Taking time off shouldn’t feel like a panic attack waiting to happen—but for so many working mums, it does.

In this episode, I share how my own brain spirals before holidays and how I gently (but firmly) coach myself out of it. If your brain freaks out whenever you try to slow down, this one's for you.

You’ll learn how to listen to your thoughts without believing them and how to redirect your mind with compassion—not control. A powerful listen for anyone who's ever said, “I just can’t switch off.”

You can also watch this episode on YouTube with Captions - https://www.youtube.com/@TheWorkingMumsLifeCoach

If you'd like to have a chat about how I can help you further, please don't hesitate to click here & book a time with me, I'd love to meet you.

You can also follow me on IG @NickyBevan_LifeCoach

At what age do we become too old for personal transformation? According to Richard Hulley, a retired naval officer who began coaching at 79, that limit simply doesn't exist.

Richard's journey begins unexpectedly through an NHS diabetes course that evolved into a profound exploration of his mind. Growing up in what he calls an "Edwardian upbringing" where emotions weren't discussed, Richard initially couldn't even identify his feelings when presented with lists of emotions. "I didn't know I had emotions. I certainly couldn't describe them," he shares with remarkable candor.

What unfolds over a year of intensive coaching is nothing short of extraordinary. Richard gradually confronts decades of accumulated guilt, learns to understand unconditional love (a concept that took 42 sessions to fully grasp), and develops boundaries—what he now considers his most valuable tool. The process wasn't easy; Richard describes it as "terrifying" and "challenging," yet the results speak volumes: "I am me now. I'm not someone carrying guilt and shame and worries that I can do nothing about."

Most striking is how Richard's transformation occurred without any external circumstances changing. Same home, (although the cats are new), entirely different experience of life. Now 82, Richard continues monthly coaching sessions and reports being more confident, thoughtful, and genuinely happier. Perhaps most profound is his newfound peace with mortality, concluding that "if one is happy in this world, you just take it into the next one."

Whether you're 28 or 78, Richard's story challenges us to question what's possible when we're willing to explore our minds with courage and persistence. What emotional weights might you be carrying that could be set down? What transformation awaits when you're ready to do the work?

You can also watch this episode on YouTube with Captions - https://www.youtube.com/@TheWorkingMumsLifeCoach

If you'd like to have a chat about how I can help you further, please don't hesitate to click here & book a time with me, I'd love to meet you.

You can also follow me on IG @NickyBevan_LifeCoach

Jess Snape joins me to shatter fitness industry myths with her refreshing approach to physical wellbeing. With 15 years as a personal trainer specializing in strength and mobility coaching, Jess shares wisdom that feels like a warm hug in a world of comparison and impossible standards.

"I see a lot of guilt," Jess reveals when discussing what she observes most in mothers she trains. This guilt manifests through constant comparison to friends with different body types, unrealistic time expectations for fitness routines, and shame around natural aging processes. For women juggling childcare, careers, and households, the belief they should somehow fit hours of exercise into already packed days creates a crushing pressure.

Jess challenges the common belief that motivation must precede action. "I am never motivated to exercise," she admits candidly – a surprising confession from a fitness professional. Instead, she advocates starting without motivation and allowing the good feelings that follow to naturally build motivation over time. This perspective shift removes a significant psychological barrier for many women.

The conversation takes a practical turn as Jess demonstrates simple scapular squeezes – exercises particularly beneficial for those spending hours at desks or looking at screens. By integrating these brief movements throughout your day – perhaps while waiting for the kettle to boil – you can prevent issues ranging from tension headaches to lower back pain. Her advice emphasizes small, manageable changes over dramatic transformations.

Perhaps most powerfully, Jess encourages a shift from punishment-based fitness to celebration-based movement. Rather than exercising to "fix" perceived flaws or achieve an idealized aesthetic perpetuated by influencers (many of whom have had undisclosed surgical interventions), we can move our bodies out of appreciation for their incredible capabilities. For mothers especially, acknowledging that pregnancy represents "the biggest biomechanical change a human being can go through" invites gratitude rather than criticism.

Ready to transform your relationship with fitness? Follow Jess on social media for daily inspiration and check out her new "Desk Detox" app featuring 15-minute workouts you can do at home with just a resistance band.

IG: @jessicasnapestudio

LI: Jessica Snape

website: www.jessicasnape.com

You can also watch this episode on YouTube with Captions - https://www.youtube.com/@TheWorkingMumsLifeCoach

If you'd like to have a chat about how I can help you further, please don't hesitate to click here & book a time with me, I'd love to meet you.

You can also follow me on IG @NickyBevan_LifeCoach