The Balancing Act: Recent Episodes
Debbie Lee
For working mums who are held back in life and work by the mental load, leaving them feeling tired, frazzled and frustrated. Here you can find tools and inspiration to create your own balance of family life, work and self care that makes you feel energised, fulfilled and purposeful. So that you don't have to DO it all to feel like you HAVE it all.
Through the month of August The Balancing Act Podcast is taking a break. We’ll be back and raring to go in September with an exciting new title and logo. Watch out for updates over on Instagram @debbieleeco and on here.
If there are any topics, questions or interviews you would love to see in the new season then don’t hesitate to get in touch. Your feedback, ideas and suggestions are always super welcome.
Happy Summer ☀️
Debs xx
In the meantime,
🌱 Come say hi on Instagram I love love love hearing what you think, getting your perspective on the topics I discuss here and finding out more about where you are at with your own business journey. You’re so welcome in my inbox any time @debbieleeco, or give me a tag on your own stories.
🌿 If you are a service based side hustler and feel ready for becoming a fully fledged business owner then my Free Masterclass will walk you through the four things that you need to create a business that you can commit to going all in on. Spoiler alert It’s not time! Sign up now for instant access.
🌳 If you’d like to find out more about how I can support you through Embodied Business Coaching and Mentoring, head over to my website to learn more www.debbielee.co.uk
💛 Finally, if you know someone who would love this episode you can send them this link, that also includes the full show notes and links to listen on their favourite App www.debbielee.co.uk/podcast
Got a topic you’d like to request, a guest to recommend or a request for a guest interview? Drop me a message @debbieleeco
Episode webpage ↗️
- If this episode has sparked something inside of you, come tell me more! Come say hi on Instagram I love love love hearing what you think, getting your perspective on the topics I discuss here and finding out more about where you are at with your own business journey. You’re so welcome in my inbox any time @debbieleeco, or give me a tag on your own stories. 🌱
- If you are an aspiring Corporate Escapee, ready for a business that does good and feels amazing then my Free Masterclass will walk you through the four things that you need to create a business that you can commit to going all in on. Spoiler alert It’s not what you think! Sign up now for instant access. 🌿
- If you’d like to find out more about how I can support you through Embodied Business Coaching and Mentoring, head over to my website to learn more www.debbielee.co.uk 🌳
- Finally, if you know someone who would love this episode you can send them this link, that also includes the full show notes and links to listen on their favourite App www.debbielee.co.uk/podcast 💛
Got a topic you’d like to request, a guest to recommend or a request for a guest interview? Drop me a message @debbieleeco
Episode webpage ↗️
This episode I'm talking about how to trust that niggle inside so that you can act on it in a way that feels good!
If you'd like to hear more about How to create a business that you can commit to going all in on sign up to the free workshop here: https://debbielee.lpages.co/stepup/
This week I'm talking about one of the most common challenges I see facing corporate mums building their own thing. Inevitably your day job culture spills over into your start up and the often unwritten mantra that "the whole point in business is to make money".
We get fixated on figuring out how it will all workout, either through spreadsheets or business plans. Whereas instead if we focus on why, not how, these decisions become an awful lot easier further down the line.
Tune in to hear more, or sign up for my free masterclass "How to create a business you can commit to going all in on" on Tues 12th July. Save my spot!
This week I'm sharing a personal example of feeling the fear and doing something from my recent musical debut!
Tune in to hear me talk more about finding the stepping stones that will get you where you want to go in a way that feels easeful and enjoyable, and crucially not based in fear.
Drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco and let me know what you think.
Hitting go on your business feels like a big deal! When you get to that point, you've already taken it further than many people ever will.
And yet, when on the other side nothing happens, you can start to question your motives!
In this episode I'm talking about a different perspective that I've learned from experience and I'd love for you to hear.
Tune in now and let me know what you think over on Instagram @debbieleeco
When you are starting out in business, finding the focus that you need to make progress with the work you love can be really tricky. And for very good reason. I see there things getting in the way:
- Not knowing what to focus on
- Having too many distractions around
- Working at a sub-optimal time of day
What I have found is that by cultivating a healthy mix of long term strategy and short term feel good, the focus is a lot more likely to follow.
Tune into the episode this week to hear more, and tag me on Instagram @debbieleeco to let me know your thoughts.
This week I'm bringing back one from the archives. This proved to be a super popular episode about what productivity really means to you.
Let me know what you come up with by dropping me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco
Setting and charging the price that you want in your business can be one of the most challenging aspects of getting established. In this episode I'm sharing the three most common approaches I see new business owners taking, why this is often not sustainable and what comes next when it comes to charging your worth.
The financial success, or otherwise of your business is not the basis of your self worth. When it comes to choosing a price, I prefer to use a slightly different approach, which is finding the price that gets you excited. From this place, pricing becomes an energetic exchange where you feel good about it and want to give your best.
Tune into the episode to hear more. And if you enjoy this you will also enjoy the FREE MASTERCLASS I am running on 4 Steps to Starting and Sustaining the Business You Were Made For. Sign up HERE to save your spot.
I've tried many different side hustle's along the way, hoping that they would be 'the one'. But always, I ended up getting so caught up in how I was going to make it work, that I found myself stuck in a warren of busy work with a business that just didn't feel feasible.
What I've learned is that starting with how is the wrong approach for me. It has to start with why. Tune into the episode this week to hear more about what lead me to this and how you can apply it to your own approach to business start up.
Sign up to save your spot at 4 steps to start and sustain the business you were made for HERE.
Do you fluctuate between motoring your way through a To-Do list that you will never complete vs a lot of time spent thinking but not actually doing anything?
These two places often seem like polar opposites but actually have way more in common than we think - we're not fully present in either!
Tune into the episode to hear more about why this happens and what we can do to support ourselves.
Drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco to let me know what you think.
We so often hear the mantra "Feel the fear and do it anyway" I just don't subscribe.
When we aren't able to gauge the level of fear in our body and aren't clear on the intention behind our action, "doing it anyway" can often lead to an experience that we never want to repeat. And so we don't!
When it comes to starting a business this isn't particularly helpful. We beat ourselves up about not being consistent, when really we just need to find a different way.
This is where "feel the fear and do something" comes in. Tune into the episode to hear more and let me know what you think over on Instagram @debbieleeco
The prospect of better work-life balance is often one of the main motivators I hear for starting out in business. I get the appeal of feeling like you have more control over your time and flexibility in how you spend it.
But I also think that there's something more. Because in my experience, the big difference between having your own business is that you actually want to spend more time on it. It becomes a creative outlet for self expression.
And so as well as appreciating the flexibility that comes, there is also a question about how to preserve the hours that you do want to work, rather than just focussing on how to earn more while working less.
Tune into this week's episode to hear more and let me know what you think over on Instagram @debbieleeco.
When it comes to social media and just starting out, it's tough to feel like you are doing everything right and yet still not getting any response. Tune into this episode where I'm talking about:
- the risk of rejection online
- why we believe that we can control the outcome
- finding the happy medium to make things feel fun
Drop me a message or give me a tag on Instagram @debbieleeco to let me know what your key takeaway is.
This week I'm talking about what we need to do to feel deserving of our achievements. This can show up in both personal and business life where part of the achievement comes from the hardship along the way. And so we make things complicated, often unnecessarily so!
Tune in to hear more and drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco to let me know what you think.
A life of luxury often isn't what we think it is.
If I ask you to tune into what would feel luxurious to you right now, I suspect that you wouldn't come up with a flashy car or a bigger house. I suspect it would be something that is instantly obtainable, like quietness, calm or spaciousness.
Tune into this episode to hear more about:
- Why your business is not the answer you think it is
- Your relationship with deserving
- Loving your subconscious self
If you would like to sign up to the FREE WORKSHOP "The three things you need to start and sustain your dream business without sacrificing everything else" you can save your spot HERE.
My coach asked me one of those slightly mind blowing questions the other week "Where are you not being honest with yourself?".
Often we know what we want on the inside, but we're not choosing it on the outside. We're not taking action in alignment with what it is that we really want. And that's where the dishonesty comes in.
Tune into this episode to hear more and drop me a message @debbieleeco to let me know what you think.
If you say you’re not motivated by money and you’re open to a different perspective, tune into this episode where I’m offering about just that.
You’ll hear me outline:
- Why the money keeps you stuck
- What it tells you about the rest of life
- How to strike up a new friendship with money
Pop me a message over on Instagram @debbieleeco to let me know what you think.
In business, when we are constantly trying new things and getting distracted by new ideas, our energy, attention and focus becomes scattered.
I’m all for following nudges and mixing things up a bit, but when your whole business is based on that it can easily result in lots of unfinished ideas and not a lot of action.
So this week on the podcast tune in the hear my take on ‘The real reason you have lots of unfinished ideas’.
I'm talking about:
-
what it looks like when everything is half finished
-
my take on the real reason behind this
-
what to do about it - which probably isn't what you think!
Let me know what you think over on Instagram @debbieleeco
When life gets busy it's easy feel like the goals and intentions we took the time to set have just vaporised into thin air. When our energy and attention is scattered then we don't focus on acknowledging our progress. So even the progress we have made has fallen off our radar.
Tune into the podcast this week to hear me talk about:
- what progress looks like
- why it feels like you’re not making any
- building more joy, celebration and happiness
Business has been such a great vehicle for self exploration for me and it's such a privilege to pass this experience on to my clients too.
The business outcomes are of course incredible, but where I see the most profound changes in successful business owners is all of the stuff outside of business life. Family, friends, and time for yourself.
Living a life where you really are the example of the change you want to say. Tune in to this episode to hear more about:
- the potential cost of work life
- business as a vehicle of self expression
- benefits beyond business
This week I'm sharing more about why I've decided to close my Free Facebook Community. Really, it's based on three reasons:
- The reach is really low
- The engagement is poor
- It just doesn't excite me
Let me know what you think over at Instagram @debbieleeco
This is a big one! So often, from other women, and in my own head I hear the phrase, "I know I'm being silly but...." And often what follows is an expression of our deepest desires and dreams. The things that we know we want, but find it hard to take ownership off for very good reasons. How often growing up did you hear "Don't be ridiculous" or did you encourage someone else in your life to follow their dreams only for them to say "Don't be daft!".
In this episode I'm talking about:
- All the times I’ve heard “I know it’s silly, but…”
- The very good reasons why it happens
- What to do about it
If you like this episode then head over and tag me on Insta @debbieleeco to let me know what you think.
Do you find yourself see-sawing between a firm resolve to quit your job and do something different, and the opposite end of feeling like actually things are ok the way they are? If so, this is the episode for you.
Tune in to hear me talk about:
- what this can look like
- why it's actually pretty natural to be asking questions
- what you can do about it
Tag me over on Insta @debbieleeco and let me know what you think.
This week I'm sharing some exciting changes coming to The Balancing Act. What I have found from my own experience and that of my clients is that the most common reason we struggle to find balance is being unfulfilled at work.
And so my offering is evolving to reflect that. I am going to be teaching business from the inside out. I know that unless we pay at least as much attention to what's happening on the inside then the outside progress is so much harder.
If you have a niggle of wanting to do something different in your work but don't know what it is yet, or if you've started something but just can't get it off the ground then drop me a message @debbieleeco to be kept up to date on new offerings that could help.
It can feel like one thing after another at the minute and sometimes balance feels like a distant dream that might happen one day, but certainly isn't for now. Tune in to this week's episode hear me talk about:
- feeling snatchy with time
- getting real about the real issue
- where balance begins
If you would like some support in getting clarity on how to stop compromising on your own balance then all through January I have a special reflect and renew bundle on offer. If you want to make 2022 the year you start working towards your big dreams in a way that feels nourishing and sustainable then click here to find out more and book your spot: https://calendly.com/thebalancingact/reflect-and-renew
I know so well what it feels like to be stuck in the frustration of daydreaming about things that you don’t truly believe will ever happen. And so this week on the podcast I’m sharing What to do when your big dreams feel too far away.
Tune in to listen to me cover:
- The loop of impossibility when it comes to big dreams
- The structure that led you here
- Three actions to help get you unstuck and ready to dream big
If you would like some support in getting clarity on your big goals then all through January I have a special reflect and renew bundle on offer. If you want to make 2022 the year you start working towards your big dreams then click here to find out more and book your spot: https://calendly.com/thebalancingact/reflect-and-renew
I am a big fan of goals, but not necessarily New Year's Resolutions, controversial I know coming from a coach! But I find that so much of the time resolutions are based on denying ourselves something pleasurable, which isn't really what I'm in to.
Tune into the episode to hear a different perspective. In particular if you have set resolutions that are proving difficult to keep up then I have some tips to help.
All through January I am offering a Reflect and Renew Bundle. This is to support you in looking back at 2021, and setting some clear intentions for the year ahead.
You can find out more and book here:
https://calendly.com/thebalancingact/reflect-and-renew
At the end of 2021 I did a 90day experiment of sharing two episodes every week, one guest interview and one solo episode. I absolutely loved it and know that you found the guests really valuable.
I am going to continue the guest interviews in 2022 in a slightly different format, with a seasonal cycle. So for now, there will be one solo episode every Monday, with the interviews returning in 6 weeks. If there is anyone you would love to hear being interviewed, or if you yourself would like to apply, then please do get in touch by emailing hey@debbielee.co.uk.
All through January I am offering a Reflect and Renew Bundle. This is to support you in looking back at 2021, and setting some clear intentions for the year ahead.
You can find out more and book here:
https://calendly.com/thebalancingact/reflect-and-renew
All through January I am offering a Reflect and Renew Bundle. This is to support you in looking back at 2021, and setting some clear intentions for the year ahead.
You can find out more and book here:
https://calendly.com/thebalancingact/reflect-and-renew
All through January I am offering a Reflect and Renew Bundle. This is to support you in looking back at 2021, and setting some clear intentions for the year ahead.
You can find out more and book here:
https://calendly.com/thebalancingact/reflect-and-renew
All through January I am offering a Reflect and Renew Bundle. This is to support you in looking back at 2021, and setting some clear intentions for the year ahead.
You can find out more and book here:
https://calendly.com/thebalancingact/reflect-and-renew
This week I am chatting with Gemma Brady, founder of Sister Stories. Gemma's offering to the work is in creating space for people to come together and share their own story. Through this experience we get to communicate and connect on a level that is very different from everyday life. Gemma also shares her own story and how she discovered this as her calling in life.
Gemma now offers facilitator training as well as circling experiences. You can find her online in the following places:
Instagram: @sisterstoriesuk
Website: www.sisterstories.co
This week I am talking about what can feel like a conflict of energy at this time of year. It can feel like one of the busiest time's of year for many of us and yet our body naturally wants to turn inwards, rest and restore itself.
I'm talking about how the overwhelm can feel and 3 quick, easy to implement tips.
If you would like to take some time to reflect on 2021 I would love to hear your thoughts. Please head to https://www.debbielee.co.uk/end-of-year I have a gorgeous meditation to gift to you in return.
This week I am joined by Thalia Pellegrini, the Knackered Mums Nutritionist. Thalia supports mums who are tired out, worn out and fed up and supports them in making their nutritional needs a priority.
Thalia shares her inspiring story about why she feels so passionate about her work, as well as the impact that good nutrition gets to make on our life. We talk about how to make time for cooking and meal planning as a busy mum, as well as accommodating sometimes varying needs and preferences at family meal times.
You can find Thalia online in the following places:
Website: www.thaliapellegrini.com
Instagram: @thaliapellegrini_nutrition
Free 5min Breakfast Guide: Click HERE
I believe that as mums we have an incredible opportunity to show up as leaders is all areas of life. Every day we are setting an example to our kids, our partner. our friends and our colleagues of how we want the world to be. For me, being the leader that we desire starts from balance within. This is my biggest driver for my work, because I believe that both individually and as a collective of mums we can create the change we want to see in the world.
This week I am having a really gorgeous conversation with Amy Simpson, an Embodied Fertility Coach. We talk all about how to nurture and nourish ourselves as mums through the journey to conceive and beyond.
You can find Amy online in the following places:
Instagram: @amy_simpson_mind_body_baby
Facebook: @ASMindBodyBaby
Website: www.amysimpson.co.uk
This episode is about becoming aware of how you talk to yourself on the small scale, to be able to catch and then change those stories, knowing that this will also be the way you talk to yourself about the big stuff too.
This week I am chatting with Ruth Poundwhite, a business coach and mentor for highly sensitive and ambitious humans.
We talk a lot about Ruth's own journey in entrepreneurship and how family life has evolved along with that. Ruth shares about being the breadwinner of the household, and the impact of that on family and business life. We also talk ambition and money mindset as a working mum.
I loved this conversation and hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed chatting. You can find Ruth online in the following places:
Website: www.ruthpoundwhite.com
Instagram: @ruthpoundwhite
Facebook: @ruthpoundwhite
This week's episode is a brilliant guest interview with Sarah Dodsley, Empowerment and Confidence Coach. Sarah specialising in working with people pleasures, supporting them in letting go of old stories that keep us stuck.
On the episode Sarah shares her journey to what she is doing now and where her passion comes from. She also talks about the habits and behaviours of people pleasing, where they come from and some of the techniques, including EFT and Matrix Reimprinting, that she uses to help address them.
If you want to know more, you can find Sarah online:
Instagram: @sarahdodsley
Autumn is in the air. Autumn is a time for directing our energy inwards and contemplating what needs to be shed. We see it in the trees all around us as they let go of their leaves.
What this might look like for you is physical clearance of your space, maybe it's time for a bit of decluttering for example, or emotional clearance, of old stories or habits that aren't serving you well.
I'd love for you to contemplate, and come share over on The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group.
This week I have the absolute pleasure of interviewing Isabelle of Joyous Journeys. Isabelle is a Book and Business Doula who supports entrepreneurs birth their books and grow their business.
Isabelle has many facets to her work, including the use of Sacred Money Archetypes which we dive into a bit deeper. Isabelle shares her varied and passion led career path and how she came to do what she does.
This is a really fun and vibrant conversation that I trust there will be something in for everyone, whether you have a book or business or not!
You can find out more about Isabelle online here:
Instagram: @joyousjourneysuk
Facebook: @joyousjourneysuk
Website: www.joyousjourneys.uk
Podcast: /the-writing-womb-podcast
And you can find the Sacred Money Archetype Quiz here: https://birthyourbusiness.uk/quiz
You can catch the 3 day series over on The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group HERE.
And if you’d love to have 30mins together getting more clarity on what is holding you back from the balance you want, then book a call HERE.
You can catch the 3 day series over on The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group HERE.
And if you’d love to have 30mins together getting more clarity on what is holding you back from the balance you want, then book a call HERE.
You can catch the 3 day series over on The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group HERE.
And if you’d love to have 30mins together getting more clarity on what is holding you back from the balance you want, then book a call HERE.
You can catch the 3 day series over on The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group HERE.
And if you’d love to have 30mins together getting more clarity on what is holding you back from the balance you want, then book a call HERE.
This week is another fabulous guest interview with the amazingly energetic Word Witch Siobhan Strode. We cover all sorts on this episode all centred around the importance of sharing and living our own stories, especially as females.
You can find Siobhan online in the following places:
Instagram: @thissisterscribes
Facebook: @thissisterscribes
Twitter: @laboursiobhan
Website: www.thissisterscribes.com
Too busy and not enough time is the number one challenge that I support mums with. And yet often the resistance to do something about it is for exactly that - that there is not enough time to make a change.
I came across a really powerful piece of research recently that showed that our perception of how fast or slow time goes is linked to how divided our attention is. Meaning that we don't have the time to fully enjoy and absorb all of the amazing things going on around us.
If you want to finally slow down and spend your time doing the things that you really care about come join us next week on the free 3 day series, Reclaim Your Spark : www.debbielee.co.uk/stuck-to-spacious
This week is another fantastic guest interview to share, with Cat Googe, The Happiness Activation Coach. Cat’s energy shines through in everything she does and this conversation is no different. Turns out Cat and I have so many shared passions that we really had to force ourselves to stop chatting!
As well as Cat sharing her our journey to forging her relationship with happiness, we cover all sorts from the stories we tell ourselves, thoughts on the set up of the traditional schooling system and laughter yoga!
You can find Cat online in the following places:
Instagram: @catgoogeofficial
Facebook Group: Flourish in 15
Facebook Page: Cat Googe - The Happiness Activation Coach
This week I have a super exciting invitation to share with you for a brand new 3 day coaching series, Reclaim Your Spark. It takes place from 19th - 21st Oct and is for you if you are ready to take ownership of your desire for more.
You can find out more and sign up here: www.debbielee.co.uk/stuck-to-spacious
This week I have another amazing guest interview, this time with Ana Iveson, Freelance Copywriter and mum of three. Ana has a really varied and interesting story, having tested out lots of different combinations of work integrated with home-life to find the blend that best suits her and her family.
This is a really open and honest conversation exploring challenges the many of us face in finding the combination of work, family life and personal time that works for us and our family and gives us the fulfilment we deserve.
You can find Anna online at:
LinkedIn: Anna Iveson
Website: www.wordistry.co.uk
This episode is all about this negative thought patterns that we get into when we feel like we've messed up in some way - when we make a mistake, or things don't go to plan.
I share one thing that helped me massively when I bumped my car and was tempted to go into a whole load of self blame. And the question was, what do I need right now?
Stopping myself from going down a well trodden path of negative stories felt so different and allowed me to hold the difficult emotions at the same time as still appreciating everything else that was still great in life.
I would love to know if this episode resonates with you. Drop me a message @debbieleeco on Instagram, or come share your thoughts over on The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group.
I am also running a free 3 day coaching series for anyone who is feeling fed up, tired out and stuck from juggling it all and is ready to take ownership of their desire for something more. You can find out more and sign up here: www.debbielee.co.uk/stuck-to-spacious
This week I am talking to the amazing Dr Gulara Vincent. Gulara is an international bestselling author, a coach and a mum of two. Her latest book, Hammer, Sickle and Broom is available on Amazon.
I found this such a fascinating conversation covering a pretty wide range of topics from light to deep! We talk about Gulara's own career change story from being a university lecturer to a well respected healer, the importance of self acceptance as the basis for everything else that we want in life, and the conundrum of choice.
If you want to find out more about Gulara and her work you can find her online in the following places:
Instagram @gulara_vincent
Facebook @DrGularaVincent
I am starting to see that my own relationship with busyness is almost like an addiction! Making big long To-Do lists that I know I'm never going to finish acts to invalidate all of the things that I have been spending my time on, and also fuels the 'catch up' mode that isn't very kind to myself either.
I'd love to know what your key takeaway is. Drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco or pop over to The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook group.
And if you would love some support in shifting that stuckness and creating more spaciouness in your everyday come join the free 3 day coaching series at www.debbielee.co.uk/stuck-to-spacious
I am delighted to bring you another super stimulating conversation this week, with Joshua Peck, the Midlife Mastery Coach.
Josh shares a very relatable story for many other high achieving parents. He spent a long time getting established in two parallel careers, settling down with his partner, buying a house and creating a lifestyle that looked successful on paper. But yet, he constantly felt short of time and guilty.
His approach to life changed very abruptly on a plane back from China after watching an Amy Winehouse documentary. Following that he reprioritised many aspects of life, starting with his career.
Now he has built a coaching practice helping others find their best life in midlife, starting with career and leading on to all round self acceptance.
You can find Josh online in the following places:
Website www.yourbestlifeuk.com
Instagram @yourbestlifeuk
What an amazing conversation this is! I absolutely loved talking with Galina about all the ways we are conditioned for Motherhood before we even become a Mother. Our default mode of operation is one that is passed on to us from all of the generations of females that have gone before us. And this is what we will revert to, unless we choose to interrupt that pattern.
We talk about the importance of becoming aware of all of these layers of conditioning, from our families and society as a whole, so that we can start to unpeel them and in turn learn about the whole person that exists underneath, outside of our identity of Motherhood.
A big part of this is allowing ourself space and energy dedicated exclusively to ourselves and our own needs. Not only is this benefitting us and those around us, but it is also modelling true self care to our kids.
You can find Galina online in the following places:
Instagram: @galinasinger
Facebook: Galina Singer and Wake Up with Galina Singer
Website: www.galinasinger.com
What I notice is that when we are busy it's much easier to ignore what is going on in our body. We get into auto pilot mode, where we're just thinking about logistics and the next thing needing done. It's a good way to distract ourselves from those deep down feelings.
In the episode this week I'm delving into this a bit more, and asking, what are you distracting yourself from?
Come join us over on The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group to let me know what you think.
One of the important components of balance is being able to accept where we are right now AND also accept that we want to work towards a bigger goal.
We've all heard the mantra about "embracing the journey" - easy to say and much harder to do. But I've found that by asking myself this one simple question when I need it gives me the boost that I need to be able to better appreciate all of the simple pleasures and the small things in my every day.
And the question is this:
"If you knew it was inevitable that today would be an amazing day, what would you do?"
Asking yourself this might be just what you need to bring in those small, simple touches of ease, simplicity and pleasure. Allowing you to experience your not-so-far-off dream life in your daily life.
If you'd like to chat about this some more, come and join The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group and share your thoughts.
When I first start working with clients we begin by figuring out what her goals are. And what I often find is that mums feel stuck where they are, and either don't know at all what they want, or can only access the short term goals - the ones that are a modification of where they already are.
If you feel this way then I want you to know that it is completely normal. Our brains are wired to keep us safe and they see danger in the unknown. And so they go off into thinking about the worst possible outcome that then often shuts down our dreams altogether.
On the episode today I offer a quick and simple way to start overcoming the fear and accessing the big dreams. Firstly, take the pressure off for any action, and ask yourself, if time, money, family commitments weren't an issue then what would you want? And just leave it there. Allow yourself to daydream.
And if you want more help in taking it further, head over to my website www.debbielee.co.uk to find out how we can start working together.
As a working mum I see space, both physical and mental, as an essential need. I notice that when I don't get it I feel grumpy and snappy and irritable and I go into martyr mode.
For me, space is an essential part of feeling like yourself, like you have an identity outside of work and motherhood. It doesn’t just help me in the moment, it sets me up for everything that follows.
In the episode I talk more about:
- what space is, in a tangible way
- why we need it
- how to create opportunities for it
If you'd like to continue the conversation then head over to join The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook group.
This week I am sharing all that I have learnt over the last 6 months of running my own business. I left a corporate job as a geophysicist after 12 years. The job had so many great benefits and ultimately gave me the foundation to do what I am doing now, but I was always looking for a deeper meaning. The last 6 months have blown my mind. I feel unleashed, like the sense of freedom, opportunity and possibility that I once believed in has been reignited and amplified.
The most valuable things that I have learnt are:
1. There is no magic formula
2. Business development follows personal development
3. Your environment matters
4. Happiness spills over into all areas of life
5. Wealth comes in many different forms
6. Anything is possible
Tune in to hear me talk about each of these some more, and come over to join the chat on The Balancing Act for Working Mums facebook group.
I am recording this episode fresh off a one week campervan trip with my family. We had a fabulous week away where we experienced a brilliant selection of all of the highlights of the Scottish outdoors.
I find holiday such a great time for creativity in my business. This time even though I spent no focussed time working I've come back with a while list of ideas to get going with.
And my reflection on why this is very much centres around being present. Being present in the moment allows me to be fully immersed and relaxed and from this state the ideas seem to flow naturally.
So here I invite you to look at where your distractions are in day to day and commit to making one small change towards being more present in your every day.
Come join the chat over at The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group.
In this week's episode I am delighted to be chatting to Sam Bowley about how our fertility journey can really impact balance. Particularly if we face fertility challenges, trying to conceive can infiltrate every aspect of of life from work to relationships.
Sam supports women via her Facebook community and individual coaching. Please be aware that we do talk about how fertility challenges can impact different areas of life and so I would invite you to practice some self-care if these are things that you find difficult to listen. Please remember that you can choose not to listen or cut the episode short and also make sure that you're in a safe and comfortable environment and have some self-care at the ready.
I felt so compelled to invite Sam onto the podcast because that time of trying to conceive is one that we don't tend to talk a lot about at the time because it's so personal. And I want to let people know that particularly if they are struggling then they are not alone and that there is help, support and community available out there.
You can get in touch with Sam on Instagram @fertilitycoachsamanthabowley and on her website www.samanthabowley.com
And you can also join her free Facebook Community Fertility Support UK
A super fun conversation with Helen McNutt of Mother of Copy. After a high flying career as a freelance copywriter for many exclusive brands including GQ, Guardian, and Cosmo Helen has embraced motherhood as a superpower and integrated it into her passion for copywriting. She now teaches other mums with small businesses how to write their own copy.
Helen teaches mums how to work with the unpredictability of family life and how to use copywriting to bring out both their brand and personal identity. We have a very lively conversation that covers all sorts! My favourite bits include:
- the realities of running a small business as a mum of small kids
- how to use motherhood as a strength in your copywriting
- allowing ourselves to be creative
- life on a school farm
If you want to hear more from Helen you can find her on Instagram @mother_of_copy and on her website www.motherofcopy.co.uk
And if you'd like to continue the conversation come and JOIN US over on The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Group.
There is so much emphasis put on being productive. And as a working mum it can often feel like a necessity in order to get everything done. Then when we're not in the flow of productivity, we can feel like we're failing.
I want to offer an alternative, so if productivity is something that often comes up for you, tune in to this week's episode to hear me talk about:
- what i think productivity is
- what it’s like to not feel productive
- what productivity could be instead
If you'd like to continue the discussion come join us at The Balancing Act for Working Mums Facebook Community.
I absolutely loved this conversation! Keri and I talk incredibly passionately about things that we both care deeply about: audacity, feminism and motherhood.
As The Audacity Coach Keri is the creator of the four pillars of audacity:
- Acknowledging and asking for what we want
- Appearance ambivalence
- Availability for abundance
- Alliance with other women
We talk a lot about how Keri's early experiences of motherhood led her to become so vocal about the role of feminism in today's society. And how it has shaped her own work-life balance.
If you want to hear more from Keri follow her on Instagram @keri_l_jarvis or check out her website https://kerijarvis.com
This episode is aimed at any fellow people pleasers who find it difficult to say no, or to express your true opinion.
I share some examples of when I see it happening, small and big. I share why we do it - not wanting to cause hassle or inconvenience. And I also share three simple steps we can take in order to get used to saying no more:
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Start small - request the drink that you really want even if it is different to everyone else's.
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Become curious about situations where you recognise this happening.
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Talk about it in order to reach a compromise rather than going along with what other people want all of the time.
I'd love to know what you think. Drop me a DM on Instagram @debbieleeco and let me know what your key takeaway is.
This week I'm talking about the feeling of only knowing what you don't want, without being able to articulate what you do want, or even the way you feel just now.
This is something that I experienced on and off for a long time until it finally became unavoidable after I became a new mum.
In this episode I talk about:
- how it feels when you only know what you don't want
- why it happens
- one super simple, quick tool that gives you something to do about it
I'd love to know what you think. Drop me a message @debbieleeco to let me know if this feeling resonates with you.
In this episode I share my experience of being held back in business by juggling it all. Whilst on mat leave with my first son I worked on building up my growing artisan granola company. It started off being really fun with lots of creativity.
But after a few months I started putting more and more pressure on myself to make a success of the business without having really tangibly defined what 'success' actually looked like. So work started creeping into all of the pockets of free time that I had, I stayed up late and worked at the weekends.
And ultimately the way of working became unsustainable, not because I burnt out, but because I lost the love. I had a huge passion for the business and the ethos behind it, but working on it started feeling like a chore.
It wasn't an overnight thing, more of a slow drip effect. It was a great learning experience for me and a large part of my drive to want to support other mums in business find a balance that works and is sustainable for them.
I'm running a FREE 60min MASTERCLASS on Tues 1st June, How to balance your business life with the rest of life, for mums with a purpose driven business. Sign up now to reserve your spot: www.debbielee.co.uk/balance-in-business
We all know that comparison is often very unhelpful and not something to seek out. But
how often do you find yourself online lost in the instinctive spiral of all the reasons that you're not good enough? Not fun enough, clever enough, pretty enough?
The thing is that because we are already believing these things about ourselves we are seeking out the evidence that they are true - it's confirmation bias in action.
But what if we could actually use comparison for good. What if we could use it as a source of information for showing us what is possible. What if we could turn the story around and start using comparison to reinforce that story.
On this episode I cover:
- how to tell when you are in the comparison spiral
- why comparison is typically unhelpful
- what we can do to make comparison our friend
I also share details of my upcoming FREE MASTERCLASS on How to balance business life with the rest of life, Tues 1st June 2021, at 12noon. You can sign up HERE.
How do feel about changing your mind? Is it something that instinctively feels uncomfortable? If so, you are not alone!
This is something that I struggled with for a long time in business and still do to a certain extent in the rest of life. Part of the problem is all of the assumptions we are making about what will happen or how the other person will feel if we express the change of mind. Being on the receiving end of a big change of mind recently was a really good lesson to me about how these really are assumptions and we can't actually tell how the person will actually feel.
So, tune into the episode this week to hear me talk about:
- examples of when it might crop up
- why it feels so uncomfortable
- how to avoid or move through the discomfort
I'd love to know how you feel about this topic and whether changing your mind is something that instinctively feels uncomfortable to you? Drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco to let me know.
This week I am fresh from a week of holiday and I'm talking about how you know whether you actually need a break or whether you are procrastinating. I'm sure we've all been in the place where there's one or many things hanging around undone on our to do list.
I share three things to look out for to help you decide which of the two it is:
- be clear on the why behind the task
- notice your patterns and whether it is something that always feels hard
- pay attention to your body and your behaviour
If you love this episode get in touch to let me know what you're going to choose to do differently @debbieleeco.
When I first came across the concept of money mindset I didn’t really pay much attention. It didn’t seem relevant to me because I didn’t think that I was motivated by money and I earned a comfortable, stable income.
But since then I’ve noticed how it creeps into so many aspects of our life. I debated whether to have this as a podcast topic but I believe that as females, our attitude towards money is a fundamental part of feeling empowered.
Tune in to hear me talk about:
- what money mindset is
- why it is relevant to balance
- where it comes from
- how we start to investigate our own money mindset
I’d really love to know what you think of this episode and if you’d like to hear more. Drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco
This week we're following up from the 5day mini series on How to create more balance as a working mum.
You will hear me talk about:
- why you think you’re so busy
- the real reason behind never ending busy ness
- how to start shifting away from it
You can catch up on the replays over at The Balancing Act Facebook Group HERE
How often do you find yourself feeling frustrated? Is it a constant low level thing or does it come and take over every so often?
We often see frustration as a negative emotion, something to be avoided and escaped from. It often leads us into a place of blaming others or blaming the situation we are in. And often communicating frustration just leads to more frustration!
So in this episode I talk about how we can reframe frustration and see it as a good thing. Tune in to hear me talk about:
- how to recognise frustration
- why we feel it
- how to use it in a constructive way
I would love it if you could drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco and let me know what your key take away is.
And if you still haven't signed up for the 5 day mini series on How to create more balance as a working mum, you can do so at www.subscribepage.com/busytobalanced
This week I am sharing one of the most valuable lessons that I have learned yet. That if I want other people to value my time and energy then first I have to value them too.
It’s something that took me a long time to realise and even longer to actually believe. When I stop to notice how I feel and what I need, rather than go into busyness autopilot then things start to feel different.
It’s a continual practice but one that I am committed to for my own well-being and something that I feel super passionate about passing on to other mums as well.
If you feel like you’re ready for a change, join my free 5day mini series “How to create more balance as a working mum” from 19th - 23rd April. Each day is a short video, available on replay.
You can sign up now via: http://subscribepage.com/busytobalanced
And if you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco
This is a longer episode than usual because we couldn't stop talking! I'd love for you to join us for a passionate and enthusiastic discussion. We cover perfectionism, living in tune with our cycles, celebrating our feminine energy, how to start bringing more comfort and ease into your every day life and finding moments of calm in the chaos.
Vix has been my own coach for a few years now and has been absolutely instrumental in me getting more in tune with the things that really matter to me and then making those things a part of my every day life. She guides overachievers, overthinkers and recovering perfectionists to be more authentic and more resilient. She helps people manage their energy and their emotions to build a more sustainable and authentic way of living and working.
If you would love to bring some of this into your own day to day then please check out any of the following resources:
Connection Cafe
For any busy people who could do with an hour of calm in their week. Every Wednesday morning 8-9am online. Book tickets HERE
Crisis Kit
See more about the Crisis Kit HERE and if you would like to make use of Vix's very generous offer of 50% off and share with a friend for you can buy HERE
7day Challenge
If you would like to try out living in a more cyclical way, check out the 7day challenge HERE
For any fellow perfectionists
For anyone interested in learning more about an alternative to perfectionism, this blog article might be helpful The antidote to perfectionism is wholeness
Find Vix online
www.thepracticalbalance.com
- Instagram @vixzen_warrior
- Facebook @thepracticalbalance
Coming soon:
FREE FIVE DAY MINI WORKSHOP SERIES
**HOW TO CREATE MORE BALANCE AS A WORKING MUM
Mon 19th - Fri 23rd April
Sign up HERE**
With many of my clients I see the same challenges cropping up again and again. Much of it centres around always being busy and never having enough time to get everything done, never having the time to make the changes you want and never having enough time for yourself.
It’s for busy working mums just like you who are fed up juggling it all and ready to swap the constant busy-ness for a bit more balance.
Each day I will be live steaming a short 20minute video that will take you from feeling busy to balanced. All videos will be available on replay so it’s no problem if you can’t make the lives.
Day 1: why are we so busy?
Day 2: what even is balance just now?
Day 3: getting intentional with your time and energy
Day 4: figuring out your unique balance
Day 5: making it real
Sign up HEREIf you have any qs drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco
In this episode I'm speaking with Elizabeth Willetts of Investing in Women. Liz has recently founded the UK's most female friendly job board that is focused on providing flexible and part time working for parents in financial services.
We talk about the benefits of part time and flexible working, but also the challenges of navigating a career around these. We cover the Gender Pay Gap, the impact part time working can have on career development, switching jobs when working part time and the cost of nursery!
You can find Liz in the following places:
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-willetts/
- Instagram @elizabethwilletts
- Investing In Women www.investinginwomen.co.uk
- Blog articles here
And if you're interested in the book I mention, it's The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell.
Do you recognise that nagging feeling of wanting more? You feel grateful for all you have but yet there's always this little nagging voice somewhere inside?
What if I told you that that's ok! It's ok to feel super grateful for everything you have, and truly appreciate the people, things and experiences already in your life AND also want more. Often that something more is being able to live more in line with our values that then results in more fulfilment and purpose.
In the episode I share three mindset shifts that I've found to really help in taking steps towards finding more:
- acknowledging things that are important to you
- reframing your limiting traits
- cultivating self belief
Can you relate to this feeling of wanting more? I'd love to know. Drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco or pop over to my website www.debbielee.co.uk to book a complimentary 30min call.
Do you feel like you take on more than your fair share of the mental load? Are you the only one who seems to remember all the stuff that needs done, by when and by who? Is it making you fed up and frustrated?
In this episode I share three practical tips on how you can start letting go and letting someone else - either your partner or another adult - take on some of the load.
I talk about why it is so important to value our time and energy in this way, because it affects not just our home life but our approach to putting ourself forward at work too.
I share how you can start to pass over the responsibility for tasks, not just the physical chore, how to start a conversation about the mental load in your household, and when you might want to let go of quality control.
I'd love to know what your key take away is from this episode and what you think about putting the tips into action. Drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco or book a call at www.debbielee.co.uk.
This was a super fun episode to record. I am talking to Marta Buist, a yoga teacher who has very much integrated the philosophies of yoga into every aspect of her life. It has shaped her approach to work, to family life and herself. What she learned from her yoga practice has guided many of the big and important decisions in her life as well as her every day intentions. Marta very generously shares her story from a dramatic career change that led her to become a teacher right through to how it shaped some of her early decisions in motherhood as well as the most recent travel adventures her family has been on. She also shares some really practical tips on how to get more out of your own practice so that you can start integrating what you learn about yourself on the mat into other aspects of your day.
Marta runs three amazing yoga classes every week, on a Tues 6-7pm (UK time), Thurs (not conducive to UK) and a Sunday at 4-5.15pm (UK time). You can find all class details as well as some amazing pictures on Marta's Instagram @begood_dogood
This week I am talking about when and why we resist doing he things we need the most. Maybe you crave some headspace and tell yourself that you'll do a bit of meditation, but then never get round to it. Maybe you want more connection with your partner but end up feeling irritated and further apart. Maybe you want to socialise more and sign up to an online class but then dip out at the last minute.
In the episode I cover the top three reasons why we do this, why it is natural and why you should be kind to yourself when you do.
I also explore some things that you can do to help so that you can start nourishing yourself in the way you need.
I'd love to know what your key take away is, drop me a message on Instagram @debbieleeco. If you'd like to explore any of this further you can book a free 30min call with me by visiting www.debbielee.co.uk.
This week I speak with Siobhan Fisher, founder of These Little Fish. Upon returning to the corporate marketing world after having her daughter Siobhan found that something had shifted. Where she had once felt really passionate and very driven in the work she was doing, something had changed. She still felt the ambition but wanted something that gave her more fulfilment. She enlisted the support of a coach, Laura Oldfield, which she describes as a transformational experience. She has gone on to find a balance of working life that includes working part time as an employee, as well as now running her own business, focused on serving small business owners. Tune in to hear more about Siobhan's journey.
You can find Siobhan on Instagram @theselittlefish, where she also goes live via 'Fish & Witch Friday's' answering all your marketing questions and also at www.theselittlefish.com
Episode 10 marks what should have been the end of the first season. But I am enjoying this all too much and so have made the decision to carry on! And it feels really good. I feel so excited to share more content and wonderful guests with you over the coming weeks.
I share my top three learnings on putting yourself out there:
1. Be clear on your why
2. Get comfortable with the fear
3. Accept imperfect action
This is particularly aimed at anyone who has the inkling of an idea of wanting to try something new.
I am also really excited to announce that Build Your Balance, my signature Group Programme is ready for release. I am asking for some feedback on timings to ensure that everyone is able to take away full value from the experience. Drop me a message @debbieleeco with your thoughts.
If you do have any ideas you would just love to get off the ground and feel like you could do with some extra support then head over to www.debbielee.co.uk to book 30mins with me completely for free.
In this week's episode we are talking women's pelvic health. This is a topic that I find is not widely discussed and often not comfortable to talk about. Fiona is a specialist in pelvic health during pregnancy, post-natal and beyond. She shares a wealth of information ranging from:
- how to safely get back to exercise after having a baby
- long term pelvic floor maintenance
- what to do if you feel like something isn't right
- what a Mummy MOT is and what to expect at an appointment
- tools and resources to help during lockdown
Fiona references lots of great online resources throughout the episode which I've linked to below:
www.pelvicroar.org
www.thepogp.co.uk
Squeezy App
You can also find her on Instagram @physioandpilates, on Facebook The Physio and Pilates Company and through her website www.physioandpilatesco.com
This week is my first ever in person interview with my husband, Dave Riley. We talk about our two different approaches to parental leave following the birth of each of our sons, three years apart. As with many aspects of parenting life, we are learning as we go along! We talk about why we think longer paternity leave is a good thing, why it's not the norm and what we think the longer term impact of unequal leave really is.
You can read more about the Mother Pukka campaign I mention @mother_pukka
I'd love to hear what you think, and more about your own experiences of parental leave. Head over to instagram and drop me a message @debbieleeco
Our energy levels are likely fluctuating more than usual just now as life on the Corona coaster continues. We are not designed to be at full throttle all of the time. Especially as females our energy levels are governed by hormone fluctuations during our menstrual cycle. Even if you do not have a regular menstrual cycle you can make use of a seasonal way of working. The cyclical nature of energy fluctuations on a monthly scale is similar to the changes that we see throughout the seasons on an annual basis. In this episode I give an introduction to this idea and how you can make use of it to allow yourself more time to rest and slow down while building trust in yourself and your body.
I'd really love to know what you think of this one. Give me a tag or drop me a DM on instagram @debbieleeco
In this episode I talk about the importance of taking time out for yourself in amongst all of the busyness. In December I experimented with doing more of the things that I loved and was reminded of these three things:
- We have a choice over at least a little bit of our time
- Spending time with no expectation of productivity or results is really nourishing
- Giving yourself time is practicing self love and kindness
If this is something you struggle to do then try setting up accountability, either by telling your family, scheduling remotely with a friend, or joining an online class. Choose something you love to do. If you are stuck for ideas then keep an ongoing list that you can choose from depending what feels good and how much time you have.
If you need any further ideas or support then drop me a message @debbieleeco
This episode is recorded on New Year's Eve 2020. We talk about the ritual of reviewing the year and deciding what we want to take forward. 2020 has been moments for all of us, whether it has involved progress on a large scale or getting through the day to day.
We enter 2021 with a lot of uncertainty still around. And so I want to offer up a different approach to setting resolutions. One that is based on intention rather than action. This way of doing allows us to be kind to ourselves and fits in with the uncertainty that we see.
I'd love to hear how this lands with you so please do drop me a message on instagram @debbieleeco.
In this episode I'm delving into what it means to 'have it all'. I talk about why having it all looks different for each one of us as it is a unique blend of all the things that light you up. Finding your have it all is what will lead to the feeling of balance in your life. Similarly when your life is very much out of alignment with what you actually want you will feel very far from balance.
When creating your own version of having it all, things to think about are, where you live, what job you do, your family set up, how you spend time together as a family, hobbies and passions you pursue and charitable causes you are involved in.
If you don't have any idea what you actually want, just what you don't want, then I can offer some ways of getting there. Thinking about these things will help you discover your values, your guiding principles. Getting in alignment with these then makes it easier to say no to things that don't align.
If you are interested in delving into this more please get in touch on instagram @debbieleeco or take a look on my website www.debbielee.co.uk to find out more about my signature group coaching programme kicking off in 2021.
Finally, have a very Merry Christmas, and if this festive period is particularly tough and I can support you in any way please do get in touch.
In this episode I’m joined by Susan Wallace, founder of Settled Petals. Susan is a certified sleep consultant and also offers classes in baby massage and baby yoga. Together her services are designed to promote relaxation and contentment in babies and infants. She also offers potty training workshops for parents of toddlers.
We bust some of the myths around babies being meant to sleep all night, talk about the impact baby sleep can have on the whole family and how a solution that works for one family might not for another. Breaking down some of the 'shoulds' around baby and infant sleep.
You can find Susan in the following places:
- Settled Petals website www.settledpetals.com
- Instagram @settledpetals
- Facebook settledpetal
In this episode I tell you the story of how I got into coaching and what it's all about. Maybe you've heard it talked about in movies, or even by your friends, but never really been sure about what exactly a coach does? I tell you about my journey into motherhood and how I found that first year pretty overwhelming especially once I added in a return to work. Working with a coach I made a huge shift in my mindset that I felt was too good not to share with other working mums.
If you would like to know more you can book a complimentary 30min Discovery Call with me at www.debbielee.co.uk Or give me a shout on Instagram @debbieleeco
Woohoo! I'm so excited to have you join me for the first ever episode of The Balancing Act podcast. In this episode I'll introduce what it's all about.
Throughout the podcast I aim to share tools and inspiration for working mums who are held back in life and work by the mental load, leaving them feeling tired, frazzled and frustrated.
I truly believe that you don't have to DO it all to feel like you HAVE it all. You can create your own balance of family life, work and self care that makes you feel energised, fulfilled and purposeful.
Let's get started!
To find out more you can find me on instagram @debbieleeco or on my website www.debbielee.co.uk
Check out the Netflix Documentary I refer to in the episode 'Explained: Why women are paid less'