Your Priority Centered Life

Alise Murray, PhD

Are you feeling tyrannized by your to do list? Are you looking for tips to increase your productivity for better time management? Are you wondering where to begin with a planner or a bullet journal? Do you wonder if it’s at all possible to achieve work-life balance? You’ve come to the right place! “Your Priority Centered Life” will feature useful information you can implement right away and guest interviews that will inspire you to move toward your goals. Host Dr. Alise Murray is a psychologist, a yoga teacher, and a life coach who has spent her career helping overwhelmed, busy adults center their lives around their priorities so they can experience greater fulfillment and achieve higher productivity without burnout.  Want to know where to start? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment today! www.prior10.com/assessment The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

  1. 1d ago

    86: Talking to Your Kids: The Communication Skills That Raise Confident Adults

    Summer is almost here, and so are two and a half months of conversations that are a little less "screaming with joy off the school bus" and a little more navigating. In this first episode of the Actually Talking series, Dr. Alise gets into the communication skills that don't just get you through to bedtime, they build the relationship you actually want with your kids. In this episode: Why a peaceful household and a connected household aren't the same thing, and which one to aim forAuthoritative vs. authoritarian parenting: what the research actually says, and the counterintuitive finding about peer pressureThe "agenda check": a simple in-the-moment tool for defusing tension without losing your authorityWhat attunement means in practice, and why it matters more than much of the parenting advice you've heardChild-centered time: the research-backed practice that changes how kids communicate with youWhy the car is one of the best venues for hard conversations with teenagers (and what to do about the earbuds)The through-line: relationship time doesn't protect itself Whether your kids are in preschool or high school, this episode is about communicating in a way that says you matter to me, and I'm paying attention. Next week: Talking to your partner — the relationship that, for a lot of us, gets the leftovers. The examples and stories shared on this podcast are drawn from clinical and coaching experience. All identifying details have been changed or composited to protect client confidentiality. Any resemblance to a specific individual is coincidental. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute psychological advice, therapy, or a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a licensed mental health professional. Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

    30 min
  2. Jun 3

    85: The 5-Minute Tool That Rewires Burnout, Avoidance, and Overwhelm with Dr. Laurel Mellin

    If you've ever wondered why you can know exactly what you should do and still not do it, this episode is for you. Dr. Laurel Mellin is a health psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and creator of Emotional Brain Training (EBT), an approach developed over 40 years at UC San Francisco. EBT helps people rewire stress patterns at the root, not just manage symptoms. Dr. Mellin has spent decades studying how stress impacts our brains, our behaviors, and our ability to follow through. And her conclusion? Willpower was never the problem. The circuits were. In this episode: Why the thinking brain is not actually in chargeThe difference between extinction and reconsolidation: why building good habits on top of bad circuits leaves you vulnerableWhat a survival circuit actually is, and why you can't think your way out of oneThe Cycle Tool: the 5-minute EBT process that unlocks and rewires stress circuits at the level of the amygdalaWhy procrastination, avoidance, and emotional reactivity are the tail end of a fight-or-flight circuit and not a character flawEmotional set points: what it means to be wired for stress vs. wired for joy, and how to shift itHow EBT applies to relationship disconnection, parenting stress, addiction, and workplace reactivityThe research finding Dr. Mellin finds most compelling: changes that persist two to six years laterPlus: the tax return example that perfectly explains why forcing behavior change almost never works, and what to do instead. Resources mentioned: EBT community membership and app: ebt.org The Stress Solution: A Revolutionary New Method for Emotional Resilience by Dr. Laurel Mellin, available on Amazon (commission link) The examples and stories shared on this podcast are drawn from clinical and coaching experience. All identifying details have been changed or composited to protect client confidentiality. Any resemblance to a specific individual is coincidental. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute psychological advice, therapy, or a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a licensed mental health professional. Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

    42 min
  3. May 27

    84: The Problem Was Never You

    The Problem Was Never You Your Priority Centered Life | Busy On Purpose Series, Episode 5 There's a question a lot of self-aware, high-achieving people carry but don't say out loud. This final episode of the Busy On Purpose series answers it as directly as possible and leaves you with the one thing Dr. Alise most wants you to believe about yourself when you walk away. Because there's a good chance you've been carrying a story about yourself that isn't true. And it's time for a different one. In this episode: Why expecting everyone to thrive in a standard productivity system is like expecting everyone to wear size nine shoes. The two things that have to be in place underneath any system for it to actually hold: your physiology and your environment. Why your brain was not designed to be a storage system, and what happens when you ask it to be one. The simplest place to start, today, before anything else changes and before the timing is perfect. And the one belief that makes everything else in this series work. The one practical thing Dr. Alise leaves you with: Stop carrying everything in your head. Get it out of your mental space and onto something external. A notebook, a notes app, the back of an envelope. Then each morning identify your three most important tasks for the day. Not ten. Three. The things that, if you did nothing else, would mean the day counted for something. That's the foundation the rest gets built on. You'll want to listen if you: Have spent years trying to make standard productivity systems work and wondered what was wrong with youAre a non-linear thinker, someone with ADHD, or a high achiever whose brain just doesn't fit the cookie-cutter approachWant one clear, practical place to start before you have everything figured outHave followed this series and are ready to close the loop The Busy On Purpose series: Episode 1: The 3-Part System for a Meaningful Summer Episode 2: Why Your Productivity System Keeps Failing (It's Not You)Episode 3: Still Behind at 10pm? This Episode Is for YouEpisode 4: The Decision You Keep Not Making (And What It's Costing You)Episode 5: This episode Mentioned in this episode: The Prior 10 Reset — returning in the fall; join the waitlist The Prior 10 Life Management System The examples and stories shared on this podcast are drawn from clinical and coaching experience. All identifying details have been changed or composited to protect client confidentiality. Any resemblance to a specific individual is coincidental. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute psychological advice, therapy, or a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a licensed mental health professional. Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

    10 min
  4. May 20

    83: The Decision You Keep Not Making (And What It's Costing You)

    The Decision You Keep Not Making (And What It's Costing You) Your Priority Centered Life | Busy On Purpose Series If you've been listening to this series thinking "this makes so much sense, this is exactly what's been missing" and you're not sure you're going to do anything about it, this episode is for you. Because the thing that keeps capable, self-aware, high-achieving people stuck isn't a lack of information. It's the decision they keep not making. In the final episode of the Busy On Purpose series, Dr. Alise closes the loop on the cost of waiting, on what choosing on purpose actually looks like in practice, and on why taking care of yourself is not something you do instead of showing up for the people you love. It's part of how you show up for them. In this episode: Why not deciding is itself a decision, and why the gap between knowing something needs to change and actually changing it is where the real losses happen. What one small structural shift can do to the entire texture of your week. The difference between self-sacrifice that looks like devotion and self-sacrifice that functions like depletion. Why the people who love you are often the first ones to notice when you stop investing in yourself. And what choosing on purpose actually looks like, not as a major overhaul, but as a decision. You'll want to listen if you: Have been circling the same problem for months or years without making a moveTell yourself you'll make changes when things calm downFeel guilty investing time, money, or attention in yourselfSense that waiting is costing you something but haven't named what The Busy On Purpose series: This series so far: Episode 80:The 3-Part System for a Meaningful SummerEpisode 81: Why Your Productivity System Keeps Failing (It's Not You)Episode 82: Still Busy At 10 PM? This Episode Is For YouEpisode 83: This episode Mentioned in this episode: The Prior 10 Reset — Dr. Alise's small group coaching program, doors closing soon (link in show notes)The Prior 10 Life Management System The examples and stories shared on this podcast are drawn from clinical and coaching experience. All identifying details have been changed or composited to protect client confidentiality. Any resemblance to a specific individual is coincidental. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute psychological advice, therapy, or a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a licensed mental health professional. Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

    14 min
  5. May 13

    82: Still Behind at 10pm? This Episode Is for You

    Still Behind at 10pm? This Episode Is for You Your Priority Centered Life | Busy On Purpose Series It's 10pm. The kids are in bed. The house is quiet. And instead of winding down, you open your laptop. You tell yourself it'll just be an hour. If that's you, this episode is about what's actually going on beneath that pattern. And it's probably not what you think. In this episode of the Busy On Purpose series, Dr. Alise goes underneath the system conversation to address two things she sees derailing high achievers that almost never get named in the productivity world: not the wrong planner, not a lack of motivation, but the physiological and relational foundations that have to be in place before any system can work. In this episode: The neuroscience of sleep deprivation and why your prefrontal cortex (the part of your brain responsible for planning, prioritizing, and focus) is the first thing to go when you're running on emptyWhy working harder and staying later is often making the cognitive problem worse, not betterThe environment problem: when the chaos isn't coming from your calendar, it's coming from the people around you, and what to do about itWhy so much of what's depleting high achievers is happening in silence, and how one conversation can change more than any system overhaulWhat "busy on purpose" actually feels like versus the haywire batting cage most people are stuck in You'll want to listen if you: Are a high-achieving professional who is exhausted, behind, and can't figure out why more effort isn't helpingSuspect your environment (e.g. a demanding boss, an invisible household load, no protected time) is part of the problemHave been told to try harder or be more disciplined, and know in your gut that's not the answerAre carrying a lot in silence and haven't yet asked for what you actually need This series so far: Episode 80:The 3-Part System for a Meaningful SummerEpisode 81: Why Your Productivity System Keeps Failing (It's Not You)Episode 82: This episode Next week: What it actually looks like to choose your busy on purpose. This is the episode that ties the whole series together. Mentioned in this episode: The Prior 10 Reset, Dr. Alise's small group coaching program, now open for its founding cohortThe Prior 10 Life Management System The examples and stories shared on this podcast are drawn from clinical and coaching experience. All identifying details have been changed or composited to protect client confidentiality. Any resemblance to a specific individual is coincidental. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute psychological advice, therapy, or a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a licensed mental health professional. Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

    15 min
  6. May 6

    81: Why Your Productivity System Keeps Failing (It's Not You)

    Why Your Productivity System Keeps Failing (It's Not You) Your Priority Centered Life | Busy On Purpose Series You've tried the planners. The apps. The color-coded spreadsheet. The Notion setup you haven't opened since February. And at some point, you probably decided the problem was you and that you're just not disciplined enough to stick with anything. This episode makes the case that you've had it backwards. Dr. Alise digs into one of the most overlooked reasons productivity systems fail: they weren't designed for the way your brain actually works. Most popular systems were built for linear thinkers (people who naturally work in lists, categories, and clean digital interfaces). If you're a spatial thinker, a visual processor, or someone who does your best thinking with a pen in your hand, those systems will tend to fight you. She also introduces a second failure mode that's just as common: systems that can't survive real life. A system that only works when everything goes according to plan isn't really a system, it's a plan for your good days. In this episode: Why the solution is often the problem (not you)How to identify your actual thinking style before choosing any systemThe "pocket full of Post-it notes" principle: what your workarounds are trying to tell youWhy rigidity, not laziness, kills even well-designed systemsWhat it looks like when a system genuinely fits, and how different that can look from person to person You'll want to listen if you: Have abandoned more than one planner, app, or organization systemHave ADHD or consider yourself a non-linear thinkerAre a high-achieving professional who still struggles to feel organizedKeep falling off systems after a hard week and can't seem to get back on track Mentioned in this episode: Last week's episode (Episode 80): The 3-Part System for a Meaningful SummerThe Prior 10 Reset, Dr. Alise's small group coaching program built around personalized life management. If you're interested, email me at hello@dr-alise.com with the subject line "Tell me more" and I will send you more info! Next week: The most overlooked reason even a well-designed system eventually falls apart, and why it has nothing to do with your calendar The examples and stories shared on this podcast are drawn from clinical and coaching experience. All identifying details have been changed or composited to protect client confidentiality. Any resemblance to a specific individual is coincidental. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute psychological advice, therapy, or a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a licensed mental health professional. Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

    15 min
  7. Apr 29

    80: The 3-Part System for a Meaningful Summer

    What if, at the end of this summer, your answer wasn’t “it was fine”… but something that actually felt true? Because if you’re anything like the busy professionals I work with, summer tends to blur. It’s full, it’s fast, and somehow it’s over before it ever felt like it began. So instead of trying to “do more” this summer, I want to give you a better approach. In this episode, I’m kicking off a new series called Busy On Purpose, and we’re starting with a simple, practical framework you can actually use in real life, in the middle of your already full schedule. We’re talking about how to make this summer feel intentional, even on the messy, chaotic weeks. Because the goal isn’t a perfect summer. It’s one that actually feels like memories you wanted to create. What You’ll Learn:Why so many people end summer feeling like it “went fast” (and how to change that)The difference between meaningful busy and draining busyHow to define what you actually want your summer to feel likeHow to create realistic, flexible goals that don’t fall apart by week threeThe 3-part framework: Vision – Anchor – AimHow to stay grounded in your priorities, even when life gets chaoticResources Mentioned/Your Next Steps:Work with Me: https://www.dr-alise.comTake the free Prior 10 Life Assessment: https://www.prior10.comConnect on Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alise-murray-454238a8 Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

    20 min
  8. Apr 22

    79: How to Adjust When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned

    You know that moment when your plan completely falls apart? Everything looked manageable when you started your day… And then something shifts. A delay. An unexpected errand. A change in timing. And suddenly, your whole day feels off. In this final episode of the road trip series, we’re talking about one of the most important skills in life planning: Adjusting when things don’t go as planned Because no matter how well you plan your week, there will be detours. Over the past few episodes, we’ve talked about: Choosing what mattersProtecting your timeBuilding in restNoticing the experience along the way But even with all of that in place, plans still change. And when they do, many people fall into a familiar pattern: Trying to rush and catch up Or beating themselves up for getting off track Neither one works. In this episode, we’re talking about how to do exactly that in your life without turning your week into a cycle of overwork, exhaustion, and frustration. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why your plans fall apart (and why that’s normal)The problem with trying to “catch up”How overcorrecting leads to burnoutA simple way to reset your weekWhy weekly reflection helps you stay on trackHow to adjust your plans without guilt Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Sunday Priority Check Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/sunday-priority-checkPrior 10 Life Assessment: https://www.prior10.com Try this after you listen: Ask yourself: Am I still headed where I want to go this week? If yes, keep going. If not, adjust. No rushing. No guilt. Just check the map and keep moving. Your Next Steps: Work with Me: https://www.dr-alise.comTake the free Prior 10 Life Assessment: https://www.prior10.comConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alise-murray Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.

    10 min

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Are you feeling tyrannized by your to do list? Are you looking for tips to increase your productivity for better time management? Are you wondering where to begin with a planner or a bullet journal? Do you wonder if it’s at all possible to achieve work-life balance? You’ve come to the right place! “Your Priority Centered Life” will feature useful information you can implement right away and guest interviews that will inspire you to move toward your goals. Host Dr. Alise Murray is a psychologist, a yoga teacher, and a life coach who has spent her career helping overwhelmed, busy adults center their lives around their priorities so they can experience greater fulfillment and achieve higher productivity without burnout.  Want to know where to start? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment today! www.prior10.com/assessment The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.