Take A Breath

On this week’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about taking responsibility.

How often do you avoid doing the hard thing, even though you know it’s exactly what needs to be done?

The truth is, no one else can do it for us. We all have to choose our hard.

Taking responsibility isn’t about blame or pressure – it’s about recognising the incredible power you already have to shape your life.

And that’s a far more empowering way to live.

We hope there’s something in this conversation that resonates with you and supports you this week.

Love Polly & Lucy xx

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about the mistake that so many of us make which is thinking that things will be better when…

We’ve all done it, haven’t we? Things will better when I’m earning more money; things will be better when I’ve started the new job; things will be better once I move into the new home.

Ultimately, those ‘big’ moments in life are fleeting, and the trick is learning how to enjoy all of the moments in between.

We hope you’ll find something useful in here.

Love,
Polly & Lucy x

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

When you're the one everyone relies on, it's easy to believe your own needs can wait. You keep going. You juggle work, family, the mental load and everyone else's expectations, telling yourself you'll slow down when life gets quieter. 

But what if looking after yourself isn't selfish at all? What if it's the very thing that allows you to keep showing up without losing yourself in the process?

In this episode, I'm joined by Alex Smallman, founder of Ubermummies, personal trainer and mum to three-year-old identical twin boys.  

Alex shares her fertility journey of six and a half years, IVF, and becoming a first-time mum at 40. We also talk about the challenges of perimenopause, the chronic joint pain that left her searching for answers, and how HRT, movement and simple lifestyle changes helped her feel like herself again.

This conversation is an honest reminder that taking care of yourself isn't something to squeeze in once everything else is done. It's the foundation that allows you to show up for your life and care for the people you love without constantly running on empty.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Alex's infertility journey, IVF, and becoming a first-time mum at 40.
• The realities of balancing motherhood, business and perimenopause.
• What helped Alex regain her energy, confidence and quality of life.
• Why consistency and commitment matter more than perfection.
• Simple ways to support your wellbeing without adding more pressure.

Whether you're navigating perimenopause, motherhood, or simply feeling stretched by the demands of everyday life, this episode will remind you that your wellbeing matters. Because the more supported your body and nervous system feel, the more capacity you have to enjoy your life instead of simply getting through it.

To find out more about Alex go to:

https://www.instagram.com/ubermummies

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

On this week’s Tuesday Motivation, Lucyband I are chatting about the importance of movement.

As we get older, we naturally lose both muscle and bone mass, so keeping our bodies moving is one of the best investments we can make in our long term health and wellbeing.

We talk about how consistency matters more than perfection, how to make movement enjoyable, and simple ways to fit it into your everyday life.

It’s so easy to find reasons not to exercise but the benefits for your body, mind and future self are enormous.

We hope this conversation gives you the nudge you need to get moving.

Love Polly & Lucy xx

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

On today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how important it is to find the joy in life, rather than being constantly weighed down by all of the ‘shoulds’.

The truth is that life is short, and we sometimes forget to enjoy the ride. Instead of taking it all so seriously, let’s remember that we’re all travelling on a giant sphere hurtling through space - so we might as well enjoy it while we’re here!

We hope you’ll find something useful in here.

Love,
Polly & Lucy x

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

Have you ever stopped and wondered, Who am I now? Midlife has a way of prompting those questions. As our lives, priorities and responsibilities change, many of us begin to realise that the identities we've carried for years no longer feel like the right fit.

In this week's episode of Take a Breath, I'm joined by Jen O'Brien, who shares her inspiring journey from aeronautical engineer to founder of Music Broth, Scotland's musical instrument library. But this conversation goes far beyond changing careers. 

Together, we explore identity, intuition, creativity and what it really means to live in alignment with yourself. We talk about learning to trust your inner voice, letting go of old labels, embracing change, and giving yourself permission to create a life that feels authentic and deeply fulfilling.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why midlife can be the perfect opportunity to question old identities and reconnect with who you really are.
• How learning to pause and listen to your intuition can help you make decisions with greater confidence and clarity.
• Why creativity isn't just for artists or musicians, but a powerful way to regulate your nervous system, express yourself and experience more joy.
• How to let go of the expectations, labels and self-beliefs that may be keeping you stuck.
• Why it's never too late to make meaningful changes and create a life that feels more aligned with the person you're becoming.

To connect with Jen go to: 

https://www.musicbroth.org/

https://jenobrien.net/

https://linktr.ee/steeljoy

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

On this week’s Monday Motivation, Lucy and I are talking all about sleep.

Sleep is one of the foundations of good health, yet it's something so many of us struggle to get enough of.

In this episode, we chat about some of the simple things we've found really help us sleep better, from creating a healthier sleep environment to small habits that can make a big difference.

We hope there's something in this conversation that helps you get a better night's sleep.

Love,
Polly & Lucy xx

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

For years, I never considered myself an anxious person. Then, during perimenopause, something shifted. I found myself worrying in ways I never had before, feeling overwhelmed by things I'd always coped with and wondering why I suddenly didn't feel like myself anymore.

In this episode, I'm sharing everything I've learnt about anxiety through my own experience, my work with hundreds of women, and the latest science on the nervous system.

In this episode, I'll share:

•  Why anxiety can appear for the first time during perimenopause, even if you've never thought of yourself as an anxious person. 
•  How hormonal changes affect your nervous system and why your capacity to cope with stress changes during midlife. 
•  Why I've stopped seeing anxiety as something to fight, and started seeing it as a message from my body. 
•  The surprising reason we can get stuck in cycles of anxiety, and why trying to get rid of it often makes it louder. 
•  How I communicate safety to my nervous system and gently return to a place of calm, clarity and harmony.

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking all about boundaries.

Women in particular have been conditioned to believe that they should give OF themselves long before they should give TO themselves. But this can lead to burnout and resentment. And this is where boundaries come in.

The truth is that if we don’t implement boundaries, we’ll forever end up saying yes to things we don’t want to do, tolerating behaviour we shouldn’t put up with, and generally feeling depleted and frustrated.

Boundaries can be uncomfortable to implement - especially with the people we love - but they are not only important for our own wellbeing, but also for those same people. Because when we prioritise ourselves instead of everybody else, we show up better for our family and friends.

We hope you’ll find something useful in this conversation.

Love,
Polly & Lucy x

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

I’ve just returned from Self Love Camp, a retreat where I spent a few days guiding breathwork, listening to inspiring speakers, learning new things, and stepping away from the routines of everyday life.

As I drove home, I found myself reflecting on something I always notice after retreats and intentional breaks: I come back feeling different. Clearer. More creative. More connected to myself. And it got me wondering - what is it about stepping away that feels so powerful?

In this episode of Take a Breath, I explore how to give your nervous system a real breath and what I believe is one of the missing ingredients in modern life: space. Space to think, feel, reflect and hear yourself again. Drawing on neuroscience, nervous system science, and my own experiences of attending and hosting retreats, I share why creating intentional space isn't a luxury - it's something our brains and bodies genuinely need.

In this episode, I share:

💛 Why so many of us are living without enough space and how that affects our wellbeing

💛 The science behind why nature helps us feel calmer, clearer and less overwhelmed

💛 How new experiences and environments can spark fresh thinking and creativity

💛 Why connection and community are so powerful for the nervous system

💛 Why retreats aren't really about escaping life - they're about reconnecting with yourself

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or stuck in the busyness of everyday life, this episode is your invitation to step out of the noise and create a little more space. 💛

To find out more about my retreat in Austria go to: https://www.pollywarren.com/Austria

Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time.

Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now.

Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible.

To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace

Email me at:  [email protected]
https://www.pollywarren.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/