How to take care of yourself when life is full on

Following on from last week’s topic of rest and recovery (which it seems a lot of you are craving too) I have an interview that I think you are going to love - all about how to take care of yourself when life is going at full speed.

My guest is Dr Jillian Bybee, MD a busy paediatric ICU physician (with a seriously hardcore schedule, dealing with life and death every day), as well as being a mother, transformational speaker, leader, and mindset coach who is dedicated to helping others live the lives they desire.

I have been a huge fan of Dr Jillian and her Substack Humans Leading ever since I came across her a few years ago. She is such a wise, warm and incredibly smart human, with so much to teach us about how to live a full on life without burning out.

And so I was delighted to finally get the chance to sit down with her and dive deep into the topic of how to take care of yourself when life is full on.

In this conversation we talk about:

• Why Jillian was drawn to the Goodbye Hello Journal as an anchor - not because her life is quiet, but because it’s full (hospital shifts, leadership, parenting, and everything in between) - and so the journal helps her return to the question ‘how can I take care of myself?’

• What it looks like to recover from burnout without giving up ambition (and without making yourself ‘selfish’)

• Grief, and the way loss can completely reorder your definition of success

• The micro-tools that make a big difference: the ‘check your pulse’ practice, five-minute resets, why ice cold water can calm your stress response, and why eating lunch with a knife and fork can be a surprisingly powerful tool to help you slow down

• How medical training encourages people to become “brains in jars”… and why Jillian is actively helping to change that culture from the inside

• Jillian’s tips on switching off after an intense day (and why she has a Spotify playlist called Songs to Cry To that her colleagues now request 😭)

I left this conversation feeling so inspired, nourished and fired up. There is so much that needs to change about the way we work - especially in the care industries - and it’s so. heartening to hear from someone who’s not just talking about it, but actively helping to shift the culture and leading by example.

If you’re someone with a lot on your plate, who wants to live a full life, without burning out, then this conversation is for you.

Put it on while you’re getting ready in the morning or cooking your dinner. And try out some of the tips that Dr Jillian shares with us. I can guarantee that they will make a difference.

And if you want to follow Dr Jillian (and I strongly recommend you do),
» you’ll find her over on her brilliant Substack publication Humans Leading
» and she’s also on Instagram at @lifeandpicu

x Selina