September rolls in and suddenly life speeds up – school runs, work deadlines, holidays on the horizon. And with it comes the pressure to “get organised,” “finish strong,” and set bigger, better goals.

But here’s the truth: SMART goals don’t work for most women juggling kids, work, and real life. They focus on outcomes you can’t fully control — which often kills momentum before you even get started.

In this episode of The Scenic Route, we’re rethinking goal-setting from the end of summer to the end of the year. You’ll learn a framework that actually fits real life: lead and lag goals. Instead of chasing perfect outcomes, you’ll discover how to focus on the small, repeatable actions that build momentum, create daily wins, and carry you through even the busiest seasons.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why SMART goals often backfire (and why you’re not failing – the method is)
• The difference between lag goals (outcomes) and lead goals (actions you can control)
• Two simple ways to start setting goals using this framework, whether you’re outcome-driven or action-driven
• How to shift from chasing results to building momentum
• Practical examples for family life, work, self-care, and even the holiday season

If you’re tired of feeling like you’re always behind on your goals, this episode will give you a gentler, smarter way forward.

See you on the Scenic Route!

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Visit jenniferwalter.me – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change."

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Can a student’s body size affect their grades? Research says yes. In this episode of The Scenic Route, Jen explores how fat bias and socioeconomic bias shape grades, opportunities, and self-worth.

You’ll hear:

• A personal story of how weight stigma shows up in healthcare.
• A German study of 14,000 students showed that overweight and lower-income kids receive lower grades than equally capable peers.
• Why grades often reflect compliance, neatness, and bias more than actual learning.
• How to judge whether a study is credible using reliability, objectivity, and validity and why validity is the trickiest.
• Practical steps for parents, teachers, and students to challenge fatbias in schools and beyond.

Grades don’t just decide report cards. They decide futures. When body size and class bias affect grades, kids are taught that some people matter less.

This episode is a call to question those systems and to push for a world where all kids can thrive.

👉 Listen now and share this with another parent, teacher, or friend who cares about equity in education.

Mentioned study
Nennstiel, R., & Gilgen, S. (2024). Does chubby Can get lower grades than skinny Sophie? Using an intersectional approach to uncover grading bias in German secondary schools. PLOS ONE, 19(7), e0305703. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305703

All other mentioned resources are listed on scenicroutepodcast.com

_____________________________________________________________________

Visit jenniferwalter.me – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change."

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on TikTok
• Follow on Threads

🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL
The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us!

👉 Pull Your Free Card

⭐ LOVE THE SHOW?
Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.

You know what to do. You’ve read the books, journaled the insights, maybe even coached others through the same thing. But when it comes to your own life, something still isn’t shifting.

We’re diving into the psychology of the knowing–doing gap, that frustrating space between insight and action, and unpacking why even the most emotionally intelligent among us get stuck.

Rooted in behavioural theory, trauma-informed coaching, and real-life experience, we explore the invisible forces blocking change, even when we’re desperate. You’ll hear about internal conditioning, emotional safety, nervous system responses, and the quiet ways our culture rewards burnout and self-abandonment.

This isn’t about pushing harder.
It’s about creating inner and outer infrastructure that finally supports the life you already know you want.

We'll cover:

• The surprising origins of the knowing–doing gap (and why it’s not your fault)
• Why self-awareness is necessary – but not enough – for behaviour change
• The role of emotional resistance, cognitive dissonance, and nervous system protection in keeping you stuck
• Four powerful barriers that block action and how to gently dissolve them
• Why change disrupts social dynamics, and how to hold your ground when others push back
• Somatic and practical tools to help you pause, realign, and take brave, value-aligned action
• Why midlife (or any life crossroads) is often the beginning of true freedom

This episode is for you if:

• You’re deeply self-aware but still repeating patterns that exhaust or resent you
• You crave rest, clarity, boundaries—or visibility—but can’t seem to follow through
• You’ve been told you’re “so strong” for too long, and you’re ready to be real
• You want to understand not just why you’re stuck, but how to move forward

👥 Desire support?
This is the exact work I do with clients in 1:1 coaching. We build safety, structure, and clarity around your inner resistance so you can actually live what you know.

→ Learn more or book a call

_____________________________________________________________________

Visit jenniferwalter.me – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change."

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on TikTok
• Follow on Threads

🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL
The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us!

👉 Pull Your Free Card

⭐ LOVE THE SHOW?
Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.