Reflections on Turning 48: Strength, Joy & Living More Authentically I recently turned 48. For years, I wrote annual birthday blog posts – little time capsules of the lessons I was learning (checks notes – my last reflections post was when I turned 46). Somewhere along the way, life got busy, heavy, and complicated, and I stopped. I also misplaced my blogging mojo and, well, blogging changed. But this year, I felt the pull to write again. I’ll be honest: this year I’ve wrestled with ageing. After years of stress (okay, a decade’s worth), I noticed the changes in the mirror – lines around my eyes, muscle that seemed to vanish overnight, and the weight of it all on my face and body. But here’s what else I’ve noticed since turning 48. Those lines also tell a different story: a story of laughter, smiling, connection, […] Janine Defontaine

6 Transformative Steps Towards a Healthier ADHD Life From setting goals to practising self-care, by taking baby steps and making small yet incremental changes, you can embark on a transformative journey towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. Janine Defontaine

Navigating the Loss of My Dad: A Personal Journey My dad passed away suddenly in May at age 65. He died at home with his dog by his side, which is the way he would have wanted to go. There’s some consolation to that thought. With the cause of his death being unknown, we’ve been left grappling with questions we will probably never get answers for, as well as the unknown. (His death is currently under coronial investigation, a process that takes time – how long is a piece of string?). Stepping up to administer his affairs as the oldest child was my conscious choice. Despite the challenges of navigating government and business bureaucracy, family and friend dynamics, and other factors, it’s given me a sense of purpose and helped me get through the last few months. We held a private viewing, respecting his […] Janine Defontaine

10 tips for better work-life balance Work-life balance is a struggle for many, but these ten tips can help you find more harmony and change your life. Janine Defontaine

How to Find Meaning and Purpose in Life “The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.” Alan Watts Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions of life without any real direction or purpose? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of us struggle with finding meaning and purpose in our lives. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to discover what truly matters to you and create a life that feels fulfilling and purposeful. From exploring your values and interests to setting goals and taking action, there are many ways to find meaning and purpose in life. So if you’re ready to start living a more meaningful life, read […] Janine Defontaine

The Sunday Scaries: How to ease your Sunday Anxiety Here are a few simple things to do every Sunday to ease the Sunday Scaries and make your Mondays a little less daunting. We’ve all been there. It’s Sunday evening. You’re getting ready for bed, and you start feeling that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. You know what’s coming tomorrow… Monday. Just thinking about Monday makes you want to run for the hills. But fear not! Here are some things you can do every Sunday to ease the Sunday Scaries and prevent the spiral into anxiety and a sleepless night. Set your intention for the week ahead What do you want Monday and the rest of the week to be like? What is your ideal version? Let’s say you would like Monday to be easeful, organised and productive. And you would like […] Janine Defontaine

How to create your own self-soothe box If you're feeling stressed out or have a case of the Mondays, a self-soothe box could be the perfect antidote. Here are some tips for creating your own self-soothe box, whether handmade or store-bought! Janine Defontaine

October is ADHD Awareness Month ADHD Awareness Month is celebrated every October and is dedicated to raising awareness about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). And October also means it has been one year since I learned I have ADHD. Emotional, challenging, impactful, life-affirming and life-changing. What a year it has been as I jumped on the rollercoaster of self and ADHD discovery. Embracing my ADHD has been a transformative journey. It has allowed me to understand my unique strengths whilst navigating the world in a way that works for me. Rather than continually pushing through and running myself into the ground through a constant cycle of burnout. It has also been a crucial step towards self-awareness and self-acceptance. I’ve learned to embrace me for me. – a work in progress for all of us who are late-diagnosed and have spent […] Janine Defontaine

Turning 46: Life Lessons & What I’d Tell My Younger Self Turning 46 threw me a bit of a curveball. I’d planned to handle it with grace, but my 46th birthday ended in overwhelm and tears, some unsolicited skincare critique (thanks, day spa lady. for the reminder to moisturise to prevent wrinkles ‘at my age’!), and me wanting to curl up in a ball. Midlife crisis, anyone? But let me tell you, things are looking up. A bit of R&R, a sprinkle of exercise, and some quality ‘me’ time later, and I’m feeling like a whole new person. And you know what? There were moments that shone bright. Joyful calls and conversations, flowers and messages that warmed my heart, not to mention cuddles from both hubby and Freya. Plus, a day at the spa day – a welcome break from everyday chaos. This leads me to […] Janine Defontaine

Reflections on My First Year in Business In 2022 I finally took the plunge after eight years of running my business on the side. As I reflect on my first year working solely in business, I’m blown away. I have learnt so much, it’s gone so much better than expected, and I thank everyone who has been a part of my ‘journey’ (there’s that word again…) and who has supported and cheered me on! Inspired by the name of my blog, here are some of my reflections from the last year. Know your why. Think of your why as your compass. Your why defines who you are and why you do what you do. It is the reference point for all your decisions and actions. Knowing my “why”, including my core needs, values and priorities, and reminding myself regularly what my why […] Janine Defontaine

July 2023 Goodreads Highlights We’re at mid-year, and I’m 32 books into this year’s Goodreads reading challenge (64% towards my target). The highlight. I’m enjoying branching out into different genres. This month’s highlights – all non-fiction (WHAAAT?) – were assisted by a digital detox and getaway in the caravan where I could finally sink my teeth into a couple of books sitting in my growing reading pile.  My July reads from best to least favourite. The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music – Dave Grohl I’ve had this baby sitting on my bookshelf since I purchased it on pre-order in 2021. After Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters drummer) suddenly passed away, I shelved The Storyteller as I didn’t want to cry (I also stopped listening to the band’s music for a while cause, well, more crying). Yeah, I’m a fan. […] Janine Defontaine

The Power of Breath + July Writing Prompts I can’t believe it’s nearly July! Everyone I talk to tells me they feel the same. How this year has flown by. How quickly time is going. Which is a great reminder to spend more time in the here and now and to stop filling it with things to do. Because time is precious, and there’s no moment more important than now. Really. I spend a lot of time doing things and thinking about things. I used to be the Queen of Chill; however, these days, my overactive ADHD brain struggles to shut off, and I am filled with so many ideas, thoughts, passions, interests, and ideas of things I can do. And even as I recover from burnout, I have an increasing desire to do lots of things. There are so many good books […] Janine Defontaine