Ever found yourself saying 'yes' to tasks you wish you had declined?

What if you had the perfect phrases ready to say 'no' confidently and guilt-free? This episode of Overwhelmed Working Woman dives into the common struggle of overcommitting and offers practical solutions. Learn how to how to decline requests effectively to save your sanity and improve your productivity.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The 2 magic questions you can ask yourself that will totally irradicate people pleasing.
Powerful, guilt-free ways to communicate your 'no' firmly and honestly.
Eleven ready-to-use phrases that can be copied and pasted into your next email to decline requests effortlessly.

Listen to this episode now and equip yourself with the tools to master the art of saying 'no' confidently and kindly.

People Pleasing, Say No, TipsMichelle GauthierJune 3, 2024

Ep #57: Stop People Pleasing and Save Hours of Time

What would you do if you suddenly had 12 free hours on your calendar?

People pleasing costs you precious time, and if you can learn to stop, and say no up front, you can create hours of time for yourself. Today you'll learn a proven method to break free from people pleasing so you can have a more calm, relaxed life.

In this episode, you'll learn how to:

Identify the situations that trigger people pleasing, and their hidden time costs.
How the Love and Fit method can help you to confidently say no without guilt.
Reclaim hours of wasted time each week, leading to a lighter mental load and less overwhelm.

Ready to reclaim your time and break free from people-pleasing? Tune in now to discover the Love and Fit method and start saying no with ease.

People Pleasing, Say NoMichelle GauthierMay 6, 2024

Ep #36: Stop Over-Apologizing

Have you ever caught yourself uttering a quick "I'm sorry" even when there's nothing for you to apologize for? Have you ever wondered why we do that?

Apologies are important when we've actually made a mistake or hurt someone's feelings, but far too often, women apologize for things like asking a question or shopping for shampoo at the same time as someone else. Let's stop over-apologizing and just say what we mean!

People Pleasing, TipsMichelle GauthierDecember 11, 2023

Ep #31: Rules for Working Women (& Why We Should Break Them)

Working women like us face a set of unwritten rules. We are expected not just to "do it all" but to make it look easy, too.

When we can't meet these (ridiculous!) expectations, we end up feeling badly about ourselves.

I often hear my clients say things like "everyone else can do this, why can't I", proving that each woman believes she is the only one who can't "do it all".

With the help from Brene Brown's research, and an unexpected lesson from a Barbie movie, we will talk through these societal rules and pressures. We'll shine a light on these expectations and talk about how they can affect how we see ourselves.

But don't worry, it's not all bad news! In the second part of our journey, we'll focus on how to overcome these challenges. I'll share my own experiences with these hard standards, including the times when I felt bad about myself and alone because I couldn't meet them.

We'll discuss the power of telling our own truths and how connecting with others and having meaningful conversations can help us change the story for working women everywhere. Let's be bold, be brave, and start making a difference.

People Pleasing, ChangeMichelle GauthierNovember 6, 2023

Ep #21: The Downside of Being a Capable Woman

Ever found yourself buried under a mountain of responsibility simply because you're highly capable?

Being capable is great, and in so many ways it serves us well. But when we want/need to always be the problem solver, it can lead to overwhelm, stress, and resentment. Together, we'll explore how you can still be the powerful, capable woman you are, without succumbing to the pitfalls of doing it all.

Overwhelm, People Pleasing, Say NoMichelle GauthierAugust 28, 2023

Ep #14: Bonus Episode: Two Kids and a Career Podcast

When my friend Jill Devine from the Two Kids and a Career podcast reached out to me with a thought on changing ourselves versus changing others, I just knew we had to dive into this topic together! In this heart-to-heart conversation, we share our own experiences and the lessons we've learned on the journey to personal growth, including my time living in my sister's guest house during the pandemic and the inspiration behind starting The Overwhelmed Working Woman podcast. Our mission? To help fellow working moms find the tools and strategies to not feel overwhelmed in their daily lives.

In this episode, we explore the challenges of overcoming people-pleasing tendencies and empathetic overload, as well as the importance of taking responsibility for our thoughts and actions. From the difficulty of saying no to the potential positive outcomes from setting boundaries, we offer tips for managing the urge to take on other people's feelings and how to stay true to our authentic selves. Join us as we navigate the complexities of personal growth in this insightful and supportive conversation that's sure to leave you feeling empowered and ready to face life's challenges head-on.

Bonus Episode, People Pleasing, ChangeMichelle GauthierJuly 10, 2023

Ep #09: Stop Caring What Other People Think

“Just stop caring what other people think!”

We’ve all heard that one. It’s a lot easier said than done, and that's why I'm here to help. I'll explain why we care so much about others' opinions and provide practical strategies to evaluate and overcome this tendency.

I also share a personal story about how I let my fear of failure and concern about others' judgment held me back from something I actually wanted to do.

Do you often catch yourself worrying about what others think? Whether it's in social settings or at work, it's time to break free from this cycle.

Tips, Say No, People PleasingMichelle GauthierJune 5, 2023

Ep #07: From Stuck to Happy with Lauren Rapaport

This week we have a guest on the podcast. I invited my friend and client Lauren Rapaport to join me because she is a shining example of how you can take your life from stuck, overwhelmed, and miserable to “the world is my oyster and I can have and create anything I want.”

In this episode, Lauren will tell you exactly how and what she did to create her new, happy life.

Sneak preview: she quit the job she hated and started a new business. She quit drinking and started feeling her feelings. She quit being in “victim mentality” and stopped beating herself up. She accepted her type 1 diabetes instead of hating it. She started loving life and having gratitude for everything.

To quote Lauren, “I am just 100% happier than I was before”.

Tips, Say No, People Pleasing, Positive Thinking, Client StoriesMichelle GauthierMay 22, 2023

Ep #06: The Art of Saying No

If you’ve ever said or thought:

💭I just don’t know how to say no

💭I feel so guilty when I say no

💭She will be mad at me if I say no

💭If I don’t do it, no one else will

. . . this week’s episode is for you!

I’ll teach you the exact steps for saying no, and explain why it’s hard to do sometimes. I’ll help you evaluate what your REAL answer is, and teach you how to communicate that concisely. By the end of the episode, you’ll know the exact steps to take to say “no” when you mean it.

Tips, Say No, People PleasingMichelle GauthierMay 15, 2023