199 Feeling Tired & Overwhelmed? These 3 Hidden Causes of Stress Might Be Why (and they’re all under your control!)

Ready to stop running on empty and start living on your own terms? Book a FREE DISCOVERY CALL HERE - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=11696779&appointmentType=597607Listen to EPISODE 151 - Healthy Boundaries and how to create them - https://pod.fo/e/242b55Listen to EPISODE 174 - The Power of Self Compassion - letting go of perfectionism to reveal your amazing inner strength - https://pod.fo/e/2807c9 Feeling tired, overwhelmed, and like you’re constantly behind no matter how hard you try? You’re not broken — but you are likely being affected by hidden sources of stress you can actually do something about.In today’s episode, I’m breaking down 3 invisible causes of stress that are draining your energy — and showing you simple ways to start reclaiming your time, calm, and sense of control. Key Takeaways:-Why lack of boundaries is secretly exhausting you — and how to start setting them.-How people pleasing traps you in a cycle of stress — and tiny steps to break free.-Why holding yourself to impossible standards fuels burnout — and how to redefine success with compassion.-How shifting focus to what you can control creates more balance and ease.-The first small actions you can take today to feel less overwhelmed — without overhauling your whole life. Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

Ready to move from uncertainty to aligned action? Book your COACHING DISCOVERY CALL with me HERE - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=11696779&appointmentType=597607 Ever felt a quiet frustration inside — a knowing that there’s more out there for you, but no clear idea of what it looks like? You’re not alone. This episode dives into why that feeling is actually a powerful sign of growth, and how to move through it with clarity, confidence, and trust.I’m sharing the exact mindset shift that helped me — and my clients — turn this restlessness into aligned, meaningful action. Plus, practical questions to start uncovering your next chapter today. Key Takeaways:-Why the "in between" phase is a sign of transformation, not failure.-The #1 mindset shift you need: trust over certainty.-How chasing surface-level goals keeps you stuck — and how to go deeper.-What to focus on instead of hustling for clarity.-Questions to ask yourself to start finding your aligned next step. Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

Ready to stop letting negativity run the show and start building unshakable self-belief? Head to chickfit.co.uk to explore coaching options or book a free call to see how we can work together.Have you ever found yourself fixating on the one bad comment, missed workout, or minor setback—while completely ignoring all the wins? That’s your negativity bias at work. It’s a totally normal, human thing… but when left unchecked, it can quietly sabotage your confidence, motivation, and progress for years.In this powerful episode, we unpack why we’re hardwired to focus on fear, failure, and criticism—and how that might be keeping you stuck in a loop of self-doubt and pressure, even when you're doing all the "right" things. You’ll discover how to recognise your own negativity patterns, why they feel so real, and how to reframe your thoughts in a way that helps you move towards what you want, instead of just away from what you fear.Whether you’re struggling with body image, inconsistent habits, or self-sabotage, this conversation will help you flip the script and finally start leading with belief, trust, and self-compassion. Key takeaways:-What negativity bias is, and why your brain holds onto the bad more than the good-How fear of judgement, failure, or not being “enough” might be secretly running the show-Why trying to “think positively” often doesn’t work—and what to do instead-The 3-step process: Notice, Name, Reframe — and how to use it to break free from fear-based thinking-How to start shifting your motivation from escape mode to aspiration modeHit play and discover how to let positivity, trust, and self-worth take the lead. Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

Come and join the free Patreon community where we’re diving deeper into how you can become a consistency queen — in a way that works for your life, your energy, and your mindset.👉 patreon.com/busywomansguide People often assume that I stay consistent with my workouts because I’m a fitness coach. That I’m somehow built differently or naturally motivated. But honestly? That couldn’t be further from the truth. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the real story behind my 25+ year fitness journey — including the messy bits, the hard bits, and the moments I didn’t want to get off the sofa.What I’ve discovered is that long-term consistency has nothing to do with being perfect or always feeling motivated. Instead, it’s about how you think about exercise, how you respond when life gets busy, and the small mindset shifts that make showing up so much easier. I’m sharing five unexpected ways I’ve maintained my fitness routine over the years — no discipline queen vibes, just honest, human, and totally doable strategies you can make your own. Key takeaways:-Why aesthetic goals might get you started—but won’t keep you going-The surprising power of not expecting 100% consistency-Why I listen to my body more than I listen to my calendar-How letting go of “finding the perfect workout” freed me up to actually show up-The real mindset work that underpins long-term fitness successHit play, and let’s rewrite what fitness consistency looks like for you—no hustle, no pressure, just an honest path forward. Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

Come and join our free private Patreon community where we take these episodes and turn them into real-life, sustainable action — with support, accountability, and exclusive content.👉 patreon.com/busywomansguideYou’re committed. You’re ticking the boxes. You know what to do—and you’re doing most of it. From the outside, it probably looks like you’ve got your fitness and wellbeing nailed. And yet… something still feels off. You’re not quite where you want to be, and the effort it’s taking to keep up feels exhausting.In this episode, we dig into the real reason behind this frustrating feeling—and (spoiler alert) it’s not because you need to try harder or be more disciplined. It’s likely down to the invisible pressure you're carrying to "get it right," to be in control, to live up to an ideal. This pressure can sabotage even your best intentions, keeping you in a loop of doing more without ever feeling fully satisfied.If you’ve ever felt like your efforts should be adding up to more by now, this conversation is going to bring you massive relief—and a whole new perspective on what it means to actually move forward. Key Takeaways:-Why doing “all the right things” can still leave you feeling stuck, tired, and out of alignment-How internal pressure and perfectionism secretly sabotage your results-What to do when you feel like you should be further ahead-The difference between self-trust and self-judgment—and how to spot which is driving you-A simple but powerful exercise to release pressure and reconnect with what you really wantHit play, and let this be the episode that finally gives you the permission slip you've been waiting for. Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

Want personalised support to release the pressure and finally feel aligned with your fitness and wellbeing goals? Head to chickfit.co.uk to explore coaching options designed to help you reconnect with what you really want. We all know that setting inspiring goals is a super important way to get and stay motivated. But right now, you might just be skimming the surface by only setting outcome based goals - and by exploring, and combining, that with other types of goals, you could be about to take your progress and success to the next level. So in this week’s episode we’re exploring all of the other types of goals and how each one plays a unique role in your journey, depending on your personality, life stage and current focus. Here are your key takeaways:-Why outcome goals alone often lead to frustration (and what to add to make them work)-The 7 goal-setting types that can help you stay consistent, motivated, and aligned-How to match your goals with your current life phase and personal motivation style-Why habit and identity-based goals are often more powerful than chasing a number-A new way to think about your goals that helps you stay inspired and make progress Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

Come and join us inside the FREE listeners only Patreon group at https://www.patreon.com/busywomansguide - and we’ll get to work on the binge/starve cycle together! Do you regularly find yourself trapped in the binge/starve cycle around food? You know - the one where you alternate between times when you’re dieting and being “good” and the times where you get fed up, throw caution to the wind and feel like you’re completely sabotaging yourself?If so, I’ve been there too! But the great news is I’ve managed to break free from that and find my own food freedom. And so can you….In this episode we dive into that and discuss:-The negative impact of landing in that binge / starve cycle (and it’s not just the obvious stuff)-Why we need to cultivate a greater awareness of our relationship with food, and ourselves, to find a different path-And how we can let go of the fear that’s a big part of this cycle to discover greater balance and peace around food Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

It’s normal when you set goals for yourself, that you get focused on the outcome. That the reason you work towards certain goals for yourself in the first place is because of that outcome that you want to achieve - an outcome which will have you feeling more confident, more balanced, more healthy or whatever it is that you want for yourself.But what if you’re finding yourself struggling to achieve those goals? And what if it’s because you’re clinging on so tightly to the desired outcome and the happiness and success that’s going to come with it, that you’re actually unknowingly pushing that outcome further away?  Well this week we’ll be delving into this and talking about:-What happens when you hold on too tightly to an outcome (or more precisely, the meaning you’ve assigned to that outcome)-How that can actually push your goals further out of reach-The surprising thing you that you might just need to do to bring them much closer again and open up a world of possibilities Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

Join the FREE Patreon community - especially for you! https://www.patreon.com/busywomansguide Ever find yourself dragged into shiny object syndrome? With every passing moment there seems to be something newer, better, more effective popping up. Whether it’s a brand new diet which is promising all the results for minimal effort, a new workout programme that can give you the body you desire in less time than it takes to have your shower in the morning, or the latest so called miracle cure to a problem you didn’t even know you had. It’s what I call the noise. The noise that is constantly being projected by the world, that tells you that the answers that you’re looking for are hidden in their awesome 3 step programme, or magical supplement. The noise that consistently tells you that what you think you know - well that doesn’t work any more and it’s time to move on.And it’s so distracting. It makes you second guess yourself, it can feel ridiculously confusing and it can keep you in this kind of state of paralysis where you either don’t know what to do for the best, or find yourself bouncing from one thing to the next in the vain hope that one day one of these things is going to start working. We’re diving into this today and we’re going to figure out:-what’s going on with the noise-why you’re trapped in shiny object syndrome-and how you can start to dial down the volume or even turn off the noise altogether to find consistency and balance in your life. Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit 

If you’re ready to get out of limbo and start getting results, it’s time to explore coaching opportunities with me! Check out what I can offer at https://chickfit.co.uk/therapeutic-coaching/ Do you ever feel like you’re living in a state of suspended animation? It’s that place where you feel like you’re kind of doing things to start progressing towards your goals - the research, the dreaming, the thinking, but in truth, you’re not taking concrete action yet. You’re caught between knowing what you want and actually starting that journey.It can be a really comfortable place to be sometimes - full of the possibility of what lies ahead. But what if we end up spending way too long there? And that waiting becomes too comfortable. So comfortable in fact, that we stay stuck and just can’t seem to move forwards.That’s what we’ll be tackling today. How to get you out of suspended animation and into action taking so you can finally start to realise your goals. Here’s how you can do it:-Utilise “the gap” to it’s full potential-Focusing on process rather than outcome related goals-Leaning into imperfection-Make the individual steps work for you-Stop searching for more information and instead turn inwards to what you already know! Resources: -My website https://www.chickfit.co.uk/-Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alixchickfit-Review and subscribe to my podcast https://www.podfollow.com/chickfit