Keeping Balance At Hand

Have you ever gone out to the shops in a good mood, but by the time you leave you're feeling anxious or drained and you don't really know why? That's the collective energy around you impacting your well-being. But we don't have to accept this. With energy management, we can cleanse negative energies and create a deep sense of clarity and peace.In this episode I sat down with Oracle and energy alignment expert Molly Jane, to discuss energy management, personal growth, and the intersection between the two.LINKS:Connect with Molly JaneWebsite | InstagramConnect with Me: Website | Instagram

Do you know where your important life documents are? Your passport, your birth certificate, your insurance. You probably put them somewhere safe, but do you know where that is exactly? Could your family find them if they needed to? My guess is, probably not.Getting these documents organised and accessible might seem like a chore, but it's a small bit of work to give yourself peace of mind and avoid the headache when an emergency occurs. Sound good? Keep reading because today I'm sharing three easy steps to get yourself set-and-forget prepared. Step 1: Collect Your Important DocumentsFirst things first - gather every critical document. Start with the essentials: birth certificates, passports, tax records, and health insurance. But don't stop there! Consider adding any unique documents that are significant to your life situation. If you're feeling a bit lost, head over to my website, to download your free "Set and Forget" outline. It's a handy guide designed to ensure you don't overlook any vital documents.Bonus tip: Don't forget your furry friends, they have important documents too! Keep their medical histories, vaccination records, and microchip details safely stored alongside your own. Step 2: Safe and Sound StorageAfter you've collected your documents, you want to split them into categories of financial, health, legal, and anything else that suits you. To make this extra easy, I've just launched specially designed life document folders that come in various colours and feature prompts for you to easily organise.Once your documents are sorted, you need to ensure they're stored safely and securely. Consider investing in a fireproof and waterproof safe to protect your valuable information from unforeseen events. It doesn't have to be an extravagant purchase, just remember to measure the safe before purchase, to ensure your folder fits comfortably. Step 3: Inform the Right PeopleThe final piece of the puzzle? Communication. Make sure that key people in your life know where to find these documents, because there may be times you can't access them yourself. Imagine the stress you're saving them in those urgent situations by simply sharing this vital information now. So why not get started with organising today? Visit balanceathand.com for more tools and inspiration. And remember to share your success with me - I love celebrating your accomplishments! Until next time, live your best, balanced life.Website | Instagram

Your brain is juggling a million things at once. From keeping up with work deadlines to remembering to change and get to your exercise class by 5, the mental notes never seem to stop.You're managing the household, the family calendar and being the one who remembers everyone's birthdays. Then someone asks, "What's wrong?" and you just don't know where to begin! That's the invisible load at work - the mental and emotional labour involved in managing all the unseen tasks that keep life running smoothly.This mental clutter is more common than you'd think. It's a load that often falls heavily on women, particularly those balancing family and career, serving as both the managers and caregivers of their worlds. Today, we're exploring what the invisible load really is, how to recognise it in your life, and practical strategies you can implement to reduce the mental burden. We'll discuss the importance of embracing joy and rest, as well as reconnecting with hobbies that used to bring you joy - all without the guilt. As our world gets busier, people are continuing to find new and innovative ways to lighten their invisible loads. What's one thing you can do today that helps you take better care of yourself, lighten that load, and live your best, balanced life?LINKS:Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Balancing careers, families and everything in between is no easy feat - especially for us women. Many of us juggle demanding careers, run households and try to keep up with kids' schedules while maintaining good health and exercise. So what happens when we don't take care of ourselves in the process of managing the hundreds of different tasks we undertake everyday? You guessed it – I'm talking about burnout. We hear about burnout all the time, but how often do we actually spot the signs before it's too late? Today, we'll dive into the science of burnout—what it is, how to identify it and most importantly, how we can prevent it before it takes over our lives.I'll take you through the core components of burnout to identify the signs, the small and manageable changes you can make to avoid reaching breaking point and tips on recovery if you recognise burnout in your life. I encourage you to reflect. Are you showing any early signs of burnout? Take a moment to check in with yourself. If you are, don't wait. Pick one strategy from today—whether it's taking more breaks, setting boundaries, or prioritising sleep—and start putting actions in place for yourself. Prioritising your health and wellbeing is the real success.LINKS:Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Financial balance is the key to life balance.Knowing exactly where our money is going and keeping it organised can not only hugely reduce stress, but helps us live with a sense of freedom and stability. But how do we get there when we have a million other things to juggle?While it can feel like such a heavy burden, if we don't stay on top of our money and make financial plans we can stick to, we can create a huge and unwanted mental load for ourselves.So, today I'm sharing some practical strategies that can help you manage your finances without letting them control you. I'll take you through some simple exercises that will help you refocus your spending and help shift your mindset.We'll also discuss why financial balance really matters and how it touches every part of our lives - from work to family to our mental wellbeing. Achieving financial balance isn't about having millions in the bank or never spending on anything fun. It's about feeling empowered by your financial choices and ensuring that your spending aligns with your values and goals.Remember, you don't need to conquer it all overnight. Small changes, like just starting to put away money for savings, can be a great start.So, join me today and let's take some actionable steps to ensure your money is supporting the life you want to live.LINKS:Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Let's be honest: your to-do list is stressing you out.While its purpose is to get your life organised and keep you on track, it's far too easy to get overwhelmed by everything on it. The good thing to remember is that while your to-do list will most likely always have something on it, the goal isn't necessarily to get it empty. There are ways to manage your tasks in a way that doesn't overwhelm you. So, let's look at some techniques to help clear the brain clutter and maximise your productivity. I've got a couple of methods that you can use to get yourself refocused and back on track. They'll also help you allow yourself to rest, reset and redirect your energy  to the right places and spaces.I take you through the practical steps of creating a priority list, which will help you get things in the right order and ready to action. We'll also talk about my current favourite: the five-minute list. This is a great way to break down which tasks can be completed in five minutes, so you can start crossing things off on the daily in a manageable way.  The best thing you can do for yourself is learn lots of different methods for productivity and work out  which suits you best. The solution might even be a hybrid of a few.My advice? Just get started. Trialling different options will help you explore and enhance your individual productivity style - and no doubt help create the balanced and fulfilling life you're looking for. LINKS:Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Ever feel like your life is a mess of unread emails, piled-up papers and endless to-do lists? I've been there, and know exactly how overwhelming this kind of disorganisation can be. It can get to the point where we actively avoid addressing any of it - usually just making things a whole lot worse!Thankfully, I've been able to develop my own personal administration system that helps me in effectively organising my life and desk. Today, we'll tackle the digital and paper sides of your life with strategies I've found so valuable in decluttering and easing the mental load. This includes the process of picking 10 categories to help streamline your life.We all know how stressful an unchecked inbox can be, so I give you a step-by-step guide to creating designated folders and effectively managing all those unread emails. We'll also explore adding necessary actions to your to-do list and going on a ruthless ‘unsubscribe' spree from newsletters or advertisements that no longer serve you. We'll then take a look at some ideas on how you can best store your hard copy documents and important information. Finally, I love keeping my desk clear, and I share with you four key items I always have on hand to help me to keep it that way.If this system feels like the right direction to get you organised, then I encourage you to just get stuck in. Remember, beginning with a work-in-progress is better than not starting at all!I look forward to hearing what your categories are and how these simple actions have improved your space - so make sure you reach out when you've created yours!Until next time, keep on striving to live your best, most balanced life. LINKS:Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Are you tired of feeling like you're not reaching your full potential? Do you find yourself repeating behaviours or making decisions you know aren't best for you? If we want to become the most effective, efficient and happiest versions of ourselves, we need to ensure  we're creating a strong foundation of preparedness for our lives. This often means stepping outside our comfort zone, which I know can be scary. However, I've personally learnt to live by the saying: if nothing changes, nothing changes. Today, I'm talking about being your own CEO and finding the right people to support you on your journey towards your best, most balanced life. Whether it's finding the right doctor, coach, or support group, I'm sharing some practical steps to build a team that brings out the best in you:Prioritising HealthCommitting to Personal DevelopmentBuilding Strong RelationshipsWhile you're in CEO mode, work out what you need to achieve in the coming week.  Embody the best assistant you can be to yourself and action that list, knowing you'll need to play multiple roles in your team from time to time. I cannot wait to hear how you go. If you're not sure where to start, I offer free mentoring sessions where we can work together to get you started on your journey. Head to my website to book in your free session and  until next time, take charge of becoming who you really want to be  and living out your best, most balanced life. LINKS:Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Do you often have those mornings where you're in a hectic mess saying to yourself, "I really need to get more organised," or find yourself at night staring at the contents of your bare fridge with a lingering feeling of exhaustion? You're not alone. Many of us grapple with these everyday stressors and life feels a little overwhelming, but what if I told you there's a way to alleviate this daily chaos? By automating small aspects of your routine, you can create a calmer, more organised life and achieve that elusive feeling of organisational success.When I talk about automation, I'm not referring to AI, robots or large-scale industrial processes. Instead, the focus is on practical strategies to simplify your daily tasks, allowing you to run on autopilot and eliminate unnecessary stress. In this episode, I go through some of my favourite systems and routines that have saved me thousands of hours of unnecessary overwhelm.Being organised surprisingly offers great flexibility. You can eliminate unnecessary stressors and open yourself to more options, chances, and fun. Living life on your terms becomes possible when you remove dependencies and time-wasters from your routine.Remember, "nothing changes if nothing changes." Wishing for a calmer day won't make it happen, but you have the power to create it for yourself. And that truly is a gift worth giving yourself. Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Yes, you read that right. It's time to start planning for Christmas even though we are several months away from the holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas traditionally or in your unique way, early preparation is key to enjoying a stress-free, joyful holiday without the last-minute chaos or financial strain. A little bit of planning now can go a long way in ensuring your festivities run smoothly and you don't end up paying off Christmas well into the new year. In this episode, I'll run you through some of the tips that I have to ensure a happy and stress free Christmas period.Remember, your presence is the greatest present of all. With simple planning, you can ensure a joyful, engaging, and meaningful holiday period. Start saving early, plan your gifts thoughtfully, and decide how you want to experience the holiday well in advance. Avoid the December rush and find special moments to cherish.After you start your holiday preparations, I'd love to hear from you. Share your tips on how you make this season amazing. Until next time, keep preparing and live your best balanced life.Happy early Christmas planning!Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

For most of us, the idea of making a major pivot in life or career can seem impossible - even reckless.Our social conditioning or lack of self-belief often points us to the idea that we should prioritise being responsible, or stay where we are due to sunk costs. But is there another way to look at making a big change?My guest today is challenging the status quo and offering her incredible insights on shaking things up, pursuing your true purpose and designing the life you really want.Ellen Hooper is an accomplished executive coach, leadership development business owner and co-host of the podcast I'll Ask My Sister. Starting out as a lawyer, transitioning into HR and eventually finding her way to coaching, Ellen knows firsthand what it is to feel the ‘push' towards the safe and expected path early on in life. She takes us through her journey of experiencing the ‘pull' of her real purpose, finding the courage to pursue her dreams and the mindset change that helped get her there.We talk about charting the path to change by adopting an expansive mindset, and how asking for what we really need in our personal lives and careers is vital when making big decisions. With productivity being one of Ellen's favourite topics, she shares her helpful insights on the significance of routine, understanding personal productivity peaks and the often-overlooked value of rest.She also shares her philosophy on leadership, where revolving it around integrity, communication and empathy can transform not just professional environments but personal lives as well.This is a beautiful and inspiring conversation on finding a new lease in life, leadership and personal fulfilment. Let's take Ellen's lead and allow ourselves to think bigger, knowing that this life is truly what you make it!LINKS:Connect with Ellen:Website: https://www.ellenhooper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenjhooper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellen.hooper.consulting/ Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Today I want to walk you through a concept that's a cornerstone of productivity: the eat your frogs technique.For those unfamiliar, the idea is based on a Mark Twain quote: "If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that it is probably the worst thing that will happen to you all day long."In our world of work, the "live frog" translates to those daunting tasks we keep putting off. You know the ones – annoying, time-consuming, or just plain scary to start.Now, I don't literally recommend chowing down on amphibians, but in today's episode I break down how I use this technique to tackle my to-do list, which I prefer to call a punch list (feels more action-oriented, don't you think?).I'd love to hear how eating your frogs boosts your productivity. If you're struggling or have any questions, feel free to reach out. Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to neglect our own health while focusing on the needs of others. However, prioritising our well-being is crucial for a healthy and fulfilling life.Today, I'm joined by the amazing Ros Lindsey as we focus on personal preparedness through health. Ros is a registered nurse with a Master's of public health and over 30 years experience in the health sector, including nursing leadership, clinical education and ICT project management.After years of looking after others, she recognised that she had been neglecting herself. Through deep knowledge and personal experience, Ros now seeks to help others implement small steps to improve their health and cause ripple effects that will transform lives. Ros joins us today to share insights, knowledge and strategies to help you decide, commit to, and progress your own health and wellness.We dive into: Taking stock of our daily habitsImplementing small changesThe power of mindset and self-loveBuilding a supportive teamSeeking professional helpRos talks about finding her purpose in helping others to make informed decisions to improve their lives, and how she aims to instil hope that people can change.If you're looking to progress your own health journey but aren't sure where to start, this conversation is full of valuable tips, actionable steps and a whole of inspiration for you to take and implement into your every day. So, here's to finding more self-love, better health and a balanced, happy life!LINKS:Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by clutter and looking for a fresh start? Well, today you're in luck, because decluttering is one of my favourite things to talk about!I love the opportunity to declutter and organise. It grounds me as a person, clears my head and resets my focus. I feel lighter when my space is clear, clean and full of things that add value to my life.My goal is to help everyone feel like this and develop their own practice for clearing the chaos out of not only their physical spaces, but their minds.In this episode, we'll go through the different aspects of decluttering your home, and I'll give you practical tips on how to approach each one:Decluttering before you organiseSorting and categorisingKeep, sell, donate or disposeOrganising and repurposingDealing with sentimental items I know the idea of decluttering your home can be overwhelming. But remember, it's okay to start small. Take it one space at a time before moving on to the next.So, let's embark on this decluttering journey together and create a space that truly reflects our best and most balanced lives!LINKS:Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Back in 2022, I had the absolute pleasure of attending an evening with Dr. Jane Goodall, broadcast by Museums Victoria. Dr. Goodall is an ethologist known for her detailed research on chimpanzees in Tanzania and has founded the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation.For me, the biggest takeaway from this amazing session was this: every action matters. When we live with this in mind, we have the opportunity to lead with hope. In Dr Goodall's words, “Hope is about action and not wishful thinking…You must roll up your sleeves and start crawling and climbing… Every one of us makes an impact on the planet every day.” I've been thinking a lot about this recently and how the mantra “every action matters” is highly useful for us to use when reflecting on the three P's: Purpose, Productivity and Preparedness. So today we're talking about taking actionable steps to move towards our purpose and establish our goals - and how this can be done by making purposeful choices in all that we do.We'll explore:Making every action meaningfulGetting organised to boost productivityExamining our lives with curiosityWhether it's prioritising our health, staying organised or examining ourselves with curiosity, each choice we make contributes to experiencing life at its best and most balanced. So, join me today and get inspired to find the most meaning - and balance - in your daily life and actions!LINKS:Resources mentioned: Balance at Hand ChecklistConnect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

I love a good holiday - in fact, it's one of my favourite things to do in life. However, at some point over the years juggling work and home life, holidays became too few and far between.  I lost sight of the criticality of rest and the extreme value of experiencing different cultures and places.  Not only is it incredibly good for our bodies, but it's immensely beneficial to our minds to rest, recharge and find inspiration for our next adventure.Planning your rest is a critical element of health, within our focus area of preparedness. And as I always say, you can't argue with science. And science has proven the importance of regular breaks during the day, the week and especially annually, so you have that time to really reset. There are two types of rest I want you to consider today: big breaks and mini breaks. I talk through the benefits of each one and give you tips on how to best plan for them. We'll also explore how to beat the back-to-work blues, where I share the fun ritual my family and I have to select our next adventure and give us something to look forward to. Whether you're yearning for a tropical getaway or seeking inspiration for your next trip, I hope this episode is a helpful roadmap to planning your successful next adventure. May it also inspire you to seek the much-needed rest and recharge we all need for a joyful, more balanced life!Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_handResources mentioned: Travel Planner Checklist

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?There are many of us who have started our life or career in a certain direction, only to realise down the track that it's not actually where we want to be. We're not truly following our dreams, and are perhaps struggling to discover what our life's purpose is. If this is you too, it may be time to ask yourself: if you had all the time, resources and skills to do anything you wanted, what would you actually choose to do - or be?Today, we're joined by special guest Kristina Karlsson, whose inspiring journey from losing it all in business to creating her dream life is empowering others to do the same. Founder of Kikki K and Dream Life, and author of Your Dream Life Starts Here, Kristina's dream is to inspire 101 million people to transform their lives and in turn, transform the world around them.We talk about the many aspects involved in chasing our dreams, including:Actionable steps you can take to find your purpose How to overcome the challenges of life and use them for goodBalancing work, life and the pursuit of our dreamsPersevering in the face of adversityKristina is a wealth of knowledge on how to adopt the mindset, daily rituals and tenacity it takes to make dreams a reality. So join us today and learn how you can develop the confidence to back yourself, achieve your goals and create your very own dream life. In the words of Kristina herself: it's time to take a big bite and chew like hell! Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_handConnect with Kristina: Website: https://www.yourdreamlifestartshere.com/ Instagram: @kristinadreamlife

Thank you for joining me for the very first episode of Keeping Balance at Hand. Sharing my journey and lessons learnt in living a balanced life is truly a dream come true, and I look forward to supporting you to live your best, most balanced life. Today, I'm providing you with an insight into the Balance at Hand blueprint, which is based on the three P's I live by: 1. Purpose2. Productivity3. PreparednessI believe that to achieve balance at hand, you need all three areas to be working in harmony. And once you get there, that's where you find the sweet spot to truly thrive. While determining your own unique purpose, productivity and preparedness sounds complex, it really is a great reference to keep coming back to if you get stuck on where to focus next. So let's investigate the fundamentals of the three P's together and begin the journey to creating your own special balance at hand. Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand

Welcome to Keeping Balance at Hand. I'm so excited to bring you this podcast, where every week we'll explore the three essential areas that can transform your everyday existence into a fulfilling and harmonious journey. There are so many of us asking what the purpose of our lives is, frustrated by days that just seem to be on repeat. We find ourselves burdened with a heavy mental load and overwhelmed by the clutter in our spaces that should be our sanctuaries.The good news? Through trials and more than a few errors, I have discovered the key areas that, when kept in balance, allow me to feel the joy in the everyday - and I want to share that with you.In each episode, we'll unravel the mysteries of these crucial areas that have so much impact on the quality of our lives:1. Purpose2. Productivity3. PreparednessNote: they're much more fun than they sound! Whether you're struggling to define your long-term goals, seeking to elevate your daily productivity or aiming to be prepared for unforeseen challenges, this podcast is for you. So join me and together, we'll navigate the path to living our best and most balanced lives.Connect with Me: Website: www.balanceathand.com Instagram: @balance_at_hand