In this episode of Work In Progress, we dive into the complex topic of how stress impacts productivity. Stress can truly sabotage our workflow, making us more unproductive, only to have more stressors keep piling on. It can be a vicious cycle, thus, joining host Sarah Stancombe today to give some expert advice Dr. Lexi Harrigan. Dr. Lexi Harrigan is a licensed physical therapist, resilience coach, and founder of Pelvis Power PT, a concierge physical therapy practice based in Dallas-Fort Worth. With nearly two decades of experience in women’s health, chronic pain, and oncology rehab, Dr. Lexi Harrigan blends clinical expertise with trauma-informed care to help individuals and organizations navigate stress, grief, and burnout. She is also a professor at the University of St. Augustine and a published author, using her voice to empower people to take radical ownership of their health and wellbeing. Dr. Lexi Harrigan is passionate about building trust-based leadership, emotionally intelligent workplaces, and sustainable wellness strategies for high-performing teams. In this episode, Dr. Lexi Harrigan explains that shame is a big factor in many people’s lives that stops them from resting and taking adequate measures to care for themselves. In these cases, stress can create sickness, pain in the body, and burnout, forcing people to take time off work. If we can be more proactive about our stress and overall health, we can avoid more drastic issues occurring in our bodies. Together, Sarah and Dr. Lexi Harrigan explore how the body and mind are thoroughly interconnected. Drooping your head sends a message to your mind that there is sadness present, whilst opening your chest promotes a more confident outlook. Dr. Lexi Harrigan advises taking three deep diaphragmatic breaths everyday, and releasing any tension in your body with the exhale. This can vastly improve your readiness for the day and attune your mind to notice more often if there is unnecessary tension being held in your body.

Job hunting and resume writing can often seem like a daunting task. Choosing what information to pack in and navigating the ever-changing job market is no easy feat. Thanks to expert Gabrielle Suttis, CRS, this episode uncovers advice to make the process a little bit easier, and certainly more effective.

Gabrielle Suttis, CRS is an entrepreneur with a background in Human Resources and is the founder of Go Getter Resumes. She has an extensive history of connecting candidates with jobs in the construction, oil and gas, and safety industries. She is also an award-winning resume writer and a Certified Resume Strategist who takes an individualized approach to each resume. Gabrielle Suttis, CRS started out as an Administrative Assistant for the Government of Alberta and has since progressed to specialize in human resources, and seeks to bridge the gap between job seeker and employer.

In this episode, Gabrielle Suttis, CRS explains that a key part of resume writing is actually not to talk about yourself. This is a big misconception that can be easily solved by focusing on the role instead of yourself personally. She also accentuates the importance of values and how these can really help you define a career.

Together, Sarah and Gabrielle Suttis, CRS explore the importance of networking - something many struggle with but one that does not have to be doused in professionalism to be helpful, in fact, authenticity is key, and some of your closest circles may end up helping with your job search too.

Many people are now working from home due to the needs of our personal lives, or the needs of our colleagues across the world and the expansion of companies across continents. So, this week on Work in Progress: The Personal Productivity Science Insights Podcast, host Sarah Stancombe consults Steven Puri, the founder and CEO of a focus app for remote work, on what it takes to stay motivated in a remote work environment.

Following a long-standing career in film and television, Steven Puri returned to building tech companies, and founded a highly raved focus app The Sukha Company. With the mission to help millions of people find their focus and achieve a healthier work life, The Sukha Company app is equipped with a range of effective productivity tools, from focus music and distraction blockers, to Pomodoro timers and more.

In this episode, Steven Puri explains the idea of flow state, and how specific music can help us reach it. He further elaborates on the conditions that are prime for achieving the flow state, and shares advice on accomplishing it.

Together, Sarah and Steven Puri explore the idea of simplifying — for instance, you are more likely to have a productive work session with a list of just three things, rather than an overwhelming list of 17. So, whether you’re a seasoned working professional, or just starting to find your place on the market, tune in this week for expert advice on finding focus in remote work settings!