Nostos Nest

Nostos Nest Real Life. Real People. Real Workplaces. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels, overworked, or disconnected from your own life, you’re not alone.

Burnout, redundancy, workplace culture, mid-life change, sobriety, mental health, personal growth… 🐨💚

Join the mailing list at Nostosnest.com to get a free life planning guide! I’m a woman in my mid-50s, navigating life’s transformations with the wisdom gained from decades of personal and professional challenges. After years of pushing myself to meet expectations and ignoring the signs of burnout, I reached a point where I had no choice but to pause and take a hard look at my life. What I discovered was that burnout wasn’t just the result of working too hard – it was a deeper imbalance, rooted in unresolved trauma, perfectionism, and neglecting my emotional needs. Why Nostos Nest? The word nostos comes from ancient Greek and means a return home after a long journey – not just in the physical sense, but emotionally and spiritually. It’s about coming back to yourself, rediscovering who you are after life’s challenges, and finding healing along the way. Paired with nest, which symbolises comfort, warmth, and safety, Nostos Nest is a place of nurturing, reflection, and renewal. For me, this space represents the journey I’ve been on to let go of burnout, find balance, and embrace self-love. My hope is that it becomes a soft place for others to land, too, as they navigate their own paths back “home.”

What I Share Here
I created Nostos Nest to share my experiences, thoughts, and lessons learned, so that anyone facing similar struggles can find comfort, guidance, and hope. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find on the blog:

Recovering from Burnout - how I began to heal from the inside out

Embracing Midlife Changes - reflections on shifting identity, body, purpose, and priorities

Quitting Drinking - a key part of my recovery, and one of the most transformative things I’ve ever done

Finding Joy After Struggle - learning to let go of perfectionism and make space for real joy

Self-Love and Balance - setting boundaries, cultivating compassion, and creating a life that feels like yours

Workplace Culture and Mental Health - my perspective on how workplaces can better support real people, and how individuals can take care of themselves within work environments that aren’t always built for wellbeing


Why This Might Help You

I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure what comes next. But I’ve also learned that if you slow down and listen to yourself - really listen - healing becomes possible. You don’t need to have it all together. You don’t need to be “perfect” to start again. Wherever you are on your journey, Nostos Nest is a place to breathe, reflect, and begin.

04/11/2025

Creating a plan to help me recover from burnout was one of the most important things I ever did.

Then, when I was made redundant, I was reminded again how powerful it is to have a personal plan - one that keeps you grounded and moving forward when everything else feels uncertain.

If you’re navigating burnout, redundancy, or a big life shift, this might help you find your next step too.

Mine is based on the Salesforce V2MOM framework - but adapted for life, not just work.

You can read more about it here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/04/personal-v2mom/

Kindness doesn’t mean silence. You can stay gentle and still hold your ground.Letting things go can protect your peace –...
04/11/2025

Kindness doesn’t mean silence. You can stay gentle and still hold your ground.

Letting things go can protect your peace – but so can knowing when not to.

🪞 Read more in my latest blog post "When the Let Them Theory Isn't Enough: Staying Kind Without Feeling Small": https://nostosnest.com/2025/11/when-the-let-them-theory-isnt-enough/

You’ve probably seen The Let Them Theory everywhere lately - and while it’s freeing in many ways, I’ve realised it doesn...
02/11/2025

You’ve probably seen The Let Them Theory everywhere lately - and while it’s freeing in many ways, I’ve realised it doesn’t always work so easily for those of us who already overthink, accommodate, and try to keep the peace.

This post is about what happens when “letting them” starts to make you feel small - and how to hold your ground without losing your kindness.

Read the full post here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/11/when-the-let-them-theory-isnt-enough/

Sometimes the Let Them Theory isn’t enough – especially for people like me who overthink, try to keep the peace, and accommodate others. This post is about what happens when that starts to make you feel small – and how I’m learning to hold my ground without losing myself.

You don’t have to wait for a breakdown to listen to your body. You just have to be willing to believe it when it whisper...
01/11/2025

You don’t have to wait for a breakdown to listen to your body.
You just have to be willing to believe it when it whispers.

Most of us push through the warning signs of stress until our bodies force us to stop. But healing starts when we pay attention earlier - when we take those quiet signals seriously.

Read more in my latest blog post "Physical Symptoms of Stress: What Your Body Might Be Trying to Tell You" here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/10/physical-symptoms-of-stress/

We’ve normalised living in survival mode.Constantly pushing through tiredness, tension, and fatigue - calling it “just b...
29/10/2025

We’ve normalised living in survival mode.
Constantly pushing through tiredness, tension, and fatigue - calling it “just being busy.”

But the body calls it something else: stress.
And it always finds a way to let us know when we’ve gone too far.

This week’s blog post talks about the physical symptoms of stress - and what happens when you finally let your body rest.

Read it here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/10/physical-symptoms-of-stress/

My first paid e-book is out 🎉The Team Culture Playbook includes 250 practical ideas to strengthen team connection and we...
28/10/2025

My first paid e-book is out 🎉

The Team Culture Playbook includes 250 practical ideas to strengthen team connection and wellbeing - all designed to fit into 10-minute team-meeting slots.

I’ve personally tested every single one, and they’ve helped turn countless meetings into moments of genuine connection.

This is for anyone who wants to make work feel a little more human - not just managers.

For the price of a couple of coffees (and you and I couldn’t even fit half of this into a coffee chat), you’ll get years of connection ideas to help your team thrive.

You can grab it now right here: https://nostosnest.com/product/the-team-culture-playbook/
- and if you know someone who’d love it, please share this post. Every little share helps small creators like me keep going. 💛

Culture grows from the small, everyday moments - how we meet, listen, and make space for people to feel seen and supported. The Team Culture Playbook gives you 250 quick, ready-to-use ideas to make your team meetings more human, connected, and energising in ten minutes or less. With 50 ideas in each...

Stress doesn’t just affect your mind - it shows up in your body.From neck and back pain to digestive issues, fatigue, an...
26/10/2025

Stress doesn’t just affect your mind - it shows up in your body.

From neck and back pain to digestive issues, fatigue, and high cholesterol, these can all be signs your body has been living in survival mode for too long.

In my latest blog post I talk about how chronic stress and burnout can manifest physically and what happens when you finally give your body time to rest.

Read it here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/10/physical-symptoms-of-stress/

Stress doesn’t just affect your mind - it shows up in your body. Discover the most common physical symptoms of stress and what happens when you finally rest.

You don’t need to be a therapist to make a difference.You don’t need to have all the answers either.Sometimes the most p...
25/10/2025

You don’t need to be a therapist to make a difference.
You don’t need to have all the answers either.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is listen, care, and be willing to learn.

That’s what Mental Health First Aid training taught me - and it’s something I think everyone should do.

It’s not just about awareness, it’s about knowing how to help when someone needs it.

🩵 Read the full post “Why Everyone Should Do Mental Health First Aid Training” here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/10/mental-health-first-aid-training/

We talk a lot about mental health awareness - but awareness alone doesn’t change lives.Real change happens when people a...
21/10/2025

We talk a lot about mental health awareness - but awareness alone doesn’t change lives.

Real change happens when people actually know how to help, not just that they should.

That’s why Mental Health First Aid training is so powerful.

It gives you real tools, language, and confidence to step in early, have the right conversations, and make a difference before things get worse.

This training changed how I show up - as a friend, a colleague, and a human.

💬 Read the full story here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/10/mental-health-first-aid-training/

Most of us talk about mental health awareness - but how many of us actually know what to do when someone is struggling?W...
19/10/2025

Most of us talk about mental health awareness - but how many of us actually know what to do when someone is struggling?

When I did Mental Health First Aid training, I thought I was just learning how to help others.

But what I didn’t expect was how much it would change me - the way I listen, support, and even understand myself.

In my latest blog post, I share why I think everyone should do Mental Health First Aid training.

It’s practical, human, and life-changing - whether you’re supporting family, friends, or colleagues.

If you’ve ever wondered how to have the right conversation at the right time, this post is for you.

👉 Read it here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/10/mental-health-first-aid-training/

Discover why Mental Health First Aid training is life-changing. Learn how it equips you to spot the signs, start supportive conversations, and build confidence to help others - while transforming your own perspective.

When someone is in burnout, being believed and supported can make all the difference.What helps most is quiet empathy - ...
18/10/2025

When someone is in burnout, being believed and supported can make all the difference.

What helps most is quiet empathy - a calm presence that listens, stays close, and reminds them they’re not alone.

Sometimes “I’m here” is the most powerful thing you can say.

Read the full post here: https://nostosnest.com/2025/10/how-to-support-someone-experiencing-burnout/

Burnout rarely starts loud - it creeps in quietly.What makes it worse is how often it’s dismissed, hidden, or downplayed...
14/10/2025

Burnout rarely starts loud - it creeps in quietly.
What makes it worse is how often it’s dismissed, hidden, or downplayed.

Real healing begins when someone feels seen.
When they’re met with empathy instead of advice.
When their struggle is met with presence, not pressure.

If someone in your life seems flat, distant, or detached - check in.
Even the smallest bit of understanding can make a big difference. 💚

✨ Read more in this week’s post about how to support someone with burnout: https://nostosnest.com/2025/10/how-to-support-someone-experiencing-burnout/

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Sydney, NSW
2018

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