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Episode 03 | October 27, 2020

Ali Klotz

Listen in to our conversation with Ali Klotz, who tells us how she said no when her world became overwhelming.

INTRO

Welcome to “That’s a Hard No” – the podcast about saying no (in all its forms) so you can become the authentic and empowered person that this world needs.

Quick disclosure: While Sarah is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, this podcast is in no way replacement for one-on-one therapy with a mental health professionalIf you are struggling with mental health issues, we welcome you on this journey, but also invite you to seek out professional help.

Looking for a therapist? Here’s a good place to start: psychologytoday.com

ali klotz pop nation | that's a hard no podcast
SHOW NOTES
Introducing Ali Klotz

Ali Klotz is a wife, mother of two, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and Co-Owner of POP Nation.  During our conversation, Ali generously shared the very personal story of how she became overwhelmed by stress and anxiety – what she calls her “storm” and how her doctor made her realize she needed to say no to everything, rest, and reapproach her life with a new perspective and a new set of boundaries.

Website: popnation.me
POP Nation social media:  @popnation.me (on Instagram and Facebook)
“Mom life” social media: @ali.klotz (on Instagram and Facebook)

Key Takeaways
  • After the birth of her first child, Ali struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety. The anxiety got so bad, it became debilitating. Ali first attributed her symptoms to a hormone imbalance and went to a Functional Medicine doctor, searching for answers. His prescription? Sleep – he said,stop everything and sleep.”
  • In case you’re wondering, here’s some information about Functional Medicine:
  • Following her doctor’s orders, Ali then “unplugged from life.” She took time off work, paused her coaching work, canceled all family commitments, and let her body and mind rest. Which gave her time to “detox” from the stress in her life, think about the things that “triggered” her anxiety, and come up with strategies for preventing or dealing with those triggers.
    • One strategy she used (especially when her anxiety was high), was watching The Lion King over and over (102 times). Watching something familiar and comforting is a common strategy many people use to calm themselves down when their anxiety is high.
  • She made sleep a priority, developing new sleep hygiene habits.
  • Another thing she set boundaries around was social media – even going so far as temporarily removing social media apps from her phone.
    • Sarah suggested “no phone zones,” or recharging stations, or even “no phone activities,” to help us be more mindful of when and where we’re using our phones.
  • Once she had some time to rest and reassess her priorities, Ali and her husband s l o w l y reintroduced activities into their lives, but now make a point of budgeting the number of commitments over the period of a couple of weeks, so that things don’t become overwhelming again.
  • Ali’s final words of wisdom for listeners: “Embrace the pause. Embrace slowing down.” In other words, give yourself permission to pause. In the space you give yourself, you’ll find the things that matter to you and move you towards finding your true purpose.
Resources & Recommendations
  • Books Ali mentioned – by Emily Ley
    • A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living (Amazon link)
    • When Less Becomes More: Making Space for Slow, Simple, and Good (Amazon link)
  • Podcast Heather mentioned to help with insomnia: Sleep with Me Podcast
Credits and Thanks