For me, 2025 was a year of growth, change, and a few “what on earth am I doing?” moments.
From running sold-out retreats to recovering from burnout and rediscovering the hobbies that make me feel alive, this year taught me more than any strategy ever could. It didn’t come from the business books, frameworks, or even the performance psychology tools I work with every day – it came from real life, lived in the moment.
If you’re a woman in business, building something that matters, or creating more adventure and wellbeing in your life, I hope something here lands for you too.
This is what the year taught me.
Lesson One: It’s OK to Stop
We talk about rest in wellbeing and performance psychology, but rarely practice it.
Not a “day off” while planning your next move in your head – real space. Real stillness. The kind that feels uncomfortable before it feels nourishing.
When I finally stopped at the beginning of this year, I realised clarity doesn’t come from pushing harder. It comes when your energy returns. It comes when your nervous system stops buzzing. And it comes when you allow yourself to step away from the expectation of productivity and into presence.
In business, recovery isn’t a luxury – it’s a strategy. Every high-performing business owner knows that rest creates sustainable results.
Lesson Two: Listen to Your Gut
Your business model doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s — especially if you have a values-led and purpose-driven brand.
This year, I’ve intentionally chosen depth over scale and quiet over noise. Instead of chasing algorithms, I leaned into what feels natural: meaningful conversations, writing blogs on topics that mean something to me, bringing back my podcast ‘Work in Progress’ and through in-person connection during adventure days, deep conversations during retreats and working closely with my clients through coaching programmes.
The data matters – but so does intuition. Listening to your gut is one of the most powerful performance measures there is. Your instincts are often years ahead of your strategy.
Lesson Three: Don’t Be Afraid to Change (Even When It’s Working)
Something can be successful and no longer feel true.
Letting go of a proven offer isn’t failure – it’s growth. When you evolve, your work should evolve too. The retreats, programmes, and coaching programmes that served me previously weren’t the ones that aligned in 2025, and releasing them created space for what’s next for me in my business – both in coaching and in retreats.
It takes courage to change direction when others would continue. But alignment is a business strategy – a core principle in performance psychology and high-level coaching.
Lesson Four: Less Is More
One focus. More impact.
This year taught me to stop scattering my energy across ten different ideas. Being known for something – not everything – is powerful. It creates clarity for your audience, your clients, and your internal compass. It’s one of the most important lessons for ambitious business owners navigating growth.
In performance psychology, we talk about the cost of context switching. Every time you shift your attention, you dilute your results. The same is true for your wellbeing – scattered energy leads to burnout.
Lesson Five: Hobbies Matter (And They Come First)
Fun is fuel – not an “extra.”
In the early years of building a business, it’s tempting to sacrifice everything that doesn’t feel productive. But this year I’ve really learned that my life is so much bigger than my inbox.For me, joy shows up through adventure – horse riding, surfing, hiking and playing music. When I can, they go in my diary before work – not squeezed in if there’s time. These hobbies keep me grounded and remind me why I created my business in the first place.
If you’re anything like me and thrive outdoors in nature or on an adventure, you’ll know: the outdoors re-wires your mind. It restores your wellbeing, your energy and your creativity.
A Bonus Reframe: Rest First, Work Second
This one shifted everything:
Not: “Have I worked enough to earn rest?”
But: “Am I rested enough to do my best work?”
It flips the narrative. Rest becomes the foundation, not the reward.
This mindset comes directly from performance psychology theory — elite performers prioritise recovery so they can access their peak potential. Building a successful business is no different.
Work With Me in 2026
- The Work in Progress Podcast — powerful conversations on performance psychology, business strategy, wellbeing and adventure
- The Big Sky Business Collective — Coaching and a supportive community for ambitious women in business looking to grow their business with lifestyle and wellbeing at the core.
- Big Sky Adventure Retreats — immersive wellbeing retreats designed to recharge you, get you out of your comfort zone and reconnect you with yourself
Here’s to a year of sustainability in business, staying true to your values and choosing joy on purpose.
See you in 2026!
Sarah.
