Meet Dr. Nina Jefferson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Nina Jefferson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Nina, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

My journey with burnout started during the demanding years of earning my doctorate while managing the responsibilities of marriage and the arrival of my first child. Balancing academic pressures with the responsibilities of a new family was overwhelming, but I pushed through. As time went on and the divorce happened, I found myself juggling a thriving business, continuing my work as a psychologist, and raising two children. I was determined to excel in every role, but in doing so, I spread myself too thin.

Despite my best efforts, I began to experience physical signs of burnout—chronic fatigue, poor sleep, high stress, persistent headaches, and gastrointestinal issues. I was also emotionally exhausted. My body was screaming at me, signaling that the demands I was facing were far beyond what my self-care routines could handle. Even with the self-care practices I was familiar with, they were insufficient for the immense pressure I was under. This is often the case with entrepreneurs and high-performers used to handling high levels of stress on the brink of burnout.

As a board-certified clinical psychologist and peak performance expert who now owns Path 2 Alignment focused on empowering entrepreneurs and high-performers to beat burnout, gain clarity, and cultivate work-life harmony, I knew I needed to put my training into practice. It became clear that we often become blind to the level of stress we carry, which is a significant mistake. Here’s what I learned through this process and what I advise others to consider:

Take Time to Reflect and Be Self-Aware: Regularly check in with yourself to assess your stress levels. It’s crucial to recognize when you’re feeling overwhelmed and to address it promptly.

Adjust Your Wellness Regimen: When the demands on your plate increase, it’s essential to enhance your wellness strategies accordingly. Think of it like a scale– if you add more weight (demands), you need to add more counterbalance (self-care). Relying on just one or two strategies won’t suffice.

Incorporate Diverse Strategies: To prevent burnout, make sure to include the following:
Physical Activity: Engage in some form of exercise regularly.

Mental Activity: Practice mindfulness or visualization exercises to calm your mind.

Relaxation Strategies: Utilize techniques to soothe your body and reduce stress.

Social Support: Cultivate a support network, especially if you’re an entrepreneur or high performer. Even those who are constantly supporting others need their own support system.

Existential Purpose: Connect with a higher purpose or spiritual belief that aligns with what you do. This can fill you with passion and keep you motivated.

Set Clear Boundaries: Establish distinct boundaries between work and personal time. Protect your personal space and time as fiercely as you protect your work commitments.

By applying these strategies and making necessary adjustments, I was able to manage my burnout more effectively and continue to perform at a high level. It’s a continuous process, but prioritizing these elements has been crucial in maintaining my well-being and effectiveness in all areas of my life.

Dr. Nina
Path 2 Alignment
Transformational Peak Performance Expert

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Over 80% of entrepreneurs face high stress, which can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. If you’re a scaling or seasoned entrepreneur, coach, or high-achiever, you probably know the drill:

Constantly putting out fires and neglecting your own needs
Cycling between intense work and lack of motivation
Doubts about whether you can sustain your business amidst setbacks

So, how do I know all this? Let me share a bit of my story. Growing up in a small town where success was a rarity, I was determined to change my path. I became the first doctor in my family, and things were looking up—until a late-life divorce flipped my world upside down.

I suddenly lost my entire salary and needed to support my children. Entrepreneurship became my way to regain control of our financial situation. I dove into real estate investing and learned that mental discipline was my secret weapon. Despite numerous setbacks—believe me, there were plenty—I kept pushing forward, gained momentum, and eventually started closing deals. The road was tough, and many others in the programs quit before they saw success.

Through my own experiences and observing other entrepreneurs, I realized we’re all battling similar issues: doubt, fear of failure, poor habits, work-life balance struggles, and stress management challenges. This insight drove me to help others avoid these common pitfalls and succeed where so many fall short and fail in business within the first five years.

With 20 years of experience as a board-certified clinical psychologist, peak performance expert, and NLP practitioner, I founded Path 2 Alignment. I offer transformational peak performance coaching tailored for entrepreneurs and high-performers. My approach blends evidence-based strategies from my clinical background with my firsthand knowledge of the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, resulting in two impactful, unique programs.

Mind Your Business Program
This 12-week virtual group program is a unique, evidence-based journey for entrepreneurs, focusing on mindset, entrepreneurial habit-building, and wellness/self-care. It’s divided into three tiers:
Comprehensive Online Course: Participants engage in a thorough course covering essential entrepreneurial skills and mindset shifts.
Small Weekly Group Coaching Sessions: These sessions provide support, accountability, and a sense of community.
Individualized Feedback: Includes accountability checks, worksheet reviews, and a one-on-one coaching session to address both group and individual needs.

Breakthrough Immersions
These personalized, 3-month programs include intensive two-day breakthroughs with lodging with Dr. Nina. They offer a transformative experience addressing one of the chosen categories: personal development, relationships, family, and career/entrepreneurship. The breakthrough immersions focus on:
Root Cause Analysis: Identifying and addressing limiting beliefs, unconscious setbacks, and releasing negative emotions.
Three-Month Virtual Follow-Up: This extension includes aligning values, building new habits, and providing individual coaching sessions for sustained transformation.
With my expertise, I ensure each participant receives a tailored, impactful experience that guides them toward lasting change.

If you’re ready to tackle burnout, gain clarity, and create a fulfilling life that boosts both your income and impact, check out my FREE Masterclass [https://mindyourbizp2a.com/freegift]

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I can pinpoint three qualities and skills that were most impactful in preventing burnout and navigating my journey:

Self-Awareness: Understanding my own limits and recognizing early signs of burnout were crucial. This quality allowed me to address stress before it became overwhelming. Self-awareness involves regularly checking in with yourself, reflecting on how you’re feeling, and being honest about your capacity and needs.

Advice: For those early in their journey, developing self-awareness can start with simple practices like journaling or meditation. Take time to reflect on your daily experiences and emotions. Regularly assess how you’re managing stress and what might be causing it.

Build a Support Network:
Tip: Surround yourself with a strong support network of peers, mentors, and friends who understand the challenges you face. Having people to turn to for advice, encouragement, and empathy can be invaluable. Knowing what I know now, I would advise to surround yourself with different expertise to round out your experiences.

Learn about passive income and implement it at a young age for options that are right for you.

Tips for Implementing Passive Income Strategies:

Start Early: The earlier you start, the more time your investments or efforts have to grow.
Educate Yourself: Invest time in learning about each passive income option before diving in. Understanding the risks and rewards is crucial.
Diversify: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Spread your investments and efforts across different passive income streams to mitigate risk.
Be Patient: Building significant passive income takes time. Be prepared for gradual progress and stay committed to your strategies.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m enthusiastic about partnering and collaborating! I’m happy to provide speaking engagements, conduct workshops, and offer leadership training sessions. I’m also available as a guest expert on podcasts, where I can share insights on a range of topics related to business, leadership, and personal development.

In addition to offering these services, I’m actively seeking experts who complement my own offerings. If you specialize in business coaching, marketing strategies, or branding, I’d love to collaborate with you. Your expertise could provide valuable insights to my members and enhance the range of knowledge and resources we offer.

If you’re interested in working together or have ideas for collaboration, please contact me directly. You can contact me via my website .https://path2alignment.com/speaker/ Let’s explore how we can create impactful experiences and contribute to each other’s success!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://path2alignment.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdrnina/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085882542514
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamdrnina/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Iamdrnina?si=stm4J-Pe0qXHUo0F
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/path-2-alignment-douglasville