EP327: Nikia Smith - Breaking Through Burnout

In this empowering episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora sits down with Dr. Nikia Smith, a physician-turned-life coach who guides high-achieving women of color out of burnout and back into balance. Dr. Smith shares her personal journey from the exhaustion of a demanding medical career to reclaiming her peace and redefining success. Together, Cathy and Dr. Smith explore the deeply ingrained societal and familial expectations that push women toward overwork and away from self-care. The conversation offers practical strategies for setting boundaries, honoring personal values, and making space for rest and joy. In this episode, you'll discover: How Dr. Nikia Smith’s own experience with burnout led to her career shift Why burnout is mistakenly seen as a natural part of success The internalized expectations that keep high-achieving women from resting Simple but powerful mindset shifts to begin reclaiming your time and energy How to redefine success on your own terms without guilt or shame The importance of identifying and prioritizing your personal values Why many healthcare workers struggle to prioritize their own wellbeing Memorable Quotes: "You’ll rest when it’s done, but we all know—it’s never done." "You have to make sure that you’re prioritizing yourself and your values so you don’t get swallowed up by the system." "I realized I was unwilling to sacrifice any more of my wellbeing for something that only looked like success." Bio: Dr. Nikia Smith is a former anesthesiologist turned life coach, community curator, and advocate for high-achieving women of color. With firsthand experience navigating the pressures of hustle culture, she now helps women break free from burnout and create lives of ease, authenticity, and joy. Through coaching and community, Dr. Smith supports women in redefining success and reclaiming their time, energy, and purpose. Mentioned in This Episode: The Hustle Detox: Free 3 Day Mini Course Links to Resources: Health Coach Group Website: thehealthcoachgroup.com Special Offer: Use code HCC50 to save $50 on the Health Coach Group website Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider leaving a five-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts.