Real Life. I’m a woman in my mid-50s, navigating life’s transformations with the wisdom gained from decades of personal and professional challenges. After years of pushing myself to meet expectations and ignoring the signs of burnout,
I reached a point where I had no choice but to pause and take a hard look at my life. What I discovered was that burnout wasn’t just the result of working too hard – it was a deeper imbalance, rooted in unresolved trauma, perfectionism, and neglecting my emotional needs. Why Nostos Nest? The word nostos comes from ancient Greek and means a return home after a long journey – not just in the physical sense, but emotionally and spiritually. It’s about coming back to yourself, rediscovering who you are after life’s challenges, and finding healing along the way. Paired with nest, which symbolises comfort, warmth, and safety, Nostos Nest is a place of nurturing, reflection, and renewal. For me, this space represents the journey I’ve been on to let go of burnout, find balance, and embrace self-love. My hope is that it becomes a soft place for others to land, too, as they navigate their own paths back “home.”
What I Share Here
I created Nostos Nest to share my experiences, thoughts, and lessons learned, so that anyone facing similar struggles can find comfort, guidance, and hope. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find on the blog:
Recovering from Burnout - how I began to heal from the inside out
Embracing Midlife Changes - reflections on shifting identity, body, purpose, and priorities
Quitting Drinking - a key part of my recovery, and one of the most transformative things I’ve ever done
Finding Joy After Struggle - learning to let go of perfectionism and make space for real joy
Self-Love and Balance - setting boundaries, cultivating compassion, and creating a life that feels like yours
Workplace Culture and Mental Health - my perspective on how workplaces can better support real people, and how individuals can take care of themselves within work environments that aren’t always built for wellbeing
Why This Might Help You
I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure what comes next. But I’ve also learned that if you slow down and listen to yourself - really listen - healing becomes possible. You don’t need to have it all together. You don’t need to be “perfect” to start again. Wherever you are on your journey, Nostos Nest is a place to breathe, reflect, and begin.
11/06/2026
Regular breaks are one of the simplest ways to protect your mental health, but so many of us wait until we’re exhausted before we take them.
That’s why I like doing these regular mental health check-ins. They help us notice where we’re at before we hit empty. 🔋
So where’s your battery today?
🟢 Green and charged
🟠 Amber and running low
🔴 Red and needing a proper recharge
Sometimes mental health support looks like therapy, boundaries, rest, movement, or asking for help.
And sometimes it looks like finally packing your suitcase and letting yourself fully switch off for a while. 🧳
09/06/2026
It’s easy to understand something about yourself.
It’s harder to change it.
A lot of the time, we can see the patterns clearly.
We know where we’re pushing too hard.
We know what we need more of.
We know what isn’t working.
But knowing and acting aren’t the same thing.
"Doing the work" is where those two start to come together.
It’s the part where you stop skimming the surface and start making small, real changes over time.
Real change usually starts with the questions you’ve been avoiding.
Why are you pushing past your limits?
Why does rest feel uncomfortable?
Why can you see what you need, but still struggle to give yourself permission to live that way?
Those questions might feel confronting.
But they can also bring clarity.
And once you can see the pattern, you have more choice in what comes next.
“Doing the work” is one of those phrases people say all the time, but what does it actually look like in real life?
In my latest blog post, I share what it has meant for me through burnout, sobriety, self-awareness, and learning to build a life around what I’ve discovered.
Vulnerability can look brave from the outside.
But when you’re the one sharing something personal, it can feel awkward, exposing, and a little bit terrifying.
That’s why this Brené Brown quote resonates with me so much.
When I started writing more openly, I didn’t feel courageous. I mostly felt nervous that I’d said too much. But the messages I received afterwards reminded me why I keep going.
Honesty helps people feel less alone.
The people who need your honesty most might never tell you.
They might read quietly.
They might feel something shift.
They might carry your words with them without ever pressing like or leaving a comment.
And that still counts.
This has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from sharing more openly.
Sometimes your vulnerability reaches someone in a moment when they feel alone, overwhelmed, ashamed, or unsure how to explain what they’re going through.
09/06/2026
07/06/2026
06/06/2026
03/06/2026