Feel Better

Self-care is one of your goals this year.
But when life gets busy, it’s the first thing you drop.

In this episode, I answer a listener question about how to plan self-care in a way that actually holds up in a full, demanding year.

If you already know this year is going to be busy with work pressure, family demands, deadlines or big goals, this episode will help you build self-care that supports you rather than disappearing when you need it most.

In this episode, I talk about:
• How to plan self-care for a busy schedule
• Why increased pressure requires increased self-care
• How to map high-pressure seasons across the year
• What to add when stress rises and what to take off your plate
• Why consistent, “boring” self-care works better than dramatic efforts
• How routines, rituals and pre-booking protect your wellbeing
• How accountability makes self-care more sustainable

This episode is about practical self-care for real life. The kind that supports emotional regulation, clearer thinking and burnout prevention when life is full.

If you don’t want self-care to be the thing you sacrifice in a busy year, this episode will help you create a plan that actually lasts.

🎙️ Ask Charlotte is part of the Feel Better Podcast, where I share practical tools for emotional wellbeing, resilience and living well under pressure.

High-performing people don’t need more motivation. They need safety.

In this episode, I’m joined by coach Cara Calvin to talk identity shifts, nervous system patterns, and why so many capable people freeze in the gap between where they are and where they want to be.

We cover:
Why rest can feel unsafe (and what to do about it)

Micro-actions that build momentum when you feel stuck

Lack mindset and the “I want to… but I can’t” trap

Leadership, burnout, and the cost of living in hustle mode

Systems that reduce chaos (shared calendars, weekly planning, morning routines)

How personal growth can pressure relationships, and how to bring your partner with you

If you’re a high-functioning person who looks fine on the outside but feels wired, tired, or numb on the inside, this episode will land.

Subscribe for more conversations on relationships, mental health, and living well.

School goes back soon across New Zealand.
And for many parents, that brings a mix of relief and worry.
Will this year be easier socially?
Will old struggles show up again?
Will my child cope when I’m not there?

In this Ask Charlotte episode, I respond to a parent asking how to set their child up for a resilient start to the school year and unpack what resilience actually looks like for children.
Not toughening up.
Not pushing through.
Not coping quietly.

Real resilience is built when children:
Can name what they are feeling

Know what behaviour is and is not okay

Feel safe to talk about their day

Learn how to ask for help early

Understand which problems are adult problems, not theirs to solve alone

In this episode, I cover:
How to support your child’s mental health as school starts back

Why emotional literacy matters

How bullying can come from friends and why that matters

How to help your child talk without forcing conversations

Teaching help-seeking as a life skill

Small parenting shifts that make a big difference across the year

If your child struggled last year, feels anxious about going back to school, or you want to set this year up differently, this episode offers clear, practical ways to support them.

This is not about perfect parenting.

It is about helping your child feel safe, supported, and not alone when school life gets hard.

So many couples tell me there’s nothing wrong in their relationship… but it feels flat, distant, or like they’re just co-managing life. The love is there — but the deep conversations aren’t. And, many people have just never been taught how to share on that deeper level - so it feels uncomfortable, awkward and even impossible. In this episode of the Feel Better Podcast, I’m talking about how to share more deeply with your partner so you can move beyond “yeah, my day was fine/busy” and back into real intimacy and connection.We’ll talk about:- Why good relationships still drift into shallow, surface-level check-ins- How to set up your time and body language so deeper sharing actually feels possible- My “make like a therapist” approach to asking better questions (without feeling like a weirdo)- Exactly what to ask instead of “How was your day?”- How to have a regular “let me in” chat about the bigger picture of life, goals and stress- Why timing matters (spoiler: 5.40pm over the chopping board is not it)- The difference between listening to fix and listening to understand- A simple gratitude practice that helps you feel more like a teamIf you’ve been feeling like housemates, co-parents, or logistics managers, this episode will give you really practical ways to rebuild emotional closeness — in small, doable moments.And, if you want to take a further step to build better connection in your relationship, I'm ready for ya! Come and join me for Give Me 10 Minutes — a weekly 10-minute audio + discussion guide designed to help you reset communication, understand each other’s triggers, and feel more like you’re on the same team again.✨ Listen in if:You miss the deeper chats you used to have, you’re tired of superficial “we’re fine” conversations, or you want your relationship to feel closer, warmer and more understood again.

As parents, we’re only ever as settled as our least settled child – and kids’ mental health can feel like a minefield to navigate. In this Ask Charlotte episode of the Feel Better Podcast, I answer three listener questions about children’s wellbeing: separation anxiety, supporting kids through the illness or death of a loved one, and how to help kids actually relax (without everything turning into screen time).
You’ll hear gentle, practical strategies for:
Separation anxiety – how to be a “detective” about what your child is really scared of, using play, stories and concrete goodbye rituals to help them feel safe at kindy or school.

Illness, ICU and grief – age-appropriate ways to explain serious illness and death, what to say, and creative ideas to include kids when someone they love is very unwell or has died.

Helping kids relax – creating realistic screen limits, setting up cosy “down-time” spaces, using meditations and audio stories, and modelling rest yourself so kids see what healthy relaxation looks like.

If you’ve ever Googled “how to support my child’s mental health”, “child separation anxiety at school”, “how to talk to kids about death and illness”, or “how to get my kids to relax without screens”, this episode is for you.
🔗 Mentioned in this episode:
My e-book What To Do When Your Child Is Experiencing Anxiety, contains the very best of my advice around children and anxiety, and it's available at charlottecummings.nz
✨ Connect with Charlotte
Website & resources: charlottecummings.nz
Instagram: @charlottecummings.nz
Email your question: [email protected]

Ask Charlotte is part of the Feel Better Podcast, created to make everyday mental health support more accessible for real families.