Making Organizational Systems Part of Self-Care: A Conversation with Liz Gray

03/09/23 • 45 min

Intentional Therapist: Putting You In Your Schedule

When female clinicians think of self-care the term “organizational systems” probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind (probably not even the last thing). Yet, having effective organizational systems in place at work (and home) can be such an important step in our self-care journey as they have the potential to help us feel less overwhelmed, work more efficiently, and (by doing so) can help us put more of ourselves into our day. In this episode we speak with Liz Gray, the founder of Organize and Thrive, about her passion for organizational systems, why so many of us avoid putting them in place, some early warning signs that suggest a clinician might need some support with organization, and some simple steps clinicians can take right now towards developing a more organized work system.
Highlights:

How organizational systems fit into self-care for Liz.
Some common barriers to setting up effective organizational systems
How the barriers differ across settings and gender
Simple steps clinicians can take to become more organized
How Focusmate has become an important part of Liz’s accountability system
Liz’s favorite “non-conventional” self-care practices

Liz Gray is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and "Organization Queen" on a mission to help highly sensitive entrepreneurs gain time, flexibility, and freedom by harnessing the power of systems in their businesses. Using her royal combination of mindset and systems savvy, Liz delivers powerful transformations for overwhelmed therapists during her signature Organize & Thrive VIPDays. When she's not creating spreadsheets or color-coding lists, you can find Liz cuddling with her mini goldendoodle Bailey or exploring Chicago with her husband Dave.

Connect with Liz:
https://organize-and-thrive.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/organizeandthrive1
https://www.instagram.com/organizeandthrive1/
https://www.focusmate.com/organize-and-thrive.com
Schedule a Focusmate coworking session with Liz: https://www.focusmate.com/i/8eVvELjnFZ
Schedule a 90-minute consultation with Liz:
https://organize-and-thrive.com/quick-fix-consult-2022
Access Liz's free resource - Simple Screening System for New Client Inquiries

Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/
Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist
Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.

How organizational systems fit into self-care for Liz.
Some common barriers to setting up effective organizational systems
How the barriers differ across settings and gender
Simple steps clinicians can take to become more organized
How Focusmate has become an important part of Liz’s accountability system
Liz’s favorite “non-conventional” self-care practices

Previous Episode

Work-Family Enrichment: A Conversation with Dr. Yael Schonbrun

If you’re like us, there was probably a time in your career when you sought after that oh so elusive “work-life balance” and saw that as the true mark of self-care. The only problem, of course, is that “balance” is incredibly hard (if not impossible) to find and, as it turns out, may not actually be what we truly need to thrive.
In this episode we speak with clinical psychologist and parent of three, Dr. Yael Schonbrun about “work-family enrichment” and how adopting this mindset can help us appreciate the gifts inherent in our multiple roles and how these roles can work together to help us truly thrive. We also discuss the importance of values and how the evolutionary perspective can put us in a better position to understand and work with our hardwired tendencies to experience guilt and feel overwhelmed. Yael also shares her perspective on rethinking the concept of rest.

Highlights:

Why “work-family enrichment” is such a helpful mindset
How the evolutionary perspective can help us understand the common experiences of guilt and overwhelm
How values fit into helping us navigate our multiple roles
The importance of redefining the concept of rest
One step female clinicians can take today towards better “work-family enrichment”
Yael’s favorite “non-conventional” self-care practice

Dr. Yael Schonbrun is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at Brown University, co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast, and author of Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like too Much).

Connect with Yael:
https://yaelschonbrun.com/
https://twitter.com/DrYaelSchonbrun

Next Episode

The Benefits of Working in Alignment with Your Values and Priorities: A Conversation with Lisa Mustard

When’s the last time you sat down to really reflect on your values? In this busy world it’s so easy to go through life without really giving this much thought. Yet, setting some time aside to do just that can help us truly create a life from which we don’t need to escape. In this episode we speak with Lisa Mustard, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (and co-member of the PsychCraft Network), about a pivotal time in her career and how examining her values and priorities set her on a journey to becoming a Coach and podcast host of The Therapy Show. Lisa speaks with us about how these side businesses align with her values and how the concepts of “grace” and “fail forward” have helped her remain compassionate towards herself and stay motivated even in the face of disappointment.

Highlights:

The “wake-up” call that triggered Lisa’s revised self-care journey
Lisa’s top values and how these shape her work
The importance of adopting “grace” and a “fail forward” attitude to move through challenges
How the concept of “courage” showed up in Lisa’s journey
How creativity shows up for Lisa
One step female clinicians can take today to start developing a work life that aligns with their values
Lisa’s best non-conventional self-care practice

Lisa Mustard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in South Carolina. She’s also a wife to Billy, mama to two daughters, puppy wrangler, lover of health, wellness, and fitness, and a personal development junkie. When she turned 40 she decided to pivot her skill set and try some new things which has brought her to where she is today – a Podcaster and Coach. Her podcast, The Therapy Show, provides therapists with a convenient way of accessing continuing education and professional development and her coaching sessions help her clients move forward in living their best lives.

Connect with Lisa:
https://lisamustard.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lisamustardpodcaster/
https://www.facebook.com/thetherapyshowwithlisamustard
Access a FREE CE hour by competing one of Lisa’s podcourses: https://www.lisamustard.com/podcourses
Use the code: intentional (before June 1, 2023)