Thrive in Life NZ

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁? 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲!

I'm so thrilled to introduce the Energy Boost Challenge, a FREE resource designed to help you rediscover your vitality and passion.

Imagine feeling energized, motivated, and ready to tackle your day with enthusiasm. This challenge is your key to:

✅ Boosting your energy levels
✅ Rediscovering your love for life and work
✅ Regaining control and balance

The comprehensive 14-page PDF guide includes:

💡 Reflections & Designing Your Dream Life
🍏 Daily Boost of Energy Challenges
🏃‍♀️ Challenge Tracker

Join the Energy Boost Challenge today and start your journey towards a more vibrant and fulfilling life. Let’s get back to doing the things we love with the energy we deserve!

🔗 Download the FREE Energy Boost Challenge PDF now, using below link!

subscribepage.io/Bd7pmE

Feel free to share this with your colleagues and friends who might benefit from a little extra energy boost. Together, we can create a healthier, happier healthcare community! 💖

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀!

I’m super excited to share that I’ll be at the Active Healthcare Solutions Showcase Free event in Hamilton on the 27th of August at the Verandah Cafe and Function Centre.

As an Occupational Therapist passionate about enhancing the well-being of healthcare professionals, I’ll be hosting some fun activities focused on reducing stress and enhancing well-being. If you're attending, make sure to stop by and say hello!

Let's connect, share ideas, and support each other on our journeys.

Can’t wait to meet and connect with all of you amazing therapists out there!

📅 Date: 27th August, 10am – 1pm
📍 Location: Verandah Cafe and Function Centre, Hamilton

See you there! 🌟

𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴!

It is a big part of building positive relationships!

However, when we are constantly trying to please others, put other people’s needs first and we are following rigid rules for ourselves like:

“𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴”
Or
“𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴”
Or
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦”

This becomes a recipe for depression, anxiety, and often leads to burnout!

A lot of the time people pleasing is a learned behavior. The roots found in our childhoods through our experiences and social conditioning.

The good news is:

There are specific skills you can learn so that people pleasing does not stand in your way to live a healthy joyful life.

Some of these skills include:
- Growing self-awareness
- Effectively handling difficult thoughts & feelings
- Assertiveness
- Self-compassion
- Taking value-based action

Balancing your own needs with the needs of others is crucial.

I am offering a specific coaching program to help you build those skills so that you can prevent burnout, improve your health and find overall enjoyment in your life.

Go to www.thriveinlife.co.nz, comment below SKILLS or send me a DM if you wish to hear more about the program.

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 “𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱”, “𝗜 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁”, “𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼”, “𝗜 𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼”?

Maybe in sentences like “I should manage this”, “I must respond immediately”, “I must not let anyone down”, “I must not make mistakes”.

When we are high achievers and perfectionists, we set very high expectations on ourselves and if we don’t meet our own expectations, we beat ourselves up! Sounds familiar?

We try to motivate ourselves by setting these high expectations and by beating ourselves up, which may work in the short term and may help us reach some good results.

However, in the long term, when we keep raising the bar for ourselves and keep beating ourselves up when we don’t meet our own expectations, it leads to procrastination, anxiety, and it leaves us exhausted and drained.

In the long term it impacts our work, relationships and joy in life! Is that worth it?

One first step you can take to get out of this pattern, is to start noticing when these words pop up in your mind and when your mind is being highly self-critical.

By starting to notice and recognize these thoughts, you can start making a subtle shift towards being more kind to yourself and setting realistic expectations.

Perfection is not the goal, progress and growth are! Give yourself permission to be human, to make mistakes and to learn and grow!

If you need support to let go of perfectionism and to take value-based action towards your goals whilst treating yourself with the kindness you deserve so that you can truly enjoy your life, reach out by sending me a DM!

𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵!

Often when we try to make a change in our lives, whether it is implementing a new habit, making healthier food choices, starting an exercise routine or setting a much-needed boundary, we rely on our initial motivation boost to make it happen!

I can tell you…. this does not last very long!

Motivation is based on emotions and feelings and our emotions and feelings change all the time.

So, it won’t be long before our feelings and emotions change, the motivation fades and our good intentions are out the window!

If you are serious about making any change in your life, these are some of the things that will make a real difference:

👉 Be clear on WHY you want to make this change
👉 Have a plan in place (for example what, how, when, where, who)
👉 Consider any barriers or obstacles that can come up and how you can overcome these
👉 Be aware of your mind, who will likely try all kinds of ways to talk you out of making any changes as our minds very much like us to stay in our comfort zones!
👉 Celebrate your wins!
👉 Accountability

Set yourself up for success for better health, more joy and living a fulfilled life!

𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁

As an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience, I’ve seen many of my colleagues struggle with burnout. That’s why I created the Energy Boost Challenge PDF – to help healthcare professionals like you find balance and joy again.

This guide is close to my heart, and I believe it can make a real difference in your life. Ready to take the first step?

Download here: subscribepage.io/Bd7pmE

Energy Boost Challenge! From feeling exhausted to finding your SPARK back!

Why try this Energy Boost Challenge?

Healthcare professionals give so much to others, often at the expense of their own well-being. The Energy Boost Challenge PDF is here to help you:

👉Reclaim your energy levels
👉Find balance between work and personal life
👉Rediscover your passion and spark
👉Learn practical self-care techniques

This guide is FREE and designed with your unique needs in mind. Don’t miss out!

Get your free PDF here: subscribepage.io/Bd7pmE

Energy Boost Challenge! From feeling exhausted to finding your SPARK back!

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝘁? 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸!

Are you a healthcare professional feeling tired and exhausted?

You’re not alone!

That’s why I created the FREE Energy Boost Challenge PDF just for you!

This guide is packed with practical strategies to help you rediscover your energy and passion. Let’s take this journey together!

Download your free PDF now: subscribepage.io/Bd7pmE

Energy Boost Challenge! From feeling exhausted to finding your SPARK back!

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲!!

I have been working on something very special that I can't wait to share with you all next week! 🎉

If you're feeling tired, exhausted, and burnt out, this is for you. As someone who has dedicated over 20 years to helping others as an Occupational Therapist, I understand how challenging it can be to keep that spark alive while giving so much of yourself to others.

Stay tuned for a resource that will help you reclaim your energy and passion. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this!

𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁: 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀

As an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience, I've seen firsthand how we, especially women, often prioritize others' needs before our own. It's a beautiful trait, deeply ingrained in us, often rooted in childhood, and it shapes us into caring professionals, dedicated mothers, and loyal friends.

But this tendency can also lead to burnout, draining the spark from our lives. It's a delicate balance, and sometimes, we find ourselves running on empty, trying to be everything to everyone.

I've learned that it's not just okay, but necessary, to set boundaries. Saying "no" doesn't make us less caring or less committed. In fact, it allows us to be more present and energized in the roles that matter most to us. Learning to be assertive about our own needs and wants is a journey, but it's one that can lead to living life more fully.

Remember, we can be a good enough mum, a good enough therapist, and a good enough friend while also taking care of ourselves. By doing so, we ensure that we can continue to give our best to those we care about.

I’d love to hear how you balance self-care with your professional and personal responsibilities. Share your thoughts or strategies in the comments below! Let’s support each other in this journey towards balance and self-care.

Hi Health Professionals: Close your eyes for a moment and visualize this hamster going round and round in his hamster wheel.

Does your life ever feel like that? Going round and round and you are struggling to get off that hamster wheel to be able to take a breather, even if it was for a few seconds?

Are you often dreaming of your next holiday or finally having some time to really switch off though not quite sure when that will ever happen??

It is so common, and sadly, it has too often become our new norm.

I felt like this years ago, being a working mum, working in the healthcare system, wearing so many different hats and trying to keep up with the never-ending demands, quietly hoping that someone would hit that pause button for me, though this never happened…..

Until I decided it was enough and realised nothing would change in my life and I would never be able to get off that hamster wheel unless I started to take a level of responsibility for my life, the actions I take and the directions I wanted to head in and that is what I did.

From that moment onwards I have become more aware of my needs, more connected with what keeps me well and what brings me joy and I learned new valuable skills that allow me to tackle challenges more effectively. Life still hits (and always will) and some days still feel like I am running in that hamster wheel, though I know I can get through it by taking small consistent actions that are aligned with my values, by prioritizing my needs that are within my control and focusing on what is important and why I am doing what I am doing.

You can get off that hamster wheel too!

If you would like to hear more about taking back control and become intentional with your life so you can get off your hamster wheel, reach out by commenting below or sending me a DM!

Sometimes we feel stuck in a dark hole, overwhelmed and everything feels so darn hard. Even the tiniest thing seems too much.

We can’t see a way out, it feels like we will be stuck here forever, with no way out.

If this is how you feel right now, let me tell you:

👉 You are not alone, many people in this world feel stuck, overwhelmed and down in the dumps right now. Sometimes knowing that we are not alone in our suffering can give us a sense of comfort.

👉 Part of being a human is feeling any emotions and feelings as they arise. Rather than trying to run away from them or pushing the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings away, make space for them, explore them and allow them to be.

👉 This will pass (think of a dark cloudy day, the sun is always there behind the clouds and eventually it will break through the clouds and show its face!)

👉 You do have a choice, either:

- do nothing and keep doing what you have been doing and is keeping you stuck

- take a tiny action that is within your control, whether this is something in an area that really matters to you, something you enjoy doing, something that may light you up, something that will bring you closer towards a future goal or something that may help someone around you, any tiny action can create the way to the light at the end of the tunnel.

👉 Reach out for help, connect with others. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of courage and inner strength!

Feel free to share this message with anyone who might need a little encouragement today.

"

𝗛𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀!

In the busy world of healthcare, finding that balance between work and life often feels impossible!

Through my conversations with healthcare professionals across the world I repetitively hear many of you expressing the wish to being able to:

“𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬”

“𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦/ 𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦”

“𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦"

“𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦” 𝘰𝘳

“𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦”

We all struggle at times to switch off, especially after a hectic, stressful and demanding day. If this happens every now and then, it does not have a significant impact. However, these hectic and demanding days have become our norm, we are expected to be “on” consistently, to keep going nonstop regardless and this is damaging our health and wellbeing.

The cost of not being able to switch off from work is significant. It leads to chronic stress and burnout, strained relationships, health issues (poor sleep, weight gain, weak immune system), reduced cognitive functioning and productivity, loss of job satisfaction and overall reduced quality of life!

There is no magic pill to find your work/life balance, though going on a journey to find your ‘sweet spot’ is essential, not only for your joy and fulfilment in life, though also for those around you, your family, your clients and colleagues!

Take a few moments today to reflect on how your work/life balance is impacting you and those around you?

If you are at a point where enough is enough, reach out! I help people pleasing health professionals say "no" with confidence, without the guilt, so that they can take control back over their time and energy! If you want to know more, send me a DM!

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁!

So many of us are constantly looking after others whether it is our patients or our families (and we have such a strong sense to please those around us). When we do make time to do something for ourselves, it is so easy to feel a strong sense of guilt for doing so.

It is almost like we want others to tell us to take time of the wards to complete our professional development, or to take that break or even at home we may quietly hope that if our partner will tell us to do something for ourselves, we will not feel as guilty about it, as it comes from someone else.

Reality is, nobody can read our minds and know what we need in the moment and nobody can feel what we feel.

When we rely on others to prioritize our well-being, we often find ourselves waiting endlessly.

I challenge you to take charge today:

👉Reflect: What truly matters to you?

👉Decide: What is non-negotiable in your life when it comes to looking after you? Be intentional about your well-being.

👉Act: Incorporate small acts of self-care into your routine. Small steps make a big impact.

Remember: Waiting for someone else to prioritize you is like waiting for rain in a drought.

Take the reins, lead with self-love, and watch the positive ripple effect in both your personal and professional life.

If this feels too hard or you don't know how to start, reach out. I am helping people pleasing health professionals, to say "no" with confidence, without the guilt, so that they can take control back over their time and energy! Send me a message if you want to know more!!

Personal story!

It is nearly a week now that we had to say goodbye to one of our dogs who was part of our lives for the past 15 years. Throughout my life I have dealt with my fair share of losses, especially earlier on in life.

When dealing with loss and grief I used to put on a brave face, find anything that would distract me from not having to feel the pain and hurt inside. I would try to push the emotions away as I had no idea how to deal with them and I would try to keep going, like nothing had happened.

The past week has been different, and it made me realize how much I have learned in recent years through my own personal development journey.

I knew the moment we had to let go of our dog was not far away due to her age and declining health. Though when the moment was there, that we had to say goodbye, it hit me hard.

It was like time stood still, everything stopped around me. All the things that kept me busy all day, every day, all of sudden didn’t matter anymore. What other people were thinking, didn’t matter anymore.

This time though, I allowed myself to cry when I needed to cry. I made space for the pain and hurt I felt. I noticed where I felt it the most in my body. When the feelings and emotions became too intense, I used my favorite grounding exercise, which helped so much. I validated my feelings, that this is a tough time. And I have been kind to myself, lowering my expectations and allowing quiet space and time.

At the moment, I can honestly say, I feel okay. I know the loss and grief is still there and there will be moments of sadness to come. I know I can cope with this.

Loss, grief and suffering are part of life, we all go through it and everyone copes with it in their own way.

Sometimes when we experience difficult feelings and emotions and we struggle to cope, we get pulled towards doing things that numb our pain, that allows us to avoid whatever we are feeling and often can be quite destructive, especially if we use this over a longer period of time. Think of reaching for alcohol, unhealthy snacking, mindlessly scrolling social media for hours or spending money on many items we don’t really need.

We are not born with the coping skills we need in life, and these are skills we need to develop and practice.

If you are experiencing loss, grief or suffering right now, know that you are not alone. Comment below what helps you cope through difficult times in your life.

If you are struggling, reach out and we can see how we can work together to build your resilience through validation and learning skills that will allow you to handle difficult emotions and feelings and find joy back in your life.

Health professionals: Sometimes life throws pebbles at us, to try to get our attention. When we ignore the pebbles, life will throw us rocks, trying harder to get our attention. When we ignore the rocks, life will throw us a boulder and we no longer have a choice and we are forced to stop.

A couple of weeks ago, life threw me a rock and it knocked me of my feet and completely drained all the energy out of me for several days.

I had been ignoring the signs to slow down, to take better care of myself as I often fall in that trap of thinking I can do it all, that I can keep going and add even more into my days.

It reminded me of the saying “𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴”.

As much as it sucks being ill, it is such a good time to reflect and reset. Because we are stepping out of our normal routines, we are forced to slow down, it gives us time to be present and we get space to think. It gives us a space to refocus on what matters and what we need to do to keep ourselves well.

My question to you: are you paying attention to the pebbles being thrown at you and are you listening to the signs to take better care of yourself right now? Or are you soon going to be forced to make time for illness?

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆??

Did you know that our brains are wired to prioritize the things we focus on the most?

We all have a Reticular Activating System (RAS) in our brain. The RAS filters the millions of pieces of information fired at us every single second. It helps us to focus on the things that are important to us!

What it does is that if you are thinking about something a lot, you are more likely to notice it in your environment.

Let me ask you: Has this ever happened to you…

You have been thinking of buying a certain car, in a certain color and as this has been on your mind for a while. Suddenly, the exact same car pops up everywhere around you!

What about this one..

You woke up from a deep sleep by your alarm clock, get out of bed, already feeling grumpy. As you get ready you hit your toe, drop your coffee and on your way to work you get stuck in traffic. One thing after the other goes wrong!

When we are focusing on negative things in our life, the more we notice the negative things!

When we focus on the positive things in our lives, we will start noticing more and more positive things.

A while ago I did a little experiment, inspired by . This involved trying to find a naturally occurring heart shape each day and guess what? Once I started looking for them, they popped up everywhere! My daughters joined in and to this day my youngest will point out hearts to me whenever she finds one!

It showed me that when we start focusing with intention, our brain will show us the way!

No matter how stuck you feel, if you want to attract more positivity and opportunities into your life, start by shifting your focus to your goals and what you truly want.

Visualize what you want, think positively about it, and take action towards it. Your brain will start to show you opportunities that align with what you want to happen, and you will be more likely to achieve your goals as a result.

I challenge you for the next week to find naturally occurring heart shapes wherever you go to see for yourself how this works!!

Comment below your results!

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹: 𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?

Many years ago, in the early stages of my OT journey, I worked a few hours each week in an old-style mental health setting which originally opened in 1909. The facility was tucked away in a forest, with original buildings still in use. I was the only OT who worked there, and OT as a profession was not very much recognised within the setting. I shared the office with a couple of PTs, though in general the space we shared was extremely quiet.

I still vividly remember the feeling this facility gave me every time I arrived and when I was working on site, which were feelings of heaviness, unease, not belonging and mostly dragging me down every time I was there.

In contrast at the same time, I worked within another health organization where the spaces were light, I had a great team around me, I felt energized, and as an OT I was recognized and valued.

Take a moment right now and..

➡️ When you look around the space you are in right now, do the things you see lift you up or drag you down?

➡️ When listen to the sounds around you, do they make you feel calm or more distracted and stressed?

➡️ What can you smell? Do you like what you smell?

➡️ How do the clothes you are wearing feel? Are they comfortable? Do they make you feel confident?

There are many small changes we can make in our environment that can change how we feel and shift our mood and focus. Whether it is playing soft music in the background, placing a small plant on your desk, opening a window so you smell the fresh air, changing your screen saver, put a note with a quote you resonate with somewhere where you will see it often, (if you can) choose to wear clothing that make you feel good or add some color to your environment!

I challenge you to think of what lifts you up (any smell, sound, visual, feel) and make 1 change in your environment today and notice how it makes you feel 😊!

Small consistent changes have the power to change your life!

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀.

Monday was a public holiday here in New Zealand, which always results in having to cramp the normal amount of work into a 4-day week. It truly was a whirlwind of appointments and commitments this week. But I managed to navigate through it successfully and it is Friday now!

Let me share with you some of my go to strategies:

👉Planning:

Each weekend I take some time to plan our meals for the whole week, so that is one thing less to think about throughout my week. When we can, we cook for 2 days at a time for our family of 4, which happens most weeks twice. I also did some baking in the weekend to make it easier throughout the week to pack the lunchboxes.

👉Tiny Pockets of Time:

Carving out small moments for myself keeps me grounded. For the past couple of years, I have been getting up early in the morning to have some quiet time by myself before the rest of the family wakes up. This has been a real game changer for me. I use this time for a quick workout and often some learning or reading. In the evening, I take 10 – 15 minutes of quiet time as soon as the kids are in bed. I have found this such a great transition at the end of the day!

👉Adjusting Expectations:

Flexibility helps me stay resilient. I have always been a high achiever, though also learned to be realistic and that my own high expectations often add stress, rather than make me productive.

👉Main Priorities:

Each day I am clear on my main priorities to focus on, often only up to 3 tasks per day and if there is time left, I will go to the lesser priorities. I am diligent with using my planner daily to have my priorities super clear. I prioritize sleep and make sure to go to bed early.

Life always happens and we are continuously pulled in so many directions, though there are strategies we can use each day to stay productive and maintain our well-being.

How do you manage your busy weeks? Share your tips below! 👇

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲?


Have you ever stood next to a lake, gazed at the water, no wind, the water being so smooth? And then thrown a small rock into the water and watched the ripples move such a long way across the water? They kept going and going!


I am as strong believer of the ripple effect in our lives. When we create one small change, this can set in action a whole range of ripples into other areas of our lives.


For example, when we start to move more, we start to drink more water, which will keep us more hydrated and energized.

When we start to move more, we start eating more healthy food, we start to sleep better and feel more energized.

When we improve our sleep routine, we have more energy in the day and start to move more.

When we add more quiet time in our day by taking time to read, journal or meditate, we sleep better and at the end of the day, are able to think with clarity!


This list goes on!


Think of improving 1% in one area in your day, experiment and see the impact!

𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘁??

Does each day come and go? The same old same things, day in, day out?

You wake up in the morning, nothing to be excited about, and you drag yourself out of bed?

Only to find yourself back in bed at the end of the day, thinking how it happened that another day is gone?

You feel you have very little control over your time, and your energy and you feel like your life is slipping by.

Now imagine you keep living your life like this, the days go by, the years go by and all of a sudden there are no more days left and your time on this earth is up..

How would you feel??

Was it worth it to spend your time and energy on your busy to-do lists, replying to whatever was thrown at you, which all seemed so important at the time, however looking back…… were they really that important??

For many people it takes a massive wake up call, an injury, a disease or loss of a loved one to finally realise that something needs to change.

Don’t be one of those many, take back control of your life today! Get clear and focus on what really matters!

It doesn’t have to be big changes, small intentions, small actions create a ripple effect and will make a world of difference!

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

And if it all feels in the too hard basket, reach out! Connect and let’s see how I can help you! Your future self would be so grateful you did!

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀! 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗧, 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝗺, 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱.

I believed I had to work harder and do more to finally feel good enough.

I thought that the more I did, the more I got ticked off my To Do List, the more clients I saw, may be at some point it might be GOOD ENOUGH.

I always used to put other people's needs first, to make sure everyone was looked after, everything was done and by that time my battery was empty. At that time, I would crash on the couch, till it was time to go to bed, have a sleep, wake up in the morning and do it all over again….

The thing is, the harder I tried to get more work done, the less productive I was getting. It was getting so hard to concentrate, to ignore the distractions and to actually focus on what I had to do. I started forgetting things. It was so hard to make clear decisions and I was second guessing everything I did.

I felt stuck, overwhelmed and did not know how to turn things around.

I read so many self-help books. Listened to podcasts. Listened to webinars and any free content I could get my hands on. Being an OT, I felt I should know all this stuff. We tell our clients how to build better routines. How to live healthier lives, yet when it comes to our own life it is so damn hard!

Then I started investing in a coaching program. And I have to be honest this came with so much guilt, spending this money on myself. Being a working mum and with the high cost of living, I didn't feel I deserved to spend this money on myself.

Though by taking this step and starting to prioritize my own needs and my self-care this turned my life around. I started feeling better in myself. Feeling healthier and feeling so much more aligned with who I am as a person and what is important in my life. I am so much more content, present and being able to enjoy what my days bring.

Now I feel I am a good enough mum, I am a good enough OT and I am a good enough partner.

Now I know I am doing good enough, as I am doing what I can with what I have. I feel a sense of gratitude for where I'm at in life and how far I've come.

There are so many things I've learned. The biggest learnings are accepting that sometimes we cannot do things on our own. Finding supportive people like a coach can truly fast track your life in the direction you want it to go.

I've developed a 1:1 coaching program that will take you through a six-step process. This will get you from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to a place of contentment, joy and purpose in life.

You will build the foundations to prevent you from burning out. You will design a blueprint of your aligned dream life combined with an unstoppable mindset. This will allow you to achieve your goals and dreams.

If you want to know more comment below "yes" or send me a message! I would love to hear from you!