Why I Left Corporate Life to Start a Nature-Based Wellbeing Business
The slow unravelling
We often wait for something big to force change — but sometimes, it’s the quiet discomfort that holds the real message.
I didn’t have a major breakdown. There was no single moment that made me walk away from corporate life. Looking back, it was more like a slow unravelling — subtle signals I’d brushed off for years.
Family members would comment that I always seemed to have a headache. I had constant colds, dry and achy eyes, and even after a full night’s sleep, I still woke up tired. My brain never switched off. I procrastinated, found it harder to focus, and felt more irritable. On the surface, I was “fine” — successful even — but underneath, I was running on autopilot.
I blamed it on long commutes, office lighting, the job in general and digital overload. But I knew something wasn’t right. I wasn’t burnt out — not fully — but it felt like I was heading in that direction.
I’ve always thrived around people. Yet I found myself pulling away — craving rest, space, and solitude. Social events drained me. No plans frustrated me. Nothing felt satisfying. And still… I kept going.
When the world stopped
Then lockdown happened. And like so many others, I had to slow down — properly slow down.
I worried it would kill my motivation, but instead, it gave me space. Real space. Time to be with myself and to spend some real quality time with my now-husband (we even got engaged between lockdowns!).
For the first time in years, I read again. I explored topics I’d always been drawn to — nutrition, the female brain, movement, breathwork, and nature. I walked more. I paid attention to how essential nature was becoming to my well-being. It was no longer an occasional luxury — it became a regular non-negotiable.
As I followed my curiosity, I said “yes” to more things — wellbeing events, workshops, retreats, even wellness festivals on my own. I wanted to learn, connect, and rediscover the parts of me that had been left behind.
That’s when something powerful stirred: a quiet but certain feeling that maybe… a different life was possible.
The turning point
When things went back to “normal,” the old ways crept back in. I switched jobs, hoping a new team and environment would help. It did, for a bit. But soon the same imbalance returned.
I was doing all the “right” things — eating well, setting boundaries, moving more. But something deeper still felt off. And then came perimenopause.
The early signs were subtle at first: brain fog, forgetfulness, irritability. Then came anxiety attacks, overwhelm, severe fatigue, and a loss of confidence. One day, my husband gently handed me Davina McCall’s book “Menopausing” — and I just burst into tears.
It was almost like I knew but just needed someone else to say it. In that moment, something inside me cracked wide open.
It wasn’t just the hormones. It was everything. Years of ignoring my needs, of pushing through. Of silencing my body’s messages.
Perimenopause hasn’t broken me — it has somehow connected me back to my real self. And for that, I am grateful.
The four-day shift
To support my perimenopause symptoms — and reduce stress, which helps balance oestrogen — I nervously asked my employer if they’d consider reducing my hours to a four-day work week. To their credit, they said yes. They genuinely wanted to support me as best they could.
That extra day became sacred. Somehow, it gave me the sense of freedom I’d been craving.
At first, I simply used it to rest. But over time, it became a space to explore. I bought my own cold-water barrel and started plunging regularly. I experimented with breathwork, meditation, wild swimming, and solo hikes. I spent time with friends (some of whom also had four-day weeks) but also carved out time just for me.
I began to feel ready to study again — excited, even. I started with short online courses, following my curiosity, and eventually committed to longer 12-month programmes that introduced me to like-minded people who were also looking to change their lives. I’m genuinely proud of everything I’ve learned over the past few years. Some of it was pretty intense, but with a bit more life experience and perspective, it felt good to finally understand how my body works.
I learned about the nervous system, how we respond to stress, and why balance is key to our health and wellbeing. I learned more about nature — how it communicates through complex ecosystems and how deeply it supports our physical and emotional health. Our bodies are wired for balance and healing. We’ve just forgotten how to support that process ourselves.
That extra day — combined with my growing toolkit of wellbeing practices — was making a real difference.
But soon… I wanted more.
I dared to dream
One theory I read in a book really hit home: the idea that we spend 80% of our time and energy on things that drain us, and only 20% on things that truly nourish us. It challenged me deeply.
Why do we accept that?
What if life could be the other way around?
As I kept learning, I realised something else — people were actually doing this work as a business. I’d even worked with a few of them myself. That planted a new seed: what if I could do this too?
Not just for me, but for others.
I started imagining a business rooted in the way I now wanted to live: with passion, with balance, with purpose and more connected to nature and to myself. I thought about helping others navigate the same challenges I’d been through — midlife shifts, workplace stress, hormonal change, and a fast-paced world.
And not just individuals either. I’d been involved in workplace wellbeing initiatives for years, in various roles — I knew what companies needed, what they expected, what worked. I’d been on the inside. I could support local businesses and corporates to create healthier, more balanced ways of working.
And that’s when it really clicked.
The Naturally Curious was born
This isn’t just a career change. The Naturally Curious is the result of everything I’ve lived, learned, and come to value — a space where nature, curiosity, wellbeing, and community meet.
It started with my own healing, but it’s growing into something more.
Right now, it’s a nature-based wellbeing business offering immersive experiences and support to help people feel more connected — to themselves, to each other, and to the world around them.
But my vision goes beyond that.
I’d love The Naturally Curious to become a trusted community hub — a place where people come to learn, share, and restore. A business that local companies want to partner with to support staff wellbeing in meaningful, lasting ways.
I also dream of collaborating with other brilliant practitioners — bringing together different skills, experiences, and passions to create transformative retreats and away days that support real change.
I don’t know exactly what it will look like yet. Like nature, it will evolve.
But I trust the process — and I know my roots are strong.
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
A final thought
I hope that by sharing a part of my story, it might inspire others to pause, reflect, and ask themselves some deeper questions too.
I don’t have all the answers — but when I have questions, I go out and seek them. I’m no longer waiting for life to happen or pass me by.
I’m here, showing up. Staying curious. Trusting that with each step forward, the path becomes clearer — and more meaningful.
Thank you for being a part of my journey.
