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We’re winding our way into fall, and I’ve been convinced by my daughter to join her in some decluttering before her move away from home. As I was cleaning out a big storage closet, I came across an essay/short story I wrote for my English 101 class forever ago. I was surprised that more than 34 years later, I still seem to be the same person. I don’t think that there were health or life coaches back then, (or not that I knew about,) but there are signs in the story that I was already interested in mindset and goal setting. 

I think that my assignment was to write a short story using similes and metaphors, so I compared a long bike ride to moving through life. I’ve been feeling a little like I’m pedaling into the wind in my current life, so the story helped reassure me that it will likely ease up soon!

I think there are good lessons in the story of my ride, way back when I was still a fairly new cyclist and only 21 years old. It’s almost exactly as I originally wrote it (on a word pro...

This summer has been full of big transitions in our family. My daughter graduated in June and recently accepted her first job in her field of textile design. It’s such an incredible opportunity for her, and I couldn’t be more proud. At the same time, it comes with some stress—she’ll be moving all the way across the country, which feels a lot more permanent than the four years she spent away at school.

Meanwhile, my son—whose health journey I’ve shared before—is learning firsthand just how much stress and anxiety can impact his well-being.

And here’s the thing that’s really fascinating (and a little frustrating): stress and inflammation feed off each other.

👉 Stress can cause inflammation.

👉 Inflammation can cause stress.

It’s a cycle that can quietly affect everything—your digestion, hormones, recovery, cravings, even your mood. When your nervous system is always “on alert,” your body gets stuck in a constant state of stress, which keeps inflammation simmering in the background.

In my last post, I shared that inflammation isn’t always the enemy—it’s actually a natural part of your body’s healing process. But when inflammation sticks around for too long, it can quietly chip away at your health. And it’s not just about your body—it can also impact your mood, motivation, and overall energy.

Here’s the tricky part:

• It doesn’t always look like inflammation
• It can come on so slowly that it feels normal.
• And it can drag you down without you even realizing it.

That’s why I want to share five subtle signs your body might be dealing with ongoing inflammation.

1. You might feel tired all the time, even when you take the time to rest. Low grade inflammation can interfere with your sleep quality and your recovery, so even when you rest, your body might not bounce back the way it used to.
2. Exercising feels harder than it should. When inflammation is high, everything can feel off.  Your body might feel stiff, heavy, and sluggish. Even your go-to workouts can start...

Right now I’m in the middle of a “cleanse”, though that’s not quite the right word for it. It’s a version of the Ultra Simple Diet by Dr. Mark Hyman, where you simplify your diet to reduce inflammation and negative reactions you may have to foods. You’ve probably heard that inflammation is the source of a lot of health issues, but do you know why? 

What Is Inflammation, Anyway? 

Years ago when I would introduce myself at a business conference, I would say that I helped women reduce chronic inflammation. Back then, hardly anyone would know what I was talking about. Not so much now, though I feel like it gets oversimplified. The truth is that it can have a massive impact on how you feel every single day. 

Inflammation can be the root of joint pain, digestive problems, stubborn weight gain, fatigue, and heart disease. It even plays a role in balancing your hormones. But people don’t always explain what inflammation really means; it’s actually your body’s natural way of protecting you.

As I write this, I’m in my happy place in the mountains. It’s taken me away from my normal routine, which of course has its positives and negatives. One surprising positive is that in this small town, many of my choices are limited. But why is having less options for grabbing a coffee, buying groceries, or eating out a good thing? 

Decision Fatigue is Real

Every day, your brain makes thousands of choices. What to eat. When to work out. Whether to check your phone or email, or stay focused… And on it goes. And the more decisions you have to make (even tiny ones), the harder it gets to follow through on anything. That’s why by 4pm, so many people feel like their willpower is nonexistent. It’s called decision fatigue - and your brain is just plain old tired. 

Beat Decision Fatigue

The best way to avoid decision fatigue is to set yourself up to make fewer decisions. How? Here are some ways to start:

✅ Pick your “default meals” for the week.
Think about it: by eating the same two or thr...

I won’t lie, we’ve had our share of stress in our household and we all know there’s plenty of stress coming from what’s happening in the United States. I’m sure everything will be fine in our home, and I’m trying to do what I can to help the greater good. But sometimes, I just need to feel better now. As much as I know that eating well, exercising, and getting restful sleep are part of the solution, a quick release from all that tension is what’s needed. 

Nervous System Regulation

Have you heard the phrase “nervous system regulation”? It’s trendy right now (for good reason!), but it is also a little confusing. Your nervous system manages your fight-or-flight systems, and transitions you from calm, to stressed, to calm again. It’s a natural bodily function (though very complex), but it is one we can influence to reduce our stress levels.  

You might think that to do this, you need to:

• Do a 90-minute yoga flow.
• Learn to meditate.
• Start an early morning routine that includes light...

I have goals, and I know you do too – whether it’s feeling more energized, less stressed, more balanced, or just feeling like yourself again. Working on achieving those goals means doing the work to get there… but there’s an important part a lot of people miss.

It’s not only about what you’re doing – it’s also about who you’re showing up as while you’re doing it.

That’s because your habits will always follow your identity. If you see yourself as someone who “can never stick with it” or is “always starting over,” your actions will keep reinforcing that belief. You’ll hit a bump in the road and fall back into the same old story.

But when you start seeing yourself as someone who prioritizes their well-being, follows through, or knows they’re worth the effort, everything begins to shift.

Your identity is the foundation. It informs your choices, your energy, and your resilience. When you change how you see yourself, the habits begin to align more naturally. That’s when your goals start ...

We’re officially more than halfway through the year, and if you haven’t followed through on your goals the way you wanted… you’re not the only one. It’s super common to start the year with big plans and ideas for the months ahead, and then by summer things have stalled or stopped altogether. 

This is where people usually do one of two things: 

1. They double down trying to make up for lost time, and get burnt out in the process, or 
2. They throw in the towel and promise to start fresh in January (yet again).

You don’t need to do either! There’s a much better option: pause, recalibrate, and recommit. 

A Simple Way to Refocus on Your Goals

Take 5 to 10 minutes this week and answer these three questions (in a notebook, in your phone, or even just in your head while you walk):

1. What’s actually been helping you feel better this year? (ex. Walking more, better sleep, more protein, boundaries, or eating less sugar.)
2. What’s draining you or just doesn’t fit your life anymore? (ex. Tryin...

Have you ever felt stress as a fluttery, uneasy feeling in your belly? That’s not your imagination—it’s your body’s internal messaging system at work. And believe it or not, your gut might have more to do with your mood and overall wellness than you think.

There’s a reason scientists call the gut your “second brain”. It’s powered by something called the enteric nervous system, a complex network of over 100 million nerve cells lining your digestive tract, from your esophagus to your rectum. And it’s constantly talking to the brain in your head through a pathway known as the gut-brain axis.

Why This Matters for Your Health (and Your Happiness)

Here’s where it gets fascinating: 90% of the communication along the gut-brain axis flows from your gut to your brain, not the other way around!

This means what’s happening in your digestive system—what you eat, how stressed you are, how well your gut bacteria are functioning—can have a huge influence on how you feel both physically and emotion...

Last night I was out at a relatively small music venue listening to my favorite Scottish band, Old Blind Dogs. I’ve been trying to prioritize socialising more, so we invited some friends and had a great time. During the evening, my friend and I started chatting about sleep. Namely, how horrible she had been sleeping lately. 

The quality of my sleep has drastically improved this past year after I started hormone therapy. My friend, on the other hand, doesn’t have that option because she had breast cancer in the past. it got me thinking: sleep struggles can come from so many different places. Hormones, yes—but also:

• A dysregulated nervous system
• Poor gut health
• Chronic stress
• Or simply being stuck in “go-go-go” mode for way too long

Here’s the part most people miss: Sleep isn’t just about what happens at night; it's a mirror of your day. If your day is packed with skipping meals, constant stimulation, zero downtime, and never-ending to-do lists… your brain doesn’t magically kno...