Take A Breath

Polly Warren

A podcast for creating practical calm in the messy middle of midlife. This is your space to pause.  Because life in midlife is full-on. Between work, family, menopause, and the mental load, your nervous system can easily end up in constant overdrive — leaving you feeling exhausted, reactive, and overwhelmed by even the smallest things.  Each week, I’ll share my own tools, alongside honest conversations and practical nervous system support —  to help you create more calm, peace, joy, and inner steadiness. Not by escaping your life, because that’s totally unrealistic, but by meeting it differently. So when you're ready, let’s take a breath together… 

  1. 4d ago

    Thursday Thoughts - Things will be better when...

    On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about the mistake that so many of us make which is thinking that things will be better when… We’ve all done it, haven’t we? Things will better when I’m earning more money; things will be better when I’ve started the new job; things will be better once I move into the new home. Ultimately, those ‘big’ moments in life are fleeting, and the trick is learning how to enjoy all of the moments in between. We hope you’ll find something useful in here. Love, Polly & Lucy x Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time. Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible. To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com https://www.pollywarren.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

  2. 5d ago

    Taking Care of You Isn't Selfish. It’s a necessity with Alex Smallman

    When you're the one everyone relies on, it's easy to believe your own needs can wait. You keep going. You juggle work, family, the mental load and everyone else's expectations, telling yourself you'll slow down when life gets quieter.  But what if looking after yourself isn't selfish at all? What if it's the very thing that allows you to keep showing up without losing yourself in the process? In this episode, I'm joined by Alex Smallman, founder of Ubermummies, personal trainer and mum to three-year-old identical twin boys.   Alex shares her fertility journey of six and a half years, IVF, and becoming a first-time mum at 40. We also talk about the challenges of perimenopause, the chronic joint pain that left her searching for answers, and how HRT, movement and simple lifestyle changes helped her feel like herself again. This conversation is an honest reminder that taking care of yourself isn't something to squeeze in once everything else is done. It's the foundation that allows you to show up for your life and care for the people you love without constantly running on empty. In this episode, we discuss: Alex's infertility journey, IVF, and becoming a first-time mum at 40.The realities of balancing motherhood, business and perimenopause.What helped Alex regain her energy, confidence and quality of life.Why consistency and commitment matter more than perfection.Simple ways to support your wellbeing without adding more pressure.Whether you're navigating perimenopause, motherhood, or simply feeling stretched by the demands of everyday life, this episode will remind you that your wellbeing matters. Because the more supported your body and nervous system feel, the more capacity you have to enjoy your life instead of simply getting through it. To find out more about Alex go to: https://www.instagram.com/ubermummies Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time. Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible. To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com https://www.pollywarren.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

  3. Jul 16

    Thursday Thoughts - The Importance of Movement

    On this week’s Tuesday Motivation, Lucyband I are chatting about the importance of movement. As we get older, we naturally lose both muscle and bone mass, so keeping our bodies moving is one of the best investments we can make in our long term health and wellbeing. We talk about how consistency matters more than perfection, how to make movement enjoyable, and simple ways to fit it into your everyday life. It’s so easy to find reasons not to exercise but the benefits for your body, mind and future self are enormous. We hope this conversation gives you the nudge you need to get moving. Love Polly & Lucy xx Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time. Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible. To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com https://www.pollywarren.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

  4. Jul 9

    Thursday Thoughts - Finding The Joy In Life

    On today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how important it is to find the joy in life, rather than being constantly weighed down by all of the ‘shoulds’. The truth is that life is short, and we sometimes forget to enjoy the ride. Instead of taking it all so seriously, let’s remember that we’re all travelling on a giant sphere hurtling through space - so we might as well enjoy it while we’re here! We hope you’ll find something useful in here. Love, Polly & Lucy x Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time. Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible. To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com https://www.pollywarren.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

  5. Jul 7

    Becoming More Yourself at Midlife, Not Someone New with Jen O'Brien

    Have you ever stopped and wondered, Who am I now? Midlife has a way of prompting those questions. As our lives, priorities and responsibilities change, many of us begin to realise that the identities we've carried for years no longer feel like the right fit. In this week's episode of Take a Breath, I'm joined by Jen O'Brien, who shares her inspiring journey from aeronautical engineer to founder of Music Broth, Scotland's musical instrument library. But this conversation goes far beyond changing careers.  Together, we explore identity, intuition, creativity and what it really means to live in alignment with yourself. We talk about learning to trust your inner voice, letting go of old labels, embracing change, and giving yourself permission to create a life that feels authentic and deeply fulfilling. In this episode, you'll discover: Why midlife can be the perfect opportunity to question old identities and reconnect with who you really are.How learning to pause and listen to your intuition can help you make decisions with greater confidence and clarity.Why creativity isn't just for artists or musicians, but a powerful way to regulate your nervous system, express yourself and experience more joy.How to let go of the expectations, labels and self-beliefs that may be keeping you stuck.Why it's never too late to make meaningful changes and create a life that feels more aligned with the person you're becoming.To connect with Jen go to:  https://www.musicbroth.org/ https://jenobrien.net/ https://linktr.ee/steeljoy Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time. Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible. To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com https://www.pollywarren.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

  6. Jul 2

    Thursday Thoughts - Sleep

    On this week’s Monday Motivation, Lucy and I are talking all about sleep. Sleep is one of the foundations of good health, yet it's something so many of us struggle to get enough of. In this episode, we chat about some of the simple things we've found really help us sleep better, from creating a healthier sleep environment to small habits that can make a big difference. We hope there's something in this conversation that helps you get a better night's sleep. Love, Polly & Lucy xx Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time. Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible. To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com https://www.pollywarren.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

  7. Jun 30

    I've Never Been an Anxious Person... So Why Now? Understanding anxiety, perimenopause and your nervous system

    For years, I never considered myself an anxious person. Then, during perimenopause, something shifted. I found myself worrying in ways I never had before, feeling overwhelmed by things I'd always coped with and wondering why I suddenly didn't feel like myself anymore. In this episode, I'm sharing everything I've learnt about anxiety through my own experience, my work with hundreds of women, and the latest science on the nervous system. In this episode, I'll share:  Why anxiety can appear for the first time during perimenopause, even if you've never thought of yourself as an anxious person.  How hormonal changes affect your nervous system and why your capacity to cope with stress changes during midlife.  Why I've stopped seeing anxiety as something to fight, and started seeing it as a message from my body.  The surprising reason we can get stuck in cycles of anxiety, and why trying to get rid of it often makes it louder.  How I communicate safety to my nervous system and gently return to a place of calm, clarity and harmony.Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time. Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible. To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com https://www.pollywarren.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

  8. Jun 26

    Thursday Thoughts - Boundaries

    On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking all about boundaries. Women in particular have been conditioned to believe that they should give OF themselves long before they should give TO themselves. But this can lead to burnout and resentment. And this is where boundaries come in. The truth is that if we don’t implement boundaries, we’ll forever end up saying yes to things we don’t want to do, tolerating behaviour we shouldn’t put up with, and generally feeling depleted and frustrated. Boundaries can be uncomfortable to implement - especially with the people we love - but they are not only important for our own wellbeing, but also for those same people. Because when we prioritise ourselves instead of everybody else, we show up better for our family and friends. We hope you’ll find something useful in this conversation. Love, Polly & Lucy x Download 15 Breaths to Calm Anxiety - a FREE 5 minute audio to calm you down in real time. Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning Practice to get your day started in the best way possible. To find out more about my membership The Inner Space go to:  https://www.pollywarren.com/theinnerspace Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com https://www.pollywarren.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pollywarrencoaching/

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4.6
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

A podcast for creating practical calm in the messy middle of midlife. This is your space to pause.  Because life in midlife is full-on. Between work, family, menopause, and the mental load, your nervous system can easily end up in constant overdrive — leaving you feeling exhausted, reactive, and overwhelmed by even the smallest things.  Each week, I’ll share my own tools, alongside honest conversations and practical nervous system support —  to help you create more calm, peace, joy, and inner steadiness. Not by escaping your life, because that’s totally unrealistic, but by meeting it differently. So when you're ready, let’s take a breath together… 

Information

  • Creator
    Polly Warren
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    338
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Take A Breath
  • Show Website
    Take A Breath

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