ABOUT YVONNE

Back in 2012, I found myself grappling with overwhelming stress and exhaustion. At the time, I placed a heavy emphasis on work at the expense of my mental well-being. To increase my income to pay off the mortgage, I engaged in work that didn't align with me and my skill set, and I sacrificed personal time for doing more work. The burden of the mortgage and my perfectionist tendencies added to the constant pressure I felt. My sleep suffered, and I went through months of severe sleep deprivation, often managing only a few hours of rest each night. I felt like a zombie most of the time. Even small routine tasks became challenging.

As days passed, I felt increasingly dreadful and drained. As I neared my breaking point, I realized that a change was imperative. I acknowledged that I couldn't continue on this path, both for my own sake and for the well-being of my partner, as our relationship was beginning to suffer.

With this realization, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. I researched the root causes of my distress and sought solutions. I read many self-help books, listened to podcasts, read scientific papers, and, most importantly, engaged with several specialists, including nutritionists and a health coach, to help shed light on my situation.

I became increasingly aware of the importance of a holistic approach to my mental health as I learned about the mind-body connection. This meant that I needed to make changes in both areas: mental and physical health, because a healthy mind needs a healthy body, and vice versa.

Within a year, I implemented a series of changes, starting with prioritizing my mental health. I ceased activities that didn't align with my values, knocked back work that would cause extra stress, incorporated daily mindfulness practices, attended yoga and Buddhist classes weekly, adopted a vegetarian diet, sped up the repayment of our mortgage to alleviate financial strain, and reconnected with friends.

The effects of these adjustments were profound. Within a few months, I regained my energy, bid farewell to anxiety, and experienced a sense of relaxation and tranquillity that had eluded me for a long time. I slept like a baby, and I felt in control again.

As time went on, I became increasingly self-aware of my mental and physical state and my thought patterns and their effects. I learned to watch my thoughts and actions like a hawk and stop bad habits and negative thoughts in their tracks before they escalated. I continued to make many small improvements on an ongoing basis, such as pausing and deeply breathing when I noticed my heart rate going up or my thoughts racing, setting up visual triggers to encourage me to take micro-breaks, and so much more.

Fast forward to the present day, twelve years later, and I stand as an advocate for mental health. I now exude vitality and enthusiasm, feeling significantly happier and healthier than ever before.

I am still fine-tuning every day, as mental health is a journey that requires constant effort. I learned that it is only human to feel stressed at times, to have negative thoughts and to feel anxious and a bit depressed at times. I come to accept this, but I also realised that how we feel is under our control. Its what happens inside us and not outside of us that triggers how we feel and that triggers how we act. It seems obvious now, but it wasn’t back then.

My personal journey has motivated me to impart the lessons I've learned along the way to others through my mental health and well-being program. This program encapsulates all that I've learned, tested, and confirmed to be crucial for fostering a contented and healthy life.

Presently, I serve as a Professional Health and Well-being Coach, guiding individuals in discovering their route to enhanced mental and overall health. This role brings me genuine joy and fulfillment.

Prior to transitioning into my role as a professional Health & Well-being Coach, I spent 8 years coaching employees, supervisors, managers, and business owners as a business coach.