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Published on:

16th Aug 2022

Well Being Through Divorce and Beyond with Dr. Adam Woods Part Two

In today’s episode, Psychiatrist Dr. Adam Woods is back for Part 2 of his five steps to well-being. During this episode, we cover steps #2 through #5 and dive into each step in detail. Dr. Adam provides many excellent resources for listeners to dive further into each step. He breaks these steps down and truly makes them feel achievable for anyone! Dr. Adam also discusses the pros and cons of medication for mental health needs and how his 5-steps can work alongside prescribed medication. Tune in today to learn more about how to shift your life through Therapy, Sleep, Exercise, Diet, and Meditation.

In this episode:

[0:52] Step 2: How sleep impacts your well-being. [3:28] Step 3: Keep your body active - what forms of “exercise” count. [5:30] Step 4: Good diet - eating less processed foods and the truths behind diets. [9:47] Step 5: Meditation and the different types available. [19:45] Wrapping up the five things to well-being and how they work together. [22:18] Breathing tips, how to breathe for anxiety. [24:25] How they all work together: Medication, Changing Lifestyle, and Anxiety. [32:15] The Rent Project. 

Key Takeaways:

Our bodies do not know the difference between hardcore exercise and daily activities. Our ancestors did not do intentional workouts. They were just more active, which is what we need. Play with your kids, go for a walk, choose something you enjoy and move your body. Meditation can look different for everyone. For some people, it is sitting down and meditating; for others, it is doing a focused sport such as running, rock climbing, or another intense sport where an activity occupies the mind. No headphones in; just allow your mind to focus. So many of our health issues are tied to the amount of processed food we consume. Instead of following a specific diet, focus on eating closer to plants, whole foods, and things that give you energy. Health issues like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease didn’t start until after WWII, when more heavily processed foods were introduced.

Quotes:

“If I could change nothing else about your picture except making you sleep better, you will get better. Now how much better I can't say, but I can promise you you will get better.” - Dr. Adam Woods 

“Why is meditation so powerful? #1 is when you think about it, meditation is therapy with yourself. The second big reason about meditation is that people’s sleep tends to improve dramatically.” - Dr. Adam Woods

“The point is not to clear your mind; the point is to accept your mind for how it is.” - Dr. Adam Woods

Guest Bio:

Dr. Adam Woods is a "Family Psychiatrist" (a term of his own invention, meaning he sees both children and adults) who practices in North Liberty, Iowa. Adam got a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and served as a Presbyterian Chaplain in the United States Air Force. During his time in the military, Adam fell in love with medicine, ultimately deciding to leave the Air Force and attend the prestigious Duke University School of Medicine, where he got his MD in 2012. Adam decided to return to Iowa and do his Psychiatry Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Adam currently lives in Coralville, Iowa with his wife, Laurie, and their 6 year old daughter, Mackenzie.

Resources:

Dr. Adam Woods Email

Iowa Rent Project

Nutrition Facts

Esteem Dynamics 

Lesa Koski Website

Mentioned in this episode:

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About the Podcast

Doing Life Different with Lesa Koski
Real conversations for women over 40 about faith, fitness, and fresh starts
Mindset, movement, and faith after 40—because midlife isn’t a crisis, it’s your comeback.

Welcome to Doing Life Different with Lesa Koski, the podcast for women over 40 who are ready to rewrite the rules, reclaim their joy, and rediscover their purpose. Whether you're navigating divorce, rediscovering your health, deepening your faith, or learning how to have fun again—you’re in the right place.

Host Lesa Koski—wife, mom, coach, and seasoned mediator—brings real talk, relatable wisdom, and expert interviews to guide you through midlife reinvention with grace and grit.

In each episode, you’ll get practical tools and empowering conversations on:

Mindset & personal growth

Faith & spiritual connection

Fitness, movement & health

Divorce, marriage & relationships

Fun, purpose & starting fresh in the second half of life

This isn’t just self-help. It’s soul-level transformation. Get ready to do life different—because your next chapter starts now.

Lesa also explores the emotional and physical changes that often accompany midlife and major life shifts. From navigating the impact of menopause on your health, marriage, and mood, to dealing with the loneliness that can come after divorce or empty nesting, you’ll find honest conversations that don’t shy away from real-life challenges. And for those of you in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’ll discover what it means to truly build a better life after 40.

Health and wellness are deeply integrated into this journey. Lesa shares insights on the benefits of rest, joy, nutrition, fasting, protein, and bone health, along with the power of movement, community, and exercise to support mental clarity and physical strength. You’ll learn how to take care of yourself with intention—because healing isn’t just emotional, it’s also biological.

Mindset work and self-coaching are recurring tools offered in episodes to help you reframe your story and shift from fear to freedom. And through it all, the show honors the role of faith, spiritual surrender, and letting God lead you through every season. Whether you're leaning into your relationship with God for the first time or deepening a lifelong practice, you’ll hear how surrender can bring peace even in the hardest moments.

You’ll hear real stories from people who have done divorce differently, saved their marriages, or found new love and purpose on the other side. Lesa also brings in conversations about marriages that have stood the test of time, co-parenting through complex seasons, and the realities of parenting after separation while maintaining stability for your kids.

This is a podcast about thriving through Cancer, taking back your life, rewriting your future, and trusting that you’re not starting over, you’re starting better. If you’re craving practical advice, soul-level encouragement, and real conversations about creating a healthy, joyful, purpose-driven life, you’ve found your community.

Subscribe now and join Lesa Koski for weekly episodes that will help you grow stronger in your relationships, your health, and your faith, no matter where you’re starting from.

About the Host:
I’ve spent over 25 years helping families navigate amicable divorce as a lawyer and mediator, always focused on protecting what matters most—your kids and your peace of mind. But my mission has expanded. Today, I support women over 40 not just through endings, but in building stronger relationships—and sometimes even saving their marriages. I’m a breast cancer survivor, a cowgirl at heart, a wellness advocate, and a follower of Jesus. My life and faith fuel my passion for helping women thrive.

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Lesa Koski