Burnout-Free Me

138 - How to Stop Spiraling After a Mistake: A 3-Step Strategy to Calm Down Fast

Have you ever made a small mistake—sent the wrong email, misspoke in a meeting, said something mildly awkward—and then found yourself replaying it over and over in your head long after it was already resolved?
If so, you’re not overreacting. You’re experiencing a very normal nervous system response.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explains why your brain fixates on mistakes, why “just letting it go” doesn’t work, and what’s actually happening in your body when anxiety takes over. You’ll learn how your threat response gets activated by perceived risks to your competence, reputation, or belonging—and why trying to out-think anxiety often makes spiraling worse.
Amy walks you through a simple, science-based 3-step strategy to interrupt the spiral, calm your nervous system, and help your brain stand down once the danger has passed. Along the way, she shares real-life examples (including a painfully relatable social slip-up), common client scenarios, and the exact language she uses in coaching to help high-achievers recover faster after mistakes.
This episode is for you if you:
Can’t stop replaying small mistakes
Feel anxious or embarrassed long after an interaction ends
Struggle with overthinking, self-criticism, or rumination
Want practical tools to calm your nervous system quickly
Are ready to stop spiraling and trust yourself again
You’ll walk away understanding that nothing has gone wrong—you’re not broken—and that learning to recover from mistakes is a skill you can practice and strengthen over time.
✨ If you’re ready to stop running on anxiety and start feeling more calm, confident, and grounded in your day-to-day life, learn more about coaching with Dr. Amy Grimm here.
 
Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.
 

137 - This Isn’t a Productivity Episode: I’m Asking You for a Small Favor Before the New Year

If you’re heading into the holidays feeling tired, overstimulated, or quietly overwhelmed, even while everyone around you seems to be sprinting toward joy, this episode is for you.
This isn’t a productivity episode. It’s a pause.
In this short, heartfelt holiday check-in, Amy shares a more personal, behind-the-scenes moment from her own life and offers permission to let this season be softer. For many high-achievers, the holidays come with unspoken pressure to keep going, keep performing, and keep optimizing—when what’s actually needed is rest, presence, and space to breathe.
Amy reflects on why the holidays don’t have to be cheerful, polished, or high-energy to be meaningful, and why slowing down isn’t something you need to earn.
She also invites listeners to step into community—by sharing topic requests, podcast recommendations, and helping spread this work to more high-achievers who need it.
If you’ve been craving a gentler close to the year—without fixing, hustling, or figuring everything out—consider this your permission slip.
 
HOW TO SUBMIT Topic Requests or Podcast Recommendations:
Step 1: Visit my podcast page by clicking this link. 🔗
Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page. ⬇️
Step 3: Fill out the request form. 📋
Step 4: Hit Submit! That's it! ✅
 
Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

136 - Why Stress Is Important: The Hidden Role Stress Plays in Your Health, Performance, and Happiness

In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions among high achievers about stress: the belief that stress is inherently bad. 
Stress is actually a normal (and necessary!) part of being human, which means it's in our best interest to learn how to work with it instead of fighting against it.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How your nervous system and mindset shape your stress response
Why stress boosts performance
How too little stress is just as harmful as too much
And why avoiding stress keeps you stuck in overwhelm and burnout. 
Amy also shares two powerful stories that show stress as a wake-up call and a catalyst for meaningful change. 
If you’ve been trying to “get rid of stress,” this episode will help you rethink your entire relationship with it, and finally feel more in control.
 
Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

135 - It’s Not Indecision — It’s Cognitive Fatigue! How Chronic Mental Load Makes Even Simple Decisions Feel Impossible

If you’ve been feeling foggy, overwhelmed, indecisive, or like your brain just… stops, you’re not alone. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down the cause behind decision fatigue: cognitive fatigue, a burnout symptom most high-achievers mistake for personal failure.
You’ll learn how chronic mental load drains your brain’s ability to make decisions, why “just prioritize” doesn’t work when you’re overloaded, and how your nervous system plays a direct role in your clarity, focus, and ability to choose.
Amy shares the neuroscience behind cognitive fatigue, relatable examples from high-responsibility women, and simple tools you can use immediately to reduce overwhelm, strengthen your decision-making, and reclaim your mental energy.
If you’re tired of feeling mentally scattered, stuck, or exhausted, this episode will help you finally understand what’s happening and what to do next.
 
Work With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

134 - Why Rest Matters (and Why I’m in the Desert Right Now)

This Thanksgiving week, I’m practicing what I preach — rest, play, and doing things that make me feel alive.
In this mini episode of Burnout-Free Me, I share why I’m taking the week off to go explore Death Valley… and why rest doesn’t always mean slowing down. Sometimes rest is joy. Sometimes it’s adventure. Sometimes it’s simply doing something because you love it.
You’ll get a quick reminder that:
Play is medicine for burnout
Rest can look like movement, creativity, or fun
Guilt-free downtime is essential, not optional
This is your permission slip to pause and reconnect with yourself!
Whether you spend the week relaxing, catching up on episodes, or doing something that lights you up — I’m cheering you on.
Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. 💜
 
 
Work With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

133 - How to Thrive in a High-Pressure Career Without Burning Out

AKA - How to Thrive Without Quitting Your Job (Or Losing Your Sanity)! 
You don’t have to quit your job or escape to Bali to stop burning out.You just need a nervous system that feels safe, a brain that works with you (not against you), and a few tools to bring both back online.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm shares the five core skills she teaches her coaching clients to help them stop living in survival mode and start thriving, no matter how demanding their career is.
You’ll learn:✨ How to regulate your nervous system so your body stops running on adrenaline✨ Why aligning your life with your core values is essential for real balance✨ The simple shifts that help you meet your own needs (without guilt)✨ How to manage your mind so you stop spiraling and start leading yourself✨ The emotional processing that turns overwhelm into resilience
These five skills are the foundation of Amy’s coaching framework, and the reason her clients go from exhausted and reactive to calm, confident, and capable.
If you’re ready to stop running on fumes and start feeling like yourself again, tune in and learn how to thrive from the inside out.
 
Work With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

132 - You’re Successful, But Are You Happy? What Every Ambitious Woman Needs To Know About Happiness, Success, and Sanity.

What Every Ambitious Woman Needs To Know About Happiness, Success, and Sanity.
You’ve checked all the boxes, climbed the ladder, and built the life you thought you wanted…
So why doesn’t it feel good?
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm gets real about the difference between success and happiness, and why chasing them will leave you drained.
Tune in to learn:
Why external achievements can’t fill internal gaps
How to redefine success so it actually feels good
Why you must stop postponing happiness until “after the next goal”
How your nervous system plays a role in feeling fulfilled
And how to create achievement that’s sustainable, not exhausting
You deserve a life that feels as good as it looks. 💯
Work With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

131- Five Thought Traps That Hold You Back When You’re Ready for More

If you’ve been feeling lost, unsure, emotional, or just over it during a major life or career shift, you are not alone. And nothing has gone wrong.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, we’re breaking down 5 common thought traps that high achievers face during big transitions, and why these thoughts are actually signs that you’re growing.
You’ll learn about:✨ Why your identity feels wobbly when everything changes✨ The moment when your “dream job” stops feeling dreamy✨ The pressure to have life figured out by now (and why that’s a myth)✨ The grief that comes with choosing what’s best for you✨ Why your nervous system wants to hide when you try to evolve
And because I love a good metaphor, we’re also talking about caterpillars turning into soup. Your goo era is part of the transformation 🐛🦋
If you’ve ever wondered:
What is happening to me?
Why is this so hard?
Am I making a huge mistake?
Take a deep breath.This is the messy middle — the chrysalis stage — where everything familiar dissolves so something better can emerge.
 
Work With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

130 - How to Get What You Really Want - Without Burning Out Trying

Do you ever stop yourself from wanting more because it feels selfish or impossible to achieve?
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, we’ll unpack the hidden fears that make “wanting” feel unsafe, and how to give yourself permission to desire more without guilt or burnout.
You’ll learn how to recognize the difference between external expectations and genuine desire, why your values are the clearest guide to what you truly want, and how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can help you build a sustainable foundation for growth.
I’ll also share a real coaching story about moving from “Should I?” to “How can I?”,  and a powerful mindset shift that changes everything.
Getting what you really want isn’t about working harder, it’s about aligning with who you are and what matters most. And pursuing what you want shouldn’t lead to burnout. It should bring you back to yourself.
 
Download the Resource Guide for this Episode: Reflection Prompts and Values List
 
 
Work With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.
 
 

129 - Ambition Meets Balance: How to Lead, Succeed, and Protect Your Well-Being with Crystal Stokes

High-achieving women often love their work, but love alone doesn’t protect them from feeling drained, exhausted, or burned out.
In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I sit down with Crystal Stokes, founder of Full Circle Lab, therapist, and leadership coach, to explore how ambitious professionals can thrive without sacrificing their well-being.
You’ll hear Crystal’s journey from working in veterinary medicine to supporting the people within the profession, and what inspired her to focus on purpose, resilience, and values-driven leadership. We also discuss the balance between personal responsibility (how to show up, set boundaries, and protect yourself from burnout) and the role of organizational support (what systems and cultures look like when they truly optimize performance, leadership, and well-being).
If you’re a driven professional who wants to succeed in your career while protecting your energy and joy, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and inspiring perspectives on leading yourself and your teams in a sustainable, fulfilling way.
 
Meet Our Guest:
Crystal Stokes, is the founder and managing director of Full Circle Lab. With a background in veterinary medicine, psychotherapy, leadership development and coaching, and business operations, she leads with a blend of emotional intelligence, strategy, and heart. Her work is deeply rooted in evidence-based practices and high-performance coaching, and she's passionate about helping veterinary professionals rediscover purpose, build resilience, and lead from a grounded, values-driven perspective.
Crystal has walked in many shoes—starting as a GP and then overnight ER veterinary technician, then becoming a licensed therapist, and now a director of operations, certified professional coach, and leadership consultant. Crystal understands the unique challenges of veterinary medicine and high-stress careers, not just clinically, but emotionally and culturally. That’s what drives her to build stronger, healthier teams.
She’s also the host of the Vet Med Wellness & Leadership Podcast, where she dives into the heart of veterinary culture, burnout, and what it really means to thrive in this field.
 
Contact Crystal:
https://www.fullcirclelab.com/
https://www.fullcirclelab.com/vet-med-podcast
https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalstokes/ 
 
Work With Amy:
✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today!
🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here.
JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more!
📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn
 
Meet Amy:
Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being.
A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership.
She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy.
Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.