Still Wellness

21/12/2025

As I sign off for 2025, I’ve been taking a moment to reflect...

This year has been full of momentum, collaboration, growth… and a lot of fun! I feel so lucky to do work that genuinely matters to me — supporting people to create positive, sustainable change in their health, wellbeing, and mindset.

Sharing some professional highlights from 2025:

👉 Working alongside committed clients from health professionals and business owners to Gen Z and emerging leaders — to build healthy rhythms that support wellbeing, reduce stress, and strengthen mental fitness.

👉 Collaborating with Recalibrate to deliver a six-month Mental Fitness program with the NZ Warriors Commercial Team in Auckland — and getting to travel to NZ for this work!

👉 Being honoured to receive the HCANZA Health Coach of the Year Award for 2025 (major highlight).

👉 Delivering a group health coaching series to the dedicated Palliative Care team at Tamworth Base Hospital, focusing on stress management and mental fitness.

👉 Contributing to the PREKURE faculty by supporting future health coaches and continuing to learn alongside my PREKURE colleagues who are all an inspiring group of experienced Health Coaches.

👉 Speaking at a local Financial Services firm and at the Next Gen Health Professionals event, sharing practical insights on stress, burnout, and self-care.

👉 Continuing to grow professionally by completing the Mentally Strong Coach Certification with US Mental Performance coach Cindra Kamphoff, and the Applied Neuroscience & Coaching Certificate.

What's also been inspiring is to see the impact Health Coaches are making across Australia and New Zealand in primary care, private practice, and within organisations, as our profession continues to grow and evolve.

I’m so grateful for the clients, the team at Kinetic Lab, collaborators, and the Health Coaches I’ve had the privilege of working alongside this year.

As the year wraps up, I’d love to hear from you — what are you most proud of from 2025?

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a well-deserved, restful break.
See you in the new year! 💕

with and .lem from .nz ❤

18/12/2025

Have you ever felt like your brain just won’t switch off — even when you’re exhausted?

I recently came across research from Dr Romie Mushtaq on burnout, and it stopped me in my tracks — because I see this pattern every single week in my coaching practice.

She calls it the Busy Brain.
A busy brain isn’t just stress.
It’s not simply a long to-do list or a demanding season.

It’s what happens when chronic, unchecked stress keeps your nervous system switched on for too long and many high-performing women are living in this state without realising it.

For the women I work with, a busy brain often looks like:

👉Lying awake at night replaying conversations or about what you should have done differently
👉Struggling to focus at work, even though you’re capable and experienced
👉Feeling mentally scattered or wondering, “Why can’t I concentrate like I used to?”
👉Constant self-judgement and negative thought loops that won’t switch off
👉Feeling productive on the outside, but doubting yourself on the inside

Clinically, a busy brain can show up as difficulty focusing or as adult-onset ADHD, ruminating anxiety, and difficulty falling and staying asleep. Over time, this ongoing stress can impact how the brain functions, leading to neuroinflammation in the brain.

If nothing changes, it’s often the pathway to burnout.

And the hardest part?
A busy brain keeps you stuck.

Stuck in self-criticism.
Stuck in limiting beliefs.
Stuck knowing something needs to change, but feeling unsure where to start — or afraid to slow down in case everything falls apart.

So let me ask you:
Can you relate to a busy brain?
If so, what might need to be different in 2026?

Do you need to reconnect with your health, your energy, and your self-trust so you can feel like you again and move towards the goals that matter to you?

You don’t need all the answers right now.
Sometimes simply noticing the pattern is the first step.

If this resonates and you’re ready to do things differently next year, reach out. 🌟

My January coaching availability is filling, and I’d love to support you to get out of "busy brain mode" into a calmer, more sustainable way forward.

30/11/2025

I’m excited to share that I recently contributed to the latest blog post for the Health Coaches Australia and New Zealand Association (HCANZA), where I reflect on my journey as the 2025 Health Coach of the Year — and what it’s really taken to grow a meaningful health coaching business.

I open up about my journey from burnt-out Financial Adviser to rebuilding my life and career as a Health & Mental Fitness Coach and growing a business grounded in purpose, service, and impact.

In this article, I share the key decisions that shaped my path, the role partnerships and collaboration have played in my growth, and my personal insights along the way.

If you’re a health coach or small business owner — whether you’re just starting out or have been at this for a while — I hope this blog sparks one new idea or new perspective that helps you keep moving forward.

I’d love to hear what resonates with you!

An unfiltered look at growing a health coaching business, sharing real lessons on niche, visibility, connection and leading with purpose.

11/11/2025

Ever felt like the harder you push, the more you lose yourself?

For years, I thought being a strong leader meant showing up no matter what.

That being dependable meant saying yes — even when I was running on fumes.
That sacrificing my own needs was a sign of commitment.

But it wasn’t leadership.
It was self-sacrifice.
And it led me straight to burnout.

I remember the moment it hit me.
I looked successful on paper — awards, clients, results...
but inside I felt exhausted, disconnected.
Wondering how I had lost myself along the way.

That’s when I realised something big:
I was modelling exactly what I didn’t want others to repeat.

Since then, I’ve learned that how we lead ourselves sets the tone for everything else — our families, our teams, our workplace culture.

Self-leadership looks different:
✅Prioritising sleep instead of pushing through.
✅Setting boundaries without guilt.
✅Saying no to what drains you, and yes to what restores you.
✅ Knowing your limits — and honouring them.

It’s not selfish.
It’s sustainable.

When you close your self-care gap, you don’t just protect your energy —
you model what healthy, effective leadership truly looks like.

If you’re feeling that quiet exhaustion, or that sense that something has to give, I’ve been there.

That’s why I do the work I do now.❤

As a Health & Mental Fitness Coach, I help professionals and teams build the habits, awareness, and mindset to perform at their best — without burning out in the process.

Because wellbeing isn’t a reward for success, it’s the foundation of it.

What’s one small way you could lead yourself better this week?
I’d love to hear it in the comments 👇

06/11/2025

The future of performance isn’t just physical — it’s mental.

Organisations that invest in mental fitness and wellbeing are the ones unlocking the next level of connection, resilience, and results.

Over the past six months, I’ve had the privilege of working with and .lem at .nz, co-delivering one of their workplace wellbeing programmes with the One NZ Warriors commercial team — the engine behind the Warriors.

The Recalibrate Professional Health Coaching Programme included both group and 1:1 coaching, with a focus on building mental fitness and flexibility.

The team learned practical tools to apply in their everyday interactions — helping to strengthen resilience, enhance connection and communication, manage stress more effectively, and maintain personal wellbeing, vitality, and energy levels.

What we discovered is that the One NZ Warriors are no ordinary organisation.

While the Warriors’ men’s, women’s, and development teams have delivered strong on-field performances this year, it’s the work off the field that truly sets them apart.

Values-driven and deeply community-focused, they’ve found that powerful balance between high performance and individual wellbeing — and are thriving as a result.

Working with the One NZ Warriors commercial team has been such a rewarding experience. A huge thank you to the team for your engagement, energy, and vulnerability throughout the programme.

Big thanks to Cameron George for embracing Recalibrate’s approach to wellbeing, leadership, and performance, and to Jayne Hoffman for your incredible organisation and heart.

And finally, thank you to my incredible colleagues Bridget and Ree — I’m so grateful to have been on this journey with you, helping teams strengthen their mental fitness and wellbeing.

22/10/2025

If burnout is rising, is it time to train Mental Flexibility....not just resilience?

Burnout in the workplace is real — and it’s rising fast.

A recent Beyond Blue 2025 study found that 1 in 2 Australians are experiencing workplace burnout, with the highest risk among 18–29-year-olds.

There’s one skill that research is now spotlighting as a potential antidote:
Mental flexibility ( known as psychological flexibility).

It’s the ability to stay open to difficult thoughts and feelings, while still taking action aligned with your values.

And it’s showing real impact.

A 2024 organisational study found that employees who developed psychological flexibility:
✅ Boosted stress resilience
✅ Reduced exhaustion
✅ Increased personal accomplishment

The strongest impact was seen in employees already experiencing exhaustion, reinforcing that mental flexibility may be the buffer against burnout we’ve been missing.

I see this same pattern in my coaching work every day.

When professionals and teams strengthen psychological flexibility, everything changes:

✔️ They respond to stress instead of reacting to it.
✔️ They adapt faster through change and uncertainty.
✔️ They stay grounded and perform better under pressure.

That’s why I’ve made strengthening mental flexibility a core part of the work I do with clients and teams:
Helping them learn how to bend without breaking.

It’s the skill that reduces stress, protects against burnout, and restores sustainable high performance.

Because real resilience isn’t about pushing harder.
It’s about expanding your capacity to recover, adapt, and stay well, even when things get hard.

What if the key to protecting against burnout and sustaining high performance was becoming more mentally flexible?

I would love to hear your thoughts?

20/10/2025

She had the title, the salary, the success but no energy left to enjoy it.

That’s exactly where my client was when she came to me.

On paper, her career looked perfect.
But inside, she felt completely burnt out and trapped.

Every Sunday night brought a wave of dread.
Every Friday felt like survival.
She’d built a career she once loved but now it just drained her.

You might know that feeling....
Spinning your wheels,
overthinking every possibility
and wondering where your spark went.

So, we started small.

First, we focused on recovery — rebuilding her energy, sleep, and clarity.
Then, we explored her strengths, values, and what mattered most to her now.

And slowly, things began to shift.
👉Her confidence returned.
👉Her perspective expanded.
👉She started to see new possibilities she couldn’t before.

Then it happened, a role came up in a completely new industry.
One that aligned with her values, used her strengths, and reignited her excitement.

She got the job.
But more importantly, she got herself back.

That’s the power of recovery, perspective, and the right support — the foundation of mental fitness and the kind of success that feels as good as it looks.

If you’re feeling stuck or exhausted, maybe it’s time to pause and ask:
➡What would it look like to rebuild my energy before I rebuild my career?

Because sometimes, the smallest reset can create the biggest breakthrough. ❤

14/10/2025

🌟The Gift of Coaching 🌟

In the busyness of work and life, it’s rare to pause—to step away from the daily grind and ask: How am I really doing?

That’s what coaching offers.
A powerful gift.
It creates space.
A space to reflect, reset, and realign.

When professionals and teams commit to coaching, they often don’t realise at first the depth of the transformation. But week by week, step by step, I witness:

✅ Fresh perspectives that shift thinking
✅ Stronger, more resilient mindsets
✅ Greater confidence and clarity of purpose
✅ Deeper self-awareness and self-leadership

And within teams, the ripple effect is even greater:
🤝 Stronger connections
🗣️ A shared language for growth
🌱 Positive, sustainable workplace cultures

The return on investment—for individuals and organisations—is undeniable.

Small, consistent steps lead to big results: healthier people, stronger teams, and workplaces that protect against burnout while building resilience and mental fitness.

Coaching isn’t just about achieving goals, it’s about creating the conditions for people to thrive.

👉 If you’re an organisation ready to support your people or an individual wanting to build resilience, manage stress, and unlock your potential this could be the gift you’ve been looking for.

Let’s talk about how coaching can support you or your team in 2025 and beyond.

13/10/2025

“Think of your energy as if it’s expensive. As if it is a luxury item not everyone can afford it.” – Taylor Swift

She’s right. 🫶

I see so many amazing women giving their energy away for free—stretching themselves thin, running on empty, trying to be everything for everyone.

Often it comes from old patterns:
wanting to be liked,
people pleasing,
seeking external validation,
not wanting to let others down.

The truth:
Eventually, it wears you down.
Eventually, it can lead to burnout.

And the people you love the most?
They don’t get the best version of you.

The key is knowing what matters to you and who matters most.
When you know this, protecting your energy becomes a little easier.

I know this is easier said than done!

That's why I help women like you:
👉Work through old stories and patterns that no longer serve you
👉Gain clarity on your priorities and values
👉Create boundaries that protect your energy
👉Build a strong mindset rooted in self-worth and self-belief

Imagine feeling present, energised, and strong—not pulled in a thousand directions, not depleted, not running on empty.

You can learn how to protect your energy, set boundaries that support you, and focus on what matters most. When you do, it transforms how you show up in your work, your relationships, and your life.

If you could protect your energy starting today, what would that look like in your life?

10/10/2025

Supporting the wellbeing of our regional Health Professionals 🫶

Last Thursday night, I travelled to Gunnedah for a special event hosted by .gunnedah and Health Connect.

The evening brought together local health professionals for connection, self-care, and open conversations around stress and burnout — topics I’m deeply passionate about.

I was honoured to be invited to speak and to share practical insights on recognising burnout, supporting wellbeing, and prioritising recovery in the demanding world of healthcare.

What stood out most to me was the genuine connection in the room, health professionals taking time to pause, reflect, and support one another.

Events like this are so important, especially in regional areas, where workforce shortages, high workloads, and limited resources can take a toll on those who care for others.

Building stronger networks and shared understanding strengthens not just individuals, but the sustainability of healthcare across our region.

A big thank you to the organisers Sarah and Jess and everyone who came along.