Recent ideas, articles and learnings

(Trigger warning: contains references to post-holiday blues, life dissatisfaction, career grumbles, emotional wobbles and the occasional outbreak of “I just can’t be bothered”.)

Are you feeling it?

We’re halfway through September, the season of fresh starts, shiny pencil cases and that annual fantasy that this will finally be the year we become organised, motivated and mysteriously fond of kale.

For some people, September brings a lovely sense of possibility. New goals. New routines. New energy. For others?

It brings the realisation that despite a summer fuelled by sunshine, sangria and expensive ice creams, they are still… themselves.

After putting life gently on hold for a few months and convincing yourself that a tan, a sun lounger and a floaty beach cover-up would somehow sort out your entire psyche, reality taps you on the shoulder.

Turns out your problems didn’t drown in the Mediterranean. They simply waited patiently by the baggage carousel.

A few weeks ago there was a li-lo bobbing on the horizon. Now there are emails. Meetings. Laundry. And somehow Christmas decorations already appearing in shops.

The boss hasn’t become any more attractive. That colleague who drains your energy appears to have survived the summer intact.

Deliveroo has lost its sparkle. And life feels a bit like dry toast without butter.

You’re Not Imagining It

Many people I’m speaking to right now feel restless, unsettled and emotionally frayed around the edges. There is a lot going on in the world and in our own lives. Costs are rising. Uncertainty seems to be everywhere. The future can feel foggy.

You may recognise some of these signs:

• You wish your skin was a bit thicker
• Things people said months, or even years, ago still sting
• Every noise feels three decibels louder than necessary
• You keep looking for answers that aren’t arriving
• The future feels blurry and difficult to picture
• You’d quite like a switch that turns off overthinking
• People keep describing you as “too sensitive”
• You’re still seeking closure from something that closed long ago
• You can’t be bothered, and frankly can’t be bothered feeling bad about it
• Everything feels slightly overwhelming
• Tiny tasks have suddenly become Everest-sized challenges
• Tears are suspiciously close to the surface
• You’re exhausted but your brain didn’t get the memo at bedtime
• Happiness turns up, and part of you immediately wonders how long it will stay

Sound familiar?

Nothing Has Gone Wrong

If so, here’s the most important thing I want you to know: nothing has gone wrong.

You’re human. Sometimes life isn’t about charging forward. Sometimes it’s about pausing long enough to notice what your feelings are trying to tell you. Instead of fighting them, get curious.

What’s really behind the dissatisfaction? What needs attention? Which expectations are no longer serving you? What old beliefs are quietly running the show?

Take an honest look. Have a little wallow if needed. (Wallowing gets a bad press. The trick is not to buy a house there.)

Write things down. Notice what feels out of alignment. Then ask yourself one powerful coaching question:

“What is one small thing I can do to move towards the life I want?”

Just one.

Give Yourself Permission to Rest

And while you’re figuring that out, give yourself permission to rest. Step away from the endless scrolling. Spend time with people who refill your emotional battery rather than drain it. Trust that cloudy days are not permanent weather forecasts, because they aren’t.

The sun always comes back. And so will your energy, motivation and sense of direction.

This is exactly the kind of pattern coaching helps you break, not by forcing positivity, but by getting curious about what’s really going on. If you’d like some support navigating the fog, a conversation with me might help. Book a 30-minute discovery call and let’s explore how to create a life you don’t constantly need a holiday from.