The Energy Shift

When was the last time you did something simply because it brought you joy? In this month's Energy Forecast, Ilana explores why so many women gradually lose touch with joy as life becomes fuller, responsibilities increase and productivity takes priority. She explores the difference between happiness and joy, why joy is an important part of energy management, and how small, intentional moments of aliveness can help restore your energy and reconnect you with yourself. What you'll hear in this episode: Why joy isn't something you need to earn once everything on your to-do list is finished, and why waiting for life to be perfect means you could be waiting a very long time. The surprising ways productivity, responsibility and the mental load can quietly push joy to the bottom of the list. Why joy can coexist with stress, grief, uncertainty and difficult seasons, and how reconnecting with joy can become a powerful energy practice. Three simple ways to bring more joy into everyday life, including creating a joy list, reconnecting with who you were before you became so responsible, and putting joy in your calendar. The October energetic themes of Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio, the Libra New Moon and Taurus Full Moon, and how they invite reflection, connection, balance, pleasure and slowing down. The invitation is simple: make joy something you consciously create space for, rather than something you wait to have time for. 🎧 Ready to reconnect with more joy, energy and aliveness this October? Listen to E276: October Energy Forecast at ilanak.com.au/podcast or on your favourite podcast app. Let's stay connected. Head to Instagram: @ilanak.kinesiology Ask Ilana: new addition to the podcast! Submit your question using this form and I'll pick one a month to answer on the show. Show Links: ilanak.com.au/podcasts/276

September brings a breath of fresh air as we move into spring in the Southern Hemisphere, but this isn't an invitation to rush into bigger goals, longer to-do lists or another productivity overhaul.  In this month's Energy Forecast, Ilana explores intentional simplicity, clearing, better systems, delegation and making more room for joy, alongside the energetic wisdom of the Spring Equinox, Virgo New Moon and Aries Full Moon. What you'll hear in this episode: Why September's spring energy is less about doing more and more about clearing the stagnant, simplifying what isn't working and creating the conditions for healthy growth. How to recognise where you're carrying too much mental load, responsibility or energy, and the question that could help you decide what needs to stay, change or go. Why better systems and structures may be more valuable than simply trying harder, getting more disciplined or squeezing more into your day. The uncomfortable truth about delegation, receiving support and letting go of control, especially when you're used to being the person who remembers, organises and holds everything together. How to create more space for joy, fun and life energy, rather than turning organisation and self-improvement into another productivity project. The Spring Equinox and new and full moon insights The common thread? Clear the space first. Then decide what deserves your energy. Listen to E275 now at ilanak.com.au/podcast or on your favourite podcast app, and discover what September's energy has in store for you 🎧. Ilana x Let's stay connected. Head to Instagram: @ilanak.kinesiology Ask Ilana: new addition to the podcast! Submit your question using this form and I'll pick one a month to answer on the show. Show Links: ilanak.com.au/podcasts/275

What if you don't actually need more energy... but need to stop leaking the energy you already have? In this episode, Ilana explores the hidden energy leaks that may leave you feeling exhausted, depleted and disconnected from yourself, even when you're doing all the "right" things. Drawing from patterns she's been seeing in clinic, she unpacks five common ways women unintentionally drain their energy, from overgiving and poor boundaries to ignoring their body's signals, old survival patterns and habits that no longer serve them. What you'll hear in this episode: The hidden energy leaks that could be draining you without you even realising it, and why they aren't character flaws or something that's "wrong" with you. Why becoming disconnected from yourself and your body's signals can quietly become one of the biggest drains on your energy. The connection between boundaries, capacity and saying yes when you really mean no, and the simple question that could help you pause before giving your energy away. How past experiences and old survival patterns can continue driving your choices in the present, even when those patterns no longer serve you. Why old habits aren't necessarily a sign that you've failed, but may actually be information about your current season of life, capacity and needs. Your energy is finite. Sometimes the most powerful shift starts with identifying one leak, turning off one tap, and making one different choice. Listen to E274 at ilanak.com.au/podcast or on your favourite podcast app. And don't forget to download Ilana's Energy Leak Audit to identify where your energy may be draining and decide what you want to keep, delegate or delete. Ilana x

What if the behaviour you're seeing in your child isn't the problem, but a sign that they're struggling to learn in a way that works for their brain? In this important conversation, Ilana is joined by teacher and education specialist Emily Fogg to explore neurodivergence, dyslexia, ADHD, learning difficulties and the often invisible mental load carried by parents. Together, they unpack what happens when children don't receive the right support and how understanding the way a child's brain works can transform confidence, learning, emotional wellbeing and family life. What you'll hear in this episode: Why some children can slip through the cracks at school, even when they're clearly struggling, and what parents can look for when something doesn't feel quite right. The emotional journey parents can experience around diagnosis, grief, worry and uncertainty, and why having a plan can lift an enormous mental load. How understanding your child's individual learning style can change the way they see themselves, particularly when they've already started believing they're "bad" at reading, writing or maths. Why supporting a neurodivergent child is about much more than tutoring, including confidence, emotional regulation, self-efficacy and learning to advocate for themselves. What parents can do if they have a gut feeling their child needs extra support, including where to start and why you don't always need to wait for a formal diagnosis before taking action. This episode is a beautiful reminder that a child who learns differently isn't a child who is less capable. Sometimes they simply need someone to understand how their brain works and give them the right tools, language and support to thrive. And for the parents carrying the worry, the appointments, the school conversations and the constant question of "Am I doing enough?", this conversation offers reassurance that you don't have to navigate it all alone. 🎧 Listen to this important conversation with Emily Fogg at ilanak.com.au/podcast or on your favourite podcast app. Let's stay connected. Head to Instagram: @ilanak.kinesiology Ask Ilana: new addition to the podcast! Submit your question using this form and i'll pick one a month to answer on the show. Show Links: ilanak.com.au/podcasts/273

What if anxiety isn't something to fight… but something to befriend? In this insightful and compassionate conversation, Ilana is joined by one of Australia's leading anxiety and wellbeing experts, Dr. Jodi Richardson, to unpack why anxiety has become so common, particularly for women, and what we can do to support our mental wellbeing. Together, they explore the science behind anxiety, the invisible mental load many women carry, and practical strategies to help you move through life with greater calm, confidence, and self-compassion. What you'll hear in this episode: Why anxiety is a normal human emotion, when it becomes problematic, and the signs that it's time to seek extra support. How the mental load, hormones, perfectionism, people pleasing, and modern life contribute to anxiety, particularly for women. Practical tools and powerful metaphors to help you understand anxiety instead of fearing it, including why anxiety doesn't have to stay in the driver's seat. The connection between anxiety, burnout, chronic stress, depression, and nervous system health, and why understanding your body's signals is so important. Why seeking support is a sign of strength, and how simple, evidence-based strategies can help you build resilience and reclaim your wellbeing. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that anxiety is not a personal failure or something to feel ashamed of. With awareness, compassion, and the right support, it's possible to understand your anxiety, work alongside it, and continue moving towards the life you truly want to live. Whether you've experienced anxiety yourself, support someone who has, or simply want to better understand your mental health, this episode is filled with practical wisdom, hope, and reassurance. Listen now at ilanak.com.au/podcasts/272 or on your favourite podcast app.   Let's stay connected. Head to Instagram: @ilanak.kinesiology Ask Ilana: new addition to the podcast! Submit your question using this form and i'll pick one a month to answer on the show. Show Links: ilanak.com.au/podcasts/272