Épisodes

  • Work That Drains or Work That Fuels?

    Work That Drains or Work That Fuels?
    Feb 17 2026
    In this episode, Anneke explores the profound impact that work has on our overall quality of life. Sharing a personal "nightmare" experience with setting up a Google business account, she illustrates how tasks that fall outside our natural strengths can completely zap our energy and leave us "pooped". Anneke dives into why "one person's grind is another person's groove," the changing nature of career trajectories, and the importance of finding work that aligns with your natural traits. Key Takeaways The Energy Tax of "Mismatched" Work: Engaging in tasks that don't align with your background or natural logic can lead to extreme frustration, anger, and physical exhaustion. Trait Activation Theory: People thrive most when their work allows them to express their natural traits—such as introverts seeking solo work or outdoorsy types seeking guide roles. The Myth of "Too Old" to Change: Anneke challenges the common belief that age prevents career changes or learning new tricks, noting that it depends entirely on a person's willingness and intelligence. Status vs. Satisfaction: While modern society often pushes university degrees and office work as high-status, manual labor (like plumbing or baking) often provides more tangible satisfaction because you can see the beginning, middle, and end of your labor. Seasons of Life: Career paths are no longer "jobs for life" but are now influenced by different life seasons, such as raising children or caring for elderly parents, requiring modern workers to be more flexible. The "Good" Kind of Tired: Work that fuels you may still leave you tired, but it is a satisfying fatigue rather than the soul-draining exhaustion caused by tasks you despise. Actionable Advice from Anneke: Reflect on Energy: Identify the specific times in your life when you felt so energized that you forgot about time. Shadow and Volunteer: If you are curious about a new field, find someone to shadow or a place to volunteer to see if the work actually suits your natural preferences. Track Your Feelings: Monitor how you feel mentally, physically, and emotionally after performing certain tasks to identify what consistently fuels you. Take a Personality Test: Use online tools to explore your natural traits and find parameters that might point toward more fulfilling work.
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    21 min
  • The Four Lines of Sight: Designing Your Life with Clarity and Inten

    The Four Lines of Sight: Designing Your Life with Clarity and Inten
    Feb 10 2026
    In this episode of The Quality of Life Quest, Anneke explores "The Four Lines of Sight"; Hindsight, insight, oversight, and foresight. Using her personal experiences working in the high-pressure environment of a hospital’s Acute Medical Unit, Anneke discusses how the quality of our lives is often determined not by what happens to us, but by how clearly we see and interpret our reality. Learn how to use these four companions of wisdom to filter your reality, change your vantage points deliberately, and design a life of greater intention. Key Takeaways The Power of Language: The words we use are not merely decorative; they structure our lives and filter our reality through "predictive processing," where the brain guesses what the world means before we consciously experience it. Hindsight – Learning from the Past: Hindsight converts experience into wisdom only through reflection. It is the art of looking back to find patterns without becoming trapped in bitter judgment or regret. Insight – Facing the Truth: Insight involves looking inwards at the "right here, right now". It requires stillness to separate oneself from the "drama" and identify what truly needs to be changed. Oversight – Maintaining Alignment: Oversight is the ability to view your life from a distance, as if standing on a hill above a forest. It helps you avoid the traps of mistaking busyness for progress or reactivity for responsibility. Foresight – Shaping the Future: Foresight is about trajectory awareness and being prepared rather than just predicting. It asks what future you are "rehearsing" through today's habits and what your future self will thank you for starting today. The Mastery of Vantage Points: The ultimate goal is to live in all four areas simultaneously, possessing the ability to change your vantage point deliberately to gain absolute clarity. Energy Flows Where Attention Goes: By choosing a deliberate "word of the day," you can align your energy and attention to move toward your desired future. Episode Resources The Life Grid Google Sheet:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nEohn_B5X43SgQkKGo-c_ck3DmCWhjvdMsfBlPTHwaE/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Quality of Life Quest Website: www.thequalityoflife.quest Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠
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    28 min
  • Organic vs. Non-Organic—Making Better Food Choices

    Organic vs. Non-Organic—Making Better Food Choices
    Feb 3 2026
    In this episode of The Quality of Life Quest, Anneke explores the nuances of the organic vs. non-organic debate. While she acknowledges that organic food is definitely better for avoiding unnecessary chemicals, she dives into the practical barriers of price and availability. Using her recent travels in the Netherlands as a backdrop, Anneke discusses the balance between "quality of life" indulgences and long-term health, emphasizing that the first major step for most people isn't going organic—it's returning to whole foods in their natural form. In This Episode The Vacation Reflection: Anneke shares her recent experience eating Dutch fast food, cake, and coffee, acknowledging that while these provided temporary pleasure, they were detrimental to her health. Defining Organic: A look at what "organic" (or biological) actually means—specifically that produce hasn't been sprayed and meat comes from animals raised with minimal chemicals. The Practicality of Choice: Why high prices and patchy availability often make a 100% organic diet difficult for many people to maintain. Whole Foods vs. Organic Labels: Anneke argues that eating a non-organic whole food, like a jacket potato, is a healthier choice than eating highly processed "organic" crisps. The "One Job" in the Hospital: A critique of the unhealthy food and "Zero" sugar-free drinks often found at hospital bedsides, noting that a patient’s only job should be to get better. Actionable Steps: Advice on transitioning from ready-made meals to whole foods as a primary health goal before worrying about the organic label. Episode Resources The Life Grid Google Sheet:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nEohn_B5X43SgQkKGo-c_ck3DmCWhjvdMsfBlPTHwaE/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Quality of Life Quest Website: www.thequalityoflife.quest Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠⁠⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠
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    12 min
  • One Goal at a Time: Why Breaking Down Your Vision Leads to Success

    One Goal at a Time: Why Breaking Down Your Vision Leads to Success
    Jan 27 2026
    In this final installment of our roadmap series, Anneke explains how to turn your vision for 2026 into a reality by focusing on the power of singular focus and manageable steps. Learn why a "one goal at a time" approach is the ultimate lynchpin for broader success and how to build a plan that remains flexible enough for life’s unexpected miracles. Key Takeaways: Avoid the "Slippery Slope": If a goal becomes negotiable in your diary, it will quickly slide down your list of priorities until it stops happening altogether. Stack the Deck: By testing your goal against your "North Star" and making it SMART, you have already improved your chances of success before you even begin. Short Wins Lead to Big Changes: Small, achievable steps build on top of each other, making a huge end result feel less daunting. Adjust as You Go: A roadmap is not set in stone; feel free to re-adjust your goals as you gain new insights during the process. Timestamps [00:00] – The Golden Rule: Start with one goal. [01:05] – Balancing rigid steps with room for miracles. [02:51] – Identifying manageable steps and the 2025 Advent exercise. [04:00] – Making your diary non-negotiable. [05:10] – Creative ways to use accountability. [06:05] – The benefits of planning in time blocks. [10:41] – Recap of the full 2026 Roadmap. Episode Resources The Life Grid Google Sheet:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nEohn_B5X43SgQkKGo-c_ck3DmCWhjvdMsfBlPTHwaE/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠⁠ The Quality of Life Quest Website: www.thequalityoflife.quest Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    14 min
  • The Power of One: Why Achieving One SMART Goal Beats a List of Ten

    The Power of One: Why Achieving One SMART Goal Beats a List of Ten
    Jan 20 2026
    Have you ever tried to navigate a map without knowing your current location? In this episode of The Quality of Life Quest, Anneke explains why knowing your starting point is the most critical step in achieving your goals for 2026. She introduces her "Life Grid" system, a comprehensive, systematic tool designed to help you audit your current standing in health, wealth, wellbeing, and more. Learn how to move past the "airy-fairy" talk and get "nose to nose" with your reality to build a foundation for real change. Key Takeaways The Starting Point Paradox: You can’t plot a course to your destination (e.g., London) if you don't know where you are standing right now. The Life Grid Tool: Anneke shares her "Life Grid," a systematic Google Sheet used to cross-reference and score major life categories like health, wealth, and spirituality on a scale of 1-10. The Power of One: Instead of a long list of resolutions, focus on achieving one goal at a time to ensure sustainable progress and prevent burnout. SMART Goals: Learn how to refine your chosen goal by making it Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed. The Sunk Cost of Hindsight: Anneke shares a personal story of over-committing to too many universities and jobs, illustrating how hindsight can help you decide what to "strike off the list". Key Moments [00:00] – The Golden Rule: Start with one goal at a time. [01:05] – Why knowing your current "point on the map" is essential. [02:18] – Introducing the "Life Grid" system and the Google Sheet audit. [04:00] – How to score yourself and identify where you are "lacking." [06:45] – Tips for starting small with the audit to avoid overwhelm. [07:40] – The benefits of "short and snappy" reflection. [08:52] – Hindsight: Anneke’s story of over-commitment in ballet and university. [10:56] – Closing thoughts and a call to share your SMART goals. Episode Resources The Life Grid Google Sheet:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nEohn_B5X43SgQkKGo-c_ck3DmCWhjvdMsfBlPTHwaE/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠ The Quality of Life Quest Website: www.thequalityoflife.quest Social Links ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠
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    13 min
  • Discovering Your North Star: Uncovering Core Values for a Fulfilling Life

    Discovering Your North Star: Uncovering Core Values for a Fulfilling Life
    Jan 13 2026
    In this episode of the Quality of Life Quest, Anneke delves into the concept of discovering one's "North Star," which she defines as the guiding principles that shape an individual's life rather than just setting yearly goals. She emphasises the importance of understanding core values and how they influence decision-making and personal fulfillment. Through a reflective exercise, listeners are encouraged to explore their values by repeatedly asking themselves what is important to them about various topics from a previous self-discovery sheet. Anneke shares her personal journey, illustrating how her North Star is centered around being her best self, while also acknowledging the challenges of maintaining that ideal, such as the temptation of chocolate peanuts. The episode serves as a motivational guide for listeners to align their goals with their core values, ultimately leading to a more meaningful and intentional life. Key Takeaways 00:00:43-00:01:04: Define your North Star as guiding principles, not just yearly goals. 00:02:21-00:02:31: Core values may be hidden and need to be uncovered. 00:04:50-00:05:12: Identify themes from your values to discover your North Star. 00:07:10-00:07:21: Use your North Star to evaluate decisions and align actions. 00:10:14-00:10:25: Setting goals aligned with your North Star ensures solid foundations for success. Episode Resources The Life Grid Google Sheet:⁠ ⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nEohn_B5X43SgQkKGo-c_ck3DmCWhjvdMsfBlPTHwaE/edit?usp=sharing⁠ The Quality of Life Quest Website: www.thequalityoflife.quest Social Links ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thequalityoflifequest⁠⁠ Host Bio Anneke is an engineer who immersed herself in alternative healthcare after she almost died in hospital. Working in that field since 2000. Trainer of NLP, Time Line Therapy, Hypnosis, Reiki master, Sports-massage therapist and some other modalities. Currently she is training to be a naturopath whilst working as a healthcare assistant in the Acute Medical Unit. She is looking for the good bits of modern healthcare, which is in the acute setting in her opinion. In no way, shape or form does she suggest to have life figured out. Hence the quest. There is always more to learn and more insights to be gained. Life is messy and full of surprises and curve balls. Come along for the ride. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    13 min
  • The Life Grid: How to Audit Your Current Standing to Reach Your Goals

    The Life Grid: How to Audit Your Current Standing to Reach Your Goals
    Jan 6 2026
    Have you ever set a big goal but felt like you were spinning your wheels? According to host Anneke, the biggest mistake people make when planning their future is not knowing exactly where they are starting from. Just like navigating a map of London, you can't plot a route if you don't know your current coordinates. In this episode, Anneke introduces her "Life Grid" system—a thorough, systematic approach to auditing your life across health, wealth, spirituality, and personal growth. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or just looking for clarity, this exercise is designed to put you "nose to nose" with your reality so you can build an unshakeable foundation for the year ahead. Key Takeaways The Starting Point Paradox: Setting a goal is useless if you haven't identified your current baseline. The Life Grid Audit: Anneke shares her "Life Grid"—a comprehensive Google Sheet that cross-references vital life topics like health, wealth, wellbeing, and personal growth. Honest Self-Scoring: Learn how to score yourself from 1 to 10 across these categories to visualize where you are excelling and where you are lacking. Case Study: Prestige vs. Finance: Anneke reflects on her own scores, noting that while she scored low in "prestige" (how society perceives her), she didn't care to change it. However, seeing a low score in "finances" in black and white provided the necessary nudge to create an improvement plan. Overcoming Overwhelm: Auditing your entire life can be daunting. Anneke suggests starting with just one or two columns to build momentum. Episode Resources The Life Grid Google Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nEohn_B5X43SgQkKGo-c_ck3DmCWhjvdMsfBlPTHwaE/edit?usp=sharing The Quality of Life Quest Website: www.thequalityoflife.quest Social Links ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thequalityoflifequest/ ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thequalityoflifequest⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    10 min
  • Hindsight as a Superpower: Finding Silver Linings in 2025

    Hindsight as a Superpower: Finding Silver Linings in 2025
    Dec 30 2025
    The end of the year often feels like a blur of activity, leaving little room for intentional reflection. In this first episode of 2026, Anneke explains how to turn hindsight into a superpower by auditing your 2025 diary. By examining both the highlights and the low points of the past year, you can extract valuable lessons and build a solid foundation for the year ahead. Anneke shares her personal journey through a major burnout in 2025 and how that difficult period ultimately fostered greater empathy and professional growth. Whether you had a year of major wins or significant challenges, this episode provides a practical framework for reflecting, learning, and starting 2026 with clarity. Key Takeaways The Year-End Blur: Acknowledge why the period between November and January often feels overwhelming and lacks space for reflection. The Diary Audit Challenge: Take your 2025 diary and flip through every appointment—work, private, and health-related—to recall forgotten moments. Highlighting the Wins: Take time to celebrate and "milk" your successes, no matter how small they may seem now. Finding Silver Linings: Examine the low points of your year to identify what you learned about yourself, your work, and others. Empathy through Experience: How personal hardships, like burnout, can lead to increased empathy and a deeper ability to connect with others without judgment. Planning for Difficult Memories: If a low point is too painful to revisit now, schedule a specific future date to process it so your mind can rest in the meantime. Creating a Foundation for 2026: Use your gathered insights to create an official start for the new year. Reflection Exercise: Step 1: Sit down with your 2025 calendar or diary. Step 2: Note all high points and low points from the year. Step 3: For the low points, ask yourself: "What was the silver lining? What did this teach me?" Step 4: Share your findings or creative resolutions to help clear the air and gain closure.
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    9 min