In today's episode, we're tackling a hard truth that might shake up everything you believe about leadership: being constantly available isn't making you a better leader—it's actively sabotaging your success. Research shows that the "always-on" approach is draining your productivity by up to 40%. Today, we're exploring why this happens and how to fix it.

I take you through the fascinating psychology behind our compulsion to say 'yes', drawing from Steve Chandler's brilliant framework of the 'social self' versus the 'professional self'. We unpack how our early conditioning—especially for women—creates a 'good girl' syndrome that can secretly sabotage our leadership effectiveness. I’ll also share practical strategies for breaking free from these patterns and crafting an authentic leadership style that honours both your goals and your energy.

The real game-changer? Learning that authentic leadership isn't about constant availability—it's about intentional boundaries. I’ll show you exactly how to shift from reflexive people-pleasing to strategic leadership, even if setting boundaries feels uncomfortable at first. This discomfort isn't just normal; it's actually a signal that you're growing into a more powerful leader.

Key Episode Takeaways:

• The 40% Productivity Drain: How constant availability sabotages your success

• The Social vs Professional Self: Understanding your leadership identity

• Strategic Boundary Setting: Practical tools for saying 'no' effectively

• Energy Management: Why it's your secret leadership weapon

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

What if I told you that some of history's greatest minds—Tesla, da Vinci, Hemingway—had a surprising secret weapon? They mastered the art of doing nothing. And before you dismiss this as ancient history, today's most successful leaders and innovators are embracing this same powerful strategy. Let's explore why strategic silence might be your untapped advantage.

In this episode, I’ll take you through the 'Alpha 10' technique—a straightforward practice of dedicating ten minutes to complete stillness. This isn't another productivity hack or meditation practice to add to your growing to-do list. It's about creating intentional space for your mind to process, innovate and rejuvenate.

Here's the fascinating paradox: when we deliberately create space in our packed schedules, we actually accelerate our path to success. For high performers juggling multiple responsibilities, these moments of solitude aren't just nice-to-haves—they're essential tools for maintaining peak performance and expanding emotional bandwidth.

So, let’s explore some of the benefits consistent time spent in solitude can bring to all aspects of our increasingly busy lives.

Key Takeaways:

• Master the Alpha 10: Ten minutes of intentional silence daily

• Create phone-free zones to enhance creative thinking

• Use strategic pauses to expand your emotional bandwidth

• Productivity paradoxically increases with intentional rest

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

While the desire to excel is a powerful motivator for high-performing women, it can cast a shadow that impacts your energy, wellness and sustainable success.

Last week, I talked about the five drivers for high performing women and today, we're diving into the "shadow" side of those drivers. By knowing how to tend to the darker sides of what propels us forward, we can make better decisions and foster routines that protect our well-being.

We’ll unpack the complex dynamics of each driver and its shadow side:

• The Visionary: Always chasing what's next while missing the present moment

• The Mission-Driven: Falling into martyrdom and over-responsibility

• The High Standards Bearer: Wrestling with perfectionism and control

• The Achievement-Oriented: Tying self-worth to success metrics

• The Redefiner: Balancing ambition with the desire for ease

Key Takeaway:

By identifying your primary driver and understanding its shadow side, you can make mindful choices that energise, uplift and sustain your success. Join me as I share practical strategies for incorporating recovery, celebration and boundary-setting into your high-performance journey.

Previous episodes mentioned:

- Is Being the Rescuer Burning You Out?

- The 5 drivers that keep High-performing women pushing, even when exhausted

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Ambitious women are often told to "slow down" or "be happy with where they are”. If you’re a high-performing woman, you’ll probably know the frustration that comes from hearing this.

So why do high-performing women continue to push themselves, not only when facing others’ criticism, but even in the face of exhaustion? Understanding the deep-seated drivers behind our ambition can be revolutionary, providing relief and clarity while explaining why you continue overachieving when others urge you to pause.

When we don't recognise our drivers, we might end up overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, poor sleep and mood swings, all of which undermine our goals and lead us towards burnout.

Today, let's explore these five drivers that fuel the ambitions of high-performing women and how identifying yours can empower you with more capacity and purpose:

1. Visionary Driver: Driven by curiosity, but can cause overstimulation

2. Mission Driver: Strives to make an impact, but risks compassion fatigue

3. High Standards Driver: Revolves around excellence, but can lead to perfectionism

4. Success Driver: Achievement is at the forefront, but can lead to burnout

5. Redefiner Driver: Seeks balance, but can create mental clutter from juggling diverse aspects of life

Why Identify Your Drivers?

Understanding your drivers isn't just about putting a label on your ambition – it's about embracing your unique wiring and building a life that honours it. Because here's the truth: You can be both ambitious AND balanced. You can chase big dreams AND protect your wellbeing. You can make an impact AND take care of yourself.

Next week, we'll dive deeper into the shadow side of these drivers and how to build capacity around them. But for now, I'd love to hear from you: Which driver resonated most deeply? What was your "aha" moment? Share your story in the comments below – let's create a space where ambitious women can embrace their drivers together.

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

If you’re struggling in any area of your life, going it alone might be the hardest way to get to the other side. The reality is, the key to unlocking greater change doesn’t lie in solitude, but in the power of a community.

Before I took the leap into starting my online business, I only ever did things one-on-one. But it wasn’t until I (begrudgingly) listened to advice about delivering a group course online that I discovered just what can be gained from community. Healing, motivation, momentum - it can all flourish when we surround ourselves with those walking our same path.

The Lonely Truth About Going Solo

Did you know one in four Australians report feeling lonely? And it's not just about missing a romantic partner or lacking friendships. There's something called 'community loneliness' – that yearning for like-minded people who truly get what you're trying to achieve. When we try to make changes in our lives, whether it's improving our health, growing our business or transforming our mindsets, doing it alone isn't just harder – it's actually working against our natural wiring for connection.

Why Community Accelerates Change

Think about it this way: when you're trying something new or challenging, every obstacle can feel like a personal failure. But in a community:

• Your challenges become normalised
• Solutions appear through others' experiences
• Motivation stays high through shared momentum
• Progress accelerates through collective wisdom

If you're feeling stuck in any area of your life, stop looking for the perfect solution or trying to muscle through alone. Instead, ask yourself: "Where are my people? Where's the community that's already working towards what I want to achieve?"

Because here's what I know for sure: the path to any transformation is paved with shared experiences, collective wisdom and doing life with those who understand you. And sometimes, the very thing holding us back isn't our strategy or our willpower – it's simply trying to do it all alone.

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Survival mode - it's a reality many of us know all too well. We’re caught in a constant state of fight or flight, feeling like each day’s a race to the finish line where we rarely pause to breathe or truly live. And with the pace of our lives these days, it's easy to slip into this state without even realising it.

Now, not all stress is your enemy. A little bit of pressure can actually sharpen your focus and boost your memory. But there's a tipping point. When you're constantly running on high alert, everything goes sideways. Your decision-making gets fuzzy, anxiety creeps in and suddenly you're not showing up as your best self anymore.

So what are the symptoms of being in survival mode and how do we escape this relentless cycle to craft a better life? Today we’re talking about:

• Understanding the nervous system's role in stress
• Recognising beneficial vs. harmful stress
• Health implications of prolonged stress
• Conducting a life balance assessment
• Transforming survival mode into thriving
• Aligning daily actions with true fulfillment

Take a moment now to consider where you’re investing your time. Is your work just a paycheck, or does it also feed your passion? Are you nurturing your relationships, or are they falling by the wayside? How are you prioritising your physical and mental health?

Perhaps do your own life balance assessment, identify the gaps and start shifting focus. Answer honestly: where is your focus, and what’s lacking? You might be surprised how a few changes can turn survival mode into a vibrant, enriching life.

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Ever feel like your energy’s fading faster than you’d like, especially on those long workdays? If you’re finding yourself burning the candle at both ends for more than a couple of weeks at a time, you may need to look at supporting your body to avoid burnout - because that kind of pace really can’t be sustained in a healthy way.

I want to share with you 4 simple habits you can integrate into your life that will help you power through when working late is just part of the game. So, let’s do less of the caffeine, junk food and alcohol that give us quick (but fading) hits of energy, and more of the stuff that will sustain our energy for the long term:

1. Make simple dietary changes: a solid breakfast, healthy snacks and batching your meals
2. Get some daily morning sunlight: 5 minutes in the sun will balance your hormones and stabilise energy levels
3. Take decompression breaks throughout the day: step outside, practise deep breathing or have some no-device moments
4. Weekend recharge: reset your nervous system with more sleep and getting out into nature

So, which of these habits speak to you the most for keeping your energy up? Maybe starting with those diet tweaks is easiest. Whatever your pick, I’d love to hear about the first step you're taking as you start this journey. Each little change brings you a step closer to feeling your best and meeting life’s demands with more zest and pep.

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

When was the last time you thought about the kind of messaging that continually enters your mind? The reality is, the messages we’re so often bombarded with weigh us down and cause stress in the back of our minds. A lot of the time, we’re not even aware it’s happening. We habitually make choices to consume content that creates anxiety, unaware that we’re programming ourselves to be stressed, unhappy or sick.

In today's episode, I’m talking about how the media we consume shapes our mental landscape and overall well-being. We explore the hidden ways that news cycles, social media and digital content secretly program our minds for stress and anxiety. From doom-scrolling news feeds to the comparative trap of social media, we're uncovering how these daily habits might be sabotaging your peace of mind.

I take you through some real-world examples, including how local news consumption can trigger unnecessary fear responses and how social media narratives about aging and health can create self-fulfilling prophecies. Plus, we take a look at the science behind the mind-body connection, exploring how the placebo and nocebo effects demonstrate the incredible power our thoughts have over our physical well-being.

Key Takeaways:

• The news cycle and social media can create subliminal stress that affects our daily lives
• Our beliefs and expectations can physically manifest in our bodies
• Practical tips for auditing and moderating your content consumption
• The importance of choosing media that serves your well-being
• Strategies for breaking free from the comparison trap on social media

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout