Life has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect them. Right now, I'm living one of my worst nightmares—and I'm finding myself in a period of unanticipated reflection. This is the story of how I recently ended up in hospital with a significantly broken ankle and what is coming up for me as I navigate 12 weeks of forced rest.

I find it really fascinating that as humans, we can’t help but add meaning to situations. Maybe I needed to slow down, maybe I wasn’t meant to go to the US. Or maybe it was simply an accident and my job now is to accept the reality and move on from there.

Either way, whatever meaning I add to this situation will dictate how I feel about it.

If you've been facing some hurdles lately, I want to encourage you not to give up, but also take this as an opportunity to reflect. What is coming up for you? What insights have your own setbacks revealed?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Everything feels like too much lately. A slight change to your morning routine sends you into a tizzy. A new health supplement makes your body feel like it's on high alert. Small things that never bothered you before now feel overwhelming, and your tolerance for change has shrunk to almost nothing. This isn't weakness or being dramatic. It's your nervous system working overtime. When we've been running on stress for too long, our internal alarm system gets stuck in the "on" position, treating minor disruptions like major threats. The good news is that this hypersensitive state isn't permanent.

Today we're exploring why our bodies get jittery and how your nervous system acts like a smoke alarm that's reacting to the slightest whiff of toast instead of real danger. I share from personal experience navigating these rocky patches during my burnout days, when everything felt like a challenge. We discuss how this oversensitivity makes everyday things feel threatening when your system is stuck in high-alert mode and what's really at play when you're in overdrive.

We dive into how to break free by layering soothing signals that help your brain calm down; not just ignoring stress, but actively creating an environment that tells your brain it's safe to relax. We explore the power of changing scenery through short getaways to places you associate with peace, establishing routines focused on stability and predictability, and simple activities like slow meals, restorative exercise and mindfulness practices.

Being in overdrive now doesn't define your future. It's an opportunity to recalibrate and reclaim your energy. I'd love to hear from you. What here resonates with you, and how do you manage your highs and lows?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Same problems showing up in your business? Same relationship patterns on repeat? Same energy levels dragging you down? The issue may not be your willpower or motivation—it could be your environment. And changing it might be the breakthrough you've been looking for.

Most of us follow the same routine from the moment we wake up. Bathroom, phone check, coffee, work prep. This daily sameness feels comforting but it's actually reinforcing our stagnation.

Engaging in change doesn't just alter your routine—it serves as a mental reset. Shaking up your routine can lead to breakthrough moments, leaving you inspired, energised, remotivated and able to look at things with a whole new perspective.

So here's my question: when was the last time you intentionally disrupted your own patterns? If you're still getting the same results, feeling the same stuck energy, facing the same challenges, it's time to shake things up. Your environment isn't just shaping your days—it's shaping your future.

What's one small change you could make today that your future self will thank you for?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Have you ever found yourself wondering, "Am I depressed? What's wrong with me?" As someone who's spent over two decades working with women navigating these very questions, I know how isolating and confusing it can feel. Depression isn't just a word or a diagnosis—it's a deeply personal experience, and often, it's a message from within.

Today we're exploring what might really be causing depression and why it's so much more than a simple chemical imbalance. We're moving beyond the debunked chemical imbalance theory, referencing Dr Kelly Brogan's work, and discussing how depression can be a signal (like a smoke alarm) alerting us that something in our body or life needs attention.

In this episode, we’re looking into the gut-brain connection and how closely our gut health is linked to our mood. We explore how nutritional psychology, restoring gut health, balancing blood glucose and removing processed foods can make a world of difference. We also discuss how chronic stress, hormonal imbalances and environmental toxins contribute to persistent low moods, and why a holistic approach looking at diet, lifestyle, and emotional wellbeing is so important.

Here's a perspective that might surprise you: depression isn't always pathological. Sometimes it's a natural, introspective withdrawal—a way to turn inward and find our own answers. We explore how low moods are normal parts of the human experience, like changing seasons. Drawing from Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, we discuss how depression can sometimes signal we're being called to make changes in our lives, and how answering that call can lead to renewed energy and purpose.

I’d love to hear from you. What would shift if you started viewing your low moods as information rather than something to fix?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Today we're confronting an often vilified aspect of our lives: stress. You might find yourself in one of two camps—either you dodge stress like the plague, or you stride directly into challenges, fully aware of the stress they bring along. Both approaches are valid, yet there's a hidden narrative around stress that we don't talk about enough. What if stress isn't our enemy but actually a catalyst propelling us towards growth and strength? We're exploring the crucial difference between stress and challenges, and why eliminating stress entirely might not be the path to recovery from burnout that we think it is.

In this episode, we dive into how our bodies are biologically designed to grow stronger through stress—just like exercise creates minor muscle tears that heal and increase strength. We discuss Kelly McGonigal's research showing that if we perceive stress as harmful, it adversely affects our health, but if we see it as an ally preparing us for greatness, we can unlock beneficial responses in our body. We explore how world champions like Josh Waitzkin found success not in avoiding stress but mastering the art of balancing stress with recovery, and why perspective transforms pre-match nerves from hindrance into motivational force.

We're covering how to create your own recovery plan by weaving recovery into daily routines to counterbalance stress. This includes nutrition through balanced, whole-food diets, quality sleep and mental clarity by quieting mental chatter and minimising device time. Every challenge is a stepping stone to growth, and with a recovery plan in place, stress becomes manageable, paving the way for self-improvement rather than burnout. Stress isn't the enemy—it's the growth mentor we never knew we had.

What helps you shift your view on stress and supports your growth?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Think that being stressed means you're busy? Not necessarily. Stress isn't a badge of honour showing how much you're juggling - it's actually a reflection of low mental and emotional bandwidth. If you're a woman in business, a founder, or leader managing work and family, this might completely change how you think about overwhelm.

Understanding Bandwidth: The Key to Managing Stress

Stress symptoms like anxiety, feeling frazzled and being overwhelmed don't necessarily mean you're busy. They point to depletion in your mental and emotional bandwidth.

Life and business are really challenging at times, but it doesn’t mean that we have to be in a constant state of stress. We can learn to deal with the challenges because here's what I’ve learned: bandwidth, not busyness, is the real factor behind how stress shows up. Even if you're successful, stress isn't directly derived from your schedule.

So how do we increase our mental and emotional bandwidth?

1. Take Care of Your Physical Body: Good nutrition is essential. Eating whole, natural foods will provide the necessary energy and support for your nervous system and body.
2. Prioritise Sleep: Deep, restorative sleep is vital for emotional processing and mental clarity. Adequate rest helps your brain detoxify and recalibrate overnight, setting you up for a productive day ahead.
3. Focus on Gut Health: Your gut significantly influences your mental state through the gut-brain axis. Maintaining a healthy microbiome by avoiding processed foods, sugar, and excessive caffeine can bolster mental health.
4. Create Space in Your Day: Allow yourself moments of nothingness. Disconnect from devices and immerse in brief periods of mindfulness to recharge and expand your bandwidth.

Those days when you feel exceptionally productive versus less productive ones? It all hinges on your bandwidth levels. Start noticing these patterns in your life.

What insights have you gained about your own bandwidth? What steps might you take to enrich it?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

The word "trauma" gets thrown around a lot these days. We've got "Big T" trauma—life-altering events—and "little t" trauma, those smaller but persistent stressors from our past. And while trauma is real and I believe it’s absolutely necessary to get the help you need to find healing, there is a narrative floating around that if you’ve experienced trauma, you are destined for a life of stress and struggle.

A lot of high-achieving women that I speak to in workshops are convinced that their past trauma is a permanent fixture in their life. They connect their past experiences to their current challenges and believe that they are locked into an unavoidable path forward.

But I've seen firsthand that this isn't necessarily the case. Overcoming trauma is possible and a fulfilling life is absolutely within reach.

Neuroplasticity shows us that our brains are constantly rewiring, providing new insights and avenues for thought. Trauma, while part of our history, doesn't have to carve an irreversible path. The beauty of being human lies in our ability to access fresh thinking and insights that propel us forward.

Trauma is a sensitive topic and I'm not insinuating that healing is simple. But I am a firm believer that you are not sentenced to a life of struggle because of what happened to you. Your brain is constantly creating new pathways and new possibilities. What would change if you truly believed that?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Whether it’s insomnia, fatigue or hot flushes giving you grief lately, you’ve probably been searching for a diet or a brand new supplement to solve the problem right?

But what if the real solution isn't physical at all? What if it's about the energy within us and how our words literally shape the results we achieve?

Most of us focus solely on the physical—what I call the "3D level." Diets, supplements, lab results, routines. But there's something extraordinary happening on an energetic level that we're completely missing.

In my workshops, I often hear limitations embedded in people's language. Language reveals beliefs and these beliefs shape our outcomes. If you doubt something will work, it most likely won't. It's not just about energy behind the words, it's the actions we take based on those beliefs.

Whatever challenge you’re facing at the moment, be it a health challenge or something to do with your business or your personal life, take notice of the language you use around it. When you find yourself speaking negatively, ask yourself why and how you might be limiting yourself. By changing this internal conversation, you’ll allow positive actions and outcomes to take root.

The words you choose shape your reality and many of our long-held beliefs are simply thoughts that have been with us so long that we believe them.

Have your words influenced your performance or health goals? I'd love to hear your experiences.

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout