Have you ever heard the phrase "The ghost in the machine”?  

In technology, it’s used to refer to something unknown that interferes with the proper functioning of a program, sometimes also known as a glitch in the system.  

The ghost in the machine is, to me, the perfect way to explain some of the odder things we do as humans, and is a good way to explain what’s happening when experiences from our past are activating in the present moment and interfering with how we normally behave.  

Our nervous system and certain parts of our brain often have a reaction to something that is happening now based on something that happened in the past. We often experience irrational thoughts feelings and behaviours affecting ‘a now’ moment even though the now is nothing to do with, or like, the past. Without realising it, we’re constantly interpreting the present through the lens of the past and we’re moved by redundant impulses which we cannot explain to ourselves or others. 

As Sendhil...

There’s a Harvard economist, Sendhil Mullainathan, who studied something most people wouldn’t think to question… why we make decisions that don’t line up with what we say we want. Not from a motivation angle. Not from a “try harder” angle.

But from what’s actually happening to the brain under pressure. What he found was simple, and a bit confronting… when time, money, energy or mental space feel tight, the brain doesn’t rise to the occasion. It narrows. It locks onto what’s urgent. And everything else — including long-term goals — quietly drops out of view. 

When I first came across that, it stopped me in my tracks a little. Because it explains something most women feel but can’t quite put words to… why food is easy when life is calm, and suddenly feels like a different game when the day has been long, messy, or mentally draining. 

It’s not random. It’s not a lack of discipline. It’s that moment where your brain shifts into “just get me through this” mode. And once you see...

You’re hungry. You’re tired. You’re standing in the kitchen or staring at a menu, debating what to eat. 

And before you know it, you’ve spent ten minutes running through every option—Should I be good? Should I just get the thing I really want? Will I regret it? Will I have to ‘make up for it’ later? 

Sound familiar? 

Decision fatigue around food is exhausting—and it’s one of the biggest reasons weight loss feels hard. The more we overthink, the more likely we are to throw in the towel and say, “Stuff it, I’ll just start fresh tomorrow.” 

So let’s simplify. 

Here’s a decision-making framework you can use to take the mental stress out of food choices, so you can eat in a way that supports your health without the endless back-and-forth.

The 5-Step Food Decision Framework 

🧡 Pause Before You Choose. Instead of reacting on autopilot, take five seconds to check in: Am I actually hungry? Am I just tired, stressed, or bored? A short pause can stop unconscious eating...

We all think we are in control of most things in our life don’t we?  

But what we’re usually trying to control is the day to details of a stupidly busy hectic life.  

We work hard at juggling our responsibilities, and push through exhaustion, but at some point, along the way we realise we have dropped off something – relationships, fun, health, rest, career, spirituality, community, finances or some unrealised dream and we do our best to change course and bring one or all of them back in. 

But have you ever stopped to ask why any of those things are important to you? 

What is it that you’re really chasing after?  

I ask myself that question alllllll the time!  

I get caught up in the doing "of things", the steps and tasks I need to accomplish to get to wherever it is I want to go.  

Some of those steps have been exhausting, even painful, yet I’ve rarely stopped to check whether they were actually necessary. Or, more importantly, whether they were even lea...

I used to say, with pride, that I was driven to achieve—results-driven and driven to succeed, driven to lose weight, driven to get things done! But as it turned out, that was not a recipe for happy success. 

When you’re driven, you’re the passenger right? At the mercy of where the driver wants to take you and how they want to drive!—Whether it’s slow as a snail or reckless and relentless, side-swiping everything in the way and leaving you arriving at your destination feeling like a wreck: weight and health issues, relationships in tatters, exhausted and unable to find the joy. 

But when you’re the driver, you’re in control. Your hands are on the wheel, your feet are on the pedals, and you decide where you want to go. You can pull over for rest stops when you need them and take detours to explore the things that bring you joy. 

Being driven means your internal forces are controlling your thoughts, feelings, and responses. It feels like you’re making the choices, but reall...

You know that feeling when you’re absolutely drained, running on fumes, and all you want is something—something salty, something sweet, something bold?

It’s not just about hunger. It’s about relief.

We chase bolder, richer flavours—not because we need more taste, but because we need something to cut through the noise of life: The exhaustion, the never-ending to-do lists and the feeling of being stretched too thin.

Food becomes a crutch, a way to push back against burnout. But instead of grounding us, it does the opposite.

It overstimulates our senses. It keeps our nervous system wired. And over time, it traps us in a loop of craving—because our taste buds adapt, demanding more intensity just to feel something.

So, how do we break free?

Instead of tightening down, think about loosening up: Off First with this “Long Weekend Every Month” Hack  

✔ Choose simple, real food. Fresh vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains. The fewer ingredients, the better.

✔ Di...

The other day, a friend sighed and said, “2025 has been a long year already.” 

We laughed, but honestly? I think a lot of people feel the same way. 

It’s barely February, and yet the pace is relentless isn’t it? The holidays feel like a distant memory, emails are piling up, and the to-do lists aren’t getting any shorter. We power through, promising ourselves we’ll rest later. But later never really comes, does it? 

Before we know it, we’re crawling into December, running on fumes, wondering how another year slipped through our fingers. 

What’s the problem? We don’t plan for rest—we just hope it happens. 

Why You’re More Exhausted Than You Realize 

If you’ve ever felt like the second half of the year hits harder, there’s a reason for that. 

At first glance, the start of the year feels full of public holidays—until you realize most of them cluster within a few short weeks in April and May. After that…well it’s a marathon to December where there’s only one l...

How are you feeling? Energised and full of life or do you feel like you’re dragging yourself across the finish line of 2024?  

Have you been working like you don’t have a family, whilst being the best wife and mother like you don’t have a job, juggling it all and wearing yourself down to a nub in the process? 

How do we get ourselves in these crazy situations?  

Because we wanted a better life….. the problem is we’re not getting it because we’ve mis-managed our mental, emotional and physical energy but we keep applying the same strategy of work harder to pull us out of it.  

And if you’re like I was, all you can hear in your mind is George Jetson stuck on the treadmill that’s spinning faster than his legs can run, yelling out, “Jane! Stop this crazy thing!” 

The Science Behind Your Crazy Treadmill 

Did you know, we don’t end up here by accident? Our biology, neurology, and psychology are all conspiring to keep us stuck in these patterns not because they don’t...

A friend once shared a story about an injury that left him walking with a limp. Long after the pain was gone, he realized he was still limping—protecting himself from something that no longer existed. It was a lightbulb moment for him. He decided to change. 

It got me thinking: where in life are you still limping? 

• Emotionally: Avoiding tough conversations or holding back from love, connection, or adventure because fear of rejection feels safer than risking vulnerability. 
  
  
• Mentally: Trapped in self-doubt, overthinking every decision, or replaying the same old stories about why you can’t have or don’t deserve more. 
  
  
• Physically: Ignoring your body’s signals—pushing through exhaustion, aches, or stress—because it feels easier than pausing to face what might need to change. 
  
  
• Financially: Not asking for the promotion you’ve earned or hesitating to take charge of your finances, even when the opportunities for growth are right in front of you. 
  
  
• At Home: Silently carrying the ...

We’ve talked about goals. We’ve talked about systems. Now it’s time to stop talking and start doing. 

If you’ve ever set a goal—lose weight, get fit, earn more money, fix your health—and felt the sting of coming up short, you already know this: goal setting isn’t goal attainment. 

If you’ve been missing the mark on achieving personal goals, over and over and over again, it’s you don’t have the tools, structure, or systems to make it happen. 

Trying harder, doing more, pushing harder, hustling longer—it's what we do, but that’s not the answer and even if you have success, chances are you’ll have sacrificed something important along the way – health, relationships, friendships, life enjoyment? 

Women’s Personal Health Leadership™ (WPHL) is how you redefine success through health-led life leadership. 

Women in their 40s are realizing they’ve painted themselves into a corner in one way or another—and they don’t know how to get out. If you’re one of them, WPHL shows y...