Busy Doing Well

This week, I’m talking about mental load and why so many people feel mentally overwhelmed in modern life. I look at the hidden demands on our attention, from constant notifications and unfinished tasks to decision fatigue, open loops, and the pressure to react to everything around us. In this episode, we cover: What mental load really is (and why it's about much more than having a long to-do list)...

In this week's episode, I look at the role our inner dialogue plays in mental health. I talk about the inner critic, where it often comes from, how it can become an automatic background voice running in our minds, and why many people speak to themselves in ways they would never dream of speaking to somebody they care about. This episode looks at the connection between self-talk, shame, stress, the...

Most people understand that stress can make them feel overwhelmed, anxious, or unable to switch off. But fewer people realise that stress can also influence the way we think, interpret situations, and experience the world around us. In this week's episode, I look at the relationship between stress and mental health, why chronic stress can keep the nervous system stuck in survival mode, and how thi...

In this week’s episode, I explore the relationship between movement, exercise, and mental health, and why movement is one of the most underrated tools we have for supporting mood, stress levels, energy, and overall wellbeing. I talk about how modern life has disconnected many people from movement, the impact this can have on both physical and mental health, and why practices like walking, yoga, Pi...

In this episode, I explore one of the biggest patterns I see affecting people’s day-to-day wellbeing and mental health: the way they eat. Not just what people eat, but how they eat. I talk about the connection between blood sugar, stress hormones, anxiety, energy, mood, and nervous system regulation, and why so many people are unknowingly eating in a way that is keeping them stressed, reactive, ex...

This episode marks the start of a short series for Mental Health Awareness Month, where I’m exploring some of the key areas I regularly see impacting how people feel in their day-to-day lives. Rather than focusing on diagnoses or solutions, this series is about understanding the factors that can either support your mental health… or work against it. In this first episode, I introduce the four area...

This week’s episode builds on last week’s conversation about morning routines and takes a broader look at routines in general. Rather than seeing them as something restrictive or purely about discipline, I explore how routines actually act as an anchor - creating stability, predictability, and a sense of control in your day-to-day life. I also talk about how routines don’t just impact your mindset...

This week’s episode was inspired by a recent BBC Radio segment I was asked to contribute to on morning routines. It’s a topic I’ve touched on before, but in this episode I wanted to focus on what I believe is one of the most important ways to look at them — not from the perspective of having the “perfect” routine, but how you start your day and the impact that has on how it feels. At the core of t...

Most people focus on managing their time, but overlook something just as important: their energy. In this episode, I explore the difference between time and energy management, why this often sits at the root of feeling overwhelmed, stressed or less productive than you’d like, and how you can start structuring your days and weeks in a way that actually supports how you feel and perform. Key Points...

Self-trust is something most people don’t consciously think about, but it underpins far more than we realise. In this episode, I explore how self-trust is built (or broken) through your daily actions, why a lack of it can impact your stress levels, habits, and mindset, and how it often sits at the root of procrastination, inconsistency, and feeling stuck. Key Points What self-trust actually is and...

After a short break from the podcast, I’m back, and in this episode, I’m reflecting on a recent intense period of moving home. Rather than focusing on the move itself, I’m sharing how I managed the pressure, both physically and mentally, and how, when I look back, everything I did aligns directly with what I teach around stress, energy, and performance. Because while we can’t always avoid high-pre...

In this episode, I talk about something very common that happens when routines change, even when those routines are habits we value. After a couple of months working abroad, my usual gym routine naturally fell away. When I returned home and started thinking about restarting it, I noticed something very familiar: resistance . Not because I didn’t want to exercise, but because stepping away from a r...

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about mentally disconnecting from work - why it’s hard to switch off, and why even weekends don’t always feel truly restorative. In this episode, I explore something I hear often from clients: “Even when I switch off, I still don’t feel calm.” We look at why stopping work and recovering from stress are two completely different things, and why many capabl...

If you can relax on Saturday but start feeling tense, unsettled, or anxious by Sunday afternoon, you’re not alone. In this episode of Busy Doing Well , I’m talking about why so many people struggle to fully switch off at the weekend — even when they don’t hate their job and even when nothing “bad” is happening. This episode follows on from last week’s conversation about mentally disconnecting from...

In this episode of Busy Doing Well , I explore why so many people struggle to mentally switch off from work, especially in today’s always-on, remote-working world. We look at what mental disconnection from work actually means, why it matters so much for your nervous system, wellbeing, and performance, and why simply telling yourself to “stop thinking about work” rarely works. I also share practica...

In this episode, I share a real client story that highlights a pattern I see again and again in my work: people doing all the right things on paper, yet feeling more stressed, exhausted, and depleted as a result. We explore how modern wellbeing culture can push us towards overdoing, over-optimising, and confusing busyness with progress... and why, for many people, the most supportive thing they ca...

Perimenopause and menopause have rightly become much more visible topics in women’s health over the last few years. There’s now far more awareness around common symptoms and how women can be supported during this transition. But there’s one crucial piece that often gets overlooked. As hormones begin to change during perimenopause, the body becomes far less tolerant to stress — physical, emotional,...

In this episode, I respond to questions and messages that came in after last week’s podcast and newsletter about creating sustainable change. Many people shared that they want to build new habits or improve aspects of their health, wellbeing, or lifestyle... but feel overwhelmed and confused by the sheer amount of conflicting advice available. When you’ve already tried things that didn’t work or w...

The beginning of January often brings a mix of good intentions, excitement, and pressure... and yet, it’s also the time when many people unintentionally set themselves up to fail when trying to create new habits and work towards new year goals or resoultions. Whether you’ve launched into the year feeling organised or you’re already feeling behind, this episode will help you reaccess and refine you...

The festive season is often described as a time to slow down and recharge — yet for many busy, high-performing people, it can feel anything but restful. Changes to routine, increased social commitments, disrupted sleep, shorter days, and emotional pressures can all take their toll. In this episode, Kate shares practical, grounded ways to support your wellbeing over the festive period — physically,...

Most people think getting run down is just part of winter… but in reality, the body rarely breaks down without warning. In this episode, we explore why so many people miss the early signs that they’re becoming depleted, and how subtle shifts in how you live, eat, rest and respond to your body can completely change how often you get ill. This episode builds on the last two conversations on self-car...

Last week, we looked at why real self-care starts with listening to your body. This week, we’re exploring why so many people find that difficult. After years of coaching individuals and teams, I’ve noticed clear patterns - common beliefs and misconceptions that shape how people treat their body. These “blocks” often sit beneath the surface, but once you become aware of them, you can start removing...

So many people think of self-care as something they do - a routine, a habit, a list of activities. But true self-care starts much earlier than that. It starts with listening to your body. In today’s episode, I’m talking about one of the most overlooked wellbeing skills: recognising the signals your body sends you before you hit exhaustion, burnout, or illness. Because so many people are pushing th...

If you often feel tired, wired, anxious, or low on energy, your blood sugar may be the missing piece. In this episode, Kate explains how daily eating patterns affect stress, mood, focus, and even long-term health ... and shares practical, realistic ways to stabilise your energy throughout the day. You’ll learn: Why blood sugar regulation impacts everything from focus and mood to sleep and stress....

In this episode of Busy Doing Well , Kate explores one of the most common challenges faced by busy professionals: overwhelm . She shares how she helps clients step back, review what’s really causing their stress, and create more space, calm, and clarity in their everyday lives. In this episode: Why overwhelm isn’t a sign of weakness, and what it really means. How the Wellbeing Foundations support...