As you might’ve noticed, it’s been a while since I’ve written. Life has been go, go, go! Lots of travel, visitors, work, motherhood, and of course, the never ending laundry pile (seriously, does it ever end?).
Like most women I know, I’ve fallen into the trap of “doing it all,” and ignoring the little alarm bells going off in my brain and body. You know the ones: the irritability, racing mind at 1am, the creeping anxiety that leaves you snapping or crying over the mess on the kitchen bench that wouldn’t usually bother you.
I was starting to spiral, and I knew I needed to act before I hit full-blown burnout.
So, I went back to the 7 habits that actually work for me. Nothing fancy, just tools that help me feel more like myself and who knows maybe they’ll help you, too.
Yoga:
For me, yoga isn’t about becoming a contortionist; it’s about grounding myself, soothing my nervous system, and reconnecting with my breath. Even just 15 minutes at home in my pj’s is enough to release those feel good endorphins. It leaves me calmer, clearer, and just that bit more ready to face the day.
Mediation:
Some days, I meditate for 10 – 20 minutes in a quiet room with a guided track. Other days, it’s three deep breaths in the car before pickup. I use whatever works—breathing, a simple mantra, or just silence and breath awareness. Because sometimes, just a breath or two is all it takes to reset.
Reading (or Anything Offline):
Mindless scrolling fuels my stress. So, I’ve replaced the doom-scrolling with books. Fiction, nonfiction anything to get me offline and out of my own head and into another world. I read each night before bed but if reading’s not your thing, try a puzzle, a crossword, sudoku. Basically anything that doesn’t involve a screen.
Challenge the Inner Critic:
When my pesky inner critic starts piping up, I’ve learned to chat back with kindness. A simple ‘you’re doing your best’ or ‘that’s not true’ works wonders. It might feel a tad awkward at first, but this little act of self-compassion helps me separate my true self from all the noise, steering me away from the spiral of self-doubt.
Positive Podcasts
Some days, I feel like I live in my car. So I fill that time with podcasts that feed me with something positive. Seize the Yay, The Imperfects, and the now-finished Healthy-ish (which I’m still gutted about) are my current go-tos. I love finding ways to self-improve and Hearing real stories reminds me no one’s got it all together, all the time – and that’s okay.
Learning to Say “No”
Two letters, one powerful boundary. As a people-pleaser, I’ve often said yes when I really wanted to say no. But lately, I’ve been saying no to plans or requests that don’t serve me. And guess what? Most people are totally fine with it. It was my own overthinking making it feel harder than it is.
Make ‘Me Time’
Book a class. Go for a walk. Grab a solo coffee or brunch. Even just one hour a week makes a difference. As a busy toddler mum, I’m almost always with someone, so making time to just be me helps me return to everything else feeling rejuvenated (or at least slightly less frazzled).
Final Thought
You don’t need to hit burnout to give yourself permission to rest. If you’re feeling off, reevaluate. Shift the dial. Make space. You can manage things; you just might need to tweak what “doing it all” actually means.
🧠 Struggling? Don’t go it alone. Talk to a professional. Ask for help. There’s no gold medal for doing it all yourself.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general information purposes only. It is not intended as health or medical advice. Please always consult a healthcare professional for advice specific to your situation.