The Happy Nurse

Being mindful of the present is not an easy thing to do. We either get caught in the rabbit hole of the past, or we get too anxious about the future.  While recovering from COVID, I had deep reflections about what was going on in my inner world. The isolation worked in my favour as it gave me enough time to ponder on being mindful.   For this episode, you will hear my insights about how mindfulness can help us understand how we’re feeling. You will also be guided through a meditation practice that I regularly use in workshops and seminars.   It’s a challenge to be at peace with stillness. We overlook the fact that being mindful allows us to fully live in the moment and eliminate the judgement we have on ourselves and others.  If you’re looking for ways to better understand your thoughts and emotions, be sure to listen to the episode. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: What does mindfulness mean? (02:37) The value of engaging in the present or flow state (04:05) Three spheres of influence (06:23) The benefits of being aware of our senses and emotions (06:58) Why we should not listen to respond but listen to understand (09:15) The dangers of being judgmental towards ourselves and others and how to deal with it (11:37) Meditation practise (16:09) CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For more information got to: happynurse.com.au/podcast/

The pressure of everyday life can become unreasonable at times. The effect of this can have us operating from our fight or flight response. In this episode, we’ll unpack the impact of the nervous system on our well-being with Michelle Powell. Michelle is a world-renowned trauma and wellness expert, and a regular guest on The Happy Nurse Podcast. She shares her knowledge of how the nervous system influences thoughts, actions, and responses, and how It’s important for to create a strategy that can help regulate our inner self. If we’re aware of the impacts of the nervous system, we learn how to navigate its activation and quickly return to homeostasis. Michelle reveals the methods she uses to manage stressful situations, how to recenter focus, and bring us back to a grounded space. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Why we need to talk about the nervous system (03:46) Recognising our default fight or flight reactions (05:30) Regulating our inner voice (12:25) What can you do when your nervous system is activated (17:05) A good relationship with ourselves matters (18:25) Strategies that can help recenter and reground (21:00) The power of breath-work (26:35) Therapeutic zone of breathing (29:10) The significance of 5-5 and 468 breathing techniques (35:05) CONNECT WITH MICHELLE POWELL https://themichellepowell.com.au/  Connect with Michelle on Facebook and Instagram Subscribe to Michelle’s YouTube channel here.  Grab a copy of Michelle’s book The Mastery of Wellness. CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For more information got to: happynurse.com.au/podcast/

In this episode, I chat with Nichola about the importance of sharing our stories with others.   Nichola's nursing career spans over three decades and has a depth of knowledge and experience. She shares her wisdom about her career, reflective practice, and the importance of self-reflection.   It's time to share our stories about burnout, as this has the potential to assist others to recognise that they may be heading toward burnout and seek early intervention. Burnout can be very isolating but knowing you are not alone and having the support of peers and community is a powerful aid to recovery.   TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Nichola’s volunteering journey (05:30) Her personal burnout experience (11:29) The effects of compassion fatigue and burnout (16:40) Her commitment to being well for life (19:55) The Five Aspects of Self-Care (22:00) The importance of having a support system (26:39) The power of me too movement (31:33) How journaling helped Nichola with her burnout (33:45) CONNECT WITH NICHOLA BROWNING Connect with Nichola on LinkedIn and Twitter Check out the Burnout No More courses here. Learn more about the Young Stroke Project here. CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For more information got to: happynurse.com.au/podcast/

There is a growing demand to create a space for psychological safety in the healthcare industry. It’s vital for producing a high-performance team.   Healthcare professionals focus on the psychological safety of their patients. They look after patients to the best of their abilities and ensure that they’re set up for success. However, this safe space is often not offered to themselves or their colleagues.  In this episode, I have another astounding conversation with Liam Caswell, a High Performance Nurse Coach. With 10 years of international healthcare experience, he aims to coach, educate, and transform the lives and careers of nurses. In our conversation, Liam emphasized the importance of setting a space for psychological safety in the workplace. If the healthcare industry really wants to establish this, they’ll create an environment that stimulates self-awareness and self-compassion, so nurses can perform as their authentic selves. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Getting clear about your why in life (04:38) Why we need to increase our tolerance for failure (12:11) The benefits of establishing psychological safety in healthcare (18:45) Why self-awareness and self-compassion matter (26:05) Reframing burnout as something positive (31:52) How to step into your authentic self (35:20) CONNECT WITH LIAM CASWELL https://www.liamcaswell.com/   Connect with Liam on LinkedIn Connect with Liam on Facebook and Instagram Listen to Liam’s podcast, High Performance Nursing, here. CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For more information got to: happynurse.com.au/podcast/

There is a second pandemic currently occurring. Burnout in our healthcare staff. Many of us are beyond burnout and we are having to shift our focus from prevention, to burnout recovery.    The environment that is pre disposing us to burnout and compassion fatigue is creating “moral injury.”  Moral Injury is leading to nurses feeling undervalued, trapped, exhausted, unappreciated and lost in a very broken system.   In this episode, I had the pleasure to chat with Janie Hoogesteger. She is a Registered Nurse with  over 20 years of nursing experience. She believes that for the longest time, nurses have been focusing their energies on their patients and neglecting self-care. Janine shares a holistic approach to self-care, her non-negotiable when it comes to self-care and how she helps heal the healers through her retreats.   TRIGGER warning - Suicide is discussed in this episode.    TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Why do nurses experience a moral injury? (03:25) The dangers of gaslighting nurses (05:52) The negative effects of being resilient (09:00) Janie's non-negotiable in self-care (12:35) The benefits of sleep in productivity (21:08) Finding what works for you (24:32) Indulgent self-care (26:15) What inspires Janie to be the best version of herself? (31:27) Trigger Warning: Janie discusses her flatmate’s suicide & how it changed her (31:59) Janie's motivation for creating retreats (37:00) CONNECT WITH JANIE HOOGESTEGER https://www.rnretreats.com/  Connect with Janie on Facebook and Instagram Register for the Reset Retreat here.

Welcome back to The Happy Nurse Podcast. It has been a busy 6 months break, but I’m excited to be recording and sharing knowledge with you once again. There’s no better way to begin the podcast than with a wonderful friend of mine, Michelle Powell. Michelle Is a Trauma and Wellness Expert, she holds many qualifications including, Hypnotherapist, Emotional Coach, NLP & Timeline Therapy Practitioner and so much more. In this episode, Michelle and I discuss how healthcare professionals can find their light at the end of the tunnel. We all know that nurses are no longer looking for burnout prevention, they now need burnout recovery strategies.    The stress and burnout tunnel may feel difficult to pass through, but it’s always possible. It starts with having the mindset that your well-being should be a priority. The journey through the tunnel may be long and challenging, but there’s always light at the end of it if you keep moving forward. If you feel you need immediate crisis intervention. Please call Nurse & Midwife Support - 1800 667 877.   TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: The reality of nursing burnout (02:30) Nurses’ professional and personal pressures (07:33) The consequences of not delivering the best care (12:22) How to beat healthcare burnout (14:30) Why we need to take care of mental and emotional space (20:07) The importance of finding your tribe (23:08) From Stressed to In Control (30:10) RESOURCES MENTIONED 050: Unpacking Body Image Issues Part 2 with Michelle Powell The Mastery Of Wellness From Stressed To In Control CONNECT WITH MICHELLE POWELL https://themichellepowell.com.au/  Connect with Michelle on Facebook and Instagram Subscribe to Michelle’s Youtube Channel CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For more information got to: happynurse.com.au/podcast/

We’ve finally hit episode 50! I’m beyond excited to celebrate this milestone and what better way to do so by having back on the show one of our regular guests, Michelle Powell.  We recorded an episode a couple of months ago around body image which was very well received. However, it was such a big topic that we were not really able to get to the bottom of what body image can encompass.  So today, we’re back to unpack concepts of the perfect body image that the media and everyone else bombard us with. From this, we’ll tackle how we should course through our body image issues. We cannot emphasise enough that our bodies carry our stories. Whatever milestones we go through in life, our bodies are there to change, age and transform with us.  You’ve got to be the change that you want to see in the world and it starts with embracing, loving and accepting your own work of art - which is your body. Join me in this episode as Michelle shares valuable insights on body image, it’s portrayal in media, and why it's crucial to stop comparing and start celebrating whatever body type you have.  Stay tuned next March for season 2 of The Happy Nurse! TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: The portrayal of the perfect body image by the media (4:52) Seeking external validation (7:10) Body image is not just a female issue (09:35) Elaina and Michelle’s journey with body image (11:09) Why cosmetic surgery should be backed by psychological assessment (17:40) The taboo on women’s cycle (29:25) How we feel about our bodies impacts our life (33:10) Dealing with our insecurities (37:30) Embrace your authenticity (39:24) RESOURCES MENTIONED Episode 45 - Body Image Issues with Michelle Powell Episode 42 - Empowered Period with Jacqui O’Connor CONNECT WITH MICHELLE POWELL themichellepowell.com.au Click Here to download your free copy of The 10 Foundations of Wellness Connect with Michelle on Facebook Connect with Michelle on Instagram Connect with Michell on Youtube CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For more information got to: happynurse.com.au/podcast/

We’ve all been deceived by the belief that success is about getting more.  As a result, we have developed an endless pursuit to have more and be more, only to find out that many of the things we chase don’t ring us happiness.  In fact sometimes, the exact opposite. Unfortunately for many, it leads to being stuck on the BS hamster wheel.   In this episode, I’m joined by Mark Bramwell, the author of the book, That’s Bullshit: Stop drowning under stress-inducing advice and a relentless pursuit of more. In his book Mark breaks down what’s really important in life and how we can achieve personal satisfaction. Do you want to free yourself from the hamster wheel  and from the BS that’s happening around your work and life?  Join me in this episode as Mark shares valuable insights from his book, That’s Bullshit. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: How That’s Bullshit started (8:00) Find what works for you (11:20) Identifying and removing bullshit (18:37) Get a sense of your journey (26:15) Focus on becoming the best version of yourself (28:04) Create a goals board for giving (33:57)  It’s about being present (39:08)  Get balance (50:20)  RESOURCES MENTIONED BramwellSolutions That’s Bullshit! by Mark Bramwell Start With Why by Simon Sinek  CONNECT WITH MARK BRAMWELL bramwellsolutions.com.au Connect with Mark on Facebook Connect with Mark on Twitter Connect with Mark on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For more information got to: happynurse.com.au/podcast/

It’s no surprise that Nurses and healthcare Practitioners are battling burnout and mental health issues now more than ever. Burnout in itself is becoming a pandemic.   This episode’s guest is Kenny Gibson, National Head of Safeguarding at NHS England. Kenny shares how we as nurses and healthcare practitioners can overcome burnout in a time of exhaustion. He shares what it takes to become a positive disruptor in today’s disruptive world to ensure that Nurses and healthcare practitioners are doing everything they can to prevent burnout and mental health issues. Life will continue to bring us rain and thunderstorms. Remember, it’s up to you to bring your own weather and create your own sunshine.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Kenny’s career journey (3:06) Negative impact of the Angel Hero Persona as nurses (10:00) Co-dependence with our nurses (11:10) Post-traumatic resilience-based supervision (15:18) There are more things that connect us than disconnects us (24:40) Bring your own weather and create your own sunshine (30:20) Be a positive disruptor (32:25) Burnout in a time where we are all exhausted (33:26) Nurses’ compassion burnout and fatigue (37:15) The importance of family (42:55) RESOURCES MENTIONED Happy Nurse Podcast: Episode 41 (Celebrating International Nurses Day) CONNECT WITH KENNY GIBSON Connect with Kenny on Twitter Connect with Kenny on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For more information got to: happynurse.com.au/podcast/

Anxiety is more prevalent in the nursing workforce than we realise. Unfortunately, It looks like it has increased due to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.    Nurses often work 10 to 12-hour shifts (sometimes longer with enforced overtime) which in itself can induce a lot of stress within our bodies. Moreover, many nurses face trauma on a regular basis and often feel undervalued. All of these factors contribute to our anxiety levels.    In this episode, I speak with Lauren Bell, a registered nurse for over 35 years and a wellness and wealth coach. We unpack professional anxiety in the nursing space and how we can address it.   We are facilitating an online professional workshop to “release professional anxiety and Unleash your happy nurse.” Join us via zoom on Saturday 14th August 0930-1630 AEST. Register at happynurse.com.au/unleash-your-happy-nurse TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: How stress affects us (2:43)  Peace is contagious (4:40) Acknowledge how you feel (9:25)  Take deep belly breaths (12:11)  Shake your body (13:01)  Get out into nature (18:23)  It’s okay to say NO (21:59)  Self compassion (27:54) Higher acuity, higher fear (33:28)  Recognize your value (36:03)  RESOURCES MENTIONED The Anxiety Relief Handbook  Unleash Your Happy Nurse CONNECT WITH LAUREN BELL laurenbell.com.au Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Instagram Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Burnout is a phenomenon that has been in the nursing space for years, and it continues to grow. Unfortunately, burnout isn't talked about openly and has become the elephant in the room for a long time. Having experienced burnout twice, it has been my mission to reduce burnout among nurses. I know for a fact the kind of workplace stresses we nurses face on a daily basis.  In this episode, I’m joined by Darrel Griffin. Darrel is the co-host of Burnout Bros, a peer support community for men in business who are affected by burnout. Although Darrel is not a nurse, I got him onboard because there’s a huge population of male nurses that needs to hear this topic. Men in particular are more reluctant to talk about this topic because of the shame and stigma surrounding mental health. There’s no other way to address this problem but to talk about it openly. I love this conversation with Darrel. Having dealt with burnout myself, it has become my mission to help nurses around the world deal and overcome burnout in any way possible.  If you’re experiencing burnout, this is for you. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: The elephant in the room (5:30) A hundred year issue (9:15) Define your success (11:23) Smoke and mirrors (13:56) Driving towards something we cannot tame (16:14) Teach kids to express (20:28) Dads are products of their upbringing (22:41) What burnout looks like (28:25) Burnout in the health sector (36:58) Go back to self care (46:11) Know who you are (48:15) Nurse and Midwife Support Number: 1-800-667-877 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HappyNurse.com.au

BODY IMAGE. At some point or another most of the population struggle with their body image in some capacity. I haven’t met someone to this day who doesn’t have any hang-ups with their body.  Personally, I have battled with my body image for a very long time.  In episode 39, I spoke with Michelle about trauma response and how this can show up in our bodies. I also shared where my body issues came from. I have been overwhelmed with so much support since I shared my experience on this taboo topic.  That’s why Michelle and I decided to focus this entire episode on body image issues because we know this topic resonates with so many of you.  Body image issues are a complex problem because it impacts people in astronomical ways and oftentimes it holds a lot of people back. I believe, It’s time to put an end to body image issues and for us to stop buying into the media that’s feeding billion dollar industries through our fears and insecurities.  If you have hang ups about your body, you’re not alone.  Listen to my conversation with Michelle as we share our personal stories and how we overcame our own negative body image issues and how Michelle overcame her eating disorder. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: My personal story (6:44) Accepting the shifts and changes (11:56) Love your body (13:13) The billion dollar industry (16:52) Michelle’s personal journey (18:09) The turning point (28:15) Change your thinking (37:08) Becoming the change (41:17) Be the best version of yourself (54:22) The impact of stress in the body (58:34) Nurse and Midwife Support Number: 1-800-667-877 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HappyNurse.com.au

In this episode, we get to chat with Zara Lord, an ICU Registered Nurse and the founder of uPaged. Zara is shaking up the casual Nursing workforce with her app, uPaged.  A new technology that is specific to the needs of different healthcare organisations and departments, as well as the individual Nurses experience and skill set.   Rostering is a dynamic process.  NUM’s often find themselves juggling and moving staff a bit like a game of Tetris. With the help of uPaged it becomes easier for managers to match nurse’s expertise with different patients and departments.  In this episode Zara and Elaina  chat about the importance of self-care for Nurses, what they’re going through on a daily basis and how uPaged can assist.  Zara also shares what she does to keep herself healthy, both mentally and physically.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: A Google Map for new opportunities (9:20) Reverse your negative self-belief with the positive (20:01)  The power of gratitude (21:16)  Do a power pose for 2 minutes (22:52) Become the best version of your yourself (24:55)  Success leaves clues (26:33) Indulge in self-care (28:41)  Connect with your inner child (29:37) Recognise your needs (30:53) Love the journey (33:15) Nurse and Midwife Support Number: 1-800-667-877 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HappyNurse.com.au

Are you afraid to suck at something?  Why do we put so much pressure and expectation on ourselves?  The truth is, you are not not alone. As individuals, especially as professionals, we like to feel that we are confident, that we know what we know, and that we can handle everything on our own. The problem is, we become afraid to get out of that bubble.  Children are great reminders that it’s okay to suck at something. They get back up when they fall down and try again.  When we place too much expectations on ourselves we rob ourselves of the joy of the present moment.  During this conversation with Michelle Powell we unpack why it’s better to just go out there, have fun, and realise that it’s okay to suck when doing something new.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: The biggest killer of joy (8:46)  Don’t be afraid to ask questions (14:25)  Get out of your comfort zone (16:05) Be compassionate with yourself (23:38)  Don’t get caught up by external pressures (25:44)  You are a unique individual (30:35)  Compare yourself to who you were yesterday (31:11)  Focus on the present (35:13)  Explore your expectations (36:03) Why journaling is important (36:20)  Go and have fun (40:15)  Nurse and Midwife Support Number: 1-800-667-877 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HappyNurse.com.au

A period is a natural and healthy part of women’s reproductive health.  However, around the world, period taboos and resource limitations prevent girls and women from managing their periods with dignity.   In this episode, we get to chat with Jacqui O’Connor, a registered nurse, confidence coach, and champion of carers, on empowering women, caregivers, and the carers by acknowledging their bodies. The human body is an amazing thing. Learning to honour them and what cycle it’s at is so important. Ultimately, losing the taboo around female cycles is one way to honour ourselves and gives us the space to practice better self care.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Jacqui’s experience with burnout (4:42) Being empowered caregivers (7:18) Cyclical wisdom we are all gifted with (8:25) Connecting to your feminine side (11:10) Women’s bodies are created to create (13:50) Creating space for our mind and body to rest (16:00) Natural healing in the past (19:48) Period products and breaking the taboo (21:14) Why we shouldn’t normalise pain and bleeding (22:35) Empowered period (25:23) Honour the space (27:40) Dealing with toxic environments (31:16) Four phases of how we show up (31:30) Hormone disruptors (32:40) Protecting our energy (34:35) Inspiring our children and being inspired by them (37:33) Setting strong boundaries (41:35) Nurse and Midwife Support Number: 1-800-667-877 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HappyNurse.com.au

Today is International Nurses Day On May 12th each year, we celebrate the contributions of Nurses around the world. In this episode, we speak with Mark Aitken of Nurse & Midwife Support. He shares with us the ways they can give help and support to those who tirelessly and selflessly care for others. Mark shares why nurses and midwives self-care is essential.  As nurses and midwives, your health matters - and what better way to celebrate that than on International Nurses Day? .  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Nurse and Midwife Support (3:59) The importance of self-compassion (6:17) Creating cultures that prioritize self-care (8:05) Having a shared responsibility of nurse’ self-care (9:55) Health and well-being in team meetings (11:15) Counseling skills as part of nursing training (12:37) Listening to learn instead of listening to respond (14:53) Listening to yourself (14:46) Leading with gratitude (16:40) Remaining humble and quieting the ego (17:39) International Day of the Nurse (20:13) Self-care practices (21:17) Developing your own self-care plan (24:00) What is indulgent self-care? (27:50) Self-permission (29:17) Nurse and Midwife Support Number: 1-800-667-877 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HappyNurse.com.au

Nurses are the backbone of the health system, always there to care for a stranger as if they were one of their own.  We are so used to helping other people that sometimes we forget to help ourselves.  In this episode, we are joined by Beth Browning, a student in her final year of nursing school. Being the first student guesting on the show, Beth shares her perspectives around her self-care strategies as she starts her career.  In Beth’s journey towards becoming a nurse, she also experienced being on the other side as the patient. At 19 years old, Beth suffered from a stroke. This experience was grounding for her as she was able to see things from a different perspective.  Join us in this episode as Beth shares the lessons she learned from her experience and the key to self-care.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Beth’s health journey (5:01) Beth’s life-changing event (10:03) The key to self-care (11:35) The importance of having good connections (13:25) Having quality relationships (15:00) Necessary pleasures (17:40) Switching off from the busy mind (18:27) Shifting the mindset to celebrating the small wins (25:00) Why we ruminate on what’s lacking (27:30) Importance of listening to your body and asking for help (31:11) The power of mindfulness meditation (33:00) FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HappyNurse.com.au

Most of us have some trauma response happening in our life and aren’t even aware of it.  Ask yourself this, when there is something you are fearful of, are you responding from an optimistic point of view or are you responding from fear?  In this episode, we are again joined by Michelle Powell as we dive into trauma response and how it shows up in our lives. We are all hard-wired to survive and choose the path of least resistance. Everybody does it, but the question is, what are you going to do with that knowledge to change things?  When people are stuck in trauma responses, they don’t get to live the life they truly want to have. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: We are all products of our past (3:40) Protecting ourselves from a perceived threat (4:30) Learning to manage our brain and its response to trauma (7:00) The path of least resistance (7:57) Survival instinct (8:35) Trusting others and yourself (18:40) Distrust of self and other people (20:30) Neuro plasticity (24:30) Methods to rewire the brain (26:08) The power of meditation (26:57) Breath work (30:35) Creating a life that gives you happiness and fulfilment (33:27) Areas in our life where trauma responses can play out (39:08) The power of trust (50:46) Operating from trauma responses in relationships (51:30) Vulnerability (52:50) Authentic and vulnerable communication (57:15) CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Some healthcare professionals consider Eastern medicine practices like energy healing as “woo-woo.”  However I firmly believe that this type of medicine complements Western healthcare practices.  In this episode, I have a deep conversation with kinesiologist Nicky Schulze about her professional and volunteer work using both Eastern and Western healthcare practices. We also discuss what happens when we tap into our intuition, examples of indulgent self care and the importance of filling our own cup so we can continue to help others. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: What are kinesiology and energy healing? (03:27) Eastern and Western medicine can complement each other (07:41) Allow your non-negotiables to be what they want to be (13:28) Reconnect with nature (15:19) Seek help from experts (18:01) Create a space to tune in to your intuition (18:30) A special story about intuition (20:01) A tip to tap into your intuition (24:08) The connection between the brain and the gut (25:38) Indulgent self care (26:37) The people who inspire you include yourself (31:05) Gaining and sharing knowledge (34:37) Fill your own cup (37:12) CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

As someone who recruits healthcare professionals, Kay Reynoldson knows nurses give a lot of themselves to their profession. Sometimes, nurses give so much that they burn out. In this episode I talk with Kay about her self care practice, award winning business, self care issues her clients have discussed with her and her thoughts on how to make nursing a better and more sustainable profession.

According to research, there are over 9 million gay people and 1.5 million trans people in America. However, the average healthcare professional in the US receives about 2 hours of LGBTQ+ education only.  It is high time that healthcare providers understand their patients better.  In this episode, we speak with Shannon Whittington, award-winning & certified LGBTQ+ health expert on the importance of inclusion in the workplace and in healthcare. We delve in to what it’s like for LGBTQ+ people to live in a hetero-normative world and how they handle all the prejudices in families, communities, companies, and the healthcare system.  LGBTQ+ people have their own health disparities. It’s time to start learning about them and how healthcare professionals can provide patient-centered care without stigmatization, discrimination, or demoralization.   Discrimination in health care settings endangers LGBTQ+ people’s lives. This is why LGBTQ+ education and affirming LGBTQ+ people and their needs is key to building inclusion. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: LGBTQ+ have their own disparities (4:29) 28% of trans-people are rejected by healthcare professionals (5:33) LGBTQ+ community being afraid of discrimination (9:02) Legalization of same-sex marriage (9:40) Healthcare professionals give so much of themselves to their patients (10:45) Doing things that fill you up (11:50) Importance of quality sleep (12:00) It’s okay to do nothing (13:10) Celebrate you (15:40) Importance of self-care for healthcare providers (21:20) Being in a constant state of learning (26:00) Never stop learning (27:07) Big, audacious goal (28:40) Nurses’ mental health is suffering (30:00) Being client and patient-centered (32:14) Nurses are burning out (33:05) It is normal to be scared of the unknown (35:52) The importance of hydration (37:10) Non-binary people (39:00) Pronouns are so important (39:40) Caring for the LGBTQ+ community (41:52) Normalizing pronouns (40:19) No right or wrong answer when choosing your pronouns (42:59) CONNECT WITH SHANNON WHITTINGTON whittingtonconsulting.com Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn Subscribe to Shannon’s YouTube Channel CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Pregnancy can change women. Having a small human growing inside us can affect us physically, emotionally, and mentally. During this phase, many of us set aside self care as we adjust to our pregnancy. However, some of us manage to adjust and celebrate this new experience. In this episode, I talk with my good friend Chambrie about how her pregnancy has changed her. She and I share our woes, unusual cravings, self care practices, and ways to connect with our babies. We also discuss the importance of asking for help from our family and friends. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Pregnancy woes (02:00) Support from someone going through the same journey (07:30) Embrace indulgent self care and help (09:23) Give your body what it asks for (12:48) Don’t be afraid to ask for and receive help (17:52) Sleep (19:16) Work with what you’ve got and go with the flow (24:55) Support in different ways (27:26) Connecting with your baby through meditation and journaling (31:19) Struggling to connect is normal (40:11) Work and pregnancy (42:07) CONNECT WITH CHAMBRIE FERRIER Connect with Chambrie on LinkedIn Follow her on Facebook CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For full show notes and links visit: happynurse.com.au/podcast

First responders and nurses often deal with dangerous and life-threatening situations on the job. Because of this, the trauma and emotional stress that comes with their job greatly impacts their mental health which can cause burnout, depression and anxiety—to name a few. In this episode, we are once again joined by Michelle Powell as we delve into how facing trauma on a daily basis in your professional life impacts your personal life. Both the personal and professional lives of nurses and first responders may be negatively affected by the high degree of stress they face. There may not be much that we can change about the unknown traumatic situations that we as nurses or first responders will find ourselves in. However, there is a lot we can improve about the way we support our self-care and mental health before, during and after those situations. Let’s always remember to give ourselves the same compassion we so freely give to others. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Desensitization and constant state of stress (1:38) Downplaying stress and trauma (2:40) Fear of debriefing (5:28) Being vulnerable when saying you’re not okay (6:05) Fear of asking questions (6:16) Trauma aspect and first responder aspect (6:38) The impact of being a first responder on your day-to-day life (9:45) Normalizing trauma which causes compassion fatigue (12:14) What is compassion fatigue? (13:02) What is vicarious trauma? (13:31) Everyday people are first responders (20:10) Nurses usually down play trauma (21:50) Managing fatigue caused by trauma (23:30) How being a first responder affects our personal life and personal relationships (27:39) Downplaying it to yourself (29:15) Practicing self-care before reaching burnout (29:50) Different ways people reach their breaking point (32:00) Why nurses downplay trauma (34:40) The danger of comparing our trauma with others’ (36:00) CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For full show notes and links visit: happynurse.com.au/podcast

Menopause happens to all women and is just another stage in this journey of life. It is certainly a time of change for women. Emotionally, women experience a roller coaster ride when going through menopause. Although every woman experiences menopause differently, you can survive and thrive during this change and come out on the other side as a new woman. In this episode, we get to chat with Clarissa Kristjansson, a menopause transition specialist on advice for nurses who are facing perimenopause and menopause and how they can cope with the changes and challenges that come with it. Menopause isn’t forever and being able to meet it well and seeing it for what it is, which is a transition in our lives. Remember, you are just going through a transition and there is life after menopause. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Menopause effects (4:25) Symptoms of menopause (7:59) Making time to meditative practice (8:40) Go to the root cause (16:14) Taking a mindful walk (16:55) Managing stress better (17:26) Sugar doesn’t help with menopause (19:58) Struggling with sleep by managing our stress and diet (21:00) Tips for dealing with brain fog (21:40) Mindfulness and meditation (22:37) Looking after yourself (23:00) Feeling different after menopause (23:40) CONNECT WITH WITH CLARISSA KRISTJANSSON clarissakristjansson.com Connect with Clarissa on Instagram CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For full show notes and links visit: happynurse.com.au/podcast

Self-care is defined as "what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness." However, this is one skill that many nurses seem to neglect.  In this episode, we get to chat with Liam Caswell, leader of High Performance Nursing, a community of nurses who seek to transform their nursing practice, workplace culture and service provision to deliver high performance nursing care in a sustainable manner.  Nurses are compassionate people who usually put their patient’s health, safety, and well-being before their own. But in order to give the best care to our patients, it is essential that we fill our own cup first. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: NLP (5:21) How influential media is (6:00) Who are you giving your control to? (7:30) Getting inspiration from others to be your best self (8:54) Having a good understanding of yourself (10:00) Doing what’s important to us (13:20) Self-sacrificing leads to burnout (13:50) Are you happy to say no to yourself? (14:30) Having strong boundaries (14:50) Having a positive reframe of burnout (18:18) Why don’t nurses talk about burnout? (18:37) Normalizing mental health issues (19:30) Psychologically safe workplace (20:00) Psychological safety (20:35) Culture of nurses eating their young (24:13) Fear of change (26:53) Fear of the unknown (27:10) Change is constant (27:40) FEAR: Forget everything and run or Face everything and rise (28:10) Having our vulnerability armor on (29:50) Building a high performance team (30:55) What your WHY is as a leader (31:50) Showing your vulnerability with your patients (34:38) Having our own individual needs for our own self-care (38:10) CONNECT WITH LIAM CASWELL Liamcaswell.com Connect with Liam on Facebook Connect with Liam on Instagram CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For full show notes and links visit: happynurse.com.au/podcast

We all crave love and belonging. The important thing to remember though, is to strive for healthy relationships and not allow unhealthy patterns to develop in our lives.  However, as adults we sometimes let all the trauma and stress of life stop us from letting people into our lives and cultivating a friendly or romantic relationship. In this episode, Michelle Powell and I discuss the different factors that we have to navigate through when it comes to relationships—the stories in our heads, choosing quality over quantity, deciding whether to be vulnerable or not, online dating, love languages, and finding a balance between our feminine and masculine sides. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Michelle’s work (03:41) We all need true connections, love and belonging (4:50) Personal and professional trauma makes us hesitate in having relationships (6:57) The impact of core values on relationships (8:34) We all have stories in our heads based on past relationships (10:34) We build emotional armour to protect our vulnerable parts (12:33) You’ve grown and aren’t the same person you once were (13:55) Is it important to know your emotional triggers are before entering a new relationship? (14:30) We need to stay aligned with our integrity and be self aware of our boundaries (16:11) Boundaries can shift as you grow because it could be just you playing safe (18:16) Disposable vs authentic relationships (21:04) Online dating has its place in our society today but everything still depends on knowing your worth (23:10) Know your love languages (25:01) Females and males can see things in different ways so communication is key (29:24) When females tap too much into the masculine side (32:26) Societal pressures on women (35:26) Finding a balance between the feminine and masculine sides (38:40) Two-way communication is important, even though people find it hard to do (43:16) It’s okay to take small steps at a time (47:59) Have quality relationships without judgment (49:50) CONNECT WITH MICHELLE POWELL Michelle Powell Website Click Here to download your free copy of The Courage to Heal Connect with Michelle on Facebook Connect with Michelle on Instagram Connect with Michell on Youtube CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

While there is a lot of news and attention on burnout among healthcare providers, burnout among pediatric nurses has received less attention. In this episode, we are joined by Brooke and Erica of The Paediatric Nurse, a supportive place for nurses and parents caring for children with a mission to transform paediatric healthcare & nursing knowledge by improving access to online continued professional development courses. We delve into the tips and tools for self-care specifically for paediatric nurses.  As paediatric nurses, building good rapport with children and being able to connect meaningfully with our patients requires us to show up as our best selves everyday. The best way to do so is by first filling our own cup. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Stories as a great communication tool (7:56) Having a mentor and coach (10:55) Not procrastinating too much (11:53) Meal preparations as a part of self-care (12:30) Practicing gratitude (13:18) Meditation practices (17:15) Our patients keep us on our toes (25:10) Learning to say no (28:12) Our children look at us as their role models (30:00) Having boundaries (31:15) Giving yourself permission to have fun (34:07) Self care tips for paediatric nurses (35:10) Letting yourself enjoy time with children (35:50) Being compassionate with yourself (37:08) No obsessing about work, after work hours (37:24) Leave work at work (37:30) Listening to your body and what it needs (38:16) Giving ourselves the same compassion we give others (44:47) Your health is not irreplaceable (45:53) Looking after ourselves (46:52) CONNECT WITH BROOKE AND ERICA thepaediatricnurse.com Connect with Brook and Erica on Facebook and Instagram CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Medical debriefings are usually held after a significant event. Its main purpose is to review the event and discuss how staff responded and in what areas can be improved on. Debriefing is a great opportunity for nurses and medical workers to communicate and ask important questions. Cameron Tyers is a registered emergency nurse, and in this episode, he shares with us the importance of having a debrief process that benefits the wellbeing of nurses and medical health practitioners and how to make it happen as effectively as possible.  By creating constant communication and asking questions through the debrief, this not only helps your patients but is an essential way to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue. Encouraging debriefing also encourages a psychologically safe work environment because people are seen and heard. Are your debriefing processes being practiced effectively?  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Nursing is a vocation (5:44) Debriefing your patients (6:20) What hinders debriefing (8:49) Debriefing helps the whole department and not just the patients (10:00) Encouraging debriefing creates a psychologically safe environment (10:29) Types of debriefing (10:55) The Nursing App for Self-Care (11:36) Getting outside in nature is therapeutic (14:06) Team building spent outdoors (14:17) Types of debriefing (19:46) Hot debrief vs Cold debrief (20:00) Calmness in a debrief makes a good debrief (23:21) We all handle debriefs in a different way (24:30) Not blaming others (24:57) Learning from our mistakes (26:06) The element of fear as nurses (26:35) The importance of asking questions (27:15) Showing vulnerability (28:03) Finding the time to debrief (29:32) Not taking work home with you (30:16) Write down all your questions and don’t be afraid to ask them (31:45) Not debriefing can lead to burnout (32:11) Debriefing on anything you have questions about (33:30) Asking questions as a form of self-care (33:58) CONNECT WITH CAMERON TYERS Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn Connect with Cameron on Facebook CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Each day always brings something new to a nurse. It may be new patients, new colleagues, new cases, or even new diseases. This is why we always have a story to tell at the end of a long and tiring shift.  In this episode, long-time nurse Emma Gracie shares how she collected stories from personal experiences, from fellow nurses and from patients, and used them to launch a successful blog and a new book. Join us as we share and dive deep into some of these stories of beginnings, self care, and inspiration. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: All about Emma’s journey (03:48) The stories that started the journey towards nursing (09:53) Yoga as a non-negotiable practice (13:47) “Me-time” as indulgent self-care (16:03) Children and elderly patients as sources of inspiration (18:49) A story about not being afraid even during a war (19:43) A story about resilience (21:15) A story about slowing down (22:15) Spend time with nature (24:02) Be present in the moment (24:43) Stories about appreciating the moment (27:01) CONNECT WITH EMMA GRACIE Blue Girl: Nursing Beyond the Ward Blue Girl Nurse Connect with Emma on Instagram and Twitter Connect with Emma on Facebook  CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

People oftentimes associate holistic care practices like mindfulness, reiki, or hypnotherapy with concepts like “woo-woo,” alternative, out-of-left-field, fluffy or wishy-washy. Such a negative connotation can stop people from getting the help that they need because of the fear of being judged for doing something less mainstream. In this episode, my guest, Michelle Powell, and I unpack where this misguided label comes from and how we can start to change the conversation around a holistic approach to health, self care and wellness. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Michelle’s holistic work (03:24) Holistic practices can be associated with a woo-woo label (04:02) The label can lead to fear or judgement among practitioners or laypeople (06:16) Alternative therapy is portrayed as using fluffy language (08:07) People shy away because of the fear of judgement or negative connotations (09:29) You need to start with the foundations (10:06) A model of self care (13:34) Overcome traumas from the bottom-up (14:15) Ultimately you desire to be the best version of yourself (15:04) You are human with needs and challenges in life (15:29) Being fiercely independent may be a trauma response (17:52) Touch is a powerful tool for healing (19:30) There’s a fine line between being needy and being human (22:37) When you allow someone to give, you both benefit from it (25:13) It’s the simple things like human connections that we need in life (27:02) You can go far with other people (28:37) Holistic health care involves sound, practical tools (31:04) Shared experiences and shared stories are powerful healing tools (33:14) These tools are based on ancient practices (35:19) Different types of therapies have their own places in healing (35:36) A therapist who will not judge (36:07) “Make time for your wellness, not your illness” (40:17) “I”llness vs. “We”llness (41:55) CONNECT WITH MICHELLE POWELL Michelle Powell Website Click Here to download your free Trauma recovery checklist Connect with Michelle on Facebook Connect with Michelle on Instagram Connect with Michell on Youtube CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.” John Lennon says it beautifully.  At the end of the day, what we want as human beings is genuine connection, to be seen and heard. In this episode, we speak with Christina Foxwell of Ignite Purpose. Her vision is to change the way we engage people in business because people are central to the work we do, and without purpose we can’t live our best lives. We also delve into the power of vulnerability and authenticity to create genuine connections. Ultimately, that sense of belonging is up to you. Others cannot make you feel like you belong. You have to connect to your own self worth and do the inner work. Your power-up battery of who you are is not necessarily reliant on others but on your authentic self. When we grow, reflect, and learn about who we are and how we show up, we are then able to shift into a life of purpose and live the life we are proud of. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Change starts with ourselves (5:00) It starts and ends with you (5:45) We think we have no choice during overwhelm (6:20) Change is uncomfortable but worth it (7:30) Reflecting on how you can better yourself (8:10) Putting yourself out there (9:43) Getting gritty (9:55) Compassion fatigue (13:29) We judge as soon as we feel uncomfortable (17:25) Shame in parenting (2:25) Carrying your shame into parenthood (20:50) Setting boundaries (29:09) You can’t expect others to change (31:00) Having your own back (34:30) The oxytocin in your brain when you are being loved (35:22) Belonging relies on yourself (36:55) No single person is the same (38:00) A different version of you exists in everyone’s mind (38:24) Making space for someone (38:48) Children as our teachers (46:30) Our belonging is birthed from inside (47:13) CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA FOXWELL Ignite Purpose Follow Christina on Instagram and Facebook Follow Christina on Twitter Connect with Christina on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Being a nurse means learning to cope with stress. For many of us, it becomes easy to reach for a glass of wine (or two!) when we need to deal with or escape from the stress of caring and giving so much of ourselves to other people. We also have to deal with peer pressure and a society that somehow makes you feel like you’re less of a person if you stop drinking alcohol. But, guess what? It’s okay if you don’t drink. In this episode, bestselling author and health coach Rebecca Weller talks about her journey towards sobriety. She shares inspiring nuggets of wisdom about creating non-negotiable barriers for self care. The importance of taking a break. Overcoming the anxiety and fears associated with sobriety. Choosing the right people to surround yourself with. Strategies to build a better relationship with yourself, and how your journey back to finding yourself again changes before and after sobriety. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Introducing Rebecca Weller (02:36) Non-negotiable self care practice: start slowly and no devices in the bedroom (04:55) You take on the information and opinion you see on social media (07:27) Have media breaks even though it can be terrifying (08:10) Indulgent self care: time (12:09) Come back to yourself and sit in the quietness (14:12) Self care is even more crucial when you are caring for someone else (14:55) Why am I so afraid to slow down, take a break, and rest? (16:10) Who or what inspires you to be the best version of yourself? (16:45) Sobriety is like personal development on steroids (17:44) “You become the average of the people you spend the most time with” (19:04) “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future” (19:40) Strategies to change your mindset towards alcohol (20:57) Tips to develop self care (24:07) The “Crowding Out” strategy to develop new habits (25:16) Turn it into a game (26:39) Rebuild self worth, self respect and self trust (27:09) The slow process of learning more and seeing how it feels (28:33) 2020 has made people think about self care and little addictions (30:12) Self care is the journey back to yourself and who you really are (32:25) CONNECT WITH BEX WELLER Connect with Bex on LinkedIn Connect with Bex on Facebook Follow Bex on Instagram CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

When anxiety and overwhelm take over, you can feel so powerless and feel like there’s little that you can do to control your mind and body.  Although anxiety does have physical and mental effects on our body and, although you can’t just will it away, there are certain tools and steps that you can take to overcome and handle anxiety. Lauren and I are 2 of the 12 authors who are contributing to the Anxiety Relief Handbook. In this episode, we delve into the tools that we use to handle and deal with anxiety and overwhelm at work.  Anxiety is always present in our lives, to some degree. But the more you face anxiety instead of run from it, the more you grow both as a professional and an individual.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Professional Anxiety (4:58) Living up to standards (5:49) Imposter syndrome (6:42) We all have huge potentials (7:18) Owning our authority and claiming our value (8:17) Life is volatile (9:05) Celebrating each step along the way (9:57) Look at yourself from the lens of others (10:28) Living our life through the lens of another (10:52) Anxiety of speaking up and sharing your truth (13:48) Identify the tipping point of overwhelm (15:35) The survival brain (16:58) Shaking off the stress (19:10) Reframing anxiety and excitement (21:00) Unspoken anxiety that nurses carry around with them (22:41) Hierarchical system of healthcare (23:16) Feel of getting into trouble (24:08) Tools to handle anxiety (27:15) Doing reflective practices to avoid anxiety (31:50) Seeing both sides rather than only the negative side (33:37) CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Your core values are your GPS coordinates that guide you on your journey in life. Through these values, you are more aligned to get to your end goal. The better you know what your values are, the easier you can live in alignment with them. It is also through these values that one is able to traverse the challenges life throws at us with more grace and resilience.  In this episode, we are joined once again by Michelle Powell and we unpack the importance of core values and why living and constantly refining them greatly affects who we are today. As we continue to evolve as individuals, our core values evolve and change as well. People who know their core values by heart are able to show up as their true and authentic self and live a more meaningful life.  What are your core values? TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Humans need connection and community (4:05)  Finding your tribe (4:25) Having a sense of understanding and compassion with your tribe (5:09) Our different personas (6:14) Exploring our different selves (7:20) Childhood plays a huge part of your adolescence (8:00) Values and belief from our childhood (8:40) Code of conduct as our inner blueprint (9:00) Picking up mannerisms and beliefs from our environment (9:35) Nature vs Nurture (9:50) Parents’ impact on our lives and values (10:17) Beliefs and values are learned and adapted (10:58) Being someone different for different people (11:46) Having space to invite the right people by being who you truly are (12:13) Surrounding yourself with like-minded people (13:21) Your core values are your GPS coordinates (14:51) Honouring what’s true for you and understanding yourself (17:48) There’s no such thing as right or wrong for everyone (18:09) The biggest killer of joy (18:50) All judgements are unmet needs (21:00) Self-exploration (22:20) Setting standards for yourself (27:15) Authenticity and being real (28:35) Having the courage to be authentic (29:30) Compassion for self (30:31) Keywords as reminders of your core values (37:15) You aren’t everyone’s cup of tea (42:00) The danger of people-pleasing (44:00) Self-sabotaging yourself when you don’t allow yourself to be who you truly are (45:10) Knowing your partner’s love language (50:12) Having true and real conversations (54:35) CONNECT WITH MICHELLE POWELL Connect with Michelle on Facebook and Instagram Subscribe to Michelle’s Youtube Channel CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Nurses have been in the frontline since the start of the pandemic. It is in our nature to give to others and put others first which is why burnout among nurses has seen a rise in numbers in the recent months. In this episode, we are joined by Clinical Emergency Nurse turned entrepreneur, Athol Hann whose mission is to prevent burnout in the healthcare industry. He shares with us the app he created to help nurses and healthcare professionals enhance their well-being.  Inspired by his own experience of burnout, Athol’s aim is for healthcare professionals to take better care of themselves so that they can show up as the best versions of themselves and give the best care to their patients.  As nurses, we must remember to offer the same compassion that we so freely give our patients.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Running away from burnout (4:40) Having friends who look out for you (5:48) Not addressing our stress can lead to burnout (5:55) Cognitive behavioural therapy (8:29) Getting enough rest as part of self-care (9:42) The importance of getting out in nature (11:5) Spending time with your loved ones (15:00) Self care is unique to everyone (15:19) Financial responsibility of healthcare professionals (16:55) Salary-tracking app features (18:00) Nursing app for self-care (19:22) Bringing the team together through the app (20:11) Journaling (21:56) Time-management for nurses (23:09) Writing down our triggers (24:04) Recognizing our patterns (24:39) Fight, Flight, Flee response (25:48) Recognizing overwhelm to avoid burnout (27:08) Acknowledgment that it’s okay to feel low (28:40) Getting inspiration from your colleagues (31:44) Not being too hard on yourself (33:29) Talking to a friend or loved one to help release stress (33:50) The power of compassionate ears (34:10) Fill your cup: Offer yourself that same compassion you offer your patients (35:36) Mediation (36:45) CONNECT WITH ATHOL HANN atholtech.com.au Connect with Athol on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

What do you truly want your life to look like?  The pandemic has given people the space to stop and take this time to think about what it is they really want to do in life. This may not only be from a career or job perspective, but in a personal perspective as well.  Maybe you’ve realised you want to spend more quality time with your family. Or maybe you’re looking for more choice and freedom with how you spend your time and energy. In this episode, Samantha Riley shares the benefits of creating your own business, how having a business can give you more freedom and stability, and have the chance to do work that matters in the world.  By sharing your expertise, not only are you creating fulfillment for yourself, but changing other people’s lives and creating a ripple of impact. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Reverse engineering your desired life (5:15) Having time to re-set (7:40) Indulgent self-care isn’t selfish (9:20) Addressing all 5 aspects of self-care (11:18) Life is different now and we have to live differently (12:44) Giving yourself permission to show up as the best version of yourself (14:45) Allowing yourself to blossom (15:25) Parents as entrepreneurs (15:50) Having the ability to put things in place (17:14) Wanting to be the superheroes as moms (18:18) Too afraid to take the risk of entrepreneurship (20:20) Having a business can give you more freedom (21:25) Being clear about where you’re heading (22:40) Your zone of genius (22:47) The KEEP Principle for starting a business (23:25) Pursuing your dreams (25:05) Doing work that really matters (25:25) The catalyst for change (26:25) Is there such a thing as a stable job? (27:50) Consistently showing up (30:26) Getting caught on the path to burnout (33:43) CONNECT WITH SAMANTHA RILEY SamanthaRiley.global Connect with Samantha on Instagram and Facebook Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Are you experiencing conflict in your professional or even personal life but sweep them under the rug instead of confronting them? If you are, then it’s time that you had a Courageous Conversation with those involved. These conversations are where you speak up about what you feel and what is weighing you down. However, more often than not, we are scared to have Courageous Conversations because of the stories we have in our heads.  In this episode, we talk about the 5 steps towards having a Courageous Conversation. They can be confrontational with a lot of emotion involved. Through these tips and strategies, we can learn to better deal with what is going on in the mind chatter, step out of our comfort zones, and start these conversations.  When we lean into the uncomfortableness, we can find that there are so many good things on the other side when you can have these Courageous Conversations.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Importance of mastering Courageous Conversations (3:36) Who needs you to be on your A-Game? (9:26) Encouraging others to follow their dreams when you follow yours (10:29) Resilience and challenging the status quo (10:30) The 5 Steps to a Courageous Conversation (11:36) Step 1: Mastering your story (11:55) Pattern interrupting technique (12:50) Step 2: Go on a fact-finding mission (13:30) Is that true and how do I know that it is true? (14:03) THINK: Is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, and kind (14:18) Step 3: Begin with the end in mind (14:39) Step 4: Plan it out (15:40) Step 5: Find the space (16:20) Resolution, solution, progress (17:05) Pre-frame (18:36) Communicating outside the courageous conversation (18:51) Moving out of the comfort zone (20:08) The inner critic (22:21) World Health Organization has declared burnout as a syndrome (23:14) The stories that we tell ourselves is a huge cause of stress (23:29) Compassion fatigue (24:24) Filling your own cup through self-care (26:55) CONNECT WITH ALLY NITSCHKE MadeForMore.com.au Connect with Ally on Instagram and Facebook  Connect with Ally on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Are you an introvert or an extrovert or somewhere in between? Perhaps an ambivert who is someone who has a balance of both introvert and extrovert features in their personality. Ambiverts are more able to adapt to a lot of people across the personality spectrum. Having an insight into what your personality type is can help you know the right self-care you need.  In this episode, we learn how understanding what your personality is plays a fundamental part in creating balance in your life. We deep dive into the different techniques on how to bring back your balance in different areas of your life.  The best relationship starts with yourself. So the more you know yourself, the better your external relationships are going to be.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Having strong boundaries (2:52) Know what your values are (3:49) Micro-moments for ourselves (5:02) Being the role model for your kids (7:58) Respect and manners (8:18) Monkey see, monkey do (9:12) It’s okay to make mistakes (9:55) Ambivert personality (10:23) Extroverts (12:00) Introverts (12:15) Being more aware of who you are (15:02) Start with auditing your life (18:10) Understanding what your personality is (18:23) Techniques on bringing back your balance (19:30) The power of your thoughts (19:43) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (20:10) Acceptance Commitment Therapy (20:16) Ho'oponopono: The Hawaiian Forgiveness Ritual (20:56) Mindfulness (21:19) Know what your triggers are (21:48) Becoming more aware of your emotional responses (23:30) The only control we have is over our thoughts (24:37) Self-awareness brings about positive change (25:42) Taking emotion out of the memory (26:00) We’re all a work in progress (28:45) Your thinking is related to how out of balance we are on a cellular level (30:18) It all starts with your thinking (32:30) Changing “should” to “could” (35:39) Turning negative energy to positive energy (39:50)   CONNECT WITH TRACIE KELLY Connect on LinkedIn  Connect on Facebook CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

In this day and age, it’s easy to attribute online “likes” as the true sign of validation. So many thoughts in our head are fed to us by society and social media.  We experience a high incidence of anxiety because we become so disconnected with ourselves. We tend to value things in life that are far from our own core values. Because of this, we become misaligned with what is truly important to us. In this episode, we delve into why it is so essential to find who you are and peel off all the masks you wear. Reconnecting with who you are, is so powerful. It is a massive process that takes time and conscious effort but it’s all worth it in the end.  Remember that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. All we have is today. So find something good in today and you’ll discover that happiness and inner peace starts from within.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Putting yourself first (4:51) Remembering to be grateful (6:31) It’s the simple moments in life (6:53) Make your children feel seen and heard (8:51) Children don’t hold on to stuff (10:54) NLP: Neuro-Linguistic Programming (13:33) Talking about the thoughts in your head (14:06) Believing that you are worthy (14:27) The ego and inner critic (15:35) The inner person is so much more beautiful (16:14) Anxiety and depression due to disconnection as a society (16:37) Junk food values (16:54) Externalizing happiness (17:25) Inner peace needs inner work (18:21) Being happy with yourself and who you are (18:39) All the answers you need are within you (19:55) It’s not hard to do self-care (20:23) Living in the moment (20:44) Doing the self-work (20:50) Validation (21:27) We’re all on our own journey (23:00) All we have is today (25:10) We’re not alone (35:40) Kindness always wins (36:18) CONNECT WITH HEIDI ANDERSON Connect with Heidi at heidileeanderson.com CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Stories and storytelling have been around for centuries since the birth of human language. Yet we can sometimes forget how powerful storytelling is as a communication tool. You can learn the most valuable lessons when you listen to others through storytelling.  In this episode, we delve into how good storytelling can be used as an effective communication tool for healthcare professionals and a way to build rapport with your patients. Therapeutic storytelling serves a powerful purpose. Nurses are in a great position to encourage patients to share their stories which is an effective way to break down barriers in communication.  To be a better storyteller you have to be a better listener. To be a better communicator, one must listen to learn, and not listen to reply.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Sleep deprivation as a form of torture (4:58) Restful sleep (5:28) Diet as a form of self-care (6:18) Good communication as nurses (12:45) Storytelling as a nurse (13:18) Storytelling as a way of making meaning from the situation (14:00) Speaking about your experiences (15:36) Sharing your stories (16:00) Stories as a way to break down communication barriers (16:32) Getting older people to share their stories (16:55) Capturing stories while you can (17:45) Encouraging people to share their rich stories (17:48) Storytelling as a way to build rapport (17:55) To be a better storyteller you have to be a better listener (18:36) Holding space for others as a story listener (18:49) Listen to learn. Don’t listen to reply. (19:22) Advice to newly graduating nurses to communicating with patients (20:11) Never stop learning (21:00) Always ask for help (21:11) Having the courage to be vulnerable (21:34) Fear stops us from asking for help (22:43) Speaking clearly. Keeping communication simple. (23:49) Articulating your words and allowing for pauses. (24:40) CONNECT WITH LISA EVANS Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Secure your tickets to Lisa’s event, Stories From The Heart, by clicking here. CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Being your true and authentic self means that what you say in life aligns with your actions. It is who you truly are, at your deepest core.  However, internal elements of ourselves can be lost piece by piece because of a lot of external factors. They chip away slowly until you can’t recognize yourself anymore.  In this episode, we delve into the importance of having the courage to be your authentic self and what it means to have a loss of self. A lot of times we don’t even know we are being removed from our authentic self and we tend to shy away from our core essence. Understanding that ownership of self is the key element of the maturity of your authentic self.  So ask yourself, who were you before the world told you who you should be? TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Making a list of your priorities each week (3:15) Make time for things that make your heart happy (3:35) Walking as a form of meditation (5:27) Your authentic self (6:32) Being homesick for yourself (8:05) Loss of self (9:02) Who are you underneath everything? (9:44) Who were you before the world told you who you should be? (10:40) Work mentality (11:04) Human beings, not human “doings” (11:20) Identifying with your job (12:22) Losing yourself in labels (12:49) Alter ego personas (13:33) Bridging the gap between future you and you now (14:11) The danger of a persona (15:06) Check-in point with yourself (16:39) Intrinsically, you know you’re capable of so much more (22:05) Always wanting to evolve as a person (22:39)  Choose those closest to you wisely (23:40) External and internal validation (30:09) Don’t shy away from being the full expression of you (30:36) Being the best version of yourself (31:32) Ownership of self (32:55) Everyone has something unique to offer (34:01) Lose yourself to find yourself (35:35) Vulnerability armour (36:16) CONNECT WITH MICHELLE POWELL Connect with Michelle on Facebook and Instagram Subscribe to Michelle’s Youtube Channel CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Airline attendants always say to fit your own oxygen mask before turning to help others. It’s the same in life. You have to take care of yourself first before you are able to care for another person.  We are now 6 months of being in and out of lockdown and now more than ever, we all need to take good care of ourselves. Every person copes with the stress of isolation and lockdown in different ways. In this episode, we learn the different ways that we can cope with being in lockdown. There is no right or wrong way to cope during these times, but having a plan each day is a good starting point for your mental, physical, and emotional health. Being kind to yourself especially now during these challenging times will benefit not only you but the people around you. When you offer yourself and others around you compassion and love, it will make it easier for you and the people around you to get to the other side of the crisis as better versions of yourselves.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Anxiety around money (3:53) Nurses as the first line of defense against the virus (5:30) Patients whose surgeries have been delayed (6:26) Self-care during lockdown (8:58) Isolation can cause stress and overwhelm (10:05) Overwhelm because of social media (11:10) There is no right or wrong way to do isolation (11:45) Quality family time (18:06) The importance of gratitude (19:15) Reflecting on your life before the lockdown (20:22) Tapping sequence for stress (24:47) Box breathing (25:31) Fight or flight (27:00) Rest and digest (27:10) CONNECT WITH LAUREN BELL Lauren Bell Coaching Connect with Lauren on Facebook Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Is your fear of failure and your inner critic keeping you from pursuing your goals? One of the key ingredients for growth is being open to failure.  In this episode we delve into the ‘Power of Probably’. Telling yourself “I can probably do that” instead of “I wish I could do that” changes your mindset on how to approaches things that are out of reach. Although you will prove yourself wrong plenty of times, by being on the other side of “probably” you will have far more wins and open up more opportunities.  When you entertain the chance of failure, you remove its power. When you fail, you learn things in the process. So the next time you have a goal that you want to achieve, tell yourself, “I can probably do that.” TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Intentionally putting joy into your day (6:51) Giving things a go (14:33) The Power of Probably (14:56) Positive visualization (16:37) Being open to possibilities and thinking outside the box (17:32) The pattern forming of your brain (18:23) Visualization (19:36) The inner critic (21:25) Belittling your inner critic (23:00) You don’t have to be a victim of your thoughts (28:47) CONNECT WITH MATT HALE Visit Matt’s Website CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Society today teaches us to disregard or avoid our feelings and emotions. Because of this, our coping mechanism is to sweep these emotions under the rug. We push them down so far that they manifest into stress. Meditation and mindfulness are powerful tools that we can use to avoid overwhelm and burnout. In this episode, we deep dive into how we can use breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness to manage and reduce stress and avoid burnout. Our breath is something we can always come back to. It is our anchor during stressful times. Being able to go back to your breath and using it as a tool to center yourself is so powerful. When we are mindful, we are present and aware. By being present, we can show up as better versions of ourselves and for the people around us. So the next time you feel anxious and stressed, stop and take a breath.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Meditation as an extension of mindfulness (4:10) It’s all about being present (5:26) Stopping the mind chatter (6:40) Allowing yourself to have awareness on your thoughts (7:32) Our inner critic (8:19) Courage during vulnerability (10:30) The ego feeds off negativity (10:53) Stepping out of your comfort zone through meditation (11:20) Relaxing through the fear (11:43) See your fear as your fuel (11:53) You are the creator of your reality (12:40) Positive tension (11:32) Counting meditation (26:47) Our emotions are the barometer for our health (27:27) Compartmentalising our emotions (27:16) Listening, experiencing, releasing (29:58) Overwhelm as the tipping point to burnout (30:28) The 3 brains of protective mechanisms (32:00) Re-assessing what’s going on at the moment with you (33:59) Breathwork (34:14) CONNECT WITH CHAMBRIE FERRIER Connect with Chambrie on LinkedIn Follow her on Facebook CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

“Just be yourself…”  We’ve all heard this advice before, and may even have given this advice to a friend or a colleague before an important presentation.  But what does it really mean to just be your authentic self and why is it important to know yourself in order to communicate better with others? In this episode we unpack what it means to just be you, and the meaning of authenticity. When you stay true to who you are, what you do, and who you serve, this benefits both you and your patient or customer. By staying true to yourself, you become a more effective communicator. The power of knowing and being yourself makes you more authentic no matter who you are speaking to. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Authenticity and just be you (3:16) Accepting the state you are in (5:14) The 3 Me’s (18:40) Only you hold you back (21:09) Let go of resistance (25:42) Removing the scarcity mindset (25:51) Thriving during the pandemic (26:42) Growth mindset (27:15) Finding alternatives (27:20) CONNECT WITH ANDREW EGGELTON AndrewEggelton.com Connect with Andrew on Facebook Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn Connect with Andrew on Instagram CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

The culture of “Nurses eating their young” has been around in the profession for a long time. It's a topic of hot discussion in my workshops and every Nurse I have spoken to has either experienced it themselves or know someone who has.   Nurses are nurturing and compassionate professionals. However, treating novice and student nurses poorly continues to be an ongoing problem.  Workplace bullying is the persistent pattern of mistreatment in the workplace that causes physical or emotional harm.  In this episode, Tracy and Emma share how they are committed to changing the culture of “Cannibalism in Nursing”. It’s our responsibility to stop this toxic culture, and to create a healthier work environment. As we spend most of our adult lives at work, why not create an environment that is healthy, loving, and a better place for all of us? TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Unicorn Time (9:25) Is there anything that you can do to show your team that you stand united? (15:18) How to get through a toxic work culture (17:30) How surrounding yourself with nurturing and supportive people is very important (19:20) Nurse Cannibalism (24:44) Part 1: Nurses eating their young (25:42) Part 2: Lifting each other out of the cannibals’ pot (25:52) The best ally is another person who will always have your back (26:07) Part 3: Protecting others from the cannibal pot (26:26) Nurses caring for each other are the nurses growing together (26:39) Part 4: Nurses feeding their young (27:00) How nursing is a horizontal balance from peer to peer (27:18) What can you do to create a better environment for nurses? (28:52) Nurses eat their young because they’re starving (30:11) Good people working in a bad system (31:27) We can change the toxic culture (33:03) CONNECT WITH EMMA VERSLUIS Connect with Emma on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH TRACY CHURCHILL Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

You’ve come across the famous saying “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” But how often have you instinctively reacted to a triggering situation? It takes work moving from past hurt and trauma. But by practicing self-awareness, you will be able to hold yourself true in those triggering moments. Being mindful of this, try to look at where the trigger comes from. By doing so, it gets easier to give yourself that self-compassion and understanding that comes from your own trauma.  In this episode, Nerida shares with us how to harness what triggers us and use them as our personal development tool.  You can’t control the situation but you can control how you react to the situation. These words are much easier said than done but can transform your life tremendously when you dedicate yourself to them. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: It’s okay to make mistakes (4:06) Following your own guidance (4:45) Some days, self-care is about giving yourself a break (6:45) The life that you want starts at home (12:47) See the person in front of you as someone you care about (18:42) Importance of holding space for someone you love (20:00) Your life is your best personal development workshop (20:52) Harness what triggers you as your personal development tool (21:23) Be kind with yourself (22:15) How our heart and mind receive and respond to information (23:19) Rewiring the base of your subconscious mind (24:43) What comes first, the story or the behavior? (25:31) CONNECT WITH NERIDA MILLS Connect with Nerida on Facebook ONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Have you ever felt stressed or anxious in a certain situation and needed a way to lessen and release the pain? The Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT Tapping is an alternative therapy to relieve stress and anxiety. This technique involves light taps in certain points on your body, particularly on the head, face, and arms while focusing on the issue you want to treat. The tapping of different body parts accompanied by positive mantras helps balance your energy and reduce physical or emotional pain. In this episode, Lauren shares a great technique for self-care which helps you calm down so that you can think and act more clearly. Through this simple exercise, you give yourself permission to take care of yourself.  Remember that you need to fill up your cup so you can give from the overflow.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Emotional freedom technique (EFT): Mind-body technique (4:59) The benefits of EFT (10:43) EFT for Self-Care (13:13) Step 1: Tune in to your body (13:57) Tune in to your over-giving self (17:15) We often don’t feel our feelings (17:35) Step 2: Determine on a scale from 1 to 10 how strong you feel your negative emotions (19:42) Step 3: Tapping on the parts of the body while repeating your mantra (20:23) Step 4: Continue the tapping until the stress level goes down (21:11) Tapping points on your body (21:20) Stating our negative emotions is part of the release (22:51) Reframing your thoughts (23:35) Tapping scripts you can use (26:50) CONNECT WITH LAUREN BELL Lauren Bell Coaching Connect with Lauren on Facebook Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Do you prioritize the important things in life, or do you just go with the flow? Many of us just take each day as it comes, and then find ourselves surprised as to where life has taken us or why we aren’t satisfied with our lives.  Without clear priorities, it’s difficult to make progress toward your goals. Making the effort to know what the important things in your life are is essential so that you can align your daily practice to nurture these values. Once you know what’s important to you, it’s easier to make decisions every day. The most important thing to come back to each day is your daily practice, which is your time to nurture the important things in life. By getting your priorities straight, understanding your values, and creating everyday practices that align with these values, you strengthen and grow these values and grow as a person as well. Change your priorities to change your life. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Having a daily practice that keeps you on the right track (5:58) Knowing the important thing and key areas in your life (8:40) Finding your flow: Staying completely focused while enjoying what you’re doing (10:49) Including little indulgences throughout the day (13:20) Internal and external sources of motivation: (15:19) Realizing how short life is (16:26) Gratitude and acceptance as part of self-care (17:36) Motivating tools (19:00) The power of fear or regret as external motivators (20:09) Using the momentum of wins to level up (21:15) Learning from failure to maximize growth and happiness (21:39) Developing skills needed to overcome challenges (24:13) Active rest - doing things you love - to help fill up your cup (26:53) Junk Food values (29:02) Our values define what we practice every day (30:30) The more we understand that value, (31:28) Through practice, we can develop skills and habits to make us better (34:53) The best way to serve others is by being the best versions of ourselves (35:53) Changing limiting beliefs to un-limiting beliefs through practice (36:57) CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Self-care is not selfish. What’s actually selfish is not practising self-care and self-love, because practising self-care means you are able to turn up as your best self. Self-love is something that should be practised daily and can take a lifetime to master. But by incorporating even just a few minutes of self-care and self-love every day, we create a healthy relationship with ourselves which helps us grow and live our fullest lives. One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to self-care. We all have our own different needs. What’s important is that you find time to discover what makes you happy and by doing so, we start living a life of abundance in every aspect of our lives. In this episode, Elaina breaks down the five aspects of self-care and learn the importance of practising self-love in all aspects. TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Mental self-care (3:31) Making our inner critic a friend and not a foe (3:50) T-H-I-N-K: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind (5:34) Emotional self-care (9:30) Physical self-care (13:02) Spiritual self-care (16:06) The monkey mind (16:47) Indulgent self-care (22:15) CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Over the years, humans have done tremendous work teaching and preparing horses for a variety of entertainment and work purposes. Horses can be seen working with and for people in a number of activities such as horseback riding, barrel racing, and polo. But what we don’t realize is that humans have a lot more to learn from horses and every other animal than what we teach them. From learning how to reconnect with ourselves, understanding the importance of letting go, and grounding ourselves, Jo sheds light on what humans can learn from animals and nature. They hold a frequency that helps us align ourselves back to an equilibrium. We can apply these learnings to how we work and live our everyday lives. By simply taking a pause in between tasks throughout the day, we are able to be more present in each moment. It’s so easy to get lost in our day-to-day activities, focus on everyone else and forget ourselves. Jo shares how we can give ourselves the same love and care we show others. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Being present in every Mmoment (04:26) Indulgent Self-Care is what brings you joy and lights you up (06:57) Animals and nature can be our best teachers (10:22) Letting go and allowing cycles to end for another to begin (11:25) Advice for Healthcare Professionals to help cope with the crisis (12:45) The importance of re-adjusting and balancing the body in between work (14:49) The simple yet powerful effect of closing your eyes to re-adjust (16:54) Check-in with yourself regularly throughout the day (19:47) Offering yourself the same care you give your patients (20:55) Looking after yourself first (23:15) Dogs can be the little nurses we need (24:40) For full show notes and links visit: https://happynurse.com.au/?post_type=podcast&p=412 (https://happynurse.com.au/podcast/6-reconnecting-with-ourselves-through-lessons-from-animals-and-nature-with-jo-courtney/)

As a culture, we are often taught to avoid unpleasant emotions at all costs. From the time we are babies, we were taught to shut off these “negative” emotions such as sadness, anger or pain. Because of this, for many, the impulse is to find an escape from those feelings through external vices.  The more we push down, numb, or try to control our emotions, the more overwhelming it can seem to actually feel them. Being human means being able to experience a full range of emotions. Thus, part of living a full life is feeling all of our emotions, both pleasant and unpleasant. By understanding the connection between mental, physical, and emotional health, we are able to understand our body more deeply and better deal with life’s challenges along the way. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: The importance of sleep and rest for the body (04:13) How self-care equals taking yourself on a date (5:47) Inspire yourself to be the best version of yourself for yourself (7:56) Nourish your 3 Brains: Head, Heart, Gut (9:36) How to listen to your body (11:30) Allow your body to experience & accept your emotions (12:49) Release techniques for each emotion (15:24) CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Happiness is something intrinsic and can be affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. More often we think that extrinsic factors such as buying a new car or owning a big house can make us truly happy in the long run.  In the movie, The Pursuit of Happiness, Chris Gardner said “The world is your oyster. It's up to you to find the pearls.”  To be truly happy, a conscious decision needs to be made to “find the pearls” in any circumstance we have. In this episode, Michelle deRoubaix talks about how happiness really depends on us and you can be more positive through different techniques.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Being a good example to others (6:00) Advice for new graduates (8:04) Solution focussed instead of drama focussed (10:13) What makes us happy? (12:31) Is money linked to happiness? (13:54) The things that you can change (15:48) How do we flaunt the Hedonistic adaptation (17:00) Practising positive thinking (17:45) ABOUT MICHELLE DEROUBAIX A dynamic presenter and highly motivated Michelle deRoubaix offers over 40 years experience in Healthcare as a clinical nurse/educator working in both public and private hospital environments. Extensive leadership and communications experience in the healthcare industry and corporate environments as well. ​With 15 years experience educating and coaching in healthcare and corporate professionals delivering practical, positive workplace and personal solutions. ​Michelle has continued to work in a Registered Nurse capacity to keep her clinical practice current and now seeks to utilise her clinical knowledge and skills along with her coaching and leadership abilities to support nurses to recognise their capacity to change and develop the culture of nursing. CONNECT WITH MICHELLE DEROUBAIX MichelledeRoubaix.com.au Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, consistently striving hard has become the norm. A lot of the time we are too hard on ourselves because we are driven by the desire to excel at everything we do.  In this episode, Anna Bain shares her insights on the importance of self-love, self-care and how we can cultivate this in order to become the best version of ourselves and to avoid the accepted norm of pushing ourselves to the limit. Self-love often comes with the connotation of being selfish. But if self-love means taking action to fill your cup so that you can better serve others, is that really selfish?  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Non-negotiable self-care tips (4:30) “Better messy hair than a messy mind” (6:53) What does it mean to have “Indulgent Self-Care?” (09:47) Vitamin L: The fundamental nutrient of living an energetic life (10:50) Have a clear vision of your best self (16:00) The importance of a “Recharge Alarm” (19:58) Tips for unlocking energy and developing healthy habits (22.27) The definition of self-care and extreme self-love (26:10) Questions to ask yourself to gauge your current level of self-love (29:56) The importance of journaling (31:48) ABOUT ANNA BAIN An Integrative Health Coach and a workplace well-being consultant, Anna Bain empowers business leaders by sharing the message of health and wellness. Having worked in management roles with the non-profit sector for 12 years, Anna combines her health coaching skills and work experience to promote raising the energy of the workplace and creating high-vibe places to work. From her passion for healthy living, Anna founded her company, Lifestyle Rebelz. Through health and vitality coaching, Lifestyle Rebelz empowers people to find their path towards their peak energy. CONNECT WITH ANNA BAIN Lifestyle Rebelz Connect with Anna on LinkedIn and Facebook Follow Anna on Instagram and Twitter Contact Anna at [email protected] CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

With the busyness of taking care of others, how is your relationship with yourself? Are you taking good care of yourself? Or is self-care your last priority?  Steve Maraboli, author of Life, the Truth, and Being Free) said in a very powerful quote, “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” To take good care of others you must first take care of yourself.  It all starts with you, loving “you”.   In this episode, Lauren Bell talks about starting a good relationship with yourself through self-honesty, compassion and beliefs.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Self-honesty (16:31) Changing your beliefs (18:00) The benefits of tapping (18:20) Real self-expression (19:34) Benefits of releasing joy and happiness (20:38) Understanding that life is a journey, not a destination (27:13) CONNECT WITH LAUREN BELL Lauren Bell Coaching Connect with Lauren on Facebook Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Self-care is often completely overlooked by those that care for others. For those that work in high-stress environments, it’s crucial that you consciously take care of your physical, mental and emotional health.  Practising self-care leads to an improved mood, physical health, mental health and better performance. Another benefit is that it also fuels good relationships with others. One of the best ways we can improve our self-care is to connect more with nature whenever possible.   In this episode, Gerdi Verwoert shares some practical tips on stepping into nature and how doing so contributes immensely to one’s well-being.  TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: What is indulgent self-care? (5:14) Your core values (6:52) Tips on how to connect with nature (9:25) How to virtually explore nature (16:17) What you can gain by reading books about nature (17:09) Finding your “kitchen windows” (22:18)  Gerdi has a unique approach to coaching. She works with her clients to explore the quiet expanse of the mountains to help them re-focus on what life is all about.  RESOURCES SHARED IN THIS EPISODE: Cloud appreciation applications - CloudSpotter and Cloud-a-Day  Johnnie Lawson nature sounds Nature documentaries The Elephant Queen Google Earth National Parks streaming Connect With Nature to Destress CONNECT WITH GERDI VERWOERT Dare Greatly Coaching Connect with Gerdi on Facebook Connect with Gerdi on Instagram Connect with Gerdi on LinkedIn Subscribe to Gerdi’s Youtube channel CONNECT WITH ELAINA MULLERY HappyNurse.com.au Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn Subscribe to my Youtube channel For full show notes and links visit: happynurse.com.au/podcast

In this very first episode of The Happy Nurse, I share why I started this podcast and the journey that brought me to this place. Nurses are the backbone of the health system, always there to care for a stranger as if they were one of their own. Forsaking special moments with their own families to ensure that other families loved ones are being cared for. Compassion fatigue, stress, and burnout are on the rise in healthcare workers. Self care has never been so important. With over 20 years of clinical nursing experience as well as being trained in Mindfulness, Meditation, Hypnotherapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, I'm passionate about promoting effective self care strategies to my Nursing colleagues.