Episode 2: You practice self care? Good for you.

Burnout isn’t just “I’m tired.” It’s the slow slide from disappointment → resentment → stuck → hopeless. In this candid convo, Hannah and Tara unpack their own burnouts (post-mat-leave, caregiving during COVID, misaligned work, the motherhood penalty) and the skills that pulled them out: communicating your value, setting real boundaries, and practicing minimum-viable self-care that actually fits your life. Expect practical tools, not fluff—plus a little Cardi B, linear interpolation, and the reminder that you are the glass ball.

Timestamps

• 00:44 Cold open: math brain vs. words (linear interpolate, anyone?)
• 02:20 Why this topic: 90% of Hannah’s IG poll said “burnout.”
• 04:24 Tara’s story: return from mat leave, COVID, caregiving, zero control.
• 06:54 “Soul-burnout”: values misalignment & feeling unseen at work.
• 08:26 The pattern Hannah sees in clients: job-hopping without learning to communicate value.
• 11:03 Boundaries as first self-care: saying no, visibility without the ick.
• 12:56 The burnout spiral (disappointment → resentment → stuck → hopeless).
• 15:06 Self-care skepticism & reframes (no, it’s not just nails + facials).
• 19:39 Boundaries at home: calendar the “you” time; expect an adjustment period.
• 29:26 “Be the girl of your dreams”: enjoying your own company.
• 30:46 Glass vs. plastic balls: you are glass; a spotless house is plastic.
• 32:39 Outsource if you can; if not, lower the bar without the shame.
• 38:30 Minimum-viable self-care: a single intentional breath on the worst day.
• 41:22 On-desk reset: quick breathwork before a big meeting.
• 44:45 Micro-goals that survive your busiest week (behavioral activation).
• 51:00 Authentic self-care: pick what fills you, not what trends.
• 56:06 Join the Pod Squad & share your wins.
• 56:28 How to reach us + wrap.

Try it this week (5-minute game plan)

1. Name your balls: List everything on your plate. Mark GLASS (must not drop) vs PLASTIC (can bounce).
2. Draw one line: Write a single “no” you’ll use at work (e.g., “I’m at capacity—here are my current priorities.”).
3. Schedule 30–60 minutes for you (calendar it). Afterward, write three feelings you noticed.
4. Visibility rep: Send a 3-line update highlighting a win, impact, and next step.
5. On-desk reset: 60 seconds of box breathing before your next meeting.

Resources mentioned

• Glass vs. Plastic Balls prioritization analogy.
• Breathwork/meditation for quick regulation (any app or a 60-second timer works).
• Prior episode tie-in: Imposter Syndrome (on anxiety vs. healthy stretch).

Keep in touch

• DM us on Instagram: @stemwithhannah or @simplysortedstem
• Email: [e-mail]
  
  
• Share your “you-time” experiment: What did you do? How did you feel? Use #FemaleDominatedPodSquad so we can cheer you on.