From dispelling myths about motherhood and revealing the postnatal pressure on parents, to sharing the sanctity of self-care, bestselling author, podcaster, and actress Giovanna Fletcher has been a comforting voice of support for years. And now she’s embarking on a new challenge, following her passions and finding herself centre stage…

Since Giovanna Fletcher launched her hit podcast, ‘Happy Mum, Happy Baby’, a wealth of celebrity guests, from the Princess of Wales to Fearne Cotton, have joined her for openhearted and fearlessly frank conversations about parenthood.

Based on her bestselling book of the same name, the podcast, which boasts more than 20 million downloads, aims, says Giovanna, to help new mums “feel better about themselves” – something made possible by her own natural warmth and openness about her experience of raising her sons Buzz, 8, Buddy, 6, and Max, 4.

And Giovanna has no plans to take a breather from podcasting, because she understands that for some women, her support could mean the difference between life and death.

“The leading cause of death in new mums within the first postnatal year is suicide,” says Giovanna. “Well, let’s have those chats, let’s get people talking so they know they’re not on their own, let’s be that hand in the dark for people when they feel like they aren’t valued and not enough, because they absolutely are enough.

“The more that we can dispel the myth that there’s a right way to do motherhood and that you can fail in it, the better.”

Speaking from her new home in Hertfordshire, against a backdrop of framed pictures including one, which reads ‘Yo Mama You’ve Got This’, Giovanna makes no secret of the fact that, at times, juggling a busy, evolving career and raising her boys with her McFly musician partner, Tom Fletcher, can feel overwhelming, but she says organisation is her key to “self-care” because it avoids her “flapping” around in the morning. Vitally, she accepts that occasional mistakes are par for the course.

“Angela Scanlon once told me that we’ve all got balls flying in the air. Some are glass, and some are plastic. We have to keep the glass balls in the air because they’re precious – that’s family – but we have to allow the plastic balls to drop every now and then,” says Giovanna.

“I’ll let the class WhatsApp slide for a week and then have an ‘Oh my gosh, what’s going on? What have I forgotten? Sorry kids!’ moment.”

Numerous studies show that in heterosexual relationships, women are responsible for the lion’s share of childcare and housework, and perform far more cognitive and emotional labour than men. Research from Arizona State University also reveals that almost 90% of mothers in committed partnerships say this responsibility leaves them feeling overwhelmed, ex

It’s almost time to kick off my Self Love Week mini challenge on @TeamLSF and to get you in the spirit,  I’m talking about the 5 self care rituals I love. It can be so easy for us to get wrapped up in the hustle of our daily lives that sometimes, we forget to prioritize the most important person we know – ourselves.

With the weekend coming up, I thought it would be the perfect time to share some tips we can all use to shower ourselves with the love we deserve. 

Enjoy a little luxury

Do you have that candle that you save because you just love how it smells and you don’t want to use it all up? Or a fancy bubble bath that sits on your shelf? Girl, this is the time to indulge!

This weekend, pull out all of the stuff you’ve been saving “for a special occasion.” Because I’ll tell you what: every day is a special occasion! 

Those indulgences aren’t doing you any good sitting unused (but they are taking up space). So you might as well make the very most of them! 

Try a “grateful-for-me” meditation

What do you love about your life? You could probably list a handful of things. But I’ve got a challenge for you.

Do a gratitude meditation focused on what you love about yourself. I know, I know. This can feel hard or even a little uncomfortable. But if the thought of it makes you want to squirm, it’s kind of a sign that you should really take this on. 

This weekend, set aside 15 minutes (come on, you can do anything for 15 minutes). Grab a journal. Find a quiet, comfy seat. And make a list of things you love about yourself. If you’re feeling stumped, start with things you know your friends and family would say about you. 

Start a drinkable ritual

Whether you want to prevent burnout or recover from it, resilience is essential – but did you know joy could be the secret to building it?

In the summer of 2020, I burnt out. I was running a side business alongside my job here at Happiful and, compounded by pandemic stress, it all got too much. I pressed pause on my business, and used the extra time to prioritise rest and joy. I slept in, started drawing, read more fiction, and watched films that inspired me. I filled my cup and, in time, I found my way back to me.

But the me I found was different. I had a new perspective, and realised how important joy was in having a fulfilled life and, ever since, I’ve been making decisions that prioritise cultivating joy. Now, this wasn’t a truly conscious decision at the time. I was simply exhausted and needed a break. But I’ve now learnt that joy may actually be what we all need to help build resilience, and overcome burnout.

To really get to grips with this concept then, it’s best to start with the basics and ask: what exactly is burnout?

“Burnout is a state of physical and mental exhaustion brought on by excessive and prolonged periods of unmanaged stress,” explains positive psychology practitioner and joy coach Sophie Cliff.

“The World Health Organisation categorises burnout as having three distinct symptoms – depleted energy and exhaustion (always feeling tired, no matter how much you rest), feelings of negativity and cynicism (struggling to find the silver linings, or feeling like nothing you do will make a difference), and reduced performance (struggling to achieve at the same level as you might have done in the past).”

Sound familiar? While the World Health Organisation typically sees burnout as purely work-related, many of us now recognise that burnout can be caused by a range of issues, from parental burnout to autistic burnout.

A common thread through all types of burnout is the way it makes us feel: exhausted, frozen, and unsure of how to keep going. Something that can help us move forward is that oh-so-elusive resilience. Often viewed as our ability to ‘bounce back’, resilience isn’t about ignoring what’s happening and simply pushing through. It’s about giving space to your feelings, acknowledging them, and doing what you need to feel better.

“Resilience can take different forms,” Sophie says. “For some people, it will look like bouncing back to old routines quickly following adversity, while for others it might be having the ability to start over and adapt to a new normal following a period of stress.”

Interestingly, Sophie notes that joy can help us cultivate resilience in a number of ways.

“Firstly, research shows that experiencing and focusing on little moments of joy helps our bodies recover from the physiological effects of stress. Joy can also give our lives a sense of meaning and purpose, which, in turn, boosts our capacity to deal with challenges and bounce back from adversity.”

The fact that joy can give our lives a sense of meaning is something I can attest to. When I burned out, I felt lost and unanchored. And when I focused on doing things that made me happy, including starting a brand new hobby (drawing), I broadened my vision of what it means to liv

Many of us are longing for a more optimistic outlook on our careers, so we're saying ‘goodbye’ to quiet quitting and ‘hello’ to quiet thriving

Last year, we saw the term ‘quiet quitting’ floating around. This is the idea of doing the bare minimum and only engaging in your core responsibilities – no staying late or early starts. This quickly moved beyond the workplace to people’s day-to-day lives, including marriages and relationships.

While some people see the benefits to quiet quitting – having a better work/life balance, being in control, and less likely to burn out, to name a few – for many, rejecting the hustle culture mentality can actually have a negative impact on our mood. We can quickly become demotivated and experience a lack of enthusiasm toward our work or relationships.

What’s more, last year saw the period dubbed the ‘great resignation’, but what about those who can’t afford to quit? Whilst silently ‘getting by’ at work may seem like a good way to set boundaries and protect our mental health, in the long run, it can be damaging. So, how do we go about achieving an optimistic mentality at work, whilst still avoiding burnout? The answer: quiet thriving.

‘Quiet thriving’ is the new buzzword in town. It’s quiet quitting’s antithesis. This is the idea of actively changing the structure of your workday so that you begin to feel more engaged. Perhaps you’re stuck in a work rut – lacking the inspiration or creativity you need to be inquisitive and excited about your job. Quiet thriving is about reigniting this spark, without compromising your wellbeing.

If this sounds like something you need in your life right now, we’re sharing some tips to help get you off on the right foot.

Change your mindset

If you can make a conscious effort to try and reframe your negative thoughts and replace them with positives, you’re halfway there. We likely all have elements of our jobs that we dislike, and it can be easy to focus on these at the start of the workday. Instead, try to draw your attention to the aspects of your role that you enjoy - whether that’s being creative, writing, or meeting with your colleagues to come up with new ideas. By doing this, your work will start to feel more meaningful.

Set boundaries

Having a clear start and finish time and making sure you take regular breaks throughout the day will help keep you on track. During your working day, you can dedicate that time solely to that – work – but be strict about keeping this between the hours that you set (no checking emails late at night). This will not only allow you more time to spend with family and participate in your hobbies but will help keep burnout at bay.

Praise your achievements

Take note of the little wins as well as the big accomplishments. This will help boost your confidence at work. Writing a list is a great way to keep track of your successes so, if you’re ever feeling stuck, you have something to refer back to when you need a pick-me-up and a reminder of your capabilities.

Sh

Hi hi! I’ve got a new podcast episode up for ya today, sharing some of my favorite productivity hacks!

Here’s what I talk about in today’s solo episode:

My top tips for productivity and getting more ish done

Why NOT being productive is productive

Why and how you should schedule social media time

My favorite resources for productivity

and so.much.more!

Resources from this episode:

My favorite paper planner

Eat That Frog

Atomic Habits

PEMF Go Mat and Sauna Blanket (use FITNESSISTA15 for a discount!)

If any of my fellow health professional friends are looking for another way to help their clients, I highly recommend IHP. You can also use this information to heal yourself and then go one to heal others, which I think is a beautiful mission. You also do not have to current have a career in fitness in join; 50% of IHPs are not from the wellness or health industry. If it’s your passion and you want to explore more, or potentially start a new career (or side hustle), check it out!

You can use my referral link here and the code FITNESSISTA for up to $250 off the Integrative Health Practitioner program. I finished Level 1 and am working my way through Level 2. I highly recommend it! You can check out my review IHP here!

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please be sure to subscribe, and leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. 

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