Meet Shannon Arner

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shannon Arner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shannon, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Mental health is not something I can just check off a list. It is something I work on daily, just as I take care of any other part of my well-being. The biggest shift came when I stopped thinking I could push through burnout and anxiety by simply working harder. Gerry and I reached a point where the nonstop grind was taking too much from us, so we made a lifestyle change. We downsized, moved to the coast, and built daily rhythms that protect our mental health.

I treat rest and boundaries as non-negotiables. I know my triggers for overwhelm and have learned to recognize those signs early, before they take over. That awareness helps me continue the work I love without sacrificing my mental health. It is not perfect, but it is steady progress.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Gerry and I run Arner Adventures, a lifestyle brand that started as a way to share how we left a 24/7 business, downsized, and built a life that feels full without being overfilled. Our work focuses on intentional living, mindful travel, and sustainable choices, and we use our blog, podcast, and social channels to inspire others to create a life they actually want to live, not one they feel trapped in.

What excites me most is connecting with people who say our story gave them the nudge to make a change in their own lives. That could be as big as selling their house and moving to a new city, or as simple as carving out time for rest without guilt. It is proof that living with intention is not just a nice idea; it is a practical shift anyone can make.

Right now, we are continuing to expand our travel content, focusing on destinations and experiences that align with our values. We have upcoming projects in the works with eco-conscious hotels, wellness-focused retreats, and brands that share our commitment to sustainability. Our audience trusts that we will only share things we truly stand behind, and that is the foundation we want to keep building on.

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, the first quality that shaped my journey was adaptability. Life rarely unfolds exactly as planned, and being willing to pivot has allowed Gerry and me to turn challenges into opportunities. For anyone starting out, my advice is to treat flexibility as a strength rather than a compromise. It opens doors you may not even see yet.

The second is consistency. It is tempting to chase every new idea, but showing up regularly, even in small ways, builds trust and momentum. Choose a few core things you can sustain long-term and commit to them.

The third is self-awareness. Knowing my limits, my triggers, and my strengths has helped me make decisions that keep me moving forward without burning out. I recommend setting aside time to check in with yourself, even if it is just a short weekly reflection. That clarity makes it easier to say yes to the right opportunities and no to the wrong ones.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

If I knew I had only a decade left, I would spend it exactly how I hope to spend every year now: focused on experiences, relationships, and leaving something meaningful behind. We ask all of our podcast guests what a “life well lived” means to them, and the answers are never about possessions. They are about the moments and connections that stay with you long after the stuff is gone.

For me, that would mean more travel that fills my soul, more quiet mornings with Gerry by the water, and more projects that make a difference for others. I would want to give more than I take, share stories that inspire, and create memories with the people I love. A decade would not be long enough to do everything, but it would be plenty of time to focus on what truly matters.

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