Work Life Intelligence Expert | Wellness Advocate | Mom of 4 l Evidence-based tools to excel at work and thrive in life 🌿

Struggling to find balance between life and work?  

Here's the secret👇🏼

... there is no secret (sorry).

But there is a way forward. 

It starts by tuning in to what works for YOU. 

Only you can discover that balance, and I’m here to guide you along the way.

I help high achievers like you create a life where work, health, and personal success coexist through a real, practical blend of:

🌿 Intentional Living
🌿 Well-Being
🌿 Personal & Professional Development

As a founder, CEO, and mom of four, I’ve faced the same struggles. 

I know the pressure, the juggle, and how hard it can be to create space for yourself amidst it all.

But I’ve also found a way to make it work - and you can too.

🌿 Ways we can work together

https://www.healthymindsetliving.com/services

🌿 Join 13k+ subscribers and get my weekly newsletter, packed with tips and strategies to help you live a mindful, healthy, and fulfilled life.

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Dr. Carolyn Frost

The smartest people I know don't optimize every minute.

They follow 7 rules that most people ignore:

The hustle culture approach to learning burns you out faster than it builds you up. 

Here's what actually works long-term...

7 self-education habits that don't require burnout 👇🏼

1) They protect thinking time as fiercely as learning time
↳ Space to process beats endless consumption.

2) They go deep on one thing at a time
↳ Depth wins. Always.

3) They unfollow accounts that trigger FOMO
↳ Comparison kills curiosity.

4) They know when they're too tired to retain anything
↳ Rest first. Learn second.

5) They implement one insight before consuming ten more
↳ Application beats accumulation ✨

6) They quit books that don't click
↳ Life's too short.

7) They take learning breaks between sprints
↳ Three weeks on, one week off keeps it sustainable.

Continuous learning doesn't mean constant productivity. 
It means staying curious without burning out ✨

What's one way you learn that works for your actual life?

--

🔖 Save this for when you need permission to learn at a sustainable pace.

♻️ Repost to help your network develop their invisible advantage

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Work-Life Intelligence Expert | Behavioral science + EQ to help you grow your career without losing yourself | Mom of 4 🌿

Your title doesn't make you a success.

How you choose to treat people does.

Years of waiting tables in NYC was my masterclass in human behavior.

The pattern was clear: 

The kind ones drew people in.
The dismissive ones sat alone, even in crowded rooms.

Real character shows when there’s nothing to gain.

These 10 everyday moves show who you really are 👇

1) You defend someone who isn't in the room 
↳ Loyalty when it doesn't benefit you shows integrity

2) You remember (and use!) the security guard's name 
↳ Acknowledgment costs nothing but means everything

3) You listen more than you talk 
↳ The most powerful people make others feel heard

4) You apologize when you're wrong 
↳ Humility builds more bridges than ego ever will

5) You share credit freely 
↳ Secure leaders lift others up, insecure ones tear them down

6) You treat interns like future CEOs 
↳ Today's assistant might be tomorrow's decision maker

7) You hold doors and elevators 
↳ Small gestures reveal big hearts

8) You ask "How can I help?" instead of "What's in it for me?" 
↳ Service mindset separates leaders from managers

9) You give your full attention during conversations 
↳ Phone down, eyes up, mind present

10) You treat your family well  
↳ How you handle your closest relationships reveals everything

Your impact isn't measured by your business card. 
It's measured by how people feel after being around you ✨

Share your life lessons below!

--

♻️ Repost to help your network build authentic influence

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Your title doesn't make you respected.

Your character does.

Respect isn't built in boardrooms or annual reviews.

It's built in the small moments most people ignore:

1) Morning Connection 
↳ Use people's names when you greet them. "Good morning, Maria" hits differently than "hey"

2) Question Upgrading 
↳ Replace "Any questions?" with "What would be most helpful for you right now?"

3) Mistake Reframing 
↳ Start feedback with "I noticed..." instead of "You always..." or "You never..."

4) Celebration Habits 
↳ Screenshot achievements and send them to the person with a note: "Saw this - well done!"

5) Energy Investment 
↳ Give people your full attention for 2 min rather than distracted time for 20

Respect isn't demanded. 
It's quietly earned, one interaction at a time ✨

Which micro-moment will you practice today?

--

♻️ Repost to help your network build authentic respect

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The fastest way to get more done? 

Learn to pause better.

Most people push through mental fatigue like it’s a badge of honor.

But your brain isn’t a machine.
It’s an energy system.

When you learn to pause before you hit the wall, you don’t lose time.

You save it ✨

In fewer mistakes, faster decisions, and clearer thinking.

Here are 30 ways to clear your mind in under 2 minutes:

🪟 Stare out a window for 90 seconds
💧 Run cold water over your wrists
🕯️ Ask, “What can wait until tomorrow?”
💻 Close your open tabs and silence notifications
📱 Move your phone out of reach for 10 minutes
🧍‍♀️ Stand and stretch side to side
😌 Drop your shoulders and unclench your jaw
🌬️ Exhale longer than you inhale (4 in, 6 out)
👣 Feel your feet on the floor
🔄 Swap “I have to” with “I get to”
🧾 Change “I should” to “I could”
🗣️ Say out loud: “Pause accepted”
✍️ Write down the 3 thoughts looping in your head
🚶 Walk to another room
🎧 Play a song you loved in high school
👃 Notice 3 things you can smell
🤚 Hold something textured - your mug, a sweater, a pen
👀 Look for one color in your surroundings
🧊 Put an ice cube on your neck
📖 Read one paragraph of something inspiring
🍵 Drink a full glass of water
☀️ Step outside for real sunlight
💨 Do 5 brisk squats or jumping jacks
🧘 Take 3 slow breaths before re-opening your inbox
💬 Text someone a genuine thank-you
🐶 Watch a funny video or pet an animal
❤️ Place your hand over your heart
🌿 Name one thing that went right today
🪞 Picture your future self saying, “You handled that beautifully”
🕰️ Do one thing slowly - just to remind your nervous system it’s safe

Every pause you take now prevents hours of fatigue later.

Which one will you try today? 

--

🔖 Save this for the next time your brain needs a rest

♻️ Repost to support your network 

🔔 Follow me Dr. Carolyn Frost for science backed tools to calm your mind and boost your success

30 Mental Resets that Save Hours Later 

You’re losing hours every week.

Here's how to take them back:

Every notification. 
Every "quick question" at 8pm. 
Every weekend email marked urgent.

They're not just interruptions. 
They're leaks.

Tiny openings where your time, energy, and presence quietly drain away.

Here’s how to seal them:

💥 12 Scripts That Reclaim Your Time and Command Respect:

1) "I'm offline after 6pm, but I'll get back to you at 9am" 
↳ Don't justify or apologize. Simple statement, clear expectations.

2) "I've blocked focus time until 2pm - happy to connect right after" 
↳ Assume agreement rather than asking permission.

3) "This needs my full attention - let's set 30 minutes tomorrow" 
↳ Position boundaries as beneficial to work quality.

4) "I don't check email on weekends - text me only if it's urgent" 
↳ Create a specific emergency channel, keep it sacred.

5) "I have a hard stop at [time] - what should we prioritize now?" 
↳ Frame it as prioritization, not avoidance.

6) "I'm stepping away for an hour and will check messages once I'm back" 
↳ Normalize breaks as part of professional behavior.

7) "That time's set aside for deep work - can we meet [day] instead?" 
↳ Empty calendar time isn't available time. Protect it.

8) "This might be better over email - happy to reply thoughtfully" 
↳ Reframe efficiency as a professional value.

9) "I'm at capacity through [day] - which task should I pause to fit this in?" 
↳ Make trade-offs visible rather than absorbing more work.

10) "I don't take calls during my commute - it's reset time" 
↳ Position boundaries as performance enhancement, not selfishness.

11) "Tonight is family time - I can jump in tomorrow" 
↳ Name what you're protecting instead of apologizing.

12) "That's outside my bandwidth - [Name] might be the right person for this" 
↳ Redirect without guilt or over-explanation.

Your boundaries aren’t walls.
They’re gates deciding what (and who) gets your energy ✨

Which script will you use to reclaim your peace today?

--

🔖 Save this post to keep your scripts close

♻️ Repost to help your network protect their time and energy

🔔 Follow Dr. Carolyn Frost for more strategies to succeed without sacrificing what matters most

Your title doesn't make you a success.

How you choose to treat others does.

It's easy to focus on status symbols, thinking credentials equal respect.

But this leads to: 
— Surface level connections 
— Missed opportunities for impact
— Success that feels empty

True impact happens in smaller moments.

Start here 👇

1) Make others feel seen 
↳ Use their name when saying thank you 
↳ Reference details they shared last time you talked

2) Create safe spaces 
↳ Speak up for absent teammates 
↳ Welcome silence in hard moments

3) Give credit freely 
↳ Tag others in wins they contributed to 
↳ Tell their manager about their hidden wins

4) Build trust daily 
↳ Turn "I'll get back to you" into "here it is" 
↳ Finish what you start, without reminders

5) Leave people better 
↳ End every interaction with encouragement 
↳ Find one specific thing to compliment daily

Your title might impress for a moment. 
How you treat others lasts forever ✨

Which small action will you start with today?

--

♻️ Repost to help your network build authentic success

🔔 Follow Dr. Carolyn Frost for more on creating impact that matters

Being easy to work with is a career accelerator.

These 10 moves put you in the top 1%:

When work gets busy, people gravitate toward the steady, reliable, low-friction person.

Not because they’re the loudest, but because they make everything smoother, clearer, and easier.

Here are 10 behaviors that instantly elevate how people experience working with you:

1️⃣ Follow up before they ask
↳ “Quick update: on track. Next check-in Thursday.”
↳ Reduces mental load for everyone and signals true reliability.

2️⃣ Set expectations clearly
↳ “To confirm - what format and timeline works best?”
↳ Clarity prevents rework, conflict, and last-minute drama.

3️⃣ Give context before you ask for help
↳ “Client call tomorrow - could you review sections 2 + 4?”
↳ Requests land faster when people understand the why.

4️⃣ Show your work (briefly)
↳ “Here’s what I did → here’s why → here’s what I recommend.”
↳ Transparency builds trust and speeds up decision-making.

5️⃣ Manage your emotional energy
↳ Ask yourself: “Is my tone adding clarity or adding tension?”
↳ Your steadiness becomes a stabilizer for everyone around you.

6️⃣ End every meeting with crystal clarity
↳ “Recap: I’ll take A. You’ll handle B. We’ll reconnect Friday.”
↳ Reduces risk and keeps momentum moving.

7️⃣ Make decisions without drama
↳ Acknowledge → decide → move.
↳ People trust calm decisiveness far more than overthinking.

8️⃣ Anticipate the next step
↳ Before hitting send: “What will they need right after this?”
↳ Saves time, removes friction, and makes you feel two steps ahead.

9️⃣ Communicate in straight lines
↳ “Just checking…” → “Checking on the status of…”
↳ Direct + warm always beats vague + polite.

🔟 Bring a steady presence
↳ Unclench your jaw. Slow your exhale. Soften your shoulders.
↳ People remember how your presence made the work feel.

These behaviors don’t just make work smoother.
They quietly increase your influence, trust, and opportunities ✨

Which of these would reduce the most friction at work for you?

--

🔖 Save this post to revisit before your next big week

♻️ Repost to help your team communicate better

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10 Behaviors That Make You Instantly Easier to Work With

Your setbacks aren’t failures.

They’re sharpening your edge.

Every hard moment you’ve been through left you with a skill you still use today.

Here’s the part most people miss 👇🏼

1️⃣ Rejection → Detachment
↳ You stop tying your worth to outcomes.

2️⃣ Uncertainty → Adaptability
↳ You learn to make decisions without perfect clarity.

3️⃣ Failure → Humility
↳ You become coachable, self-aware, and sharper.

4️⃣ Conflict → Communication
↳ You stay calm and clear under pressure.

5️⃣ Burnout → Boundaries
↳ You protect your time and energy before they’re gone.

6️⃣ Criticism → Self-Trust
↳ You stop needing approval to move forward.

7️⃣ Loss → Perspective
↳ You see what actually matters.

8️⃣ Delay → Patience
↳ You understand progress isn’t always visible.

9️⃣ Embarrassment → Resilience
↳ Once you’ve stumbled publicly, fear loses its power.

🔟 Discomfort → Courage
↳ Growth always feels awkward at the start.

Your edge wasn’t built in the easy seasons.
It was built in the ones you had to survive ✨

Which skill did a past setback give you? Share below!

--

🔖 Save this for the next time something doesn’t go your way

♻️ Repost to support someone who needs this today

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10 Setbacks That Sharpen Your Professional Edge

Burnout isn’t sudden. It’s predictable.

If you know the fracture pattern.

Most people think burnout happens overnight.
It doesn’t.

It’s a slow breakdown that hides behind productivity and “I’m fine.”

Every high performer tells the same story:
They didn’t notice the small cracks until everything finally gave way.

Here’s what those cracks actually look like - and how to catch them before you break 👇🏼

🔹 The 5 Stages of a Fracture

1️⃣ STRESS → Activated but functional
 ↳ Adrenaline high, energy sharp, recovery low.

2️⃣ STRAIN → Stretched but performing
 ↳ Sleep short, patience thin, focus slipping.

3️⃣ MICRO-FRACTURES → Tiny cracks forming
 ↳ Snapping more, forgetting more, caring less.

4️⃣ FRACTURE POINT → Small trigger, big reaction
 ↳ The straw that breaks your emotional system.

5️⃣ THE BREAK → Total shutdown
 ↳ Body stops. Mind follows. No reserves left.

Most people only notice the final stage.
They call it “burnout.”

But the break started long before the collapse.

You can’t control every demand.
But you can learn your fracture pattern.

That’s emotional intelligence in its purest form - awareness before collapse.

Which stage do you see most often in your team or workplace?

--

🔖 Save this post to revisit when life feels “too full.”

♻️ Repost to help someone spot the signs before it’s too late.

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The Hidden Burnout Pattern that Quietly Kills Performance

If you’re doing everything right and still exhausted…

Your burnout won’t fix itself. Start here 👇🏼

You’re not tired because you’re “not trying hard enough.”

You’re tired because your system has been running past empty for too long with no real recovery built in.

If rest isn’t helping anymore, these are the moves that actually work:

1️⃣ Name what you’re feeling without judgment
↳ Clarity reduces mental load. “I’m overwhelmed” hits different than “I’m failing.”

2️⃣ Identify what drained you, not just what stressed you
↳ Burnout comes from work that takes more than it gives back. Spot the leaks.

3️⃣ Set boundaries with yourself first
↳ Stop auto-yes’ing. Overcommitting is the fastest path to collapse.

4️⃣ Build micro-recoveries into your day
↳ Five minutes between meetings. Lunch away from your desk. A cutoff time that’s real.

5️⃣ Reconnect with something you actually enjoy
↳ Joy is fuel. 10 minutes is enough to shift your whole state.

6️⃣ Get honest about what needs to change
↳ If the environment stays the same, your burnout will too.

7️⃣ Ask for support without apologizing
↳ “I need help” is a complete sentence. Recovery is faster when you don’t do it alone.

Exhaustion isn’t a personality trait.
It’s a signal something has to shift ✨

What’s one change you’re making this week?

--

♻️ Repost to help someone who’s running on empty

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7 Emotionally Intelligent Ways to Recover From Burnout

Healing from burnout looks boring.

That’s how you know it’s working.

It’s not about new routines, retreats, or reinventing yourself.

It’s about safety, consistency, and small signals that tell yourself: you’re okay now.

The most powerful rebuilds happen quietly.

Here are 10 tiny habits that bring your energy back 👇

1️⃣ Morning sunlight before screens
↳ Even 2 minutes tells your body, “You’re safe. It’s a new day.”

2️⃣ Drink water before caffeine
↳ Rehydrates and lowers your morning cortisol spike.

3️⃣ Eat lunch away from your desk
↳ Real breaks rewire focus faster than any productivity hack.

4️⃣ Say no once per day
↳ Boundary reps rebuild self-trust and protect future energy.

5️⃣ Move daily - but gently
↳ Walk, stretch, breathe - motion without punishment.

6️⃣ One phone-free meal
↳ Forces presence. Presence restores connection, even alone.

7️⃣ Go outside every afternoon
↳ Light resets your energy dip better than coffee ever could.

8️⃣ Write down one good thing
↳ Burnout dulls reward circuits - gratitude turns them back on.

9️⃣ End work before you’re empty
↳ Quit while you still have energy for life, not just work.

🔟 Go to bed tired, not wired
↳ Dim lights 30 minutes early. It’s a signal, not a chore.

Recovery isn’t glamorous.
It’s a thousand small promises kept to yourself ✨

What’s your go-to reset when you feel drained?

--


🔖 Save this post to rebuild your energy one small act at a time.

♻️ Repost to help your network feel hopeful again.

🔔 Follow me Dr. Carolyn Frost for practical tools on stress, energy, and modern wellbeing.

10 Tiny Habits That Give you Back the Energy Burnout Took

The perfect moment to reset isn't January 1st. 

It's in a tiny shift you make today.

You don't need massive changes to transform your life. 

Sometimes the smallest shifts create the biggest ripples.

17 life-changing micro-moves 👇🏼

1. Leave the radio in the 'off' position in the car 
↳ Silence is powerful, choose it when you can.

2. Sometimes things have to get messy before they get clean 
↳ Applies to closets, relationships, and life.

3. Stop relying on external things to tell you how you feel 
↳ Ask yourself directly, no need for external validation.

4. Your kids have so much to teach you 
↳ Be open, the lessons are in every interaction.

5. Three sentences to start your day 
↳ I will focus on, I am grateful for, I will let go of.

6. "It's not your job to like me, it's mine" ✨
↳ Byron Katie's wisdom, self-acceptance is an ongoing journey.

7. A daily journaling practice is an awareness super-builder 
↳ Start with 3 things you're grateful for + 3 goals for the day.

8. A walk outside (with your dog!) cures most things 
↳ It helps with feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and disconnected.

9. The power of a reframe 
↳ "Just because I think it doesn't mean it's true." 

10. You don't practice yoga, meditation, breathwork to be good at them 
↳ You practice so those skills are there when you need them most.

11. Doorway Affirmation 
↳ Create one for your office, your house, or a party.

12. Time management isn't a thing 
↳ First, connect with yourself, only then can you connect with others.

13. You must connect in before you can authentically connect out 
↳ Know yourself - genuine connection with others starts there.

14. Move to feel good in your body, not to change it 
↳ Shift your mindset—exercise becomes rewarding, not a chore.

15. The Power of a Nudge 
↳ Design your environment to make good habits easy and bad ones hard.

16. The power of a single deep breath 
↳ Pause and create space to respond thoughtfully, not reactively.

17. The Shared Heart: A fav Pema Chodron practice ✨
↳ In a minute, magnify the good and soften the bad.

Simple shifts create profound change. 
Your transformation is closer than you think ✨

Which of these shifts resonates most deeply with you?

--

♻️ Repost to help your network discover the power of small changes 

🔔 Follow me Dr. Carolyn Frost for more simple strategies for a happy life

17 Simple Life Lessons to Change Your Life

Dr. DPF Consulting

Keynotes & Coaching: Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Career Transitions

University of Michigan Health System

Certified Executive Coach and Master Coach
Experienced teacher of Coaching, Leadership
Wellness, Resilience, EI, & Humor

Executive Coach

University of Michigan

Clinical, teaching, and research. Now retired from radiology.

Professor of Radiology

Retired at 55 -- to spread Joy! | Well-being, Burnout & EI Expert | Keynotes & Coaching | HBR, JAMA & Psych Today Contributor | Faculty Associate Ross Business School | Book coming in 2024!...

Hi -- I'm David -- great to meet You!

I blend the science of well-being with emotional intelligence to help you feel more energized  and have even more success.

My journey: I stopped practicing medicine to help PREVENT illness and burnout. I speak internationally, coach doctors & leaders, and publish on wellness, EI, & resiliency. I became a coach after working with a great one, so I know from personal experience how helpful it can be. While it's usually not a quick process, I expect you'll notice at least a bit more energy & ease soon after we start. 

I'm a Faculty Associate at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business & a former professor of Radiology at the University of Michigan. I have a bachelor's from Harvard and an M.D. from the University of Michigan. I'm also a graduate of the Second City Improv Conservatory & a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. 

For more about my coaching & keynotes, & for links to my published HBR, JAMA, & Psychology Today articles, see my website:  https://www.davidfessell.com. 

My 1st book was published in Sept. 2024, available on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Create-Happiness-Every-Day/dp/B0DFVNLN79/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PNNLSL6LPCVK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SvSXxdjiBfYJEcb5mbgvwA.wBSNoHIztCSjSu36KUI175bFpdYEYj2SdnaaRnj77d0&dib_tag=se&keywords=david+fessell+book&qid=1730210124&sprefix=fessell%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1

Wishing you peace, health, & happiness in abundance!

David Fessell, MD

Kindness Is Not Forgotten!…

These puppies remember their first experience with kindness. It came from this kind soul who delivered them into this world…

And isn’t it great to see their gratitude -- & happy tails! -- in action? 

We remember the smallest forms of kindness,
And often they have an outsized impact, lifting us when we need it, inspiring us, & encouraging us.

Let’s share some kindness today, with a warm smile, a genuine compliment, a helping hand, or a listening ear.

For it might just be what someone needs today. 

👉 And thanks for all the ways YOU share KINDNESS!

📌 Repost to share kindness & inspiration with your network
Video credit: @PUBITY

Emotional Intelligence, Leadership & Creativity -- Strategies for success & thriving! International speaker. Coach & author. Kindness advocate. Published in HBR, JAMA, Psych Today. Faculty Associate Ross Business School.

Kindness is Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Life!...

Long after the fact, this chimp didn’t forget...
When he spotted the man who showed him kindness, 
He remembered him with a hug!

That’s the thing about kindness:
It sticks in our hearts – we feel it long after the moment has passed.

And often EI & kindness ripple, traveling farther than we’ll ever know.

Cultivating Emotional Intelligence helps us in many ways:
 ➡️ We see a need others might miss
 ➡️ We know when and how to offer with empathy & compassion
 ➡️ We take action that helps heal & brings hope

The ROI of EI & kindness?
Trust. Connection. And Loyalty.

One small act today could be someone’s lasting for tomorrow & beyond.

Yes, AI is powerful and useful in many ways, 
But I believe we’ll always need human kindness & EI.

📌 What ripples of kindness might we start today?...

♻️ Consider reposting to share kindness & inspiration!
      Video credit: @PAPAYE.INTERNATIONAL

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