The powerful lesson I nearly missed this year

As the year winds down, I’ve been thinking about how much I’ve learned, not just as a specialist, but as a human trying to juggle work, life, and everything in between.

One of my biggest discoveries has been noticing how often I used to push ahead simply because something “had to be done.” You’ll know this feeling. That moment you realise you’re no longer doing something with care or clarity. You’re just trying to get it off the list. And of course, the result never quite matches what you imagined. Cue frustration, hair pulling, and language best left unprinted.

This year, I finally paid attention to that pattern.

What I’ve learned is that there is almost always another way to do something. It might not be the quickest or the tidiest. It might feel uncomfortable at first because it isn’t the way you’ve always done it. But pausing long enough to look at a challenge from a different angle has saved me more time and stress than all my stubborn pushing ever did.

It’s funny how often we encourage our kids to try a new approach, yet we forget to do the same for ourselves.

So as we head into the final stretch of the year, I’m taking this reminder with me. There’s no prize for doing things the hard way. There’s real value in slowing down, choosing a better path, and allowing things to be easier.

Have a fantastic week
Nikki

P.S. Has this year taught you something unexpected too? I’d genuinely love to hear what shifted for you.