Dr Mitzi Liddle

How often do you do things, just for fun?

Busy with all out various roles and to-do's, play often takes a back seat.

Our innately human essence, the part of us that's programmed to play, to muck around and not take things so seriously, sometimes gets lost.

But the thing is, not matter how old, or how busy, we all do better with with a playful approach.

Save this if you need a little reminder or permission to put some play in your day.

⁠

Three sleeps to go!!

You can tell I'm excited when I start counting down sleeps, like a kid for Christmas.

The thing is, I am busting with anticipation at the thought of sharing this playshop with you!!!

I've carefully curated a range of energising, engaging and super fun activities to activate your playside.

(And yeah, there's some solid science too).

Truly, this Playshop is like no other I've been too. You'll walk away with tools for Joy in Your Job...

As well as experiencing what it's like to embody lighthearted fun.

It's not too late to join!

And if you're keen, but can't make it, the replay of the Playshop is available to everyone who registers.
⁠

In my conversations this week, one theme has been clear.

Everyone is hanging out for this Easter long weekend!!

It’s such a treat to have four days off in a row!

But the sub-text of this desire for a break is that people are clearly saying that they need time off to recover.

To recoup from their working week.

To rest and reset.

Don’t get me wrong, weekends are lovely for that. And I learned the hard way about the importance of rest… but just not saved up for your days off!

For the people I work with, I want for them
- to arrive home with actual presence and capacity, rather than going through the motions till bed.

- to share their best (listening, caring, responding, sharing) with the people that matter the most.

- to work in a way that builds momentum and energy during the day, so that things feel lighter and easier at night

Our home-lives and loved ones shouldn’t get the empty, worn-out versions of ourselves.

The cost of being a caring health professional shouldn’t be that we need our weekends to recover, or leave us so that we can’t make the most of the precious opportunities of a long weekend.

It’s this drive to find a way for my people to work that fosters lightness, energy and delight, without jeopardizing their professionalism that led me to develop my FUNdamentals playshop.

In this online event, you will walk away knowing how to transform that stressed-out, on the brink of burnout, exhaustion into more joy in your job.

It’s on next Saturday, 6th of April and I’d love to have you there!

Tickets through the link in my bio

A sense of anticipation, no need to rest, or recover, or ever-extend to make the most from those precious moments with family and friends, should be a working right.

Let me know if you agree with an AGREED! in the comments
⁠

A career in the healthcare industry will always have its challenges, but…

What if there was a simple, inner shift you could make that would transform the way you feel about, cope with, and navigate these challenges…

… so that instead of slowly taking their toll on your physical and mental health,

They could serve as opportunities to strengthen your spirit, boost your vitality, and inoculate you against the pressures of this work? 🤔

What if there was a way to get more *joy* out of your job?

Hi 👋🏻 I’m Dr Mitzi Liddle – a Clinical Psychologist who spent the past 20 years helping driven and dedicated health professionals find their way back from the brink of burnout.

After teaching self-care strategies for many years, I knew there had to be another way for practitioners to regularly nurture their nervous systems and bring in a sense of ease, fun, and flow to their day-to-day work.

A way that didn’t require them to do more in order to feel better 🙅🏻‍♀️

A strategy that didn’t rely on taking a break or having time-off, because, let’s face it – a holiday here and there simply isn’t enough to recharge the batteries that have been slowly draining for years (if not decades)...

So I began to explore the neuroscience of stress and the different ways we could work with (not against) our bodies to navigate this increasingly stressful industry.

And what I discovered transformed not only my practice and the way I felt in my everyday work life…

… but marked the beginning of a mission to spread the word about the power of this simple, yet profound tool 🙌🏻

If you’d love to learn more about how reconnecting with your inner child, making work feel more fun, and mindfully bringing in more joy to your job could transform the way *you* feel in and about *your* work…

Join me for an interactive, 90-minute PLAYSHOP! 💫

We’ll meet virtually and explore powerful ways in which neuroscience-informed playfulness in the workplace can help you re-ignite your spark and re-connect with your calling for your profession.

Get your ticket here 👇🏻

www.drmitziliddle.com.au/letsplay

⁠

"It's a pity that you can't bring your bubble bath to work".

A beautiful colleague lamented recently.

And it's true.

But you can bring your happy (inner) child to work.

That part of you that is safe, connected and playful.

That part of you that walks with a spring in her step, energized by possibility and potential.

If your happy inner child is feeling a little lost, come play with us at my FUNdamentals of Joy in Your Job Playshop

⁠

Have you had a laugh today?

I haven't yet, but I'm pretty confident that it will happen.

The thing is, I love laughing. It's one of my favourite things to do.

I used to wonder if I laughed too much, or too loudly, or too abruptly?

But I think that laughter is one of those transcendent forms of communication, that when shared with good intention, fills your heart to the brim and wraps grace around awkwardness.

Shared laughter is the best.

So let me know if you've laughed today, it'd make my day to hear about it!

Has your energy and vitality gone MIA?

Perhaps it's time for a play infusion!

Play can take us into the nervous system state of upregulated mobilisation.

Not flight/fight/freeze/fawn.

But connected, safe, immersed in the moment and feelin' good!

If you'd like to learn more about how to shift from stress and overwhelm to playfulness and confident,

I'd love for you to sign up to my FUNdamentals playshop.

Early bird offer ends soon!

What beliefs do you hold about play?

That you’re too old?
Not allowed?
That play is only for kids and a waste of adult time?
You’ve forgotten how to play?
You got too much to do and can’t afford the time for play? Or
That you’re not a playful person?

The list of limiting beliefs that adults hold about play is endless. And pervasive.

The thing is – none of them actually hold true.

The neurobiology of humans is wired for play. It helps us to access creativity and productivity.

Come to my FUNdamentals playshop and have a taste of the potential of playfulness.

Did you know that the opposite of play is not actually work?

If you thought it was, you're not alone.

But in terms of our nervous system's window of tolerance it's actually burnout and depression that sit on the opposite end to play.

This is important:
- we can be playful at work and
- the properties of play help prevent burnout

What the researchers say is that work and play are the same, with the right mindset. Work can be exciting, joyful, creative, novel and fulfilling.
The opposite of this are depression and burnout, which often result from chronic stress and dorsal-vagal collapse.
Play is a pathway for strengthening dorsal tone and developing resilience at work.
But more importantly, it’s just good fun

pop a thumbs up in the comments if you'd like to play more!

POV Warning!

Have you watched Human Playground?

(Netflix docuseries explores the origins and evolution of play across the globe, from age-old rituals to billion-dollar businesses).

It's an entertaining and evocative series... somewhat dominated by discussion of men at play.

There are some exceptions: a driver and cyclists (first women in traditionally male competition) and three women in not gender specific activity (ultra marathon, surfer and cold water diver).

At the end, I wanted to know: Where is the exploration of women at play?

What playful pursuits are our rite of passage?

It may be that the female playground tends to consist of what feminist researchers term, “invisible leisure” – enjoyable, but productive and socially sanctioned, activities like quilting bees, canning parties or book groups.

And maybe that just doesn't make good TV.

I certainly think that for many women, there is a sense that pure leisure or play has to be earned or deserved.

And that play isn't a priority. on long to-do lists.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Do you play?

And what do you do for pure leisure?

If you'd like to get in touch with your playside, I'd love for you to get your ticket for my FUNdamentals playshop! Link in the comments

Have you started to think that play is childish and only for kids?

Or that play has to involve play-doh and primary colours or some other medium that makes you cringe?

Well, I invite you to think again!

Playfulness is a sophisticated strategy for stress release. And it's super fun!

The research is very clear, playfulness and a playful mindset work wonders on our wellbeing.

You may be surprised by these benefits of play:
1. Nervous system flexibility – play allows you to experience up-regulated (sympathetic) ns responses safely, extending your window of tolerance

2. Freedom from perfectionism – Play allows you a space to try, without fear of mistakes

3. Mood + Motivation booster – Playful people get a dopamine dose and improved states of wellbeing and life satisfaction

4. Creativity catalyst - Play is a conduit for innovative productivity, creativity and connection

5. Authentically you - Through play you become more alive and awake to who you are before the world told you otherwise

In summary:
Play + Professionalism = lots of good stuff (for us and our clients)!

This message is so important!

The conditioning for women around compulsive caregiving is strong and pervasive and having an impact on our health.

I learned this through my own experience of a cancer diagnosis (now three years clear!).

And I am so passionate about sharing this message so that we can better understand the cost of over riding our nervous system in service of others

This is not another training about the importance of self-care.

Most professionals in our field know what they need to be doing to look after themselves.

Yet, most of us don’t routinely engage in the kind of care that actually makes a difference (hot tip: bubble baths and holidays aren’t enough).

Before self-care, we need to understand our coping modes that result in abandoning and neglecting ourselves and needs at work.

If you want to pause and experience restorative practices, join my micro-retreat session next week (replay available if you can't make it live).

I'd love to see you there!

https://www.drmitziliddle.com.au/revive

Dr Mitzi Liddle | Clinical Psychologist & Coach Soul-centred coaching for health practitioners. Dr Mitzi Liddle is a Clinical psychologist and coach who empowers health practitioners who don't want to burnout to have fierce self-compassion and fulfilling careers without sacrificing their wellbeing.

Imagine if...

We had workplaces that not only encouraged, but supported health care professionals to take micro-retreats to reset their nervous systems.

Imagine if staff felt safe to drop into their bodies and to take action on what they need, moment to moment...

I'd like that!

Big thanks to Kate Astill for the gorgeous photo

Mitzi

If you’re anything like me…

These last few months of the year fly by and there seems to be an increasing amount to do in a rapidly decreasing amount of time before the end of the year.

Have you noticed your go-to coping mode when this end of year pressure kicks in?

Does the good-therapist mode kick it up a notch and you say yes when you know you need to say no?

Does your battler mode take charge and you take it on the chin and push through the looming demands?

Or do you retreat into nonna mode and avoid the reality of it with detached self-soothing?

In my workshop next week, I’ll explore how these coping modes get in the way of the self-care we know we need to do…

And, I’ll provide you with some restorative guided practices to pause, reset and move forward with connection and compassion.
I’d love to see you there!

https://www.drmitziliddle.com.au/revive

Helps if I share the whole post!

Gosh, I love this post!

Imagine if we valued doing inner work and passing on emotional regulation to our kids as form of generational wealth....

I truly believe that then the world could start to be a better place for our kids to inherit