Less Stress, More Fun

It's time for new adventures!Enjoy this last episode of my beloved "Less Stress, More Fun" podcast!#podcast #endings #beginnings #lessstress #morefun © 2024 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is your ikigai? Is it something you find…or can it be something you choose and create? Don't let finding your purpose stress you out when there is a “Less Stress, More Fun” approach instead. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about: The concept of “ikigai” Creative ways to use this concept in your life Resources mentioned: “How to Ikigai” (Tim Tamashiro, TEDx | YouTube)“Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Joyful Life” (Government of Japan) “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” (book)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #ikigai #createresults #goals #purpose #achievinggoals #passion #findyourpassion #createyourpassion #createyourikigai #findyourikigai #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2024 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's reflect on the year that's wrapping up. How do you want to remember it? In this week's podcast episode, I talk about: The value of reflecting on a time period or a project How to perform a retrospective How to apply the lessons learned from your retrospective Resources mentioned: “Guide to Lessons Learned in Project Management” (Smartsheet) “Retrospective” (Atlassian) “Lessons learned: taking it to the next level” (Project Management Institute) “Guide to agile retrospectives for continuous improvement” (Aha!) Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #results #lessons #lessonslearned #retrospective #reflections #onetogrowon #goals #achievinggoals #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Which version of you do you prefer? Of all the personas that you wear each week, there might be one you prefer or aspects of each you want to celebrate. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about: Why we morph and how it's a good thing Personas of behavior and thinking Celebrating your favorite persona(s) the “less stress, more fun” way Resources mentioned: “Does your Personality Change According to the Company You Keep?” (Truity) “Why we're different people at work and at home” (BBC WorkLife) “Do you have a different personality at home and work?” (Fast Company) “Why Do People Act Differently in Groups Than They Do Alone?” (Walden University) Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #persona #personas #personality #modes #behaviors #connection #masks #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Consider what is a LOT of money to you compared to, “Meh, that's not that much.” Money can be an emotionally charged topic for us…and yet so much about money is relative to your own perspective and environment. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about: Why I consider money to be “relative” (and what that means) Reasons money is a central topic of our thinking Suggestions for powerful “less stress, more fun” ways to think about money Resources mentioned: Etymology of “relative” (Online etymology dictionary) The Psychological Science of Money (book, Springer) “Money Stress ("Less Stress" school 3 of 5)” (another awesome, free “Less Stress, More Fun” podcast episode) Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #money #allthemoney #nomoney #moneymindset #moneymeaning #finances #personalfinances #moneyrelationship #broke #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's talk about practical stress reduction: breathing techniques! Now, I know, I know, this is a frequently discussed topic. Still, the reason we hear so much about the fundamental act of breathing is because learning these techniques can make a real difference in how you manage stress and show up calm, cool, and collected in your everyday life. As a bonus, I'll be throwing in a few suggestions for fun, playful breathing techniques. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:Awesome breathing techniquesHow these techniques can be used to reduce stressHow to have more fun with breathing - yes, really! Resources mentioned:“Breathing Exercises” (American Lung Association) “3 Most Effective Pranayamas” (Ventuno Yoga | YouTube) “Lion's Breath - Foundations of Yoga” (Yoga with Adriene | YouTube) “Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response” (Harvard Medical School)Roger Love, vocal training for speaking and/or singing Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #breathing #breathwork #deepbreathing #silly #breathelikeadog #mydogismyguru #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're in relationships constantly. With our families, with our careers or businesses, with ourselves. A key way to enjoy the less stress, more fun way of life is assessing times when a relationship is lopsided from either too much giving (offers) or too much taking (asks). In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:The concept of “asks” and “offers” Ways to detect when one of the relationships in your life is out of balance Practical suggestions for assessing and reacting to out of balance “asks” and “offers”Resources mentioned:“The Importance of Reciprocal Relationships” (The Center for Growth) “Reciprocity in Relationships: 3 Types of Reciprocity” (Masterclass) “Honoring the Rule of Reciprocation” (Psychology Today) “Generous Accountability” (another delicious, free “Less Stress, More Fun” podcast episode)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #reciprocity #mutualsupport #supportive #relationships #balance #friendships #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the holiday season and that often means family gatherings.In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:How a relationship with your elders can add to your life Ways you can honor your elders Inspiration for becoming the kind of elder you want to beResources mentioned:“The Wisdom of Elders: How the wisdom of elders can promote social well-being in troubled times.” (Psychology Today, Dr. Paul Stoller) “How Elders Make Us Human” (Sapiens, anthropology magazine) “Elephant Elders Deserve Respect” (Science magazine)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #wisdom #older #aging #elder #connection #family #generations #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you love to receive messages from others? How about sending messages? Today I'll share one of the best ways I know to manage stress and have more fun. Who knew messaging could be part of living the “Less Stress, More Fun” way? In this week's podcast episode, I talk about: The concept of messaging as a way to practice a “Less Stress, More Fun” life Why messaging is so powerful What gets in the way of staying in touch Five types of messages you can send Awesome ideas for how to send your messages Resources mentioned:“How To Become Friends With Someone Over Text” (SocialSelf) “No Venting, Please” (Less Stress, More Fun Ep. 59 Apple | YouTube) Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #messages #relationships #stayintouch #communication #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This podcast was inspired by an average American GenX mom going down a rabbit hole of 80s music videos with her Gen Z kids. It got me thinking about the concept of nostalgia…and what I've learned over the years about why our teen years make such an impression on us for life. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:The “reminiscence bump”How your view of history and the future influence your decision making How to use the bumps to bring more fun into your life Resources mentioned:“Why Does the Music From Our Teens Stay With Us Forever?” (Discover Magazine)“The reminiscence bump: why America's greatest year was probably when you were young” (Guardian) “Neural Nostalgia: Why do we love the music we heard as teenagers?” (Slate.com)“The Mysteriously Memorable 20s: Why do we remember more from young adulthood than from any other time of our lives?” (Slate.com)“The Summer I Turned Swiftie” (Vogue) Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #nostalgia #reminiscence #reminiscencebump #80s #ilovethe80s #music #teenagers #memory #novelty #popculture #saveferris #playful #lessstress #morefun© 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you a good listener? Enjoy listening to my thoughts on this topic. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:The unexpected joys of listeningThe act of listeningThe art of listeningQuestions that amplify paying attentionHow to make listening easy/easierResources mentioned:“About Motivational Interviewing” (Stephen Rollnick, co-founder)“You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters” (Kate Murphy)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #listening #attention #generosity #personaldevelopment #connection #relationships #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent conversations, it's come to light that some of us equate “comfort” with “security.” But what are comfort and security, and what do they have to do with each other? In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:Trends I see in ideas of comfort and discomfort Comfort as a stand in for security The concept of vs. the reality of what it means to be secure Tips for supporting your self-awareness around comfort and security Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #comfort #security #perception #reality #whatisreality #ease #tension #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is your balance of online life compared to offline life? Let's explore what you can do to have a less stressful, more fun offline existence. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:My journey with balancing my online participation with my offline, real time participationConversations IRL with people about their virtual livesExperiments you can run to test and refine your relationship with social media sitesGet Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #offline #realtime #humans #connections #relationships #socialmedia #quitsocialmedia #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some humans love to plan. Analyze. Research. This is our attempt to control the outcome. But nothing beats the lessons learned from taking action. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:What causes people to avoid taking actionSneaky ways inaction can show upThe incredible benefits of learning from experienceBalancing the stress of “might do it wrong” with “didn't do anything”Resources mentioned:“What is the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle?” (American Society of Quality)“What is Kanban?” (video + blog, Kanbanize) “Can You Prevent Regret?” (Less Stress, More Fun Podcast)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #createresults #goals #achievinggoals #experience #learnthroughaction #takingaction #justenoughplanning #breakthesequence #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you love where you live? Your home, your neighborhood, your community, your country…your earth? I have been flirting with falling more in love with where I live.In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:Location is not just a state of mind. But mindset matters. Why you might cultivate a desire to love where you live even if you intend to leave Ideas for how to fall in love with where you liveResources mentioned:Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #love #live #lovewhereyoulive #home #neighborhood #community #state #country #earth #homeiswhereyourheartis #appreciation #decisions #choice #mindset #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are so many ways to add flavor to your life! What are you hungry for? What do you want to taste in this garden of life? In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:The concept of choosing life's spices to make life more flavorfulFinding areas of your life to experiments with the concept of flavorful seasoningsIdeas for making your life more zesty and fun by putting this concept into actionResources mentioned: “What is the difference between an herb and a spice?” (Iowa State)“A List of the 27 Essential Cooking Spices You Need to Know” (Masterclass)“History of Spices” (McCormick Science Institute) “14 Spice Blends From Around The World” (Mashed) “3 Ways to Say Thank You in Polish” (PolishPod101.com, YouTube) Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #life #playfulliving #spices #sauces #zest #joyful #relationships #work #health #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There seems to be a myth that parenting means experiencing guilt. Yet why would that be true? I think parenting guilt is a waste of time and energy. And, more importantly, parenting guilt can deplete the joy you - and your kids! - experience from your parenting. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:The concept of parent guilt (bi-directional!)The unexpected costs of feeling guilty about your parentingFun options to reduce, minimize and/or evaporate parenting guiltResources mentioned:“Parent guilt: What is it? And how can we manage it?” (BBC)“Does guilt make good parenting?” (University of Rochester) “Got Mom Guilt? Here's How To Navigate It” (Cleveland Clinic)“11 Ways Parents Make Their Kids Feel Guilty Without Realizing It” (HuffPost)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #parenting #parent #relationships #guilt #noguilt #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's much talk about the routines of “doing.” Morning routines, email routines, etc. Yet how often do you notice and optimize your mental routines? In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:Ways you can observe your most and least helpful mental routinesDeciding what mental routines to work on adjustingFun games you can play to adjust your mental routinesGet Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #routines #habits #thoughts #mindset #optimization #habitsofthought #anxiety #contentment #selfimprovement #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the “Less Stress, More Fun” podcast's 100th episode! Today I thought I'd talk about how fun it is to have “favorite things”...and how playful it is to let those evolve over time. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:The joys of creating this podcastA few of my favorite thingsEmbracing your favoritesResources mentioned:“My Favorite Things” song from the movie “The Sound of Music” (video)“Buddy the Elf's Best Moments” (YouTube)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #favorites #favoritethings #living #yourlife #appreciation #graditude #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When people don't meet expectations, it can be stressful. How do you handle it when there is a clear expectation for performance that is not being addressed? Let's talk about accountability conversations!In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:When to have a conversationHow to prepare for a conversationThe powerful generosity of holding each other accountableResources mentioned:“Accountability is a love language” (TEDx by Tafadzwa Bete Sasa)“What to do Before an Accountability Conversation” (HumanizingWork.com)“How to Have Accountability Conversations with Your Team Without Compromising Care” (article w/ video, Corporate Edge) Conversations for Creating Star Performers: Go Beyond the Performance Review to Inspire Excellence Every Day (book, McGraw-Hill)Collective and individual cultures (Wikipedia)“No Venting, Please” (Less Stress, More Fun podcast)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #accountability #conversations #difficultconversations #teams #relationships #communication #courage #generosity #community #responsibility #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes life is super busy. And sometimes we're surprised by quiet periods in one or more areas of our life. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about 3 suggestions for managing the stress of “not enough to do” compared to the stress of “too much to do” Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #busy #motion #humandoing #humanbeing #downtime #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything has a cycle that includes beginnings and endings. Sometimes in life, it seems as though we face a lot of endings. This episode is for those of you who might love a fresh, shiny new beginning yet wonder how to gracefully navigate endings whether expected, foreseen, and abrupt.In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:Seeing endings as the natural autumn and winter of our livesDifferent types of griefHow to avoid minimizing our loss “just because” it doesn't seem like a big lossHow to support yourself and others who may be preparing for or navigating endingsResources mentioned:“Micro-Losses: How our brains might be robbing us of our ability to grieve” (Daniel Juday & Dr. David Hartman YouTube)“Types of Grief: Yes, there's more than one” (What's Your Grief)“Grief” (Cleveland Clinic)“Grief, Bereavement, and Coping With Loss” (National Library of Medicine)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/© 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you make decisions easily? If you're like most people, the answer is “it depends.” Will you decide to brush your teeth today? Where will you go for dinner with your family? When is it time to make a career change? Life is a series of decisions, and the impacts of those decisions vary widely. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:What I observe from individuals around the world around decision makingThe attributes of a well-made decision, including when to get guidance from othersThe ways you can support your decision making process, including dealing with sadness for the road not traveledResources mentioned:“How I overcame decision paralysis” (Mary Steffel TEDxNortheasternU)“The Paradox of Choice” (Decision Lab)“Do Our Choices Tell Us Who We Are? It Depends on How Easy or Difficult They Were to Make” (M. Steffel, Journal of Consumer Psychology)“How to make stress-free decisions” (Less Stress, More Fun podcast episode 14)“The human brain in numbers: a linearly scaled-up primate brain” (Herculano-Houzel S, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/© 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you love to get lost along the side roads and unexplored alleys of life? Or do you like to go from A to B with the least muss and fuss? Today we'll talk about how to embrace life's detours the “Less Stress, More Fun” way. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:My personal experience with predictability and detoursHow detours are the norm, the rule rather than the exceptionHow to embrace your detours to improve your relationship to yourselfResources mentioned:“Lessons From Detours” (TEDx, Jane Philpott)“A Millennial's Road to Success... Detours Ahead” (TEDx, Christine Eliason)“Why You Shouldn't Stick to the "Plan" (Thano Chaltas, TEDxBrownU)“Linear Thinking in a Nonlinear World” (HBR.org)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/© 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's podcast is a fun and delicious metaphor to describe choosing focus and then living into that focus. I hope you are inspired to eat the enchilada, whatever that ends up meaning for you.In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:The value of choosing 1 thing you love and want to bring to life in the worldHow to choose your “enchilada”Eating the enchilada even when you're just sick of enchiladasKnowing when your season of eating the enchilada is over and it's time to move on to pad thai…or something like that. Resources mentioned:“How Focusing on Superordinate Goals Motivates Broad, Long-Term Goal Pursuit: A Theoretical Perspective” (Frontiers in Psychology, NLM)“Focus: The Ultimate Guide on How to Improve Focus and Concentration” (James Clear)“Theory Of Constraints (TOC)” (Lean Production)Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi Chinese Proficiency Test (Wikipedia)“The power of focus: Why you should tackle one goal at a time” (Get Rich Slowly)“Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/Sign up for my email newsletter to get the monthly classes in your inbox: https://lisaschwaller.com/signup/ © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is “good” work? Do you love your work? Let's explore a few bold ideas about what would make work more “good” for all. In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:Why I believe good work is more important than everGood work on various levels of societyHow you can connect to your best work and amplify the good work that can be done in your communityResources mentioned:Definitions of “manifest” and “manifesto” (Merriam-Webster)“The Happy Manifesto: 10 Steps to a Great Workplace” (free book, too!)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/Sign up for my email newsletter to get the monthly classes in your inbox: https://lisaschwaller.com/signup/ © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The decision of whether or not to work on vacation can cause people a lot of stress and really minimize the fun of their time away from the office. Let's see what we can do to flip that script so you have less stress and a lot more fun!In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:Current information about the “work on vacation” cultural conversationUnderstanding why you might even be asking this questionResources that help you make the right decision for yourself and your fellow travelersResources mentioned:“If your employees are working on vacation, your company might be in trouble” (Fast Company)“Don't Work on Vacation. Seriously.” (Harvard Business Review)“How to Minimize Stress Before, During, and After Your Vacation” (Harvard Business Review)“Vacation Stress? You're Not Alone” (Psychology Today)“Why are vacations so stressful?” (University of Richmond)“How to Stop Work Anxiety From Sabotaging Your Vacation” (NY Times)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

What do you look at to see the reflection of your personality? Let's talk about this fun way to manage your stress and have a lot more fun.In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:The concept of mirrors in personality developmentWho and what we choose to mirror our worldHow mirroring can increase stressHow to have more fun using intentional mirroringResources mentioned:“The empathy device” (Seth Godin's blog April 18, 2023)“The Mirror Principle: Shaping Your Experience, Shaping Your Self” (Forbes June 2015)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #mirrors #appearance #performance #personality #personalities #seethingsasyouare #whoreflectsyou #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Do you know your kids? Your manager? Your partner? Your best friend? Are you sure about that? It's fun to revisit our perceptions of others to see what we can learn when we look at the world with a beginner's mind or the eyes of a “stranger.”In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:How we form ideas about other peopleWhat happens when we fail to update our assumptionsHow to open up to more curiosity about others and, by association, ourselvesGet Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF: https://lisaschwaller.com/reduce-stress-today/#podcast #relationships #people #peopleperson #firstimpressions #perception #perceptions #personaldevelopment #stress #stressmanagement #stressrelief #playful #lessstress #morefun © 2023 Lisa Schwaller Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Uh, oh! There's an elephant in the room! A problem that needs to be addressed. A conversation that's growing long, long overdue. What do you want to do about it? Fight?Run away?Shoo the elephant out in hopes that it will run away?Or will you ride that magnificent beast?In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:Why some people avoid what is labeled “conflict”Examples of elephants that might be in the rooms of your lifeWhat it means to ride the elephantResources mentioned:Follow Your Feel Good, the online home of the magical Sarah Seidelmann, MD“3 Types of Conflict and How to Address Them” (Harvard Program on Negotiation)“Elephant in the room” (Wikipedia)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Words are the essence of what makes us human. It's one of the most impactful ways we establish our perspective on life, our identity, and our relationship with ourselves.In this week's podcast episode, I talk about:“Sorting” thinkingInclusive thinking to expand your mind's peripheral vision and creativityExamples of how you can use “both…and…” in your lifeResources mentioned:Improv Wisdom (book by Patricia Ryan Madsen)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

How long is a human pregnancy? An elephant's? How long should it take between promotions in your career? How long should it take to get in shape? We seem obsessed by “how long”...but most things just take as long as they take.In this week's podcast episode, I discuss:Our social preoccupation with timeA suggestion for developing your personal relationship with timeResources mentioned:“Matthew McConaughey's Success Tips Will Change Your Life” (MarieTV)The origin of “A watched pot never boils” (Grammarist.com)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Some of us like to help out a lot. We do the bulk of the work starting in our youth during group projects, then it carries on to our home life and professional work balancing efforts. But when it is the desire to be helpful and avoid “failure” actually contributing to the problem?In this episode, I'll talk about:Why people take on extra workHow it hides or obscures systemic issuesThe real reason people take on extra workWhat to do insteadResources mentioned:“Changing the gender imbalance in housework may start with how we understand time” (NPR, Oct 2022)Fair Play, The Representation Project“Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live)” (book by Eve Rodsky)“Gender differences in work–home interplay and symptom perception among Swedish white‐collar employees” (Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, Dec 2006)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Do you trust yourself? How do you know your own personal trust level? I think a lot of us have a “trust but verify” conditional system in place, including with ourselves. And that certainly seems to be the case with our interactions with other people, often for good reason. Today we're going to talk about trust in a different way. In this episode you'll learn:The difference between conditional and unconditional trustWhat trust means in our relationship with othersWhat trust means in our relationship with ourselvesResources mentioned:Trust (Merriam-Webster)“What Is Trust?” (Psychology Today, Oct 2018)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Do you compare yourself to others? “Oh, must be nice for them!!” Let's talk about comparison. There are limited, small minded ways to compare and also expansive, healthy ways to use comparison. Choose your comparison preference and change your life! In this episode, we'll talk about:How people learn to compareDifferent types of comparisonHow to compare in a way that benefits you and othersThanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Do you take responsibility for your tomorrow? Each one of us is the aggregation of choices we made long ago. It's fun to think about the person today being a mighty warrior, protecting the future. In this episode, I'll discuss:The inner warrior archetype (reimagined the “Less Stress, More Fun” way!)What is means to be a protector of your futureResources mentioned:“​​The Four Archetypes of the Mature Masculine: The Warrior” (Art of Manliness)“The Warrior Ethos: The Warrior Archetype” (Steven Pressfield)12 Character Archetypes (UIL, University of Texas, Austin)“Warrior Archetype” (Pearson Archetypal System)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Do you really, truly live for each day? Or does your mind travel back and forth from past to the future? In this episode, I'll talk about:What prevents you from living in the present momentWhat happens when you cultivate more presenceHow to use the past to live more fully each dayThanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

What is it like when you turn 18, which is the legal age of adulthood in the United States? What a milestone! And what a reminder to all of us that we really can do what we want to do. So…are you doing what you want to do?In this episode, I'll share my thoughts about:Adults and choiceWhether we overweigh the negative potential consequences over the potential gains…and whyWhat it's like to step into your authority at 18, 32, 50 or 64!Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Most people do not want to admit this…but sometimes we overreact. Let's explore the impact those events have on our self-concept, relationships, and general stress levels.In this episode I'll talk about:Examples of internal and external overreactionCycle that could lead to an overreactionRecovering from an overreactionResources mentioned:“Stop Overreacting in Front of Your Family” (my online course)“Ep 9. Can you prevent regret?” (Less Stress, More Fun podcast)“What are some of the benefits of volcanoes?” (US Geological Services)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Are you focused on time? Obsessed with it? Why? Time is the same for all people, yet it seems to take on magical meanings in our world. Let's take some time to explore time.In this episode, I talk about:Our habits of timeConnecting with what your relationship with time is doing in your own lifeDecisions about goals and accomplishmentsResources mentioned:“History of Time Management” (Harold Taylor, May 2019)“Who Made America: Frederick Winslow Taylor” (PBS)“Exploring the "Planning Fallacy": Why People Underestimate Their Task Completion Times” (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1994)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Everyone has certain feelings that inspire their best selves to show up and play the game of life. What is it for you? Today I'm going to talk about a concept that I bring into coaching on the regular: enthusiasm.In this episode, I talk about:Why I love enthusiasm as a means to having a more playful lifeHow enthusiasm can inspire you to protect and connect with your futureUsing an enthusiasm meter to assess current thinking levelsPractical ways to activate enthusiasm in your own lifeResources mentioned:“Lust for Life” (Iggy Pop, YouTube)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

How do you know when you've started to block your best work? Our clever minds can design speed bumps and detours when we're treading into unfamiliar territory. Let's talk about the super subtle ways your mind tells you “wrong way - let's detour!”In this episode, we'll explore:Why your mind would want to detour you on the journey to getting what you wantWays to catch your mind's distractionsWhat to do to get rerouted and on your wayResources mentioned:Episode 62. “Prizes & Sacrifices” (Buzzsprout | Podpage | YouTube)“Cognitive load is real” (Seth Godin's blog)“Stress-induced reliance on habitual behavior is moderated by cortisol reactivity” (Tilburg University)“Cognitive cost as dynamic allocation of energetic resources” (Frontiers in Neuroscience)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Habits! We all have them. Some we've crafted intentionally over time and some habits are just mindless, developed by your mind as an efficient system of getting through life.In this episode, we discuss:The most generous way you can see your habit mindA way to assess your habitsTwo methods for addressing habits that you don't want to keep around in the futureResources mentioned:Mini Habits (Stephen Guise)Tiny Habits (BJ Fogg)Atomic Habits (James Clear)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Serendipity. It's more than a delightful word to say on repeat. Serendipity, serendipity, serendipity. It's a fun way to think about your life.In this episode, I'll share:My 2023 goal of “conversationally activated serendipity”What I learned about the science of serendipityHow a serendipity mindset can reduce stress and definitely make life more funResources mentioned:“Eh, too many cooks in the kitchen,” Mindy Project S1, Ep12“Too Many Cooks” (Adult Swim, YouTube)“No regrets: creating meaningful connections in a (dis)connected world” (Christian Busch TEDx on YouTube)Dr Christian Busch's book, Serendipity Mindset, including his interviews Merriam-Webster Dictionary: serendipityThanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Springtime in North America is around the corner. Flowers bloom and the trees get their beautiful fresh spring green leaves. What's blooming in your life? Today we use a fun gardening metaphor to look at what you are planting and harvesting.Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Is your life available for purchase or rent? Today I talk about a fun metaphor to use when considering different relationships in your life, especially as it relates to career and family.In this episode you'll learn:The differences between an “owner” mindset and a “renter” mindset from the perspective of both partiesWhy it's important for you to decide if you're “owned” or “rented” in certain situationsWhat happens when we realize we're all temporary tenets here on this planet, at least in our current mammalian formResource(s) mentioned:“How the 40-hour work week became the norm” (NPR)“Hour-glass ceilings: Work-hour thresholds, gendered health inequities” (Social Science & Medicine, March 2017)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

We are social animals. And, as social creatures, there is value in being cooperative. But things are different in the year 2023 than they were in the year 1023. We're not cooperating for survival. There's literally more you can say “yes” to than you have hours in a day to deliver on those promises you made.In this episode you'll learn:The power of a generous answerHow saying “no” can be an act of kindnessResources mentioned:“No” (Meghan Trainor, YouTube)Patty Azzarello's book “Rise” (author's website)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

Do you consider your body brilliant? Do you consider your body beautiful? Why or why not? Today the body is getting some TLC from the Less Stress, More Fun podcast. Resources mentioned:“The Brain-Gut Connection” (John Hopkins Medicine)“The Gut-Brain Connection” (Harvard Health Publishing)“Gut-Brain Connection” (Cleveland Clinic)“You are an AMAZING habitat!” (my YouTube video)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

How do you like to give and receive love? Each February, reminders of romantic love are everywhere with the pink and red hearts in all the shops. It seemed as playful a time of year as any to talk about the 5 Love Languages framework.In this episode you'll learn:How the 5 Love Languages framework can reduce stress and add fun to your lifeHow not to use the love languages frameworkWhat happens when you expand your love vocabularyResources mentioned:5 Love Languages quiz5 Love Languages (website)“Do you know the 5 love languages? Here's what they are — and how to use them” and “Are All Relationships Messy?” (video) (ideas.TED.com)Thanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

What can you count on in this life? We want change! Success! Love! We want things to change but - to be honest - only in our favor. As people are navigating their commitment to their new year's goals and dreams…I wanted to deliver a pep talk. In this episode you'll learn:How to reassure yourself as you're traveling this unpredictable lifeHow you can connect to the constants in your life when you need motivationThanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller

What happens when you arrive at a planned destination and it's not what you expect? Today we'll be talking about the power of being clear on your decisions when it comes to goal setting through the metaphor of a road trip. In this episode you'll learn:The pros and cons of setting a “trip itinerary”How you will know when it's time to change your mind…or stay the courseResources mentioned:“Wide Open Spaces” (The Chicks, YouTube)Get Lisa's "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY" video + PDF.Visit Lisa online! Website© 2023 Lisa SchwallerThanks for listening!Free & awesome mini-class! "3 Ways to Reduce Stress TODAY"Visit the Lisa Schwaller Coaching Website to learn more, sign up for my email list, or get links to follow me around the internet. © 2023 Lisa Schwaller