on your body (the stress). To stop the stress cycle, you might need to start listening to your body.
- Why women (and gender diverse people) are prone to burnout. Our guests discuss the historical and systemic reasons that women tend to burn out, including their role as caregivers and their propensity to pick up the "invisible" household work that needs to get done.
- Accept yourself. By refusing to judge yourself by external standards, you can more easily say "no" when tempted to take on commitments and tasks that won't fit in your life. Our guests also discuss how body acceptance plays a role in battling burnout.
Can't get enough?
- Purchase Amelia's book "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle."
- Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
Got feedback?
- If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at readtalkgrow@mayo.edu.
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