Self-Care: Why It Matters When Hearts Are Heavy

Give To Gain: Honoring Women on International Women’s Day

In this PsycHope tradition, Dr. Jennifer McManus honors International Women’s Day 2026 through the theme, Give to Gain. This episode reflects on the meaning of International Women’s Day, women’s mental health, and gender equality, while shining a light not only on public women whose achievements are widely recognized, but also on the quieter, more delicate accomplishments of women that may never make headlines. The episode then explores the Give to Gain theme through a PsycHope lens, emphasizing that giving is not only about fundraising for women’s causes, but also about support, advocacy, education, visibility, encouragement, and care. Dr. McManus brings this theme into everyday emotional wellness by reflecting on what women gain when they give themselves stress relief, self-care, and self-compassion. She also connects the conversation to workplace inequality, microaggressions, women’s emotional well-being, and the 2026 Equal Pay Day statistic. As part of this PsycHope International Women’s Day tradition, the episode closes with poetry, featuring the collective poem “When We Give to Gain” by Sharena Lee Satti and members of her poetry community (or listen to the poets recite it here: IWD video [https://youtu.be/Yps1q_V0UUs?si=C7MgFNEA1qFWqWDg]). Please note: A brief mention of abusive relationships is included in this episode. Self-Help Resources Head to psychope.com [https://www.psychope.com/] for all of our complimentary self-care and stress relief resources like insight quizzes, worksheets, workbooks, and more. You can also find self-help resources like mindfulness meditations and other stress relief videos on the PsycHope YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Psyc_Hope]. Your Path Through Work Stress Quiz Ready to find your best path through work stress? You can find the quiz right here: Take the Quiz [https://www.psychope.com/yourpath]. Your feedback is welcome! Feel free to reach out to the show: email: hi@psychope.com Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/psyc_hope/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087645035228] Disclaimer The information shared on the PsycHope Self-Help podcast does not constitute professional help nor is it a substitute for professional help. If you think you might benefit from more than self-help, here are some helpful resources: Find a therapist: * Psychology Today [https://www.psychologytoday.com/]: directory for locating a psychotherapist. Mental health crisis resources: * Crisis text line: text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor for any emotional crisis

Self-Care: Why It Matters When Hearts Are Heavy

When hearts are heavy and the hard updates never seem to stop, self-care can start to feel optional, or even selfish. In this episode, we explore why self-care is a basic human requirement, especially now, and how it protects your peace and capacity to live in alignment with your values. We also share a handful of micro self-care practices you can try right away, including things like news consumption boundaries and bloomscrolling. Dr. Jennifer McManus winds down the episode with a couple of announcements on what’s coming next at PsycHope. For more support, visit Psychope.com [https://www.psychope.com/] for self-care and stress relief resources. Self-Help Resources Head to psychope.com [https://www.psychope.com/] for all of our complimentary self-care and stress relief resources like insight quizzes, worksheets, workbooks, and more. You can also find self-help resources like mindfulness meditations and other stress relief videos on the PsycHope YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Psyc_Hope]. Your Path Through Work Stress Quiz Ready to find your best path through work stress? You can find the quiz right here: Take the Quiz [https://www.psychope.com/yourpath]. Your feedback is welcome! Feel free to reach out to the show: email: hi@psychope.com Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/psyc_hope/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087645035228] Disclaimer The information shared on the PsycHope Self-Help podcast does not constitute professional help nor is it a substitute for professional help. If you think you might benefit from more than self-help, here are some helpful resources: Find a therapist: * Psychology Today [https://www.psychologytoday.com/]: directory for locating a psychotherapist. Mental health crisis resources: * Crisis text line: text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor for any emotional crisis

Guiding Stars for the New Year: Values Based Resolutions

Happy New Year, and welcome back to a PsycHope tradition! In this episode, Dr. Jennifer McManus shares a values guided approach to New Year’s resolutions, created for anyone who loves the fresh start energy of a new year, but often struggles to get started, or anyone who wants a more meaningful way to set personal goals any time of year. You will learn what values are, why they matter from a psychology perspective, and how values-based resolutions can reduce overwhelm and help you choose goals that feel doable and deeply meaningful. You will also be guided through a simple reflection and journaling practice, so you can identify your Guiding Star value for the new year and translate it into an actionable resolution. Be sure to download the complimentary companion workbook, Ground to Set Them, Motivate to Get Them, right here: https://www.psychope.com/2026 [https://www.psychope.com/2026] Self-Help Resources Head to psychope.com [https://www.psychope.com/] for all of our complimentary self-care and stress relief resources like insight quizzes, worksheets, workbooks, and more. You can also find self-help resources like mindfulness meditations and other stress relief videos on the PsycHope YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Psyc_Hope]. Your Path Through Work Stress Quiz Ready to find your best path through work stress? You can find the quiz right here: Take the Quiz [https://www.psychope.com/yourpath]. Your feedback is welcome! Feel free to reach out to the show: email: hi@psychope.com Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/psyc_hope/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087645035228] Disclaimer The information shared on the PsycHope Self-Help podcast does not constitute professional help nor is it a substitute for professional help. If you think you might benefit from more than self-help, here are some helpful resources: Find a therapist: * Psychology Today [https://www.psychologytoday.com/]: directory for locating a psychotherapist. Mental health crisis resources: * Crisis text line: text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor for any emotional crisis

Inside the 12 Days: Glimpses of the Restorative Practices

The holidays can be magical and emotionally complex at the same time. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer McManus shares the core themes behind this year’s 12 Days of Holiday Stress Relief: Curated Restorative Practices Collection. You’ll hear about the kinds of holiday stress the collection is designed to support, such as extra demands on your time, difficult family dynamics, mental load, and grief. You’ll also get a sneak listen into some of the restorative practices you’ll receive. If you’d like 12 days of gentle support that blends science-backed strategies with ancient spiritual wisdom, you can sign up for the 12 Days of Holiday Stress Relief at https://www.psychope.com/12days [https://www.psychope.com/12days]. Self-Help Resources Head to psychope.com [https://www.psychope.com/] for all of our complimentary self-care and stress relief resources like insight quizzes, worksheets, workbooks, and more. You can also find self-help resources like mindfulness meditations and other stress relief videos on the PsycHope YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Psyc_Hope]. Your Path Through Work Stress Quiz Ready to find your best path through work stress? You can find the quiz right here: Take the Quiz [https://www.psychope.com/yourpath]. Your feedback is welcome! Feel free to reach out to the show: email: hi@psychope.com Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/psyc_hope/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087645035228] Disclaimer The information shared on the PsycHope Self-Help podcast does not constitute professional help nor is it a substitute for professional help. If you think you might benefit from more than self-help, here are some helpful resources: Find a therapist: * Psychology Today [https://www.psychologytoday.com/]: directory for locating a psychotherapist. Mental health crisis resources: * Crisis text line: text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor for any emotional crisis

Tracing the Roots of Gratitude

This year’s annual gratitude episode takes us onto a slightly different path, one that goes many layers deeper into a more reflective, meaning-making approach to gratitude. Tune in for a gentle, science-informed exploration for a season that can feel complicated.  Important timestamp markers 11:07: Personal example with discussion of siblings. 14:53: Guidance on how to trace your own Roots of Gratitude Sign up for the 2025 12 Days of Holiday Stress Relief This year we are bringing you 12 days of curated restorative practices for holiday stress relief. Sign up now so you can collect the practices that speak to you once they start dropping on December 12th.   Register here: https://www.psychope.com/12days [https://www.psychope.com/12days] Self-Help Resources Head to psychope.com [https://www.psychope.com/] for all of our complimentary self-care and stress relief resources like insight quizzes, worksheets, workbooks, and more. You can also find self-help resources like mindfulness meditations and other stress relief videos on the PsycHope YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Psyc_Hope]. Your Path Through Work Stress Quiz Ready to find your best path through work stress? You can find the quiz right here: Take the Quiz [https://www.psychope.com/yourpath]. Your feedback is welcome! Feel free to reach out to the show: email: hi@psychope.com Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/psyc_hope/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087645035228] Disclaimer The information shared on the PsycHope Self-Help podcast does not constitute professional help nor is it a substitute for professional help. If you think you might benefit from more than self-help, here are some helpful resources: Find a therapist: * Psychology Today [https://www.psychologytoday.com/]: directory for locating a psychotherapist. Mental health crisis resources: * Crisis text line: text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor for any emotional crisis