The Rewriters

In this episode I’m talking about perfectionism and it’s very cosy bedfellow procrastination.I work primarily with objectively successful professional women (I work with men too, but over 90% of my clients are women who hold senior positions in their company or run their own businesses – sometimes both) – and a trait that comes up time and time again for these women is perfectionism – their constant and relentless pursuit of perfection. It can be a loud and urgent pursuit, but it can also be a low and constant hum.So many incredible, talented and ambitious women are shackled by their perfectionism because more often than not, it’s not helping them to reach greater heights, it’s holding them back. It’s keeping them smaller and more muted than their talents, passions and skills deserve to be.So today I want to tackle it and provide some ways you can finally break free from the perfectionism/procrastination cycle.The episode is broken down as follows:The Perfectionism-Procrastination Cycle explained – what perfectionism is, what procrastination is and how the two are linked.We’ll unpack The myths, lies, harms and excuses of perfectionism We’ll get practical and explore how to move From perfectionism into action – including The Intentional Procrastination Method Self-Coaching Questions for you to interrogate your own relationship with perfectionism and procrastination Resources referenced:‘How the Modern Epidemic of Perfectionism is Impacting Our Health with Will Storr’ on The Feel Better, Live More podcast by Rangan Chaterjee: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/feel-better-live-more-with-dr-rangan-chatterjee/id1333552422?i=1000648081242‘Children with ADHD Avoid Failure and Punishment More Than Others, Study Says’ by Devon Frye on AttitudeMag: https://www.additudemag.com/children-with-adhd-avoid-failure-punishment/‘Why procrastination isn’t laziness – it’s rigid thinking that your brain can unlearn’ by Annemieke Apergis-Schoute on The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/why-procrastination-isnt-laziness-its-rigid-thinking-that-your-brain-can-unlearn-270838 'How to Befriend Your Inner Critic' by Monique Shaw on The Rewriters podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s3-ep-4-how-to-befriend-your-inner-critic/id1538589146?i=1000743388781 Further ReadingPerfectionism is adaptive and maladaptive, but what is the combined effect?' by Joachim Stober, Daniel J Madigan, Lazaros Gonidis on Science Direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/perfectionism ‘Perfectionism’ (no author) on Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/perfectionism#:~:text=Perfectionists%20set%20unrealistically%20high%20expectations,life%20for%20approval%20and%20validation. Work with Monique:Join 'The Rewriters Community'. Explore here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/becomeamember Visit: www.rewriterewrite.com For more tips, tools and stories, subscribe to The Rewrite Newsletter: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/get-the-weekly-rewrite Get in touch with Monique Shaw:Web: www.rewriterewrite.com/contactInstagram: @the_rewritersLinkedIn: Monique Shaw The Rewriters is written, researched, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original music by DJ Cinnamon. 

In this episode, we’ll explore why the common advice to "silence" or "erase" your inner critic is destined to fail. Instead, we’ll dive into the transformative power of listening to, learning from, befriending – and ultimately transcending – that critical inner voice. Whether you're struggling with confidence, imposter syndrome or negative self-talk, this episode provides guidance and techniques to turn your harshest critic into your greatest ally.You'll learn:The psychology of the inner critic: What it actually is and why it’s trying to protect you.Identifying limiting beliefs: How to spot the hidden assumptions holding you back.Actionable tools & techniques: Methods for managing the inner critic in-the-moment and longer-term.A deep-dive case study: A real-life look at someone’s personal experience with their inner critic.Self-coaching framework: Questions to help you befriend and move beyond your critic, starting today.Stop fighting your mind and start leading it. Resources referenced:‘Decoding the inner critic’s origins and purpose’ by Dr. Nelda Andersone: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/human-inner-dynamics/202312/decoding-the-inner-critics-origins-and-purposeDr Kristin Neff’s exercise for changing your critical self-talk: https://self-compassion.org/exercises/exercise-5-changing-your-critical-self-talk/The Rewriters Podcast - 'Grow confidence and overcome imposter syndrome’: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/re-release-how-to-grow-confidence-and-overcome/id1538589146?i=1000720570445Work with Monique:·     Join 'The Rewriters Community'. Explore here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/becomeamember·     Visit: www.rewriterewrite.com ·     For more tips, tools and stories, subscribe to The Rewrite Newsletter Get in touch with Monique Shaw:·     Web: www.rewriterewrite.com/contact·     Instagram: @the_rewriters·     LinkedIn: Monique Shaw The Rewriters is written, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original music by DJ Cinnamon.

Welcome to this episode – HOW TO DEAL WITH JERKS AT WORKKey episode discussion points:Different Types of Jerks at Work – the 3 jerk ‘archetypes’Tools for Dealing with Jerks at WorkDifferent Jerks Scenarios – What to do when your boss, client or colleague is a jerkThe episode also includes some self-coaching questions to help you navigate a jerk or jerky situation you might be dealing with at work. Resources referenced:Monique Shaw article ~ HOW TO INFLUENCE WITH INTEGRITYCoaching programme ~ Rewrite Your Career StoryTransactional Analysis ~ A brief overview Work with Monique:·     Join 'The Rewriters Community'. Explore here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/becomeamember·     Visit: www.rewriterewrite.com ·     For more tips, tools and stories, subscribe to The Rewrite Newsletter Get in touch with Monique Shaw:·     Web: www.rewriterewrite.com/contact·     Instagram: @the_rewriters·     LinkedIn: Monique Shaw The Rewriters is written, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original music by DJ Cinnamon.

Welcome to this brand new season of The Rewriters podcast, beginning with this episode ~ HOW TO QUIT YOUR JOB. Key episode discussion points: How to know if you SHOULD quit your job?Is it a YOU thing or a THEM thing?When is it the right TIME to quit?If you quit, what NEXT?I also introduce my ‘Quit Your Job’ Quadrant ~ a framework for mapping out if and when you should quit. Download your Quit Your Job Quadrant HEREResources referenced: The Rewrite ‘Quit Your Job’ Quadrant: Download HereThe Rewriters Podcast ~ OWNING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND AT WORKThe Rewriters Podcast ~ CREATING A VALUES-LED CAREERCoaching programme: Rewrite Your Career Story  Work with Monique:·     Join 'The Rewriters Community'. Explore here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/becomeamember·     Visit: www.rewriterewrite.com ·     For more tips, tools and stories, subscribe to The Rewrite Newsletter Get in touch with Monique Shaw:·     Web: www.rewriterewrite.com/contact·     Instagram: @the_rewriters·     LinkedIn: Monique Shaw The Rewriters is written, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original music by DJ Cinnamon.

Welcome to this summer 2025 re-release: How to unhook from toxic productivity  Key episode points:Our obsession with productivityThe problem with productivityToxic Vs Conscious productivityMy relationship with productivity – then and NOWHow to design your days for maximum impact, minimal depletion.  The Rewrite PlannerDuring the episode, I share the system I’ve developed to help you design your time to be more consciously productive – it’s called ‘The Rewrite Planner’. It helps you to identify your unique energy cycle, categorise your tasks into 5 different activity types, and then map them to your energy cycle for maximum impact with minimal depletion.Download here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/rewriteplanner Other resources referencedArticle: When is productivity a dirty word? By Monique ShawThe Rewriters Podcast Episode 5 – How to maximise and conserve your time and Episode 14 – Owning your personal brand at workThe Eisenhower Matrix – https://todoist.com/productivity-methods/eisenhower-matrixWant to create more time wealth? Book a ‘Boundaries and Time Wealth’ career clinic with Monique and learn how to design a time management strategy that fits you and how you want to work.Find out more: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/career-clinics Work with Monique:·     Join 'The Rewriters Community'. Explore here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/becomeamember·     Visit: www.rewriterewrite.com ·     For more tips, tools and stories, subscribe to The Rewrite Newsletter Get in touch with Monique Shaw:·     Web: www.rewriterewrite.com/contact·     Instagram: @the_rewriters·     LinkedIn: Monique Shaw The Rewriters is written, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original music by DJ Cinnamon.

Welcome to this summer 2025 re-release: Owning your personal brand at work About the episodeKey episode discussion points:What a personal brand is and why it’s so importantWhat a personal brand ISN’T3 personal brand ‘myths’My simple formula for rewriting your personal brandI also share how I came across the power of personal brand in my career and used it to get noticed for doing the things I loved most. Resources referenced:     Career clinic: Rewrite Career Clinics – Personal Brand, Career Clarity, Time WealthCoaching programme: Rewrite Your Career StoryArticle: The power of personal brand at work – by Monique ShawThe Rewriters Podcast Episode 13 – DIY PR & The Art of Self Promotion, with Pippa GouldenThe Rewriters Podcast Episode 5 – How to maximise and conserve your time, with Monique Shaw=== Throughout August, I will be re-releasing my favourite episodes from The Rewriters archives as we warm up for a brand-new season from 1st September 2025. The Rewriters is written, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original artwork by Ciana Perry and original music by DJ Cinnamon.Work with Monique:·     Join 'The Rewriters Community'. Explore here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/becomeamember·     Visit: www.rewriterewrite.com ·     For more tips, tools and stories, subscribe to The Rewrite Newsletter Get in touch with Monique Shaw:·     Web: www.rewriterewrite.com/contact·     Instagram: @the_rewriters·     LinkedIn: Monique Shaw The Rewriters is written, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original music by DJ Cinnamon.

Welcome to this summer 2025 re-release: How to maximise and conserve your time.Throughout August, I will be re-releasing my favourite episodes from The Rewriters archives as we warm up for a brand-new season from 1st September 2025.Struggle with managing your time? Check out my Boundaries & Time Wealth Career Clinic here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/career-clinicsAbout the episodeI consider myself a bit of a Time Ninja – it's one of my favourite topics and special interest areas. In this episode I’ll outline my key time principles as well as my top tips and tools for maximising and conserving your time.You’ll hear about micro-deadlines, peak periods, auditing and chunking diaries, as well as why you shouldn’t try to eat a wholecake in one sitting. I am confident that if you implement just one piece of advice from this episode, you will carve out more time for you and your priorities.In the episode I reference the following resources:Ep 3 of The Rewriters podcast – How to rewrite your career story in 2021How to beat the blank page in 4 easy stepsHow to make the same impact at work in half the time === Work with Monique:·     Join 'The Rewriters Community'. Explore here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/becomeamember·     Visit: www.rewriterewrite.com ·     For more tips, tools and stories, subscribe to The Rewrite Newsletter Get in touch with Monique Shaw:·     Web: www.rewriterewrite.com/contact·     Instagram: @the_rewriters·     LinkedIn: Monique Shaw The Rewriters is written, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original music by DJ Cinnamon.

Welcome to this summer 2025 re-release! Throughout August, I will be re-releasing my favourite episodes from The Rewriters archives, as we warm up for a brand-new season coming 1st September 2025. About the episode (originally released June 2022):Key episode discussion points:Why to stop trying to be confident – and what to do insteadWhere confidence and imposter syndrome intersectWhat imposter syndrome is – my beliefs and what I’ve learnedHow to overcome imposter syndrome (one step at a time) Resources referenced:Why you should stop trying to be more confident by Monique Shaw3 https://www.rewriterewrite.com/blog/stop-trying-to-be-confidentAre you making decisions for other people in your career? https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/weekly-rewrites-2-are-you-making-decisions-for-other/id1538589146?i=1000566485119Making bold career moves without certainty with Dr Parth Shah https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/making-bold-career-moves-without-certainty-with-dr/id1538589146?i=1000515954033Contextualizing the Impostor “Syndrome” by Feenstra et al - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.575024/fullPrevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review by Bravata et al –https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174434/Feel like a fraud by Kirsten Weir - https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraudThere's a Surprising Upside to Imposter Syndrome, Research Shows by David Nield - https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-have-found-there-is-an-upside-to-imposter-syndrome-at-workHow to Overcome Imposter Syndrome by Jeremy Sutton PhD - https://positivepsychology.com/imposter-syndrome-tests-worksheets/ Work with Monique:·     Join 'The Rewriters Community'. Explore here: https://www.rewriterewrite.com/becomeamember·     Visit: www.rewriterewrite.com ·     For more tips, tools and stories, subscribe to The Rewrite Newsletter Get in touch with Monique Shaw:·     Web: www.rewriterewrite.com/contact·     Instagram: @the_rewriters·     LinkedIn: Monique Shaw The Rewriters is written, produced and presented by Monique Shaw. Original music by DJ Cinnamon.