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You’re crushing it at work. You’re also snapping at your partner over the dishwasher, lying awake at 2am running tomorrow’s agenda, and checking Slack on vacation “just in case.” Sound familiar? That’s not a productivity problem you can fix with a better calendar app. That’s your nervous system waving a white flag.
This workshop with Carrie McMahon (2x Chief of Staff who’s lived through her own burnout) skips the woo-woo and delivers three science-backed breathing techniques you can start using today. You’ll learn why energy management matters more than time management, how to spot your personal early warning signs before you crash, and how to actually shift out of “always on” mode. Perfect if your current strategy is “push through until the weekend.” 😵💫
Carrie McMahon is a 2x Chief of Staff in tech, Top 100 PLG Operator, trauma-informed yoga teacher (RYT 200), and Somatic Experiencing® student. After her own burnout in 2023, she built the ALIGN Method and founded Ground & Regulate, where she helps tech leaders regulate their nervous systems and operate sustainably. She's lived both sides: the pressure and the recovery.
This isn’t a productivity seminar. It’s a hands-on, reflective session built around the real-world scenarios Chiefs of Staff face every day: constant context-switching, decision fatigue, and the pressure of always being “on.”
Carrie walks through three breath work techniques with guided practice for each, then coaches attendees through recognizing their own energy patterns and early warning signs. The Q&A dives into practical scenarios like how to regulate yourself during a triggering meeting (without anyone noticing) using somatic tracking and orienting techniques.
Energy Management > Time Management
Why a color-coded calendar can’t outrun a dysregulated nervous system
The two modes you’re always running in (execute vs. reflect) and why most of us are stuck in one
Sustainable vs. borrowed energy, and why the interest on borrowed energy compounds fast
Three Techniques You Can Start Using Today
Morning Anchor – A 90-second grounding practice before you touch your phone
Box Breathing – Your between-meetings reset (used by the military and first responders)
Alternate Nostril Breathing – The end-of-day signal that tells your body work is over
Spotting Your Warning Signs Before You Crash
The three buckets to watch: physical, mental, and emotional
Why running hot has probably become your baseline (and how to reset it)
The one small shift that beats any lifestyle overhaul
Regulating Yourself in Real Time
Somatic tracking and orienting techniques you can do mid-meeting
The subtle breathing pattern that calms you while you’re actively listening
How to build awareness so you catch dysregulation before it hijacks your day
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