Double Loop Coaching

It’s Monday. It’s boiling. And your to-do list isn’t exactly taking the day off.

When the weather’s this hot, even the smallest tasks can feel like a slog.

Concentration slips, energy dips and if you're already juggling work and life, it’s easy to feel worn out before the week’s begun.

A gentle nudge for today:
☀Pace yourself.
☀ Drink some water (not just tea).
☀ Do one thing that helps you feel a bit more human.

You don’t have to power through everything. Especially not in 30-degree heat.

If you’re feeling stretched and stuck, and you’re ready to make some changes, get in touch to arrange a chat.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I should be happy so why do I feel like this?”, then (Un)Stuck by Dr Sophie Mort could be just what you’re looking for.

Dr Sophie, also known as Dr Soph, is a clinical psychologist with a warm, down-to-earth approach. Her writing strikes a lovely balance between professional insight and everyday relatability, making the book feel more like a conversation than a lecture.

At its heart, (Un)Stuck explores five common reasons we end up feeling stuck:
Bad habits – those autopilot behaviours that keep us looping through the same patterns;
Mental shortcuts (heuristics) – the hidden thinking traps that can trip us up;
Self-sabotage – perfectionism, procrastination and imposter feelings that block our progress;
Unconscious games – emotional dramas and dynamics we repeat without realising;
Inherited beliefs – family and cultural narratives that shape how we see ourselves and the world.

Dr Soph doesn’t offer quick fixes or empty advice. Instead, she gently guides you to reflect on your own patterns and equips you with practical tools to shift them.

For anyone feeling a bit lost, or at a turning point in life or work, (Un)Stuck is a thoughtful and encouraging companion. It’s insightful, reassuring, and refreshingly easy to read.

If you’re at a crossroads, ready for change, or simply wondering why life feels a bit meh, I highly recommend giving it a read.

It was a joy to spend Monday evening delivering our latest workshop: How to Find Your Work/Life Fit.

We had thoughtful, engaging discussions about how to move away from the unrealistic ideal of “balance” and instead create a work/life fit that’s personal, practical and sustainable.

We explored the role of boundaries, bendy bits (the flexibility we can build in), and bells (those helpful early warning signs of burnout).

To continue the alliterative theme of the evening, we enjoyed a glass of bubbles and some excellent brownies - the perfect fuel for reflection and connection.

Thanks to everyone who came along!

What if your week ended with curiosity, not just exhaustion?

I’ve been reflecting on the latest Change Signal newsletter from Michael Bungay Stanier (sign up here https://thechangesignal.com/) which offered five deceptively simple questions to help you pause and take stock of your week:

What do I notice?
What patterns am I seeing?
What made this a good week?
Who’s having a hard time?
What might I stop, start, or continue?

In the rush to keep everything going - work, home, family - it’s easy to miss the chance to make meaning from the mess.

But reflection isn’t indulgent. It’s essential. These questions help you reconnect with yourself and your direction. They are particularly helpful if you’ve been feeling stuck, stretched, or like you’ve lost a bit of your spark.

Try them out this afternoon and see what emerges. You might be surprised by what you learn when you give yourself a moment to listen.

And if you’d like support in making these reflections count, let’s talk. Coaching creates the space to step back, see clearly, and move forward with intention.

"I’m so busy."

How often do we say it… or think it… or hear it from everyone around us?

I recently came across a brilliant series from 2017 on BBC Sounds by journalist and author Oliver Burkeman, Oliver Burkeman Is Busy. In the very first episode, he takes aim at our modern obsession with busyness , what he calls the "fetishisation of busyness". It’s that unspoken belief that the fuller your calendar, the more important you must be. That if you’re maxed out, you must be doing something right.
But here’s the thing: being busy isn’t the same as being effective, or fulfilled, or even happy.

In fact, for many of us,“busy” has become a trap. It keeps us running at full tilt, often without questioning where we’re heading, or whether it’s still the right direction. There's barely a moment to breathe, let alone reflect.

Burkeman’s series is a powerful reminder that we can step back from the noise. That it is possible to reframe our relationship with time, and choose a different way of being where we prioritise meaning over momentum.

🎧 It’s well worth a listen if you’re juggling too much and quietly wondering if there’s a better way.

And if that idea strikes a chord, if you’re ready to explore what “a better way” might look like for you, then perhaps we should talk.