Episode 52: Get Still to Get Going

Meditation is a burnout balm – a way to get still to get going. We often hear messages of rise and grind, get up and get after it, be a goal getter.  But I want to suggest an easier, softer way of learning to be in the world. Because you can learn a new way. Well-being can be learned. It is not something you have or don’t. You can cultivate it different ways and the path we often do not choose is stillness. 

Here is what you can expect to hear on the episode:

  1. What the research says about meditation and burnout prevention / recovery
  2. Meditation to soothe mental, emotional, and physical pain
  3. A mindfulness meditation to overcome procrastination

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

  • Sign up for episode emails, weekly essays, and links so you never miss a thing!
  • Join the Sustainable You Facebook Community at this link
  • Watch the TV series Dopesick on Hulu or Apple TV or purchase the book from Bookshop.org at this link
  • Learn more about the lifelong friendship between the Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama by watching Mission Joy on Netflix
  • Download free breathing exercises from Sustainable Sue at this link and this link
  • Meditation for overcoming procrastination available from Inner Health Studio at this link
  • Links to references on evidence based meditation research:
    • Koyama T, McHaffie JG, Laurienti PJ, Coghill RC. The subjective experience of pain: where expectations become reality. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005;102:12950–12955. [PMC free article]
    • Cahn BR, Polich J. Meditation states and traits: EEG, ERP, and neuroimaging studies. Psychol Bull. 2006;132:180–211. [PubMed]
    • Grant JA, Rainville P. Pain sensitivity and analgesic effects of mindful states in Zen meditators: a cross-sectional study. Psychosom Med. 2009;71:106–114. [PubMed]
    • Brown CA, Jones AK. Meditation experience predicts less negative appraisal of pain: electrophysiological evidence for the involvement of anticipatory neural responses. Pain. 2010;150:428–438. [PubMed]
    • Zeidan F, Gordon NS, Merchant J, Goolkasian P. The effects of brief mindfulness meditation training on experimentally induced pain. J Pain. 2010b;11:199–209. [PubMed]

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

PS – I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

By |2024-01-29T13:42:35-05:00January 29th, 2024|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Episode 51: Literary Life Lately – Winter 2023 Books

Sustainable Sue listeners sure love books! These Literary Life Lately episodes are all about books. These are always a big hit and are some of the downloaded of all episodes. Packed with more recommendations than any episode before it, you will surely find something to add to your To Be Read list.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. The breakdown of Susan’s 2023 reading year – total number read and abandoned plus the most popular book of the year
  2. 2024 reading plans, goals and projects
  3. Twenty-one books, plus two more series, discussed giving you over fifty books to consider for your next read

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

PS: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

By |2024-01-29T13:42:02-05:00January 22nd, 2024|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Episode 50: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice with Chip Bristol

Establishing and nurturing creativity as a spiritual practice can be a balm to a burned out soul. On this episode you will get to eavesdrop on a conversation between friends about cultivating creativity, where creativity intersects spirituality, and how to do that while still paying the bills. Chip has been a chaplain and school headmaster. He is an author, a creative, and refers to himself as Susan’s “unofficial chaplain,” which is exactly right. We can’t wait for you to meet Chip Bristol. 

Here is what you can expect to hear on the episode:

  1. Susan will introduce you to her “unofficial chaplain”
  2. Creative blocks and the tapes running in our heads
  3. The argument for why everyone is creative and everyone is spiritual

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

By |2024-01-15T12:25:16-05:00January 15th, 2024|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Episode 49: 10 Declutter Quick Hits to Do Today

Today’s topic is more than just how or why to declutter. You will be pleasantly surprised to find most – if not all – things on today’s episode are projects that can be decluttered in a day. These are quick hits – some maybe even 5 minutes start to finish. Once you have acted on your slump with these quick hits, you might find you have energy and inspiration to keep going. And if not, hey at least your linens shelf is in order! 

Download a checklist at this link to keep handy to refer to as you knock out these quick hits!

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. What happened to this week’s glimmer
  2. Why short declutter projects are sometimes a better choice
  3. Extra credit for each item to help keep you organized, plus an 11th bonus quick hit

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

PS – I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

By |2024-01-08T09:14:10-05:00January 8th, 2024|Show Notes|0 Comments
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Episode 48: Goal Setting 101

The close of one year and start of another often makes us reflective and in a goal setting frame of mind. Where did we spend our time, how do we feel about that, and where do we want to go. While dreaming is of course part of goal setting, it does not end there. Goal setting does not have to be a cold, remote robotic process. Learn what questions to ask to improve your chances to creating that life you really want.

Here is what you can expect to hear on the episode:

  1. Quarterly check in on Susan’s goals – including specific questions you can ask yourself about your progress
  2. Goal setting 101 – less about SMART goals and more about practical steps to get where you want to be
  3. Repeatable action steps that apply to any goal you can dream

Download a free guide at this link to follow along with the goal setting steps.

Listen at the link below or search for “Sustainable Productivity with Susan Sanders” everywhere podcasts are available.

Links to Learn More

Links mentioned in this episode of the Sustainable Productivity podcast:

We would love to hear from you. Send your feedback on the episode, suggestions for future show topics or guests, and anything else to Susan@SustainableSue.com or in a DM on Instagram.

By |2024-01-01T10:33:19-05:00January 1st, 2024|Show Notes|0 Comments
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