I thought I was in charge but apparently not. Although, to be fair, he does attend a lot of meetings, has very strong opinions about when breaks should happen and takes his responsibility for making sure I leave my desk very seriously (his diary management skills need some work though.)

So, while Barney continues in his self-appointed senior management role, I thought this might be a good time to properly introduce (or reintroduce) myself for those who may be new here.

The Practical Life Coach.

I’m Kate, The Practical Life Coach and the word “practical” is there for a reason.

When people hear “life coach”, I think they sometimes imagine big dramatic life changes –

Quitting jobs.
Moving countries.
Finding your one true purpose.
Completely reinventing yourself.

Who are my clients?

And while big changes do sometimes happen, that isn’t what most of my work looks like. Most of my work is with real people navigating real life.

It’s the busy professional who feels like they’re constantly juggling, the person facing a change they weren’t expecting. The parent trying to balance everyone else’s needs along with their own or the person who looks like they have everything together but privately feels completely overwhelmed.

It’s the person who says, “I know I need to do something differently, I just don’t know where to start” and that’s where practical coaching comes in.

How do I help?

My job isn’t to tell you what your life should look like. It’s to help you understand what is happening now, what needs to change and what realistic steps will actually help.

I like a plan.

I like a list.

I like breaking big, messy situations down into manageable pieces.

Because in nearly 20 years of coaching, one thing has become very clear, most people don’t need someone to tell them to try harder because they’re already trying really hard.

They need space to think. They need someone outside the situation and they need practical steps that fit the life they actually have.

And that’s what I do.

Working with real people living real lives.

No magic wand or overnight transformations. No pretending life will suddenly become perfect if you wake up at 5am and follow a 27-step morning routine.

Just honest conversations, practical tools and support to make things feel more manageable and occasionally, a reminder from Barney that taking a break and going outside is also important (although I’m still not officially confirming his promotion to CEO, well not yet anyway!)

If any of this sounds familiar and you feel like you could do with someone helping you untangle things, that’s exactly what I’m here for.

How can you work with me?

Sometimes you don’t need a completely new life, you just need some time, space and support to work out what would make the life you already have feel a little easier.

If you’d like to find out more about working with me, you can book a free 20-minute chat and we can talk through what support might be useful.

(Barney’s attendance cannot be guaranteed unless you can promise snacks.)

The post Kate – the person behind The Practical Life Coach. appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

There are new routines, work schedules to consider. There are the obvious school arrangements, appointments. Things we want to organise and of course, things we think we “should” get sorted before normal life begins again.

Before we know it, we have mentally moved into September while we are still standing in August.

Planning ahead.

Of course, planning ahead can be helpful and as you know, I am a big fan of a plan.

A bit of preparation can reduce stress, make transitions easier and help us feel more in control, but there is a difference between planning for what’s next and constantly living there in your head.

Living in the moment.

When we spend too much time thinking about what is coming, we can miss what is happening now – the ordinary moment that we don’t notice because our brain is already three weeks ahead.

And this isn’t just about summer; we do this all year. We think about Monday during Sunday, we think about the next job before finishing the current one, we think about the next stage of life before allowing ourselves to experience the one we are in.

Feeling productive.

Sometimes looking ahead feels productive, but actually it’s just worry wearing a more organised outfit. Anticipatory anxiety is NOT a friend of joy!

So, if you notice your mind racing ahead, try asking yourself:

“Is there something useful I can do about this today?”

If yes, do it.

Write the list.

Make the appointment.

Put the reminder in your diary.

Then come back to now.

If the answer is no, it might just be your brain trying to solve something that doesn’t need solving yet.

September will come and the routines will return. The lists will still be there.

But August is still here.

And whatever this month looks like for you, holidays, work, family, quiet days, busy days, there are still moments worth noticing before you rush into the next thing.

Enjoying today.

Planning ahead is useful. Living permanently ahead is exhausting.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is remind ourselves:

“I’ve got a plan for later, but I’m allowed to enjoy today.”

The post Don’t let September steal your August. appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

A change of scenery, a break from routine, time away from normal responsibilities but somewhere along the way, many of us have started expecting quite a lot from them.

Managing expectations.

We expect one week away to undo months of being busy. We expect to arrive tired and come home completely refreshed. We expect a holiday to fix the fact that we have been running on empty for weeks.

That’s quite a big responsibility for seven days.

And the reality is that holidays are still real life.

Someone has to pack, someone has to remember the chargers. Someone has to sort the dog, the passports, the sun cream, the washing, the travel plans and the “just in case” items that may never leave the suitcase.

Then, when we arrive, it can take a few days simply to slow down and just as we start relaxing, we find ourselves saying:

“I can’t believe we go home soon.”

This isn’t about not appreciating holidays. It’s about not making them responsible for all of our rest because rest works best when we build it into ordinary life.

How do we do things differently?

Not by adding another job to the to-do list or trying to create the perfect self-care routine, just  making a few small changes before we reach the point where we desperately need a holiday.

Give yourself permission to have quieter moments during normal weeks.

Protect the occasional evening where nothing needs to be achieved. Not every spare hour has to be productive.

Take small breaks before you’re exhausted.

We often wait until we’re completely running on empty before we stop. A ten-minute walk, sitting in the garden with a cup of tea or reading a chapter of a book won’t replace a holiday, but done regularly they help stop your batteries reaching empty.

Notice when you’re thinking, “I’ll do that after the holiday.”

If it’s something that would genuinely help you feel calmer, more organised or more rested, ask yourself whether there’s a smaller version you could do this week instead.

The small moments matter.

They might not feel as exciting as a holiday, but they stop us reaching the point where we desperately need one.

We’re not aiming for perfect.

The aim isn’t to create a perfect routine. Most people don’t have unlimited time, quiet mornings and completely clear diaries. Real life is busy but looking after yourself shouldn’t only happen when you finally get a week away.

Your everyday life deserves moments of breathing space too.

Enjoy the holiday.

Look forward to it.

Make memories.

But don’t ask one week of the year to do all the work.

Rest isn’t something we save up. It’s something we need to invest in regularly.

The post Don’t put all your rest in one basket (especially the holiday one!) appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

There’s something about August that makes many of us want to slow down a little – longer evenings, different routines, a chance to breathe and yet, for many people, their phone still comes everywhere with them.

We photograph the meal before we taste it.
Scroll while sitting in the garden.
Half-watch films while checking notifications.
Record moments instead of fully being in them.

You don’t need to disappear.

Without really noticing, we can end up consuming everyone else’s summer instead of properly enjoying our own.

This isn’t about throwing your phone in a drawer or disappearing from social media altogether. Most of us use our phones for work, connection, entertainment and everyday life. Social media can be positive, funny, inspiring and comforting too, but there’s a difference between using it and constantly reaching for it and August can be a really good time to reset that balance a little.

Not in a HUGE “digital detox” kind of way. Just in a more practical –

“I’d quite like to be a bit more present in my own life” kind of way.

Stepping back from scrolling.

 When you step back from constant noise and scrolling, we often notice something quite interesting…and that’s life feels calmer.

You think more clearly.
You compare yourself less.
You stop feeling quite so “switched on” all the time and suddenly ordinary things start feeling enjoyable again.

A proper conversation or an uninterrupted cup of tea. A walk without checking notifications. Sitting outside in the evening without automatically picking up your phone every few minutes.

Tiny things — but they make a difference.

Practical ways to reduce screen time this August.

1. Create Phone-Free Pockets

You don’t have to cut screen time completely. Instead, choose small moments where your phone stays elsewhere:

• during meals
• on walks
• in the garden
• for the first 30 minutes of your morning
• an hour before bed

Small gaps create breathing space surprisingly quickly.

2. Stop Filming Everything

Not every moment needs recording. Some experiences feel better when they’re simply lived. You’re allowed to enjoy something without posting it, photographing it or proving it happened.

3. Turn Off Notifications You Don’t Need

Most people don’t realise how much mental interruption comes from constant alerts.

Switch off non-essential notifications for a few weeks and notice how different your brain feels. Less reactive, less distracted, less “on edge.”

4. Replace One Scroll with Something Else

Instead of automatically reaching for your phone:

• read a few pages of a book
• sit outside for ten minutes
• listen to music
• potter in the kitchen
• have a proper conversation
• simply rest

The goal isn’t productivity. It’s presence.

5. Let Yourself Disappear a Little

You do not have to be available all the time. You do not have to respond instantly. You do not have to keep up with everything online.

It’s okay to step back a bit.

The internet will still be there when you return.

A final thought

August doesn’t have to become a perfect “slow living” fantasy, real life still exists. People still work, families still argue, laundry still needs doing.

But there is something quite freeing about putting your phone down a little more often and realising: life is actually happening right in front of you and sometimes, the most meaningful moments are the ones nobody else ever sees.

The post Can you take a break from screen time this summer? appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

“Just get through the next few weeks.”

“Once I get to my holiday, I’ll be fine.”

“Things will calm down soon.”

Phrases I hear a lot and it’s understandable.

End of term.

By July, many of us have already managed six months of work, responsibilities, family commitments, life admin, unexpected problems and everything else that real life throws into the mix.

For parents, the end of term can bring a whole extra layer of things to remember.

School events.
Forms.
Changes to routine.
Planning childcare.
Keeping everyone organised.

Your halfway point.

But even if school holidays aren’t part of your life, July can still feel like a strange halfway point.

Lots of people are trying to finish projects before annual leave. Diaries get squeezed because everyone is working around holidays. There is often a sense of pushing through.

The problem is that we sometimes treat our summer break like a finish line. We tell ourselves we just need to keep going until we get there. But arriving at your time off completely exhausted isn’t always the best way to enjoy it.

Rest is maintenance.

Rest works better as regular maintenance, not emergency repair.

Most of us wouldn’t wait until our phone battery was completely dead before thinking about charging it, yet we often do exactly that with ourselves.

So, before you reach the point where you’re counting down the days, it might be worth asking:

What would make the next few weeks easier?

What can wait?

What am I putting pressure on myself to finish that isn’t actually urgent?

What small thing would help me recharge now?

It doesn’t have to be complicated. In can be something like –

A quieter evening.
An earlier night.
Saying no to something optional.
Moving something on your list.
Taking a proper lunch break.

Small things make a difference

You don’t have to earn rest.

You don’t need to earn your rest by reaching a point of complete exhaustion first. July doesn’t have to be a finish line you crawl towards.

Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is adjust the pace before you get there. One baby step at a time!

The post Why does July feel like the finish line? appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

Some people are excitedly planning BBQs, garden days and evenings outside, others are already working out which room in the house stays coolest, wondering if it’s acceptable to have an ice lolly before lunch and remembering that most of our homes were absolutely not designed for this.

Managing expectations.

But whichever side you’re on, there is something interesting that happens when our routine changes. Many of us still expect exactly the same from ourselves – the same productivity, the same energy levels and the same to-do list just in completely different circumstances.

And this isn’t just about hot weather.

We do this all the time.

When we’ve had a bad night’s sleep.
When work is particularly busy.
When family life gets complicated.
When we’re dealing with change.
When we simply have more going on than usual.

We forget to adjust.

We expect ourselves to keep performing at the same level regardless of what else is happening around us and the reality is that our capacity changes.

That doesn’t mean giving up, ignoring responsibilities or declaring the week a complete write-off because the sun has appeared, it means being realistic.

What do we need to do?

Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is look at your list and ask:

What actually needs to happen this week?

What would make the biggest difference?

What am I doing simply because I decided three weeks ago that it “should” be done?

Because here’s the thing about to-do lists…they don’t know what kind of week you’re having.

The list you wrote when you were organised, motivated and sitting comfortably with a cup of tea doesn’t automatically know that you slept badly, your energy is low or your brain has slightly melted in the heat.

You need to be flexible.

That’s where you come in.

You are allowed to review it, you are allowed to change the plan and you are allowed to move things around.

Being organised isn’t about forcing yourself to complete everything regardless. Good planning includes flexibility.

So, during a hot week (or any difficult week), try asking yourself:

“What is the sensible version of this plan?”

Maybe that means doing important jobs earlier in the day. Maybe it means postponing the non-essential things. Maybe it means accepting that some things can wait.

Plans can change.

Real life changes mean our plans need to (and can) change with it.

Sometimes looking after yourself isn’t about adding another thing to your list. Sometimes it’s about looking at what’s already there and deciding what really needs to stay.

The post A Heatwave Reminder: You’re allowed to adjust the plan. appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

• constantly out doing lovely things
• surrounded by happy friends and family
• drinking cocktails in beautiful places
• making magical memories every day
• effortlessly balancing work, children, relationships and social lives
• somehow funding endless trips, meals out and activities without a second thought

And if you’re sitting at home in joggers eating fish fingers while wondering whether anyone else’s family argues in the car on the way to the beach… it can very quickly make you feel like you’re getting summer “wrong.”

A reality check.

Social media is usually a carefully selected snapshot — not the full story. People post what they want others to see. That doesn’t make it fake necessarily, but it does make it incomplete.

Because behind those lovely photos there are still money worries, relationship tensions, overtired children, awkward family dynamics. People still feel stressed and anxious.

Real life still exists behind the sunset picture. The family photo may have been taken five minutes before someone stormed off in a mood. The girls’ night might have taken weeks to organise because nobody was free. The “perfect” holiday may have involved delayed flights, stress and arguments over where to eat.

 Many people posting constantly are often trying to convince themselves they’re having a wonderful time too. We forget that, because comparison makes other people’s lives look complete while making our own feel messy and ordinary.

But ordinary life is where most real life actually happens. The cup of tea in the garden, the takeaway on the sofa, the walk with the dog. Laughing at something silly, a quiet evening when everyone’s finally calm. Those moments count too, and often, they’re the moments that feel the most real when summer is over.

3 Practical ways to avoid the comparison trap this summer.

1. Remember: You are seeing edited moments, not everyday reality

Nobody posts the full picture.

Not the stress before the outing, not the financial pressure afterwards. Not the boredom, tension or emotional load sitting behind the scenes.

Before comparing your life to someone else’s post, remind yourself:

“This is a moment — not their whole life.”

That one sentence alone can stop comparison spiralling.

2. Stay focused on what actually makes you feel good

It’s very easy to start believing summer should look a certain way, but not everybody enjoys packed schedules, expensive trips or constantly being social.

Some people genuinely feel happiest:

• pottering at home
• having slower days
• seeing a few close people
• reading in the garden
• going for walks
• having quieter weekends

You do not need to copy somebody else’s version of a “good summer.” Your life should fit you.

3. Reduce the noise when you notice comparison creeping in

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is step back a little.

Less scrolling.
Less consuming other people’s lives.
Less measuring your own life against carefully filtered snapshots because comparison grows the more we feed it and very often, when people spend less time watching everyone else, they start enjoying their own lives more again.

A final thought………

You do not need unlimited money and endless plans. You don’t need a HUGE social circle. You don’t need perfect weather (what is that anyway?) or a picture-perfect family and you certainly don’t need a packed calendar to have a meaningful summer.

Real life is allowed to look ordinary. In fact, ordinary moments are often the ones that matter most. So, this summer, try to stay in your own lane a little more. Enjoy what’s actually in front of you.

And remember:

People’s social media feeds are designed to tell a story — not necessarily the whole truth.

The post Don’t compare your real life to someone else’s highlight reel this summer! appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

Summer seems to have a way of shifting things.

The days feel longer, there’s more going on outside of work and whether it’s children at home, social plans or just the pull to be outside more, your usual routine doesn’t quite fit in the same way.

But work doesn’t stop, deadlines are still there; clients still need you. The to-do list doesn’t suddenly get smaller just because the sun is out and this is where many people start to feel the pressure. They try to keep everything running exactly as it does the rest of the year while also trying to fit in more life around it.

That’s usually where it starts to feel heavy (and HOT.)

It’s not about doing less – it’s about working differently.

One of the biggest shifts I encourage at this time of year is this:

Stop trying to run a winter schedule in a summer life because it doesn’t work.

Instead of squeezing more in, the focus needs to be on working a little more deliberately. Not perfectly, not rigidly, just with a bit more awareness.

A few small shifts that make a big difference.

You don’t need to overhaul everything, but a few simple tweaks can make your days feel noticeably lighter:

1. Choose your “non-negotiables” for the week
What actually needs to get done?
Not everything -just the things that really matter.

If you’re clear on those, everything else becomes more flexible.

2. Work with your energy, not against it
If the weather’s good and you want to be outside in the afternoon, can you start earlier?

If your energy dips in the heat, can you shift lighter tasks there?

You don’t need a perfect routine, just one that makes a bit more sense for right now.

3. Let some things be “good enough”
Summer is not the time for overthinking or over-perfecting.

Done is often more helpful than perfect and lowering that internal pressure frees up more time than you think.

4. Create a simple end to your workday
When your day finishes, decide what tomorrow looks like.

Not a long list, just your top few priorities.

It helps your brain switch off properly so your evening actually feels like yours.

It’s all about adjusting your pace.

There can be a worry at this time of year, that if you ease off slightly, something will slip, but in reality, working at full pace all the time isn’t sustainable especially when life naturally gets fuller, warmer – different.

A lighter way of working isn’t about doing less for the sake of it. It’s about being a bit more intentional with your time and energy so you can keep things moving without everything feeling like hard work.

A final thought……..

You don’t need a brand-new system this summer. Just a few small, thoughtful adjustments.

When you stop trying to do everything in the same way you always have work starts to feel more manageable and life around it becomes easier to enjoy.

The post A lighter way to work this summer. appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

Suddenly your week doesn’t quite work in the way it used to.

When your week stops working, everything can feel harder.

It’s not always about having too much to do, it’s often that your week just isn’t set up in a way that supports you.

Things are squeezed in where they can fit. You’re reacting rather than choosing and there’s no real sense of what the week is supposed to look like.

That’s when everything starts to feel more rushed, more pressured and more draining than it needs to be.

Look at your week before it starts.

One of the most useful things you can do, especially heading into a busier season is this:

Take 10–15 minutes to look at your week before it begins.

Just a simple check-in.

What’s already in the diary?
What actually needs your time and attention?
Where might things feel tight?

This isn’t about planning every hour; it’s about getting a clear view of what’s coming so you’re not constantly playing catch-up.

Make a few small decisions early.

Once you’ve looked at your week, make a few simple decisions:

What are your priorities?
Not everything, just the key things that need to move forward.

Where do you need to protect your time?
Are there moments you don’t want to lose to interruptions or last-minute requests?

What can wait?
Not everything needs to happen this week.

Making these decisions early takes the pressure off later.

Give your week some shape.

When your week has no structure, everything feels urgent, but when you give it even a loose shape, things start to feel more manageable.

That might look like:

• Keeping certain days lighter
• Grouping similar tasks together
• Leaving small pockets of space rather than filling every gap

Nothing rigid, just a bit more intention.

It doesn’t need to be perfect to work.

This isn’t about creating the “perfect” week. Things will still change. Plans will shift. Life will happen. But when you’ve already taken a few minutes to think things through, you’re not starting from scratch every day, you’ve already got a direction.

A final thought…….

Summer doesn’t just get busy it gets unpredictable and when your week is already working with you, rather than against you, it’s much easier to adapt when things change.

Small shifts, real relief.

The post Before Summer Gets Busy – A simple way to get your week working better. appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.

Looking at destinations, checking dates, imagining the break you’re ready for after a busy start to the year but somewhere between booking accommodation, organising travel, coordinating family schedules and thinking about budgets, holiday planning can begin to feel surprisingly stressful.

The irony of course, is that the thing meant to help us rest can sometimes become another project to manage.

A good holiday

A good holiday rarely depends on perfect planning. More often, it comes down to a few simple decisions made early on, ones that protect your time, energy and expectations.

Here are three things worth keeping in mind as summer plans begin to take shape.

3 things to bear in mind.

 1. You don’t have to do everything

It’s tempting to try to make a holiday count.

Seeing all the sights, booking activities, making every day memorable especially if time away feels precious, but constantly moving from one plan to the next can leave everyone feeling tired rather than refreshed.

Leave space for slower days:

• mornings without alarms
• unplanned afternoons
• time to wander rather than schedule

Often, the moments people remember most aren’t the organised ones, they’re the relaxed ones.

 2. Plan for Real Life, Not Ideal Life

When planning, we often imagine our most energetic, organised selves.

Reality usually includes:

• tired travel days
• changing weather
• different moods
• unexpected delays

Building flexibility into plans makes holidays far more enjoyable. Choose accommodation, travel times and activities that allow room for adjustment rather than perfection.

A holiday that works with real life feels far calmer than one that tries to control every detail.

3. Decide what matters most

Every holiday has a different purpose.

Rest.
Adventure.
Family time.
Exploration.
A change of scenery.

Before finalising plans, ask yourself what you most want to come home feeling.

Relaxed?
Reconnected?
Refreshed?

When you’re clear on the priority, decisions become easier and expectations more realistic.

A gentle reminder……..

Holidays don’t need to look impressive to be enjoyable.

Simple trips, familiar places or slower breaks often provide exactly what people need after busy months. The aim isn’t to create the perfect experience, but to return feeling that the time genuinely supported you.

As you begin planning for summer, remember that the best holidays aren’t usually the busiest or most carefully packed. They’re the ones that leave enough space for rest, spontaneity and enjoyment along the way. A little thoughtful planning now can make the whole experience feel lighter before you even leave home.

Small, practical changes can make everyday life feel lighter.

The post 3 things to remember when planning your summer holiday. appeared first on KATE TILSTON - PRACTICAL LIFE COACH.