7 Personal Development Podcasts To Inspire, Motivate & Transform Your Life

Personal development is one of my favorite topics. Give me a space where I can work on Improving myself and that’s where I’ll be - whether it’s via a great book, podcast or course.

There are so many amazing inspirational and motivational podcasts out there. I’ve been listening to podcasts for years, and have listened to more than I can possibly count! Over the years, I’ve definitely found some that stood out more than others. I love reading books as well but unlike books, podcasts are extremely convenient. I listen while at the gym, getting dressed, driving to work, going for a walk or even during cooking. I love the idea that In just about 20-30 minutes per day I can listen to a podcast that can transform your life.

Here are my favorite personal development podcasts :

1. Design Your Dream Life - hosted by Natalie Bacon - a former lawyer and financial planner turned life coach who has been able to make a living teaching and helping high-achieving women reach their goals. In the Design Your Dream Life podcast, Natalie shares lessons on how to master your mindset, make more money, accomplish goals, and build a business.

2. Goal Digger - with host Jenna Kutcher, is one of the most popular personal development podcasts and for a good reason. Jenna shares the strategies she uses to become a self-made millionaire. She speaks on all things productivity, social media, business strategies, and hacks that will help you create your dream career.

3. Do It Scared - with host Ruth Soukup is created to help listeners face fears, overcome adversity, and create a life you LOVE. Each week she provides actionable strategies for greater productivity, motivation, entrepreneurship, creativity, fulfillment, success, and happiness, along with the motivation and encouragement to actually start making real changes that lead to big results.

4. Hey, Girl - Alex is probably one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram. I’ve been following her for years and love her mantras, affirmations and how transparent she is. She created the podcast with sisterhood and storytelling in mind. Alex sits down with people who inspire her. She unites the voices of phenomenal women near and far.

5. The Happiness Lab - This podcast is hosted by Yale Professor Dr. Laurie Santos and is based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale. Dr. Laurie will take you through latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness. You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Dr. Laurie has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better.

I discovered the podcast after taking her course, The Science Of Well Being on Coursera. Visit the Resource Page and sign up with Coursera to take courses like this and many more from other Ivy League Institutions. It’s Free!

6. The Life Coach School - Hosted by Brooke Castillo is a go-to resource in the self development department. The podcast is about solving any problem you have in your life. Topics include how to take more action, how to set goals, how to love more, how to beat procrastination, how to feel better, how to manage your time, etc. Each episode is typically 25-40 minutes.

7. The Tony Robbins Podcast - Tony Robbins is without a doubt of the biggest names in the personal development space, and his motivational podcast is a hub where he shares all of that amazing knowledge. Tony shares proven strategies and tactics for achieving massive results in your business, relationships, health, and finances.

What’s your favorite personal development podcast? Drop them in the comments.

Keeping Our Well-Being In Check

Exhausted. That’s the word that came to mind as I sat to write this blog post. It’s been a little over a month since we’ve been ordered to either quarantine or practice social distancing.

When the shut down first happened I was energized - doing all the things I normally wouldn’t have time to do, I was very productive. I also had a more optimistic and positive outlook. I deeply believed through cooperation and discipline we would identify a solution and develop a level headed plan of action since “we’re all in this together.” The last couple days have been disappointing, disheartening and just sad - Here are a few things we have witnessed the past few weeks 1)protests against the stay at home order 2)hatred towards health care professionals sacrificing their lives for the greater good 3)colleagues in my profession caring more about lining their pockets than the health and safety of their fellow citizens 4)destruction of many small businesses(slowly watching as they lose all they have worked for) 5) For some having to deal with the loss of a relative or friend from the virus. The never ending barrage of inconsistent news information creates moments of optimism and despair.

It’s been tiring. But every dark cloud has a silver lining. This entire process has driven me inward toward my true self. The roller coaster of emotions created a need for release which led me to journaling more. When I needed a pick me up I made playlists and had all out jam sessions, I read more and listened to books that were positive and uplifting and began incorporating effective ways to cope with stress. This period also gave rise to the wellness section of this blog - which I have been meaning to add but never seemed to find time to introduce.

Wellness is more than being free of illness. It’s being in total balance with your outer and inner world. This matters because everything we do and every emotion we feel relates to our well-being. In turn, our well-being directly affects our actions and emotions. Therefore, it is important for us to achieve optimal wellness in order to alleviate stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.

Here Are The Eight Dimensions of Wellness:

• Emotional - Understanding our feelings and coping with stress.

• Financial - The process of learning how to successfully manage finances, as money (or lack thereof) plays a critical role in anxiety, stress and the ability for us to care for ourselves.

• Environmental - Inspires a lifestyle that is respectful to our surroundings and promotes interaction with nature on a personal level.

• Intellectual -  Involves open mindedness and the continuation to expand our knowledge. It encourages active participation in scholastic, cultural and community activities.

• Physical - Maintaining a healthy body through eating well, resting and exercise.

• Occupational - Is about enjoying occupational endeavors and encourages satisfaction and enrichment in one’s life through work.

• Spiritual - Allows us to develop values that help us seek meaning and purpose.

• Social - Encourages networking with peers and cultivating relationships (both intimate and platonic).

It’s no wonder most of us are out of balance, the inability to work either by quarantining or the loss of a job can affect our occupational, intellectual and even social wellness. The suspension of work creates a change in our financial wellness which causes stress and in turn affects our emotional wellness. The addition of lives being lost can also have us question our beliefs and negatively impact our spiritual wellness.

By now we have seen a myriad of guides, tips and how-to’s for getting through this quarantine period. While our occupational wellness might be off kilter there are still several ways we can maintain some semblance of balance. When I published the blog posts titled Guide to Social Distancing & Quarantine ,Coping with Stress and Balancing Productivity and Self Care, I made sure to tout practical ways to keep our health and well-being in check - such as keeping a routine, taking online courses, journaling and exercising. These all feed different aspects or dimensions of our well being that shouldn’t be ignored.

I truly hope all of you, my readers, are doing well during these tough times. Stay encouraged and find solace in knowing that we really are in this together - although it may look different for us all. We will all come out on the other side, and in some ways better than before. For words of love or encouragement,feel free to reach out below in the comments, on IG or via email.

Balancing Productivity and Self Care During Quarantine

As we continue to quarantine/practice social distancing and adjust to the new normal of being at home I aim to be as productive as possible. With all this newfound “free time” and not being able to work as an Orthodontist, it seemed like an appropriate time to occupy my days with things that under normal circumstances I wouldn’t have time for. Most of my time has been spent blogging, working on things behind the scenes of this platform, and taking courses on Coursera and Skillshare on a variety of topics ranging from epidemiology, entrepreneurship, and digital marketing/branding. I have also been catching up on continuing education classes, joining zoom conference meetings, working tirelessly in the candle shop (which surprisingly has gotten a lot busier since the shut down), updating (and engaging) on my social media platforms and helping to home school my niece. It has all been tiring and I found myself drained this week.

I shared this on my Candle Company’s Instagram yesterday because this is how I felt. I needed to check in with myself.

UnOrthoDoc Candle Co. Instagram

It’s easy to separate your work life from your home life. But finding and maintaining a balance between the two can get difficult. With the COVID-19 outbreak, a lot of us are working from home - which means the line between work and home has been blurred. A healthy work-life balance is important to address any stress or anxiety you may have.

I am not a parent but with the experience I have with home schooling my niece, I feel for the parents who have to balance working from home and educating their kid(s). Shortly after making my niece breakfast and getting her settled in to start her school work, my first zoom meeting began but she still required quite a bit of help. I found myself multitasking - helping her with school while trying to pay attention in my meeting. During this time her teacher called (as she does everyday) to recap the morning lesson for the day. The first zoom meeting ended and another one started just as we were scheduled to begin her science session. After my meetings, I fulfilled about a dozen orders from my candle company, ran the packages to the post office, returned home and made lunch(whew!). I was so exhausted afterwards that I ended up taking a 2 hour nap.

While it may seem counterintuitive, taking breaks while working can increase productivity and creativity. It allows your mind to refresh itself after the stress and exhaustion of being “on” for hours. Similarly, taking time away from your desk can shape you into a more well-rounded professional.

With everything going on because of the coronavirus crisis – working from home, finding new routines, and a staying up to date with all that is happening – it’s difficult not to feel overwhelmed. But that doesn’t mean we can’t handle it. Think of this as an opportunity to take control of your stress. While it may impact us all differently, it is important to manage and reduce stress to live a happier and healthier life. Stress is not limited to work, school or family. It is all-encompassing and can be both positive and negative. The best thing to do is to identify the stressors in your life and address them.

I shared this on my Instagram yesterday. At the end of the day, I was happy to have completed my tasks ,even if they weren’t done to perfection.

The UnOrthoDoc's Instagram

While accuracy and precision are crucial, perfection cannot be an expectation.  Mistakes can happen and should not be something you dwell on. Instead, you should take those situations and turn them into lessons.

Today I am finding balance. I am still being productive but also keeping stress at a minimum.

These are the ways I am balancing Productivity + Self-Care:

• I am taking classes on Skillshare - This is an online community of educational tools to spark creativity. Learn new skills like photography, digital marketing, calligraphy, etc. You will get your first 2 months free by using this link. Use your computer or download the app to your phone.

• I am taking courses on Coursera - This is an online learning platform where you can build skills by learning from Top Universities including Yale, Harvard, Michigan, UPenn, etc. Sign up using this link. Access courses using your computer or download the app.

• I like to cuddle up and relax with a great book. I am currently reading two books, The Upside of Being Down, which seems to be quite fitting for the current atmosphere, and Jessica Simpson’s Open Book which is surprisingly very good!

• Taking naps - I am listening to my body and shutting it down when I feel it’s time to take a break. Besides, taking naps increases energy, helps you to be more productive and can fuel creativity.

• I don’t always make it outside for a run but I try to stay active with the FitOn app. Some days I do hard core cardio and HITT and other days I take it easy and only manage to do a yoga session.

• Affirmations and quotes get me through tough times. I am a big fan of Lalah Delia and currently reading her book and using affirmation cards from Starlight + Love.

• Warm bubble baths and candles - At least once or twice per week, I draw a warm bath, light a candle and relax. Candle light elicits calm is soothing and has the ability to help in reducing stress (depending on the fragrance). The warm bath helps muscles to relax and stimulates blood flow.

• While it may seem that there is no point in planning, I know there is a light at the end of this tunnel and so I continue to plan. I also keep myself organized by planning my daily activities: blogging, scheduling posts, meeting and conference calls.

In the spirit of transparency: This post may contain affiliate links.

Constant and Never Ending Improvement

“It’s gonna be a whole lot of ‘who she think she is?’ in 2020!”

— Quote from Instagram

Improving your life usually begins with one big gesture that creates branches of change. Those branches must be constantly tended and nurtured. Its typically those small things which cause the lasting change.

As 2019 comes to a close, let’s reflect on all the goals we set earlier in the year. First, give yourself a pat on the back for all your accomplishments and personal development, but also remember to evaluate areas where you fell short. Self work must be consistent to create the awareness and knowledge to make our lives better.

I have personally accomplished some of my goals this year, but I have areas that I will be working to improve . Here are some of the things I am working on and some ideas help you continue to grow:

1. Level Up Your Skills

   • Gain experience to improve your skill set. If you play a sport, strive to be a bit stronger or faster. If you write, you can aim to improve your communication and writing skills, and if you’re a medical professional like myself you can aim to gain more knowledge on certain topics, attend continuing education courses or learn from those with more experience.

2. Read a book

   • A personal goal of mine has been to read at least one book per month, which I have managed to do this past year. Books are a concentrated source of wisdom. The more you read, the more you expose yourself to knowledge. Did you know that 20 minutes of daily reading has been linked to brain stimulation and stress reduction? Knowledge is power.

3. Get out of Your Comfort Zone

   • You know the saying, smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. Real growth comes with hard work and effort. Being comfortable doesn’t help us grow. Once in a while,do something that scares you. Exposing yourself to a new environment or context makes you grow.

4. Have an Exercise Routine

   • I don’t have to go through the many benefits of exercise. Not only does it help with the prevention of disease, reduction of the levels of stress and anxiety but getting a routine takes discipline. It also increases your self-esteem and confidence.

5. Set BIG Goals

   • It’s always good to have something to aim for and I love the energy a new year brings. We get motivated, passionate and ready to blaze a trail. Setting big goals raises the level of game you play and develops creativity. You know the saying, aim for the moon, if you miss you will land among the stars.

6. Learn from People Who Inspire You

   • Think about people you admire or people who inspire you. These people reflect certain qualities you want to have for yourself. What are the qualities in them you want to have for yourself? How can you acquire these qualities? If possible, reach out and see if they can become a mentor to you.

7. Learn Public Speaking

   • Interestingly, public speaking is the #1 fear in the world. I am not very comfortable speaking to large audiences and realize this is something I have to work to improve upon. I am considering Toastmasters. Toastmasters is an international organization that trains people in public speaking.

8. Stop Complaining

   • Sometimes you need to vent to let off steam, but complaining for complaining’s sake is counter-productive and can make you feel angry or upset in the process. If you have something to gripe about, follow it up with a constructive solution that will serve to minimise future complaining.

9. Cultivate a New Habit

   • It’s not very easy to develop a new habit. On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. And how long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances. What new habits do you need to cultivate? Studies have shown the easiest habits to develop include reading books, waking up early and exercising.

10. Start a Business Venture

    • Is there anything you have an interest in? A hobby that you’re passionate about?Why not turn it into a business venture and make money while learning at the same time? Starting a venture requires you to learn business management skills, develop business acumen and gives one a competitive edge.

As 2020 approaches, think about the areas you need to work on and get a head start on them now. Onwards and upwards.