Is your wellness routine stressing you out? Kate Lenehan on finding balance

In today’s world, where self-care is sold as a luxury and wellness has been turned into an industry worth billions, it’s easy to feel like taking care of ourselves is just another chore.

In many ways, it becomes a task that drains our time and wallets.

Every single day, we are exposed to messages telling us we need the latest superfood, the trendiest workout or an elaborate morning routine involving meditation, green juices and cold plunges just to be considered ‘healthy.’ Wellness can start to feel less like an act of love and more like an exhausting, expensive pursuit.

But at its core, true wellness isn’t about perfection, expensive products or following trends – it’s about feeling good, both physically and mentally. Taking care of our bodies and minds isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. It shouldn’t feel like an obligation or a burden. It should be something that enhances our lives, bringing more energy, clarity and joy rather than stress and pressure.

When we strip back the noise of the wellness industry and focus on what truly makes us feel strong, happy and balanced, we can redefine self-care in a way that actually serves us. One without the guilt, the pressure or the hefty price tag.

Kate Lenehan, aka the Monday Coach, is a health and performance scientist, health and nutrition coach, personal trainer and Pilates instructor. She is a firm believer that true health is not just the absence of disease or the number on a weighing scale. True health is also a feeling of vitality and happiness.

“The truth is, the commercialisation of health has created an endless stream of shoulds,” Kate explains. “We feel we ‘should’ be buying the latest supplements and silver bullets that promise the world. We ‘should’ adopt the curated wellness routines of the influencers we follow on social media.

“It’s understandable why we might start to believe that health is only achievable through expensive products or extreme discipline. But in chasing this version of ‘wellness,’ we often lose sight of what actually makes us feel good.”

Kate helps women to become aware of what is helping versus hindering their health and happiness. “If your step count dictates your mood, perhaps it’s not a wellness routine. If you turn down social connection with loved ones because it doesn’t align with your strict meal plan, perhaps it’s not a wellness routine. If your 10-step nighttime regimen reduces your actual sleep time… if your supplements cost more than your groceries… the list goes on.

“But here’s the most important one – if you don’t actually enjoy it, perhaps it’s not a wellness routine.”

Kate’s approach to health and wellbeing focuses on balance, sustainability, and joy. Her mission is to help women find that sweet spot where health-enhancing habits become second nature because they feel good, not forced.

“Wellness can feel as good as it is good for you,” she says. “Quick fixes don’t work because they don’t build lasting habits. I aim to help women move past that cycle and create a lifestyle that supports long-term health and happiness.”

Through personalised movement, mindset and nutrition programmes, Kate offers health coaching to busy women who feel overwhelmed and are seeking a more balanced path to the long-term wellness they deserve. By building lasting habits, Kate ensures that her clients can confidently maintain their health and happiness long after their coaching journey ends.

Kate also teaches online Pilates classes that focus on building strength, mobility and flexibility through low-impact, mindful movement that supports long-term health.

Ready to redefine your approach to wellness? Check out Kate’s coaching services and Pilates classes at themondaycoach.com, or find her on Instagram.