In Between Things: March Newsletter
In Between Things
Snowy Sick Day
It’s snowing again as I sit down to write the March newsletter. I woke up with a cold and I’m officially tired of winter.
As I am writing this, respite is in sight. We leave in a few days for the Caribbean. But today, I’m thinking about self care, preservation, and perseverance.
At Well by Design, we talk about grit, determination, and productivity. But our philosophy is different. We focus on working with your energy instead of pushing through it.
Many helpers are conditioned to push through. Over time, we override our bodies and our intuition. We tell ourselves “it will be fine”.
And yet, this pattern so often leads to burnout.
I once heard a leader, post COVID, say that she works when she is sick because she can work from the couch. If she were not working, she would probably be watching TV anyway, so she might as well distract herself with work. For helpers in leadership roles, that logic can feel very familiar.
But let’s pause for a moment and think about stress.
Stress causes your adrenal glands to release cortisol into the bloodstream. According to the American Psychological Association, this response is an important part of the body’s ability to jump into action. However, when stress becomes chronic, elevated cortisol levels can weaken the immune system by disrupting white blood cell production and interfering with antibody formation. In other words, the state that keeps us pushing forward can also slow our ability to heal.
For many of us, virtual meetings and decision-making activate the stress response far more than passive rest.
And yet, real life continues. We need to work. Sometimes we need to work even when we are sick. So what is within our control?
We can pace ourselves. We can clear non essential meetings. We can build in time for rest during the day. We can take breaks to hydrate, take medication, and pause for a few deep breaths, even through stuffy noses. These small choices support healing and help lower cortisol so our bodies can recover.
And for our friends who cannot work from home, taking time off when you are sick matters. You will care for your people more effectively when you care for yourself, and you also reduce the spread of illness. At Well by Design, we encourage protecting sick time so that when illness hits, you can truly rest. Your body and your clients, even the smallest ones, will thank you.
Spring is just around the corner. Sunshine and warm breezes are coming. But in the meantime, take care of yourselves and remember to rest.
As you move through the final stretch of winter, consider this. Where might your body be asking for a slower pace, and what would it be like to listen?
Take good care,
Sarah, Founder - Well by Design
Caribbean Sea; March, 2025
Where We’ll be in March
March begins with a week in the Caribbean, which feels like the exact reset this winter has called for.
When I return, I’ll be preparing for the Brave, Not Broken workshop, continuing one on one coaching, and building the next phase of the Life Design Intensive that will launch later this year.
Spring often brings a shift in energy. A time when many of us begin asking what we want the rest of the year to look like and how we want to feel moving through it.
At Well by Design, we believe that kind of clarity doesn’t happen by accident. It is designed. And we would be honored to build it with you.
Brave, Not Broken
March 21
For the helpers who keep showing up while carrying more than most people see.
This workshop is a space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the parts of you that are steady, capable, and still becoming. We’ll talk about resilience, identity, and what it looks like to move forward without abandoning yourself in the process.
If you’ve been navigating change, uncertainty, or a season that feels heavier than expected, you are not alone here.
Ways to work with me
There are a few ways to step into this work, depending on the level of clarity and change you are ready for.
One on one coaching offers a deeply personalized space for reflection, clarity, and intentional change. Together, we explore your values, energy, identity, and the decisions that shape how you live and lead.
Seasonal Design Sessions provide a thoughtful pause point. A space to step back, recalibrate, and realign before moving forward again.
Workshops create intimate gatherings for helpers navigating shared themes of courage, identity, and sustainable leadership.
And for teams and organizations, speaking and facilitation bring these conversations into collective spaces where culture, care, and leadership intersect.
If something here resonates, the next step is simply a conversation.
A life and career that cares for you is not accidental. It is designed.
PS: I’m heading into a week of sunshine, books, naps, and ocean air. I have a feeling that space and rest will bring clarity about what comes next. If you’re in a season of waiting, recovering, or recalibrating, I hope you give yourself permission to trust that rest is doing important work.
~Sarah