The Art of Bending Time: How to Beat Burnout and Get More Done with Michelle Niemeyer (Ep 301)
About the episode
Feeling burned out and stretched too thin? Former attorney turned burnout expert Michelle Niemeyer shares her "bending time" framework to help you find clarity, fill your energy reserves, and get more done in less time without losing yourself in the process.
Helpful Links:
Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links):
Free clarity meditation: text CLARITY to 33777
Connect with Michelle Niemeyer
What if the reason you can't get it all done isn't a time problem but an energy problem?
Michelle Niemeyer is a speaker, consultant, and former attorney who burned out after 20+ years in law. That burnout led to an autoimmune diagnosis and became the wake-up call that changed everything.
She shares The Art of Bending Time, a framework that helps you expand what you can accomplish by getting clear on what matters, cutting the junk, and filling your energy reserves. The conversation also explores burnout warning signs, why women struggle with guilt around self-care, and how families can function as a team.
Key Takeaways:
The burnout sign Michelle ignored for years that eventually made her body shut down
How one dad doubled his sales in a single week by changing just one thing about his morning
The simple clarity exercise that reveals what actually fills your cup (most people have never done this)
Why the phrase "work-life balance" might be the very thing keeping you stuck and overwhelmed
What 80 unused boats on a Miami dock taught Michelle about the clutter we're killing ourselves to maintain
About Michelle Niemeyer:
Michelle Niemeyer is a speaker, coach, and former attorney who helps busy professionals prevent burnout and reclaim joy in their work and lives. After experiencing burnout herself during a 20-year legal career, she became a certified health coach and developed practical strategies to help leaders manage stress, increase productivity, and align their time with what matters most. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, Michelle empowers individuals and organizations to thrive with clarity, energy, and purpose.
Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:20 Who is Michelle Niemeyer and what she does
2:16 What is "bending time" and how it works
3:54 The 80/20 rule and why we waste time on busy work
5:51 Flow state and why physical health matters for productivity
7:11 Why "work-life balance" can actually be destructive
9:25 Signs of burnout: Michelle's personal story
13:56 The clarity exercise: finding what lights you up
17:47 How to weave your "sparks" into daily life
21:06 The power of small moments of connection
26:31 Why women feel guilty taking time for themselves
27:30 Treating your family like a team
33:51 Burnout to autoimmune disease: Michelle's health wake-up call
38:45 Bending time revisited: cutting junk, expanding capacity
41:38 Stop chasing a lifestyle that doesn't light you up
43:29 The boat dock story: things we own but never use
Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com
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cheers!
About Deanna Yates
Based in San Diego, CA, Deanna helps high-achieving moms clear the clutter from their homes and lives.
Through coaching, courses, summits, and her top-ranked Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, she supports modern women in building organized, peaceful homes where they can thrive.
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