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Finding the ‘sweet spot’ between corporate ambition and the chaotic, beautiful reality of raising three kids in South Africa can feel like trying to navigate a minibus taxi through a power outage – stressfully unpredictable and exhausting.

As a Head of Finance, my days are spent analysing budgets versus performance metrics. However, as a mother of three, my ‘real’ metrics are often measured in lunchboxes packed, school runs managed and that nagging feeling of not doing enough for my family or myself. 

Between the rising fuel prices, the N1 or M1 traffic, and the constant digital hum of social media, emotional stress isn't just a guest. It feels like an uninvited permanent resident.
The good news? Managing it does not require a total life overhaul. It requires small, intentional shifts. 

I’ve devoured the teachings of three of my favourite authors and podcasters in the past six months. Here is how I’ve started to apply the wisdom of James Clear, Joe Hudson and Brené Brown to reclaim my headspace.

James Clear on the power of ‘atomic’ rituals

James Clear teaches us, in his book Atomic Habits, that we don’t rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our systems. When life feels heavy, like when that ‘low fuel’ light comes on right as you’re late for a client pitch, we need systems, not willpower.

James Clear talks about a practical shift called habit stacking. Instead of trying to find an hour for ‘wellness’, I stack small habits onto things I’m already doing.

An example of this is when I start getting ready to hit the turmoil of traffic. As soon as my hands touch the steering wheel, I take three ‘box breaths’.  It helps me to avoid stewing in frustration on the way home and just to focus on that delicious stew I’m going to brew later! 

James Clear suggests focusing on who we want to be, which presents an identity shift. Instead of saying "I’m so stressed," I’ve started saying, "I am a person who prioritises calm." This tiny language shift changes how I respond to a 17:00 crisis.

Joe Hudson on moving from resistance to ‘allowing’
Executive Coach Joe Hudson speaks about the ‘Art of Accomplishment’ through radical presence in his podcast of the same title. Emotional stress more often than not comes from resisting circumstances. For example, we resist the traffic, we resist the cost of living and we resist fatigue.

Hudson refers to a 90-Second Rule. He notes that a physiological emotional wave lasts about 90 seconds. When I feel that ‘not enough’ shame feeling creeping in after missing a school event because I had to attend a meeting, I don’t push it away. I feel the burn by actually allowing myself to feel the tightness in my chest for 90 seconds without checking my phone. Then I ask, “What is this feeling trying to tell me?” Usually, it’s not that I’m a ‘bad mum’, but that I value connection. By allowing the emotion instead of fighting it, it loses its power to ruin my afternoon.

Brené Brown on the ‘first draft’ and boundaries
In the South African workplace, we often feel the need to be bulletproof. Brené Brown reminds us that vulnerability is the only way to true connection.

When a post on LinkedIn makes me feel like I’m failing because I’m not an overnight success or a perfect parent, I use Brené’s tool to identify and acknowledge the story I’m telling myself, for example “because I’m tired, I’m losing my edge in my career” (from The stories we tell ourselves).

Once the story is acknowledged out loud, it usually sounds ridiculous and it becomes a reality check instead. It allows me to set a boundary; for example, putting my phone in a drawer at 19:00 to protect my time with my family.

Physical health as an emotional foundation
In any corporate setting, we talk about ‘brand health’, but we often neglect our own. We cannot manage emotional stress if our physical engine is running on empty. You would not drive your car across the country without checking the vitals, yet we do it to ourselves daily. 

Bestmed's Tempo wellness programme includes your own 'oil check'. You can check your glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, height and weight at a Tempo partner pharmacy clinic, as well as complete the Tempo Lifestyle Questionnaire before unlocking consultations with a Tempo biokineticist and a Tempo dietitian partner. Taking that small step to get your ‘oil checked’ provides the information you need to manage your energy, which is the currency of both great parenting and great leadership.
Navigating the South African squeeze
We live in a high-pressure environment. The demands of work-life in 2026 require us to be more than just productive. Productivity is only the starting point. 

Managing emotional stress does not mean ignoring the fuel price or pretending the traffic does not exist. It’s about recognising that you are doing your best in a complex world. By implementing 1% change (Clear), allowing your feelings to exist (Hudson) and being honest about your internal stories (Brown), you create a wellness strategy that is sustainable. You are more than your output. You are a leader, a parent and a person who deserves the same care you give your brand.