I help stressed and exhausted professionals create simple systems for self-care, so they can reclaim their energy and elevate their well-being.
For most of my life, I've been focused on getting things done.
As a wife, mother, and corporate finance professional, I carried a never-ending to-do list with me at all times.
I understand how overwhelming it is to constantly juggle competing priorities and feel like there’s never enough time for self-care.
Have you ever felt stuck?
You know the things you should be doing to take care of yourself, but those things often fall to the bottom of your to-do list.
You tolerate ending your day exhausted and unsatisfied and wake up each morning feeling like it’s impossible to squeeze healthy habits into your schedule.
You wonder if this is just how life is meant to be.
I was there too.
After too many years I learned some important truths:
- Pushing through life physically, mentally, and emotionally drained is NOT normal.
- You are never getting to the bottom of that to-do list.
- How you FEEL is more important than what you DO.
- Success, happiness, and wellness are synergistic – all three areas need attention to enjoy a balanced and rewarding life.
So how do you make time to take better care of yourself?
It’s actually not about time…
We all have the same 24 hours.
However, you can create more energy.
That’s where I come in.
Right now, your "operating system" may not be very energy efficient.
I know mine wasn’t.
On the road to burnout
In my early twenties, fresh out of college and newly married, I jumped into a demanding career at a big public accounting firm. I was driven by an inner critic that pushed me relentlessly.
The long hours, constant pressure, and need to please took a toll on my mental and physical health. I had zero time to focus on nutrition or exercise and stress management wasn’t even on my radar.
I was nearing my breaking point
Anxiety became my constant companion, and debilitating migraines added to my distress. At one point, I was barely able to eat, and driving after dark triggered panic attacks.
I wasn’t myself. I worried my husband would leave me, regretting what he had gotten himself into.
I had no choice but to take a month-long medical leave to recover from burnout.
Time for a change
Realizing that I needed a shift, I left public accounting for a corporate position, hoping it would alleviate my stress and exhaustion.
I worked less hours with fewer deadlines and had more time to spend doing things outside of work.
But despite the change in circumstances, I still felt like I was running on high alert. I learned to cope with my continued anxiety, migraines, and eating issues. It was exhausting.
The illusion of balance
As life unfolded and my children arrived, I traded career advancement for time with my kids.
I had a loving husband, two beautiful children, and a flexible work schedule. I was eating healthier and fitting in some exercise.
According to my calculations, I should have been feeling fantastic! But instead, I felt like I was being pushed through life on a merry-go-round at the park. No matter how loud I begged, the other kids wouldn’t stop pushing so I could get off…
Still stressed and exhausted.
Why couldn't I do it all like others seemed to?
People with even more on their plate than me had their sh*t together!
- They juggled their schedules
- They excelled at their jobs
- They cared for their families
- They took part in fun activities
What the hell was wrong with me?
My frustration grew each year, and I felt like a failure.
I thought it was just me. So I just kept going. With a drained battery…
Maybe this sounds familiar to you.
My operating system went from inefficient to broken
My lack of resilience to life’s demands became even more glaring when my mother was diagnosed with a devastating terminal illness.
At a time when I didn’t think I could take on another thing, I poured myself into researching alternative treatments and assisting with her care.
Previously at a low balance, my energy bank account was now officially in the red. I was running on borrowed adrenaline.
It was undeniably the hardest year of my life.
Forgetfulness, brain fog, and emotional exhaustion became my new normal.
Daily activities became challenging, and by the end of the day, I felt like I was moving through mud.
In addition to my dismal mental and physical energy levels, I noticed my emotional energy dwindling as well.
I was easily annoyed and often snapped at the small stuff. My family didn’t deserve the way I treated them.
The gift of grief
I grieved as a daughter who lost her mom, and also for the loss of the life she deserved to enjoy. She was 61 and finally starting to put herself first – doing the things she loved. In an instant, it was all taken away.
I’d like to say that I was motivated to immediately stop living in survival mode
But the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that keep us on that hamster wheel of stress and exhaustion are deeply rooted.
I was more determined than ever to change, but it was a gradual process.
Reclaiming energy and redefining wellness
I realized that wellness experts were talking about more than just diet and exercise.
I delved into areas like sleep, mindset, and stress management.
Stress management seemed the logical place to start.
At first, I failed miserably…
As a diligent person, I was frustrated by my inability to turn any stress management practice into a consistent habit.
Mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, visualizations, affirmations…
They all felt like a struggle – forced and hard to follow.
They didn’t click with me, and felt like another chore for the day.
But I kept going.
After a few years of searching, I finally found my answer to feeling better and ending my overwhelm.
I didn’t need to follow one particular program or technique – the one-sized-fits-all approach just wasn’t working.
In fact, the pressure of finding the “right” one was giving me more stress!
Instead, I took what I learned about various practices and hand picked the parts that felt doable.
I put them together into a unique practice that I could stick with. It became a consistent part of my life and I started to feel the benefits.
I was finally reclaiming my energy
With less stress, I had more capacity to:
Prioritize my physical, mental, and emotional health
Set boundaries to protect space in my day for me
Build systems to maintain a balanced healthy lifestyle
Be more present in my relationships
Complete tasks with more focus and efficiency
I struggled with stress and exhaustion for more than 20 years
Now I help others avoid heading down the same path.
After attaining my Functional and National Board Health and Wellness Coaching certifications, I was compelled to explore the field of Mental Fitness through Positive Intelligence®.
Mental Fitness is your capacity to respond to life’s challenges with positive resilience. It is a cornerstone of my coaching programs because the more mentally fit you are, the less energy you waste.
Also, since struggling with stress and exhaustion can trap us in an unhealthy relationship with food, I became a Certified Emotional and Binge Eating Specialist.
Now, through a blend of extensive training and personal experience I offer customized coaching programs to empower you in creating a unique living system that optimizes your physical, mental, and emotional energy, so you can elevate your well-being.
The path to reclaiming your energy and well-being is best travelled with a guide
Skip the detours and embrace the vibrant,
fulfilled life that you deserve.
Discover what
truly inspires and energizes you
Build a personalized system that fuels your well-being
Boost your performance, relationships and wellness
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call Today!
It’s time to break free from stress and exhaustion and elevate your well-being.
With me as your guide, you can redefine the way you approach stress, and create sustainable habits that honor your physical, mental, and emotional energy.
Ready to get off the hamster wheel?
Let’s get started.