Holding it all together, during big life shifts

Right now, I’m in the middle of what I can only describe as a big life chapter. We’re packing up our home in the UK, and in just a few short days we’ll be saying goodbye - not just to this house, but to a whole season of our life here.

If you’ve ever gone through a big move or major transition, (especially while juggling careers and care) you’ll know what I mean when I say there’s a lot.

I’ve always known that the lead up to this transition was going to be full on, especially with multiple events to deliver. And true to form, it was! Ordinarily, I’d plan for a bit of spaciousness after one of our events, a couple of days of rest and recalibration. But this time, that rest is waiting for me just a little further down the path…

I can already feel the promise of it.
Back in my childhood home.
A cup of tea in the morning with Mum.
A crossword puzzle.
And yes - some long, glorious, 11-hour sleeps.

But in the meantime, I’m doing what I always do in these moments of intensity, taking it one small step, one tiny moment of nourishment at a time.

Relishing recalibration through micro moments

After arriving home from a jam packed schedule, I didn’t push myself to unpack or get on top of the to-do list. Instead, I climbed into bed and watched some bad TV. Greg made dinner. The kids came for snuggles in my bed. And that was enough.

And for the next few weeks, I’ve blocked out space in my diary. Not to cram in more work, but to sit quietly with a cup of tea. I’m only doing what has to be done. The booked calls, the non-negotiables. And then I’m honouring the pause in between.

Because over the years, I’ve learned that energy management isn’t just about getting through the busy times. It’s about navigating them with grace, with softness, and with enough self-awareness to know when to stop pushing.

Rethinking the balancing act

People often ask me how I “do it all” and truthfully, I don’t believe in work-life balance. I actually never have.

To me, balance sounds like something static, something we’re meant to achieve and then somehow maintain. And that just doesn’t reflect real life.

What I do believe in is flow.

Life, to me, is more like walking. And if you think about it, walking is really just a series of overbalances - leaning your weight onto one foot, then the other, again and again.

Until now, I’ve been leaning heavily into work. And soon, I’ll be leaning into my family, my home life, as we navigate this big move together. Then, another shift will come. And on it goes.

It’s not always comfortable, but it’s how we move forward.

Leaning into the flow

There’s a lot to hold right now, yes - but I’m also grounding in the simplest of practices:

• Feet on the grass: There’s something so profoundly calming about physically connecting with the earth. Just stepping outside for a brief moment barefoot on the grass. It’s a reminder that no matter how much is swirling around me, the ground is still solid beneath my feet.
• A hot shower: It’s not just about getting clean. I use my shower as a ritual of release. I imagine the water washing away the intensity of the day, clearing out anything I no longer need to carry. It’s a daily practice of letting go - physically and energetically. 
• Gratitude for small things: In the midst of overwhelm, I find it’s the little things that tether me back. A good cup of tea. A kind word. Sunshine through the window. I name them - out loud, if I can. Certainly 10 of them at the end of the day as I close my eyes. This simple shift into gratitude softens the edges and helps me stay present.
• Snuggles with the kids: When the to-do list is never-ending, it can be tempting to rush through the day. But cuddling up with the kids, even just for five minutes, reconnects me to what matters most. It’s not productive and it’s not meant to be…but it is deeply restorative. And it soothes their little nervous systems too.
• Letting dinner be simple: Not every night needs to be a perfectly curated meal. Some evenings, it’s absolutely fine to let go of the pressure and serve something simple. Nourishing doesn’t have to mean impressive. Sometimes, it just means done.

If you’re in a season of overbalance yourself, I hope this is a little reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out. 

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

Take your micro moments. 

Trust the flow.

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