You cleared the calendar. You created white space on purpose, but now your brain is filling that space with worry, busywork, or impulse clicks, and you’re wondering why rest feels so weird.

In this episode, I share what’s really going on when we feel restless in the quiet, why your brain instinctively reaches for drama, perfectionism, or dopamine and what you can offer it instead. We’ll talk about the neuroscience behind this “vacuum effect,” the kinds of low-pressure focus that actually help, and one of my favorite mindset tools for building direction without sliding back into hustle.

What You Will Learn

Why your brain doesn’t always interpret white space as peace and what it does instead

The science behind your brain’s default behavior when there’s nothing to solve

How to spot the difference between real presence and reactivity disguised as productivity

What a “gentle chew toy” is and how it can help you refocus without forcing structure

Why direction (not discipline) is often the most effective form of support

Want to Go Deeper Into Your Mindset?

Watch "How to Exit Survival Mode" Free Training

⁠⁠https://bit.ly/cbtsurvivalmode⁠⁠

Download the Study Guide:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.choosebetterthoughts.com/podcast-study-guide-download⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check My Coach Coaching Program:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.choosebetterthoughts.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Me On:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosebetterthoughts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandahuffmandoyle/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And if you like this episode, don’t forget to follow, subscribe, leave a review or send it to a friend who might need this!

You've got this!

If you're tired of using pressure and guilt to drive your goals, this episode is for you. I'm sharing a simple mindset shift, one that helped me go from “I should” to “what if I already was,” and how it completely changed the way I relate to my goals. We’ll talk about why “should” goals feel heavy, how “what if” identities create momentum, and how you can use this tool today to feel more aligned, playful, and in motion.

What You Will Learn

Why “I should” goals create pressure and what to try instead.

How to use “what if” questions to reframe your goals with ease.

The brain science behind why imagined identity creates real change.

How to shift your mindset without forcing belief or motivation.

A simple way to move toward the version of you you actually want to become.

Want to Go Deeper Into Your Mindset?

Watch "How to Exit Survival Mode" Free Training

⁠https://bit.ly/cbtsurvivalmode⁠

Download the Study Guide:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.choosebetterthoughts.com/podcast-study-guide-download⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check My Coach Coaching Program:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.choosebetterthoughts.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Me On:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosebetterthoughts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandahuffmandoyle/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And if you like this episode, don’t forget to follow, subscribe, leave a review or send it to a friend who might need this!

You've got this!

This episode starts with a return you’ve been avoiding and ends with a different way of seeing yourself. We’re exploring why small tasks feel emotionally loaded, what your brain is really doing when you procrastinate, and how the patterns you reinforce in the little moments shape how you show up in the big ones. No hacks. No pressure. Just a different way to respond to the part of you that wants to avoid.

What You Will Learn

Why tasks like returns trigger unexpected emotional resistance (it’s not about the task)

How shame, guilt, or dread quietly fuel procrastination—even on things that “should be simple”

The connection between small avoidance and your bigger identity patterns

How to name the emotion under the delay—and relate to it differently

A way to move forward that doesn’t require a breakthrough, just a different kind of self-leadership

Want to Go Deeper Into Your Mindset?

Watch "How to Exit Survival Mode" Free Training

https://bit.ly/cbtsurvivalmode

Download the Study Guide:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.choosebetterthoughts.com/podcast-study-guide-download⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check My Coach Coaching Program:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.choosebetterthoughts.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Me On:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosebetterthoughts/⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandahuffmandoyle/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And if you like this episode, don’t forget to follow, subscribe, leave a review or send it to a friend who might need this!

You've got this!