happy healthy hustle

Why Adult Friendship Is Hard

Making friends as an adult is hard.Not because you’re awkward.Not because you’re “bad at people.”But because adult friendship runs on rules no one taught you.In this episode of the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast, I sit down with my student, Sammy, to break down what’s actually happening psychologically when you’re starting over - moving cities, studying abroad, rebuilding community, or watching everyone else look “settled” while you feel behind.This isn’t a “go join a club” pep talk. I don’t believe in those.It’s the truth:Discomfort doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re early.You’ll learn why waiting to “feel settled” keeps you stuck, why friendship doesn’t magically appear, and how momentum is built through repeated exposure, shared environments, and small consistent steps—before it feels good.In this episode, we explore:➡️ Why adult friendship feels harder than childhood friendship➡️ The psychology of starting over and why the beginning feels so uncomfortable➡️ Why your environment matters more than your personality➡️ How “awkward” is a phase, not a verdict➡️ Why proximity + repetition beats motivation➡️ How to stop turning obstacles into self-criticism—and turn them into strategy➡️ The mindset shift: You don’t arrive at home—you build itThis Week’s Petite Practice®Pick one “repeatable room” you can show up to this week:the same classthe same caféthe same community spacethe same walk routeThen go twice. No pressure to perform. Just show up.Because friendship doesn’t come from intensity.It comes from consistency.

My 3 Biggest Mistakes in 2025

Did this year look successful on paper?But feel strangely unfinished on the inside?You’re not broken.And you didn’t fail.But you might have optimized for the wrong things.In this solo episode of the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast,I reflect on 2025 and the kind of mistakes smart, capable people make — the ones that look productive, responsible, and successful… while quietly costing you clarity, health, or peace.Through psychology, lived experience, and deeply personal moments — from stepping onto a TEDx stage to sitting in a doctor’s office — this episode reframes what real success actually includes.This conversation is for the high-achiever whose life looks good on paper.Busy.Accomplished.Full of milestones.And yet… something feels off.You’ll learn why the emotional letdown after big wins isn’t a personal flaw.It’s a misunderstanding of how growth actually works.And how addressing what you’ve been postponing can bring more relief than chasing the next goal ever will.In this episode, we explore:➡️ Why the most dangerous mistakes are the ones that look like success➡️ The myth that milestones will finally make you feel “done” or relieved➡️ What really happened after my TEDx talk — and why it didn’t feel the way I expected➡️ Why external validation is inconsistent, and internal acknowledgment is not optional➡️ How postponing health decisions because they’re inconvenient quietly increases risk➡️ Why real success includes your body, not just your calendar➡️ How clarity comes from addressing what you’ve been avoiding — not doing moreThis week’s Petite Practice®Choose one thing you’ve been postponing because it feels inconvenient.Make the appointment.Send the email.Schedule the check-up.Don’t do it perfectly.Just do the first step.Let relief replace avoidance.A reminder to carry with you:“Big goals are worth pursuing — but they’re not meant to rescue you.Real success includes your body, not just your calendar.And clarity doesn’t come from doing more.It comes from addressing what you’ve been postponing.”Connect with Dr. Christiane SchroeterJoin me on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@doctor.christiane?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: @doctor.christianeTools, past episodes, and clarity resources: https://doctorchristiane.comGrab my book Step Into Your Voice: https://amzn.to/3YbrgyZIf this episode resonated, share it with someone who keeps chasing milestones — hoping the next one will finally make things feel different.And if you enjoyed it, a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review helps more listeners find the show.Here’s to clarity, self-trust, and redefining success in a way that actually sustains you.

What Actually Moved the Needle

You’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong.In this solo episode of the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast, I share a quiet year end reflection on what actually changed my year.Not the plans.Not the milestones.But the small, intentional decisions that added up over time.This episode isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a look behind the scenes at the moments that shaped clarity, confidence, and momentum in ways I didn’t recognize until I paused to look back.If you’ve ever felt like you were doing a lot but moving slowly, this conversation is for you.Through lived experience, behavioral science, and a personal story from preparing for my TEDx talk,I explore why progress often feels invisible while it’s happening and why that doesn’t mean it isn’t working.This episode is for anyone who:Started the year with a plan that didn’t unfold the way they expectedMade quiet choices on uncertain daysKept showing up without clear proof it was paying offIn this episode, we explore:➡️ Why small, intentional steps outperform big dramatic changes➡️ How clarity is built through everyday decisions, not perfect plans➡️ What “TEDx Caroling” taught me about courage, practice, and belonging➡️ Why celebration isn’t a reward at the end, but part of the process➡️ How behavioral science explains the power of micro progress➡️ Why confidence compounds when effort is acknowledged in real time➡️ How reflection turns motion into momentumThis week’s Petite Practice®:Ask yourself one simple question each day:What matters right now?Not someday. Not after everything feels settled. Right now.Then choose one small step and repeat it.Let repetition build capability. Let capability build confidence.A reminder to carry with you:“You don’t need a flawless plan to change your life. You need one petite step, taken consistently, in the direction of who you’re becoming.”Connect with Dr. Christiane Schroeter:Instagram: @doctor.christianeTools, past episodes, and clarity resources: https://doctorchristiane.comIf this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s questioning whether their quiet progress counted this year.And if you enjoyed it, a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review helps more listeners find the show.Here’s to clarity, steadiness, and trusting the work you did, even when it didn’t announce itself loudly.8e982be732d040a8149971c1177f9027d2adf49e

How to Stop Feeling Behind

Feeling behind this holiday season?You’re not imagining the heaviness. But you’re also not failing.In this solo episode of the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast, I unpack why the holidays amplify loneliness, comparison, and the quiet belief that everyone else is somehow “ahead.” Through psychology, lived experience, and a deeply personal story from my first holiday season in the United States, this episode reframes what it really means to belong.This conversation is for anyone whose holidays look different this year. Quieter. Unplanned. Far from home. Or simply not matching the picture in their head.You’ll learn why the pressure you feel isn’t truth. It’s psychology. And how small, steady practices can help you feel grounded again, even in unfamiliar seasons In this episode, we explore:➡️ Why the holidays intensify comparison, timelines, and the feeling of being behind➡️ The spotlight effect and how it convinces us others are judging our lives more than they are➡️ Why loneliness feels heavier this time of year and how to release that pressure➡️ A personal story from my first holiday season away from Germany➡️ How curiosity and spontaneity can create unexpected belonging➡️ Why meaningful traditions are sometimes discovered, not inherited➡️ How micro rituals build emotional steadiness when life feels unstructuredThis week’s Petite Practice®Choose one small ritual that brings steadiness.A walk. A favorite movie. A shared meal. A quiet moment of reflection.Repeat it gently. Let it anchor you.A reminder to carry with you:“You’re not behind. You’re not invisible. And you’re not forgotten.You’re simply in a unique season of your life, and it’s still yours to shape.”Connect with Dr. Christiane SchroeterInstagram: @doctor.christianeTools, past episodes, and clarity resources: https://doctorchristiane.comGrab my NEW book Step Into Your Voice: https://amzn.to/3YbrgyZIf this episode resonated, share it with someone whose holidays feel complicated this year.And if you enjoyed it, a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review helps more listeners find the show.Here’s to calm, clarity, and the quiet reassurance that you are not home alone.

Small Steps for Big Clarity w/ Quinn Magnuson

Feeling overwhelmed?These small shifts will help you get your clarity back.In this episode of the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast, I sit down with Quinn Magnuson — teacher, coach, founder of the Effort Over Results movement, and host of the EOR Podcast.Quinn’s work centers around helping people slow down, find their footing, and take meaningful steps forward, especially when life feels chaotic.From the “quicksand” sensation that pulls you deeper the harder you fight, to the tiny resets that bring your system back online, this conversation shows why calm, clarity, and structure matter just as much as ambition.Quinn shares how shifting your environment can transform your mindset, why movement creates instant relief, and how helping others has become his lifelong superpower. This episode is about more than productivity. It’s about emotional regulation, self-awareness, and the small steps that help you feel grounded again.Here’s what we talk about:➡️ Why overwhelm feels like quicksand and how to stop sinking➡️ The power of changing your environment — even stepping into a different room➡️ The difference between signal overwhelm and structure overwhelm➡️ How Quinn uses his superpower of helping others, even when he’s the one feeling stuck➡️ Why movement is the fastest way to reset your mind➡️ What it means to build a legacy through discipline, consistent effort, and generosity➡️ This week’s Petite Practice™: choose one 5-minute reset and try it todayMy reminder this week:“Overwhelm is not a failure. It’s a signal. Clear the field, take a breath, and choose one small, directionally correct step.”Connect with Quinn MagnusonWebsite: https://effortoverresults.comInstagram: @eor.quinnPodcast: The EOR PodcastConnect with Dr. Christiane SchroeterInstagram: @doctor.christianeTools, past episodes, and clarity resources: doctorchristiane.comGrab my NEW book Step into Your Voice: https://amzn.to/3YbrgyZListen on Apple Podcasts:If this episode supported you, share it with someone who’s been running on empty.And if you enjoyed it, a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review helps more listeners find the show.Here’s to clarity, calm, and small steps that move you forward.