When we talk about well-being, the conversation can often be full of buzzwords and quick fixes especially where studying or working are concerned. However, learning and development consultant Miranda Smythe offers a refreshing viewpoint in this edition of our Learn Better podcast: wellness isn't about relieving pressure. Rather, it's about remaining at a place where we can cope.
With over 30 years’ experience supporting individuals, teams and organisations, Miranda’s work explores the links between time management, well-being, learning, and career progression, particularly for those juggling work, study and personal life./p>
Since founding Baikie Wood Consultancy in 1992, Miranda has designed and delivered bespoke training programmes for local government, national bodies and international organisations. Her work spans management development, personal effectiveness, interpersonal skills and - crucially for today’s learners - how people manage time, pressure and competing priorities without burning out. Miranda is also a published author, having written several practical guides on improving how people absorb, process and retain information.
What do we really mean by well-being?
Rather than seeing well-being as a single concept, Miranda describes it as a combination of factors. This includes your physical and mental health, happiness, meaning and purpose, and our ability to cope with whatever life throws at us.
Miranda prefers the terms ‘coping’ and ‘not coping’ rather than the word ‘stress’. She explains that the distinction matters, as most people know when they are coping, and when they are slowly moving out of that zone, and not coping.
“People rarely move from coping to not coping overnight. It usually happens gradually, by creep.“
That loss of control is often where well-being begins to suffer - and time management plays a central role.
Pressure isn’t the enemy
Perhaps one of the most refreshing points in this episode is that pressure itself isn’t bad. Many people actually perform well under pressure, for example - deadlines can improve focus, increase productivity, and even boost motivation.
However, issues arise when pressure becomes unremitting. When there’s no recovery time, helpful behaviours can turn into unhealthy drivers, and that’s when people slip from coping into not coping.
The triangle we’re all juggling
For learners in particular, Miranda introduces a helpful mental model: a triangle made up of:
The balance of that triangle looks different for everyone, and it changes over time. The important thing is that one point doesn’t take over for too long, at the expense of the others.
“If one point of the triangle becomes all-consuming, the others won’t be there when you need them.”
Arguably, hybrid and remote working have blurred the lines, and so boundaries, clear priorities, and conscious decision-making are essential.
Practical tools for managing time (and energy)
Rather than encouraging any dramatic changes, Miranda shares practical, realistic tips that listeners can try, to better manage their time and energy:
Plan ahead, even when busy: Blocking time in the diary and making appointments with yourself makes intentions tangible.
Use short focus blocks: Techniques like the Pomodoro technique help boost concentration and reduce fatigue.
Create circuit breakers: A short walk, tidying up at the end of the day, or setting a clear finish time can help prevent work spilling over into your personal life.
Log your time: If your workload feels overwhelming, a short time log can reveal where time is really going. Then, you have evidence for constructive conversations with managers.
Miranda also explains that there is a difference between poor time management and having too much to do; they’re not the same problem, and so they need different solutions.
Learning to say ‘not yet’
For those who struggle with saying no, Miranda offers a kinder, and more effective, reframing: ‘not yet’. It keeps conversations collaborative, while protecting your capacity.
She also reminds us:
- You never refuse a person, only a request
- Negotiation is a key professional skill
- Delegation doesn’t only go downwards, it can go sideways, and even upwards.
These are essential skills not just for well-being, but for long-term career sustainability too.
Preparing for the step up
As learners transition into qualified and managerial roles, Miranda encourages them not to wait for promotion before developing a managerial mindset. Watching how your role models behave, having mentors, building relationships, and learning how to evaluate options all help smooth that transition.
Managing people is very different from managing tasks.
Speed reading: learning smarter, not longer
For learners juggling lots of heavy reading, Miranda shares a simple but powerful technique - skimming before reading in detail. By first scanning headings and the opening of paragraphs, learners build a mental map of the material which makes deeper reading faster and more effective.
Combined with an awareness of personal energy rhythms, this approach supports learning effectiveness, as well as well-being.
Making it stick
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the episode is this: don’t try to change everything at once.
“Cherry-pick one or two ideas that really resonate and build them into your routine.”
Small, consistent changes are far more likely to last, whether that’s creating better boundaries, planning more realistically, or working with your natural energy.
What does ‘Learn Better’ mean?
For Miranda, learning better comes down to something simple:
“If you love what you do, you’ll want to do it - and you’ll want to do it better.”
And that, ultimately, is what this episode is about: learning how to work, study and live in ways that are sustainable, purposeful and human.