18. Clawing My Way Out of Grief: When Meditation Doesn’t Help Anxiety, Balance-Based Movement Helps You Stay Sane

21. THAT’S WHAT I’M F***ING TALKING ABOUT: Permission for High Achievers to FAFO. Alyssa Liu, Burnout & The Art of Having Fun

Hiii. After getting sick (again), navigating even more grief, and being forced to slow tf down, I had a lot of time to bed rot and binge watch the Olympics. And in case you have no idea, Olympic figure skater Alyssa Liu is America’s new favorite person.  Her story embodies everything I’ve been trying to say on this podcast:  You can be disciplined and driven without attaching your identity to achievement.  And the key to doing so well is actually having fun in the process and seeing what happens :) If you’re a perfectionist, an academic, a healthcare worker, a founder, or just someone who has big work to do on this planet, this one’s for you. Episode Highlights * lllness, grief, and overcompensating when you should slow down * Alyssa Liu’s “chill but driven” energy and story * Burnout with no autonomy and no fun * How making things fun and dropping the need for a certain outcome helped me pass my board exams (and do several other things) stress-free * Autonomy, joy, and flow state * Introducing the accountability + creative flow co-working community I’m building ✨⁠ [https://substack.com/@chillbutdriven?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page] Your Accountability for This Week: go do one thing that actually makes you happy (that has nothing to do with your work) and that you haven’t done in over a month…and go do it. ⁠✨ [https://substack.com/@chillbutdriven?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page] ✨ [https://substack.com/@chillbutdriven?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page] Join the Chill But Driven Co-Working Community Waitlist [http://subscribepage.io/9mGiQN] ✨ [https://substack.com/@chillbutdriven?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page] ✨ Come Join Me On Substack Here ✨ [https://substack.com/@chillbutdriven?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page] (it is so much better than the other online places) Email: sara@sarashum.com If this episode resonated with you, it would mean so much if you rated, reviewed, and shared it with a friend who’s ready to feel calm and energized again. Cheers to being happy, healthy, being good people, and doing great and amazing things! xx Sara

20. This Brand Was Feeling Yucky…So I’m Building Something More Aligned for Us High Achievers to Stay Chill But Driven

Death to busy work and misalignment. I’m making some changes here. Unsubscribe if you like. I’m bringing Chill But Driven back to its roots. It has drifted away from my original intention.  If you’re a high-achieving, smart, slightly-overloaded person building something meaningful (a business, a PhD, a creative life), this episode is for you.  Join me in stopping doing things just to feel productive. This is about blending productivity, art, nervous system regulation, and intuition. Let’s build our missions without losing ourselves (or feeling like sellouts) in the process.  Episode Highlights * Why I’m shifting the brand back to its original vision * Losing alignment in business (shiny object syndrome + over-optimizing for SEO) * My real mission: a space for high-achievers to create, play, and focus on the right work * Why creativity and movement unlock clarity (and clients) * Introducing my Substack + creative accountability and co-working community ✨ Come Join Me On Substack Here ✨ [https://substack.com/@chillbutdriven?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page] (it is so much better than the other online places) ✨  Work with Me ✨ ⁠Book a Free Consultation⁠ [https://form.typeform.com/to/S2n2nVFB] Instagram:⁠ ⁠@ChillButDriven⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/chillbutdriven] TikTok:⁠ ⁠@ChillButDriven⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@chillbutdriven] Email: sara@sarashum.com If this episode resonated with you, it would mean so much if you rated, reviewed, and shared it with a friend who’s ready to feel calm and energized again. Cheers to being happy, healthy, being good people, and doing great and amazing things! xx Sara

19. So, You’re Doing All the Things but Still Stuck and Burnt Out: High-Achieving Good Girls, Please Do This Before You Drown in Your To-Do List

Life happened and you’re not where you want to be right now.  That is okay! But maybe it’s also a perfect time to pause for reflection, instead of just continuing to check off random sh*t on your to-do list for the sake of looking busy.  If you’ve been chasing a goal that logically makes sense but your body feels heavy, tense, or resistant, you might just have  an alignment issue. Sound like you? This episode will guide you through how to ask for alignment in your next steps in whatever goal you are pursuing :)  Episode Highlights * Why burnout in high achievers is often an alignment issue, not a work ethic problem * How grief, stress, and big life events can force perspective shifts * What it means when pushing harder stops producing results * Giving yourself permission to pause without being guilty or feeling lazy * The exact daily intention I use for clarity and guidance * How to tell if something feels heavy because of fear or because it’s truly not aligned Other episode mentioned: The Exact Way to Ask the Universe for A Sign When You Are Feeling Lost [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/12-dear-god-or-universe-is-this-dumb-or-aligned-how/id1838334948?i=1000738716112] ✨  Work with Me ✨ ⁠Book a Free Consultation⁠ [https://form.typeform.com/to/S2n2nVFB] Instagram:⁠ ⁠@ChillButDriven⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/chillbutdriven] TikTok:⁠ ⁠@ChillButDriven⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@chillbutdriven] Email: sara@sarashum.com If this episode resonated with you, it would mean so much if you rated, reviewed, and shared it with a friend who’s ready to feel calm and energized again. And if you’re ready to go from burnt out to chilled out,⁠ book a free consultation. ⁠ [https://form.typeform.com/to/S2n2nVFB]I'd love to help you build a chaos-proof health system that fits your real life and brings you joy, levity, and energy. Cheers to being happy, healthy, being good people, and doing great and amazing things! 💫Sara

18. Clawing My Way Out of Grief: When Meditation Doesn’t Help Anxiety, Balance-Based Movement Helps You Stay Sane

My biggest ick is when someone says, “Have you tried meditation?” but you're deep in the depths of navigating a sh*t storm. When you’re in acute grief or deep burnout, silence can make all the pain even louder. After losing someone I loved like a brother, I can’t journal, sit still, or “be present” without my anxiety and sadness spiraling.  So instead of forcing myself into practices that aren’t supportive, I leaned into the one thing that actually helped me stay sane: balance-based movement.  In this episode, I talk about why meditation can backfire during grief, why numbing out is necessary (and okay), and how challenging your balance gives your nervous system a job when your thoughts won’t slow down. This episode is for burnt-out high achievers navigating grief, loss, or major life disruption… especially if you’ve been feeling guilty for not doing the things you’re “supposed to”.  Episode Highlights * Why meditation can make anxiety worse * Permission to numb tf out and ways to do it * Why dropping routines doesn’t mean you’re failing * Balance-based movement for anxiety * The nervous system science behind balance and grounding * Simple balance-based activities you can try (bonus if it’s hard to learn)  Other episode mentioned: The Zero Hour - How to Instantly Become a Morning Person [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/4-the-zero-hour-how-to-instantly-become-a/id1838334948?i=1000730896021]  ✨  Work with Me ✨ ⁠Book a Free Consultation⁠ [https://form.typeform.com/to/S2n2nVFB] Instagram:⁠ ⁠@ChillButDriven⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/chillbutdriven] TikTok:⁠ ⁠@ChillButDriven⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@chillbutdriven] Email: sara@sarashum.com If this episode resonated with you, it would mean so much if you rated, reviewed, and shared it with a friend who’s ready to feel calm and energized again. And if you’re ready to go from burnt out to chilled out,⁠ book a free consultation. ⁠ [https://form.typeform.com/to/S2n2nVFB]I'd love to help you build a chaos-proof health system that fits your real life and brings you joy, levity, and energy. Cheers to being happy, healthy, being good people, and doing great and amazing things! 💫Sara

17. Dry January & the Sober Curious Movement with Sobriety Coach Casey McGuire Davidson — Is Alcohol Making Your Burnout Worse?

⟡ Personal Note: This episode was recorded just before a heartbreaking loss in my family. I’m releasing it with minimal edits, trusting that the conversation will still bring value to those who need it. Thank you for your love and understanding. ⟡ Today I’m joined by Casey McGuire Davidson, a Life & Sobriety Coach and host of the top 100 mental health show The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women. She’s an ex–red wine girl who spent 20 years climbing the corporate ladder before quitting drinking a decade ago, and her work has been featured on Good Morning America, NPR, HuffPost, The New York Times, and NBC News. Together we dig into Dry January, the real impact alcohol has on stress and burnout, why you don’t need to hit rock bottom to rethink your drinking habits, and some truly wild insights into the alcohol industry. It’s honest, educational, AND fun.  We wrap it up with a lightning round full of wellness rituals, productivity hacks, and cozy favorites. ❄️ What’s in this Episode ❄️ ✨A heartfelt update on grief, loss, and choosing “done over perfect.” ✨Introducing Casey: life coach, sober-curious advocate, and host of Hello Someday. ✨Quick-fire warm-ups: spicy hockey romances, comfort shows, and current obsessions. ✨Why high-achieving women often overdrink + alcohol’s impact on stress and burnout. ✨The rise of sober curiosity + how Gen Z is changing everything. ✨Big Alcohol lobbying, debunking “drink responsibly,” and the real science. ✨Why a 100-day break is life-changing — and how to approach it with curiosity. ✨Casey’s Sober New Year 100 program + the power of community support. ✨Lightning round: movement, mocktails, blankets, habits, and grounding rituals. ❄️ Casey’s Links❄️ Hello Someday Coaching: https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/ [https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/] Free 30-Day Sober Guide: https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/30-day-sober-guide/ [https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/30-day-sober-guide/] The Sobriety Starter Kit Course: https://www.thesobrietystarterkit.com/ [https://www.thesobrietystarterkit.com/] The Hello Someday Podcast: https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/podcast/ [https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/podcast/] Follow Casey @hellosomedaysober: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok ✨  Work with Me (Sara Shum) ✨ ⁠Book a Free Consultation⁠ [https://form.typeform.com/to/S2n2nVFB] Instagram:⁠ ⁠@ChillButDriven⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/chillbutdriven] TikTok:⁠ ⁠@ChillButDriven⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@chillbutdriven] Email: sara@sarashum.com If this episode resonated with you, it would mean so much if you rated, reviewed, and shared it with a friend who’s ready to feel calm and energized again. And if you’re ready to go from burnt out to chilled out,⁠ book a free consultation. ⁠ [https://form.typeform.com/to/S2n2nVFB]I'd love to help you build a chaos-proof health system that fits your real life and brings you joy, levity, and energy. Cheers to being happy, healthy, being good people, and doing great and amazing things! 💫Sara