I’ve fallen into old patterns again.

Long days. Late nights. Three 14-hour days and a 6.5-day week. The kind of schedule I used to wear like a badge of honour.

Except this time, it’s different. This time, it’s conscious. I know exactly what I’m doing.

The truth is, I love the rush of momentum. I love untangling chaos, solving big problems, and seeing progress unfold in real time. It’s what I’ve built my career on, stepping into complex organisations, identifying what’s broken, and creating clarity from the noise (I love it!).

That’s the strategist in me. But the leader in me also knows the cost. Because this same intensity, the drive that fuels innovation and change, can so easily slip into burnout if you don’t keep it in check. So, I’ve had to remind myself what works.

The things that bring me back to centre:

• I’ve got my crystals out – yes, friends, crystals make me calm.
• I’ve been meditating as much as I can, even ten minutes helps.
• I’ve started walking barefoot on the grass after work to ground myself – if you don’t know about ‘grounding’ or ‘earthing’, you need to!
• I’ve started meal prepping – ’cause when I’m overworked, making good choices is hard.
• I booked a massage – because prevention is cheaper than burnout.
• And I’ve promised myself a swim in the sea this weekend – my ultimate reset.

These rituals don’t fix the chaos around me, but they do calm the chaos within me.

Because being a strategist isn’t just about designing systems and solutions for others, it’s about knowing how to design them for yourself, too.

The difference this time isn’t that I’m working hard; it’s that I’m aware. I see the pattern as it’s happening. I know when to pause, when to delegate, and when to step away.

Old habits die hard. But leadership means knowing when to step out of overdrive and back into alignment.