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

Episode 42: Contributing to Your Own Sustainable Productivity

Let’s introduce you to a new component of Sustainable Productivity – contribution. For some it might be career, for others it might be raising kids or running your home. It might be a combination of these plus an active volunteer life. Only you know what contribution means to you. 

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

  1. Workshopping the expansion of Sustainable Productivity
  2. Momento Mori – what it means and how to embrace the concept
  3. Could doing more help relieve burnout?

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 |2023-11-20T09:16:44-05:00November 20th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments

Episode 40: Intentional Living with Candace Folden

Although it is not EASY, a simple way to live a more Sustainably Productive life is to connect thoughts, decisions, and actions with intentional living. The guest on this episode, Candace Folden, is the right person to teach us all about this.

Candace Folden is the owner of Solstice Counseling and Consulting in Greensboro, NC. Seven years ago Candace opened her practice to help people recover from the effects of toxic, neglectful parenting, as well as helping couples rediscover their intimacy and connection.  When she is not working, you can find Candace at the ballroom dance studio, hiking with her dog Felix and spending time with her partner and son. 

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. Intentional living in small and big decisions.
  2. Real talk about juggling multiple roles.
  3. A common struggle Candace sees in women and where they might find relief.

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 |2023-12-15T09:07:56-05:00November 6th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments

Episode 38: Stress Resilience = Immunity Shield

You cannot remove all stress from your life. Nor can you manage stress – that is like pinning jello to a tree. But you can change how you respond to stress – this is stress resilience. Since there is no right or wrong way to approach stress resilience, each person can have a unique way of designing a life that increases stress resilience. Don’t accept that voice in your head that says you don’t have time for one more thing. Stress research has proven over and over that if you don’t take time for stress resilience, your body will force a break on you with injury or illness.

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

  1. A $15 glimmer Susan resisted for weeks
  2. Mistakes 20-something Sue made regarding stress prevention and stress management, plus a story that is guaranteed to make you laugh
  3. Why you need to increase stress resilience starting today

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 |2023-11-12T17:53:07-05:00October 23rd, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments

Episode 27: The Best Hobbies to Battle Burnout

Burnout is beyond stress and the right hobbies can be just the antidote you need to relax, recharge, and regroup. Burnout is a real thing – not something you can manage through or toughen up against. Think about what was happening in your life today. Maybe you felt like you were withdrawing from friends and responsibilities – isolating yourself. Or after months of battling stress at work, you find yourself procrastinating on completing projects and tasks. If you don’t take time for hobbies to recharge today, your body will make time through illness later. There are small steps you can take today to prevent this.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. Differences between stress and burnout.
  2. Physical and mental benefits of hobbies.
  3. Practical suggestions to find the right hobby for you.

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 |2023-08-08T09:19:08-04:00August 7th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments

Episode 26: Sustainable Self-Soothing and Productive Self-Care

When does self-care become self-soothing? The phrase “self-care” seems to have morphed into a catch phrase and punch line these days. Is a glass (or bottle) of wine after a tough day really self-care? Are you really taking good care of your colleagues by bringing a couple dozen donuts to the office? Part of making the distinction between self-soothing and self-care is that self-care allows you space to be uncomfortable. 

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. Definitions and examples of self-care and self-soothing.
  2. First aid for emotional road rash.
  3. Questions to ask yourself to determine if you need self-care or self-soothing.

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 |2023-07-31T08:42:25-04:00July 31st, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments

Episode 25: Sustainable Sue Talks Time Management

Does it seem to you like some people are just better at time management? Why is it some people seem to be able to accomplish so much more than others? Why do some days feel like you really nailed it and some days feel like time just got away from you?

Spoiler alert! It is not really about time.

Time is a fixed entity each day – we all have 168 hours in a week. How you approach time and the systems you set up around that times is what matters. This means that you need to decide what are the most important things in your day first and fill in the other tasks and activities around it or deflect them to another day, time or person. This episode will help you do that.

Here is what you can expect in this episode:

  1. Why time management matters.
  2. How to get real and honest about what you want to spend time on.
  3. Practical suggestions to make time work for you – all 168 hours per week.

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 |2023-09-11T17:12:26-04:00July 24th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments

Episode 5: A Non-Goal Consideration for You

Let’s talk about a non-goal for a second. People are surprised to learn that Susan doesn’t track phone usage. Getting rid of your phone is often one of the first strategies articles about productivity offer.  We are bombarded with messages that we need to change just about everything about our lives in order to become a better person, starting with detaching our phone from our lives. This episode is about how Susan came to that decision and why it may or may not be a Sustainably Productive goal for you too.

Links mentioned in the Sustainable Productivity episode about the non-goal of not tracking phone use:

By |2023-03-06T07:10:01-05:00March 6th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments

February Reading Round Up

This episode is about one of Susan’s favorite things in the world – books! Reading is one of Susan’s favorite hobbies, and hobbies are a component of the Mental Well-being dimension of Sustainable Productivity. On average, Susan reads about 15-20 books a month, but the recap provided in the episode is limited to the books that stood out because just running down every book each month would be the audio equivalent of watching paint dry.

Links mentioned in the Sustainable Productivity episode about reading:

  • Sign up for episode emails, weekly essays, and links so you never miss a thing!
  • You can see the complete list of books Susan has read on Goodreads, linked here.
  • Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler can be purchased at this link.
  • Seatmate by Cara Bastone is an Audible exclusive available at this link.
  • God is Closer Than You Think by John Ortberg can be purchased at this link.
  • This is Marketing by Seth Godin can be purchased at this link.
  • In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner was the favorite book I read this month and it can be purchased at this link.
By |2023-02-27T09:22:27-05:00February 27th, 2023|Show Notes|0 Comments
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