Real Food Mental Health

Hi there,

I recently joined Mr. Cox on his Real Food for Mental Health Podcast where we discussed how to Rewire Your Brain and Escape Burnout and Workaholicism for Good.

Listen on Spotify — scroll over to minute 19 for some good mental food.

The Busy Badge of Honor

If you’ve ever worn busy like a badge of honor, you’re not alone. Our culture rewards overachievement, praises exhaustion, and equates worth with productivity. But here’s the truth: chronic busyness is not a badge—it’s a burden. And burnout doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s wired into us, one unchecked habit at a time.

The Good News: Your Brain Is Rewireable

Thanks to neuroplasticity, you can retrain your brain to work smarter, not harder—and without guilt. It’s not about doing less; it’s about doing what matters more intentionally and sustainably.

Step 1: Interrupt the Addiction to Achievement

Being a workaholic isn’t about loving work. It’s about being addicted to the dopamine hit that comes from checking off boxes. Start by practicing pause moments. Set timers to check in with yourself throughout the day:

  • Am I working with purpose?
  • Is this task aligned with my bigger goals?

This single act creates awareness, and awareness rewires everything.

Step 2: Anchor Your Day with Boundaries

Create rituals that signal “start” and “stop.” Your brain craves rhythm. When you blend work and life too much, your brain stays in a constant low-grade stress response. Try:

  • A 5-minute morning reset (no screens)
  • A non-negotiable end-of-day shutdown routine (journal, walk, pray, etc.)

Step 3: Replace Hustle Hormones with Healing Habits

High performers often live off cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are helpful in the short term but toxic when overused. Instead, cultivate habits that stimulate serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins:

  • Laugh daily
  • Move your body (even 10 minutes helps)
  • Engage in relationships, not just responsibilities

Step 4: Redefine Success

Rewiring your brain requires reframing your beliefs:

  • “Rest is lazy” → “Rest is productive.”
  • “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done” → “Empowered teams create lasting success.”
  • “More = better” → “Aligned = better.”

When you shift your internal definitions of success, your brain stops sounding the alarm every time you slow down.

Step 5: Practice a Power Pause Weekly

Build a weekly review ritual:

  • What gave me energy this week?
  • What drained me?
  • What’s one small thing I can let go of?

This helps your brain prioritize without panic—and it builds the muscle of clarity over chaos.

Final Thought

You can hustle hard or you can hustle healthy. One leads to burnout. The other builds a legacy. Rewiring your brain isn’t a one-time fix—it’s a daily decision to choose purpose over pressure.

Contact Rhonda