From pelvic health education to nervous system regulation, from the practice of yoga and meditation to the biology and psychology of being human, the throughline is simple—improving everyday life. Sign up for Notes from Jen.
The stories we tell ourselves
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When I was a kid, one of our family mantras was "Hard work pays off!" Being a hard worker is an important part of my identity. I like to do the doing and get it done. The problem comes when I'm willing to run myself into the ground before I make changes or set boundaries. This is dumb. My work schedule has been a handful over the past year, and I've regularly been exhausted and stressed. I love the work and the people. It's just a lot. Healthcare is very rewarding, and also...the burnout rate is high. I'm the oldest PT at my office by 20 years. I work 8 to 9-hour days, but some of my co-workers do 10 hours or more. When I told my husband I had no idea how they did it, he said, "They're 30!" When I shared that with one of the co-workers, she hilariously said, "I'm 29!!" 🤣 Anyway, this is not about my advanced age. It's about the story I told myself about how other people had it harder or how I should get my shit together and be tougher. I'd be letting down patients. My boss would be disappointed if I trimmed my schedule. Blah blah blah. It took time and encouragement from my people for me to finally make changes, but I did it. I trimmed my schedule and put some time between patients so I can stay caught up on documentation. It's amazing! My boss is completely on board, and my patients and I are both benefiting from the changes. Whatever the tough thing you're dealing with is, what stories are you telling yourself about it? Sometimes (often?), the stories we tell ourselves aren't true. Get creative by brainstorming different paths forward. Challenge the stories and the labels. Sending love, |
Hi! I'm Jen.
From pelvic health education to nervous system regulation, from the practice of yoga and meditation to the biology and psychology of being human, the throughline is simple—improving everyday life. Sign up for Notes from Jen.
The intersection of pooping and yoga is... The squat. If you want to make pooping easier, put something under your feet to bring your knees above your hips. I've been using the Squatty Potty for years and have recommended it to so many patients. You could also use yoga blocks or get creative with things you already have around the house. Or, check this out. The new Sh*t Shoes bring the fun to mechanically optimized pooping. I love their retro vibe and educational materials. They sold out...
I taught a pelvic health workshop yesterday, and the information about peeing was a hit. When I asked for urination takeaways, these are some of the responses: Relax when you pee - sit, lean forward No power peeing Don't hold too long if you can help it Sip water throughout the day Peeing is self-care The bladder is a muscle! Yes! For the anatomy lovers, the muscular wall of the bladder is called the detrusor. It stretches and relaxes for the bladder to fill, communicates and coordinates when...
Hello! I've been working on yoga videos, and I'm happy to report the first one is ready to watch. If your hips are cranky and you don't feel like doing anything but lying down, I've got you. We can do both at the same time. You'll want to grab a yoga strap, towel, sheet, or belt. The practice takes 20 minutes and works well for easing into the day or winding down in the evening. It's available on Insight Timer for free, whenever you want to use it. Watch it here and bring on the happy hips!...