It is unfortunate that the way of the modern world often forces us to press on and race through life, that taking care of ourselves and listening to our own personal pace and rhythm, often gets pushed down the priority list.

But… really? It shouldn’t, and doesn’t, have to be that way.

I am blessed to have been self-employed for most of my working life, and to be able to (more or less) dictate the terms on which I’ve worked. That’s not to say that setting boundaries is always easy, and I grappled with the challenges of doing so particularly when working as a lawyer. However, I have also noticed how much our own personal choices and conformity to supposed norms, can influence and perpetuate negative working culture. Equally, with every decision we make to set a boundary (either with other people, or with ourselves and the ambitious, goal-oriented side to our personality!), and every opportunity we take to stop, listen, and communicate what we need, we can also shift unhealthy culture and norms.

The last month has been pretty busy for me, from editing/submitting my novel, to hunting for land, to moving house (twice!), to emotional rollercoasters. So this week I took some time out, to take care of me, to allow myself to feel and to be, to process emotions and rest my body. And as I’ve relaxed and allowed myself to expand into the present moment, I’ve found my creative spark flaming with renewed vigour, my energy and spirits have lifted, and I feel more ready to tackle whatever life throws at me…

Hope you enjoy the music! And if you’re looking for some practical tips on developing a healthy home working routine (/lifestyle more generally), check out my article in this month’s edition of Counsel magazine.