Thursday Thoughts – Small Steps When Noone's Watching

Take A Breath

May 7, 2026 30 mins

About

On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about the small, unglamorous steps that we take when nobody’s watching, that ultimately get us to where we want to go.

For example, I talks about the tiny, seemingly insignificant physio exercises I'm doing every day to help heal from my knee operation - it would be easy to feel like they weren’t doing anything, but I'm trusting the process, showing up every day, knowing that they will pay off eventually.

So if there’s something you’d like to do, remember that it’s those baby steps you take that nobody else sees that are actually having the biggest impact of all.

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/

Information

Episode

32

Date

May 7, 2026

Length

30 mins
  • Thursday Thoughts – Small Steps When Noone's Watching

    On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about the small, unglamorous steps that we take when nobody’s watching, that ultimately get us to where we want to go. For example, I talks about the tiny, seemingly insignificant physio exercises I'm doing every day to help heal from my knee operation – it […]

  • You Keep Saying You’ll Do Something for You… But You Keep Choosing Everything Else First

    You know the phrases… “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” “Put your oxygen mask on first.” But here’s the real question… Are you actually doing it? Or are you still giving your time, energy, and attention to everyone else… and hoping you’ll get a moment for yourself somewhere down the line? In this episode, I’m sharing […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – It's All an Inside Job

    On today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are exploring the idea that ‘it’s all an inside job.’ Your inner world shapes how you experience everything around you, and your outer world becomes a reflection of what’s happening within.  When you start to notice your thoughts, and how you’re really feeling, something shifts. You respond to […]

  • It's Ok to Not Be OK

    In this episode, I open up about how I’ve been navigating the emotional ups and downs of recovery after knee surgery. I share a recent wobble I experienced, and why learning to feel your emotions, rather than push them away, is such an important part of moving through difficult moments. It’s not about getting stuck […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Not Living in the Past

    On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about not living in the past. We all spend time thinking about the past — whether it's reminiscing about a lovely memory, cringing about something we said or did 5 years ago, or thinking about a relationship we're struggling to move on from. The question […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Brainwash Yourself

    On today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about brainwashing ourselves with beliefs that are actually going to serve us. Whether we know it or not, our lives are quietly being run by the subconscious beliefs that we hold – some of which are helping us, many of which are not. The good news […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Trusting the Process

    On this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about trusting the process. I talk about my recent knee operation and how trusting the process has been has been and will be such an important part of my recovery. We explore how having faith, and choosing to believe that things are working out for […]

  • How Light Is Affecting Your Sleep, Stress & Long-Term Health with Dr Martin Moore-Ede

    In this week’s episode of Take a Breath, I’m joined by Dr Martin Moore-Ede — one of the world’s leading experts in circadian science and the health impacts of light. After more than 40 years of research, his work reveals something most of us never even think about… how the light we’re exposed to every […]

  • Step Three to a Regulated Nervious System: Building your Capacity

    In this episode, I’m taking you into the third step of regulating your nervous system — and this is where things really begin to shift. We’ve already explored awareness and regulation, but if you’ve ever felt like you’re still getting pulled into stress again and again… this is the missing piece. Today, I’m talking about […]

  • Step Three to a Regulated Nervous System: Building your Capacity

    In this episode, I’m taking you into the third step of regulating your nervous system — and this is where things really begin to shift. We’ve already explored awareness and regulation, but if you’ve ever felt like you’re still getting pulled into stress again and again… this is the missing piece. Today, I’m talking about […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Physical & Mental Decluttering

    This week on Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about decluttering…and not just the cupboards and drawers. Because clutter isn’t always physical. Sometimes it’s the mental tabs we keep open, the emotional baggage we’re still carrying, the commitments that no longer feel like ours, or the digital noise constantly pulling at our attention. If […]

  • When Your Tests Are Normal… But Your Symptoms Aren’t with Miguel Bautista

    This week’s episode is for anyone who has been dealing with symptoms that feel very real, very limiting, and yet every test, scan or specialist appointment seems to come back with the same answer: “You’re fine.” I’m joined by Miguel Bautista, founder of CFS Recovery, who helps people recover from chronic fatigue syndrome, long COVID […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Starting Small with Movement

    On today's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about moving your body, and more specifically, starting small when you’ve been injured or you’ve got out of the habit of taking exercise. Lucy and I talk about what our exercise routines look like when we’re taking it easier than usual, which can include some simple […]

  • Step Two to a Regulated Nervous System: How to Come Back to Calm

    I’m continuing our series on how to build a more regulated nervous system. We've already explored Stage One: Awareness — learning to notice when your nervous system is calm, when stress is creeping in, and when you’ve tipped into that more activated state of anxiety or overwhelm. In this week's episode episode, I’m guiding you […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – The Amount of Good Things in Your Life Depends on Your Ability to Notice Them

    On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how the amount of good things in your life depends on your ability to notice them. With so much fear and negativity in the news right now, it’s easy for your attention to be pulled towards what feels heavy and overwhelming. That’s why being […]

  • Embracing The Benefits of Cold Water Exposure with Wendy Heine

    In this episode of Take a Breath, I’m joined by Wendy Heine — certified Wim Hof instructor, breathwork coach and yoga teacher. Wendy shares her journey from avoiding the cold completely to embracing it as a powerful tool for healing, particularly following her cancer diagnosis in 2021. We explore both the science and the nervous […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Staying Present While Moving Forwards

    On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I talk about all manner of things including where we’re at with our goals and habits, the importance of staying present in the moment, and how crucial awareness is if we want to make any kind of change in our life. We hope you’ll find something useful in […]

  • Step One to a Regulated Nervous System: AWARENESS

    In this episode of Take a Breath, I’m sharing why awareness is always the first step in nervous system regulation — and why, without it, even the best tools and techniques won’t truly stick. So many of us are living on autopilot, reacting before we even realise we’re reacting. I know this deeply, because that […]

  • Thursday Thoughts — Breaking The Cycle Of Negativity

    On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about breaking the cycle of negativity. We explore how easy it is to get caught in those negative spirals where one thought leads to another and suddenly we're knee-deep in a full-on wallow, feeling pretty rubbish about everything. We chat about how the way we […]

  • How to Embrace Your Second Spring — and Why Rest Is Part of It with Kate Codrington

    This week on Take a Breath, I’m joined by brilliant Kate Codrington — author, therapist, facilitator, speaker, and guide for women navigating the menopause transition. Kate is the author of Second Spring, named one of the seven best books on menopause by the New York Times, and The Perimenopause Journal (2024), described as “an essential […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – The Patriarchy

    On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking all about the patriarchy. This social system that historically centres white men as the default holders of power, money, status and authority, is woven into the very fabric of society. It shows up in a million subtle – and not so subtle – ways: women […]

  • How to Know if Your Nervous System’s Actually Regulated — or Just Coping

    There’s a lot of noise right now about calming your nervous system and staying regulated — and for many of us, that creates more pressure than peace. In this solo episode, I gently unpack what nervous system regulation actually means, why staying calm isn’t the goal, and how midlife and perimenopause can shift the way […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Being The Main Character in Your Own Life

    On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I talk about what it really means to shift out of the background and into the lead role of your own life. We chat about how easy it is, especially for women, to unconsciously slip into a supporting role, putting everyone else’s needs first, waiting for the “right […]

  • How to Find What’s Next When You’re Ready for a Career Change with Ashley Jablow

    Midlife can be a season of subtle (or not-so-subtle) shifts. The things that once felt like a perfect fit — a role, a path, a version of you — start to feel off. But what comes next isn’t always clear. In this episode, I’m joined by Ashley Jablow, Founder of Wayfinders Collective and former Presidential […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – The Power Of Nature In A World Gone Mad

    On today’s Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about the power of intentionally tuning into nature during crazy times. Most of us would agree that the state of the world right now is…alot. It can feel overwhelming and scary, to say the least, and it’s easy to feel completely out of control. One of […]

  • How to Stay Ambitious Without Burning Yourself Out

    Many of us rely on pressure and guilt to keep ourselves moving forwards towards our goals  — especially in midlife, when life can feel full and demanding. While these strategies may work in the short term, they often leave us feeling exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from ourselves. In this episode, I explore why guilt and […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – How The Hardest Times Become Our Greatest Lessons

    On this weeks Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how our hardest times and biggest “failures” often become our greatest lessons. We talk about how difficult seasons can shape us, clarify what really matters, and guide us onto the right path. A reminder that nothing is wasted – and if you’re in a […]

  • Why Birthdays Matter More Than We Realise with Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming

    Do you love your birthday… or secretly dread it? Birthdays can bring up all sorts — joy, disappointment, reflection, pressure, even a  sense of dread as we move through midlife. And yet, it’s the one day every year that’s meant to be about you. In this episode of Take a Breath, I’m joined by counsellor, […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Make Finding Joy a Priority

    On today’s Monday Motivation, Lucy and I are talking about that ‘back to school’ feeling that so many of us feel after Christmas and New Year. If you’re feeling low following the festive season, now is the time to make finding joy a priority. Because like so many things in life, we have to get […]

  • 5 Ways to Ease The Midlife Emotional Load

    Midlife can feel like a constant juggling act — from perimenopause to parenting, ageing parents to career demands, all while managing the invisible emotional and mental load that us midlife women know all to well. In this episode, I share 5 simple, science-backed ways to ease the emotional weight you’re carrying — so you can […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Maintaining A Positive Attitude When Life Throws A Curveball

    On today’s Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about maintaining a positive mental attitude even when life throws us a curveball. Last week, I injured my knee on the last day of my skiing trip, and am currently on crutches while I wait to find out how serious the injury is. I talk about […]

  • How to Feel Less Depleted and More You in Midlife with Margaret De Petro

    In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Margaret de Petro — a former psychotherapist whose work now spans coaching, NLP, intuition, and energy awareness. Margaret supports people around the world to feel more connected, clear, and confident in who they are and where they’re heading, especially during times of transition. Her work sits at […]

  • The Tamsen Show podcast image

    The ADHD Psychiatrist: How to Get Your Focus Back After 40

    Dr. Tracey Marks is a board-certified psychiatrist. In today’s episode of The Tamsen Show, she sits down with Tamsen Fadal to talk about ADHD in women: why it can go undiagnosed for so long, how to know if you have it, and what you can actually do about it. If you’ve ever felt frozen by […]

  • Eps 412: A New Way to Think About Food and Health with Dr. Robert Kiltz

    Everything you’ve been told about food and hormones is being questioned in this conversation. In this episode, I exchanged thoughts with Dr. Robert Kiltz, a fertility specialist who brings a very different perspective around women’s health. We talk about why so many symptoms in perimenopause and menopause get brushed off as “normal,” and why that […]

  • 64 – Estrogen: separating fear from fact

    Why are so many women still being told estrogen is dangerous? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by oncologist and author of Estrogen Matters, Dr Avrum Bluming, to explore how fear around hormones took hold and why it persisted for so long. They also revisit the evidence behind the Women’s Health Initiative and […]

  • The Reality of Adult Friendship: Here’s Why You’re Lonely & How to Make Real Friends as an Adult

    If you’ve ever felt like making friends as an adult feels impossible, or you’ve looked around and thought, “Where did all my friends go?” – you are not alone.  Or maybe you have friends, and you want deeper connections, but you don’t know how to create it without forcing it. Friendship is hard right now. […]

  • Play therapy rewires the brain! Facing childhood traumas, with The King’s Trust

    Everyone deserves the chance at a fulfilling life. Shauna Tiffany grew up in foster care, feeling ashamed of and responsible for her parents’ choices. Creative play therapy helped her work through her childhood trauma, and now – with the support of The King’s Trust – she’s built her own business doing the same thing for […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Small Steps When Noone's Watching

    On this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about the small, unglamorous steps that we take when nobody’s watching, that ultimately get us to where we want to go. For example, I talks about the tiny, seemingly insignificant physio exercises I'm doing every day to help heal from my knee operation – it […]

  • Acupuncture & the Menopause with Lily Lai, PhD, Acupuncturist & Chinese Medicine Practitioner. S7. Ep 13.

    Have you ever considered acupuncture to help support you through — and beyond — the menopause? It’s a fascinating option for women at this stage of life, focusing on restoring balance across the body’s different systems — something many of us need during times of hormonal change. This month’s guest is acupuncturist and Chinese medicine […]

  • Karen Duffy Talks MTV, Sarcoidosis, and the Secrets to a Beautiful Life

    Karen Duffy returns with an inspiring conversation about resilience, reinvention, and living beautifully, no matter the circumstances. From her iconic days as an MTV VJ and actress to becoming a New York Times bestselling author, Karen shares unforgettable stories and hard earned wisdom from a life lived in the spotlight and beyond. But this episode […]

  • image of woman with dark hair named Mary Claire Haver

    Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone: The Science of Hormones, Sexual Function, and Menopause

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Tami Rowen, an obstetrician, gynecologist, and leading gynecologic surgeon at the University of California San Francisco, and an internationally recognized expert in sexual health and sexual medicine. Together they get precise about some of the most misunderstood terrain in women’s health: estrogen, […]

  • Ep. 217 – Nourishing Menopause with Andrea Donsky

    In this episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back friend Andrea Donsky, the nutritionist, author, podcaster and seven-time published menopause researcher known to her 350,000 TikTok followers as the “Menopause Educator and Researcher.” Did you know there are 103 documented menopause symptoms?  Andrea shares groundbreaking updates to her peer-reviewed research published in the Journal of Menopause, […]

  • You Keep Saying You’ll Do Something for You… But You Keep Choosing Everything Else First

    You know the phrases… “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” “Put your oxygen mask on first.” But here’s the real question… Are you actually doing it? Or are you still giving your time, energy, and attention to everyone else… and hoping you’ll get a moment for yourself somewhere down the line? In this episode, I’m sharing […]

  • 63 – Hormones, disability and the battle to be taken seriously : Laura Dallison

    What happens when you know something isn’t right, but no one will listen? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Laura Dallison, who shares her experience of navigating hormonal changes while living with a physicaldisability. After a spinal cord injury, Laura began experiencing symptoms including brain fog, insomnia and recurrent infections, but was […]

  • The Tamsen Show podcast image

    What I've Learned After 35 Years Without My Mom

    Mother’s Day is not a simple day for everyone. If your mom is gone, or if your relationship with her is painful, complicated, or nonexistent, the world can make you feel incredibly alone in the middle of all of it. Like everyone else got something you didn’t.  Tamsen lost her mom at 20 years old. […]

  • Eps 411: What Peptides Actually Do (And What They Don’t)

    Peptides are being sold like the answer… but I’m watching women feel more tired, more stuck, and more confused after starting them. In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s actually happening behind the scenes when peptides don’t work the way you expected. We talk about why so many women are jumping in too early, the […]

  • Harvard Business School Professor: This One Research Study Will Change Your Life and Career

    Today’s episode is going to completely change the way you think about every conversation you’ve been too afraid to have. Ever wonder why your relationships feel surface level, even after years?  Why you feel lonely, even when you’re surrounded by people?  Why you say “I’m fine,” even when you’re not? Why some people earn trust […]

  • Nicole LePera: "Your nervous system is screaming at you!" Healing anxiety and panic

    Were you praised as a child for being ‘good’, for keeping quiet, or not making a fuss? Psychologist Dr Nicole LePera reckons that praise may have taught you to disconnect from your emotions entirely. In this chat with Fearne, Nicole explains how even well-intentioned parenting can leave us with patterns that run our adult lives […]

  • 4 signs you’re low in iron (and how to top up levels in midlife)

    If you’re constantly exhausted and your hair seems thinner than normal, it might not just be your hormones. Liz talks about low iron levels in midlife, how to spot the symptoms and what to do if you’re struggling. Plus: where to start with longevity supplements, ways to manage high cholesterol, juggling HRT on a busy […]

  • Answering Your Questions About HRT In Menopause (side effects, HRT not working, biggest myths, and more)

    ❤️ Win a year's worth of Menopause Care appointments by entering our giveaway here: https://bit.ly/4t3ELhb Confused about HRT in menopause? Today Dr Naomi Potter is answering as many questions as possible about HRT – all sent in by our lovely listeners. From what to do if progesterone affects your mood or sleep, to why vaginal […]

  • Estrogen Has Been Let Out of Jail!

    Karen is joined by future Itchy and Bitchy hosts Stephen Miller, an acute care nurse practitioner specializing in cardiovascular disease, and Dr. Keith Hnilica, a veterinary dermatologist, for a wide-ranging conversation about estradiol and hormone replacement therapy. They discuss the recent removal of the FDA black box warning from most menopausal hormone therapy products and […]

  • Why your healthy lifestyle is making you unwell – with Sarah Ann Macklin

    We have access to more health information than ever before, but for many midlife women, the overwhelm is negatively impacting our wellbeing. Nutritionist Sarah Ann Macklin talks to Liz about the unhealthy side of modern wellness culture and its effect on our bodies. They discuss how conflicting advice and constantly changing diet trends create anxiety, […]

Take A Breath

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.  […]

00:00
/
00:00