Take A Breath

In today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are diving into something we all need a little more of… patience. In a world where almost everything is available at the click of a button, waiting can feel harder than ever. We’re so used to instant results that anything slower can feel frustrating. But when we allow things to unfold in their own time, they often feel even more meaningful. There’s a...

In this week’s episode of Take a Breath , I’m joined by Dr Martin Moore-Ede — one of the world’s leading experts in circadian science and the health impacts of light. After more than 40 years of research, his work reveals something most of us never even think about… how the light we’re exposed to every day could be quietly shaping how we sleep, feel, and function. If you’ve ever found yourself lyi...

On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about victimhood. We all know that person who tells the same story over and over again, blaming everything that’s wrong with their life on something that happened to them in the past. And let’s be honest, we’ve probably all done it to a greater or lesser extent. The question is: how long will we play the victim? And are these stories we...

In this episode, I’m taking you into the third step of regulating your nervous system — and this is where things really begin to shift. We’ve already explored awareness and regulation, but if you’ve ever felt like you’re still getting pulled into stress again and again… this is the missing piece. Today, I’m talking about capacity (how much your nervous system can actually hold) and why midlife can...

This week on Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about decluttering…and not just the cupboards and drawers. Because clutter isn’t always physical. Sometimes it’s the mental tabs we keep open, the emotional baggage we’re still carrying, the commitments that no longer feel like ours, or the digital noise constantly pulling at our attention. If life has been feeling a little full lately, we hop...

This week’s episode is for anyone who has been dealing with symptoms that feel very real, very limiting, and yet every test, scan or specialist appointment seems to come back with the same answer: “You’re fine.” I’m joined by Miguel Bautista, founder of CFS Recovery, who helps people recover from chronic fatigue syndrome, long COVID and other debilitating symptoms through a nervous system and neur...

On today's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about moving your body, and more specifically, starting small when you’ve been injured or you’ve got out of the habit of taking exercise. Lucy and I talk about what our exercise routines look like when we’re taking it easier than usual, which can include some simple stretches or 10 minutes on a rebounder. We also touch on nasal breathing an...

I’m continuing our series on how to build a more regulated nervous system. We've already explored Stage One: Awareness — learning to notice when your nervous system is calm, when stress is creeping in, and when you’ve tipped into that more activated state of anxiety or overwhelm. In this week's episode episode, I’m guiding you through Stage Two: Regulation & How to Come Back To Calm...

On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how the amount of good things in your life depends on your ability to notice them. With so much fear and negativity in the news right now, it’s easy for your attention to be pulled towards what feels heavy and overwhelming. That’s why being intentional about where you place your focus matters more than ever. This conversation is a...

In this episode of Take a Breath, I’m joined by Wendy Heine — certified Wim Hof instructor, breathwork coach and yoga teacher. Wendy shares her journey from avoiding the cold completely to embracing it as a powerful tool for healing, particularly following her cancer diagnosis in 2021. We explore both the science and the nervous system side of cold exposure — what’s actually happening in the body,...

On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I talk about all manner of things including where we’re at with our goals and habits, the importance of staying present in the moment, and how crucial awareness is if we want to make any kind of change in our life. We hope you’ll find something useful in here! Love, Polly & Lucy x Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to cal...

In this episode of Take a Breath , I’m sharing why awareness is always the first step in nervous system regulation — and why, without it, even the best tools and techniques won’t truly stick. So many of us are living on autopilot, reacting before we even realise we’re reacting. I know this deeply, because that was me for most of my life. In this episode, I gently unpack how awareness takes us out...

On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about breaking the cycle of negativity. We explore how easy it is to get caught in those negative spirals where one thought leads to another and suddenly we're knee-deep in a full-on wallow, feeling pretty rubbish about everything. We chat about how the way we feel most of the time becomes the energy we're putting out into the...

This week on Take a Breath , I’m joined by brilliant Kate Codrington — author, therapist, facilitator, speaker, and guide for women navigating the menopause transition. Kate is the author of Second Spring , named one of the seven best books on menopause by the New York Times , and The Perimenopause Journal (2024), described as “an essential resource” by leading endocrinologist Professor Annice Muk...

On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking all about the patriarchy. This social system that historically centres white men as the default holders of power, money, status and authority, is woven into the very fabric of society. It shows up in a million subtle - and not so subtle - ways: women playing small because they’ve been taught to be pleasing, quiet, polite and acco...

There’s a lot of noise right now about calming your nervous system and staying regulated — and for many of us, that creates more pressure than peace. In this solo episode, I gently unpack what nervous system regulation actually means, why staying calm isn’t the goal, and how midlife and perimenopause can shift the way your system responds to stress. I also introduce a simple metaphor to help you u...

On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I talk about what it really means to shift out of the background and into the lead role of your own life. We chat about how easy it is, especially for women, to unconsciously slip into a supporting role, putting everyone else’s needs first, waiting for the “right time,” or playing small out of habit rather than intention. We explore how being...

Midlife can be a season of subtle (or not-so-subtle) shifts. The things that once felt like a perfect fit — a role, a path, a version of you — start to feel off. But what comes next isn’t always clear. In this episode, I’m joined by Ashley Jablow, Founder of Wayfinders Collective and former Presidential Innovation Fellow in the Obama Administration. Ashley now helps people and organisations naviga...

On today’s Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about the power of intentionally tuning into nature during crazy times. Most of us would agree that the state of the world right now is…alot. It can feel overwhelming and scary, to say the least, and it’s easy to feel completely out of control. One of the best ways to put things into perspective - not to mention regulate our overstimulated nervo...

Many of us rely on pressure and guilt to keep ourselves moving forwards towards our goals  — especially in midlife, when life can feel full and demanding. While these strategies may work in the short term, they often leave us feeling exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from ourselves. In this episode, I explore why guilt and pressure have become such familiar motivators, how they impact the nervo...

On this weeks Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how our hardest times and biggest “failures” often become our greatest lessons. We talk about how difficult seasons can shape us, clarify what really matters, and guide us onto the right path. A reminder that nothing is wasted – and if you’re in a tough chapter right now, sending you loads of love and hope this may be of a little help t...

Do you love your birthday… or secretly dread it? Birthdays can bring up all sorts — joy, disappointment, reflection, pressure, even a  sense of dread as we move through midlife. And yet, it’s the one day every year that’s meant to be about you . In this episode of Take a Breath , I’m joined by counsellor, personal development guide, and author Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming to explore why birthdays matter...

On today’s Monday Motivation, Lucy and I are talking about that ‘back to school’ feeling that so many of us feel after Christmas and New Year. If you’re feeling low following the festive season, now is the time to make finding joy a priority. Because like so many things in life, we have to get intentional about choosing it. Lucy and I also talk about being aware of our thoughts, how our inner worl...

Midlife can feel like a constant juggling act — from perimenopause to parenting, ageing parents to career demands, all while managing the invisible emotional and mental load that us midlife women know all to well. In this episode, I share 5 simple, science-backed ways to ease the emotional weight you’re carrying — so you can feel calmer, more connected, and more like you again. ✨ Here’s what you’...

On today’s Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about maintaining a positive mental attitude even when life throws us a curveball. Last week, I injured my knee on the last day of my skiing trip, and am currently on crutches while I wait to find out how serious the injury is. I talk about how I'm feeling and how I've been trying to stay positive and expect the best possible outcome....