It has been a little while since my last blog post, and I have missed it a lot.

I love blogging because it gives me a little more space to share what is on my heart, what I’m learning, and the small reminders that I think so many of us need in the middle of busy life.

So you should be seeing more from me here again! 💖

This post is adapted from one of my recent newsletters, and if you’re not already on my email list, I would love for you to join! That’s where I share more personal reflections, practical burnout recovery tips, habit change support, and simple reminders to help you slow down, reset, and feel like yourself again.

Recently, I shared a quote that I thought was so beautiful:

“A mother’s love is the heartbeat of the home.”

And it really hit me.

That same week, I lost my Grandma, one of my very favourite humans. 💔

While my heart has been shattered, I have also felt so grateful. Grateful for the time I had with her. Grateful for all the happy memories. Grateful that my daughters were so close with her too.

That is something I will treasure forever.

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A Gentle Reminder for Busy Women

Mother’s Day has now passed, but the reminder still matters.

Whether that day felt joyful, emotional, busy, quiet, complicated, or all of the above, I hope you were able to find a few moments for yourself.

And I don’t mean the kind of self-care that requires a spa day, a full afternoon off, or a perfectly clear schedule.

I mean the little things.

The small, simple things that remind your nervous system:

I am safe.
I can slow down.
I matter too.

It was the little things that helped pull me out of the bottom of burnout.

Not one massive life overhaul.
Not perfection.
Not some dramatic overnight transformation.

Just small choices, repeated over time, that helped me feel like myself again.

The Mother’s Day That Changed Something for Me

When I finally realized burnout was my problem and started exploring how to dig my way out, one of the very first things I did for myself happened on Mother’s Day.

All I wanted that year was some time to myself.

So I left my family at home, which was honestly hard for me because I felt selfish, and I drove into St. Albert to walk the trails alone.

No phone.
No rush.
No one needing anything from me.

I walked for miles that day and noticed things I probably would have rushed right past before.

That year, we had a very early spring, so flowers were already starting to come up. There were cranes walking in the Sturgeon River. I could hear all kinds of birds.

I felt like I was in a different world, lol.

And then, when I got home, my nervous system felt completely reset.

I was able to give my absolute best to my family from a place that felt calm, grounded, and full again.

That was the first time that had happened in a long time.

And no joke, it was life changing. That’s when I started exploring coaching (I can’t believe I didn’t even know about coaching before! 😆)

Your Gentle Self-Care Challenge

This week, I want to challenge you to do one small thing for yourself.

Not something complicated.
Not something expensive.
Not something that requires you to rearrange your whole life.

Just one small thing.

Here are a few ideas:

Take a short walk with no phone. Believe me, it’s true magic.

Sit outside, close your eyes, and listen to the birds.

Step into the morning sun for five minutes and just breathe.

Drink your coffee slowly without multitasking. (Although I was enjoying mine while I was writing this out! 😉)

These actions may seem too small to matter, but they do matter.

You will hear me say this over and over again:

Little moments of presence can add up to big mental health shifts over time.

They help create calm, clarity, and space, especially when life feels full.

Sometimes the Simplest Things Are the Most Powerful

Burnout recovery does not always begin with a huge life change.

Sometimes it begins with a walk.

A quiet coffee.

Five deep, intentional breaths.

A moment outside.

A decision to stop rushing for just a few minutes and remind yourself that you matter too.

So this week, choose one small self-care action.

Make it simple.
Make it doable.
Make it something that actually fits into your real life.

And if you’d like more reminders like this, I’d love to have you join my email list! That’s where I share gentle encouragement, burnout recovery tools, habit change tips, and real-life reflections to help you build a healthier, calmer, more intentional life.

I fully believe the simplest things really are the most powerful.

Angela van Leeuwen 💖
Certified Health & Life Coach | Certified Hiking Guide
linktr.ee/AngelaVWellness