Books and Podcasts on ‘How to Deal’

Over the last year I’ve found myself in conversations with graduate students and junior academics on how to navigate the job market and how to find ‘work-life balance.’ From the outside it may look like I have it figured out, while in reality I have and continue to struggle with juggling the various roles and duties I’ve come to inhabit (professor, mother, wife, friend, mentor, editor, advisor). In this post I share some tactics and resources that have helped me in the hopes that they might help someone else out there. Years before the pandemic I started individual therapy to deal with personal and professional challenges; the lesson: I wish I had started therapy in graduate school. Therapy is not for everyone and sometimes it takes trying out a few different therapists before finding someone you gel with. Please note that the resources I share here are not a substitute for professional psychological or psychiatric expertise, so please consult a professional if you experience severe anxiety, depression, and/or burnout. Also, I get no remuneration from sharing these resources (none of this is sponsored).

Anything by Brené Brown. Period. …Okay, I’ll be more specific. She has published several books and hosts two podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. From these podcasts I’ve learned about the work of other amazing thinkers and writers, I’ve purchased and read some their books and I share them below.