The Savvy Psychologist's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Mental Health

It’s the eternal question: how to start a conversation in a way that’s not creepy (“You have such beautiful lips,”) an overshare (“Ugh, this thong is way too tight,”) or weird (“Do you like ham?”) This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen walks us through how to start a conversation without remarking that your conversation partner looks just like your former cellmate. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/3-tips-to-starting-a-conversation-and-defusing-awkwardness Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

What do challenges as diverse as addiction, perfectionism, narcissism, and masochism have in common? They’re driven by a family of emotions that share “a painful awareness of self,” otherwise known as shame. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen talks with psychologist Dr. Joseph Burgo about the often-misunderstood experience of shame, and most importantly, how to overcome it. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/how-to-overcome-feelings-of-shame Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

Are you harder on yourself than 40-grit sandpaper? Do you feel like you’re falling short, no matter how high you’ve climbed? Are you tough as nails on yourself, but soft as mashed potatoes with others? Welcome to the esteemed yet insecure club of the highly self-critical. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 5 signs it’s time to release the pressure. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/5-signs-youre-too-self-critical Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

From a child who needs a bribe to make it through an errand to the colleague who expects you to rescue him from his poor planning, entitled individuals are more demanding than The Rock’s workout schedule. Sometimes entitlement sparks national conversation—“I got into Yale”—but more often it’s subtle: a double take and an, “Are you serious?” This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen uncovers 4 more ways to deal with people so pushy you’d think the last lifeboat was almost full. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/how-to-deal-with-entitled-people-in-4-steps Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

What makes you feel insecure (besides trying on swimwear under fluorescent lighting?) Surprise! The culprit is your very own mind. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen reveals three toxic thinking habits that keep you feeling insecure, plus offers three ways to feel more confident.

It’s intuitive that getting out in nature is rejuvenating, but why? What is it about going over the river and through the woods that helps us clear our heads? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen dives into why our minds love to go green. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/why-getting-away-in-nature-is-good-for-your-mental-health Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

Like forms of procrastination—binge-watching GLOW, shopping for dog raincoats online, or stalking your middle school friends on social media—procrastinators themselves come in many shapes and sizes. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen profiles 3 classic types of procrastinators and offers 5 ways to change today! (Or tomorrow…) Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/3-types-of-procrastinators-which-one-are-you Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

When should you stick to your high standards? And when should you accept yourself as “enough”? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen tackles whether self-improvement and self-compassion can be two great tastes that taste great together, or if they’re more like toothpaste and orange juice. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/self-improvement-vs-self-compassion-finding-the-balance Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

Anyone who’s ever tried to help a friend in an abusive relationship has likely uttered the following two words: “Just leave.” But what seems so simple from the outside is much more complicated from the inside. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen dives into why victims of relationship violence return to their abusers, and exactly how abusers manipulate their partners not only into staying, but even defending them. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/why-do-victims-go-back-to-their-abusers Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

Mindfulness is the biggest thing since indoor plumbing. But as the mindfulness movement rolls on, myths and misinformation have popped up, like sweets in your grocery cart when shopping with a toddler. Therefore, this week Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen busts the 5 biggest myths of mindfulness. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/the-5-biggest-myths-of-mindfulness Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

Sarcastic people can be hilarious, but when their barbs are pointed at you, they can be annoying or even hurtful. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/1gSwloB

Are your political views getting you unfriended on Facebook? Do you find yourself retreating to your particular bubble, even at the expense of relationships? Well, imagine being married to your political opposite. Now, imagine it actually working. Today’s guest, psychologist Dr. Jeanne Safer, has accomplished just that for 40 years. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen and Dr. Safer discuss political mixing and how to make it work. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/how-to-talk-to-and-even-live-with-your-political-opposite Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

It happens to everyone. You’re supposed to go out, work out, or otherwise be active, but your energy is lower than a three-watt bulb. Are you actually tired? Or just being lazy or avoidant? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 4 ways to tell when you should push and when you should rest. Read the full transcript at https://quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/should-i-keep-pushing-myself-or-rest-4-simple-solutions Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

Sometimes guilt is appropriate: it links us to our moral compass and spurs us to right our wrongs. But too often, guilt crosses the line into inappropriate. It keeps us stuck, ruminating about the past, and, unchecked, can lead to depression. So what should you do if you feel as guilty as a teenage boy with a freshly erased browser history? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 7 ways to let go of guilt. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/shake-it-off-7-ways-to-let-go-of-guilt Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com

Inequality, privilege, and injustice blare from the headlines. When faced with an unjust world, how do you cope? Do you dwell on unfairness? Or do you stay out of the fray? This week, by request from Melissa in San Francisco, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen reveals the surprising truth about how each of us is wired for justice and revenge. Read the full transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/does-revenge-work-our-minds-on-vengeance Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Order Ellen's book HOW TO BE YOURSELF: https://us.macmillan.com/howtobeyourself/ellenhendriksen/9781250161703/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist On Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych Download free, science-backed resources to fight social anxiety: http://EllenHendriksen.com