Money, Time or Health: What Truly Matters Most?
Money, Time and the Missing Piece: When Health Becomes Non-Negotiable
People often talk about the balance between money and time. We ask whether we have enough income, enough freedom, enough flexibility. What I rarely hear discussed is energy. You may have time. You may have financial resources. But what happens if you don’t have the physical or emotional energy to use them? Without energy, time feels empty. Without health, money loses power.
For most of my life, I was healthy and active. I never had to think deeply about conserving energy or protecting my nervous system, until I had no choice. Like many women, I experienced a very challenging birth and postpartum period. What followed was not just physical exhaustion but severe postnatal depression, chronic pain and years of sleep deprivation. Even though I had prepared myself mentally for motherhood, I was not equipped for what happened to my body and soul. For the first time in my life, I lost control of my internal resources.
Postpartum Recovery and Invisible Burnout
Because of exhaustion and emotional depletion, I had to stop working several times. As an entrepreneur building a young business, this felt catastrophic. In a fast-paced society that rewards productivity, stopping feels like failure. I had time. I had ideas. I had financial responsibility. What I didn’t have was energy.
I was tired 24/7. I couldn’t “buy” more vitality. I couldn’t force my nervous system into strength. And that powerlessness triggered frustration, shame and self-doubt. Everyone else seemed to be moving forward. Other mothers appeared to be coping better. I felt behind, constantly trying to catch up. But nothing was helping, because the issue was not effort. It was depletion.
The Cost of Ignoring Your Limits,Health, Energy and the Illusion of Control.
At some point, I had to stop completely and accept something I had never accepted before: healing takes time. The body has its own rhythm. The nervous system cannot be rushed. It wasn’t pleasant. A part of me resisted. I didn’t want to be “broken.” I tried to push through, to maintain normality, to prove I could manage. In doing so, I nearly destroyed myself. Pain became my teacher.
It taught me something I had never fully embodied: respecting human limits is not weakness. It is intelligence. We live in a culture that glorifies burnout and productivity. There are no medals for exhaustion, yet many of us act as if there are. I realised that no achievement compensates for chronic depletion. No success is sustainable without health.
Health is not simply the absence of illness; it is nervous system balance, emotional stability and the capacity to show up fully in life. Energy is the foundation of everything.
The Real Value of Your Resources
Through this process, I discovered something humbling and liberating: my energy is my most precious resource. Not money. Not status. Not productivity. Energy.
When energy is available, I can use my time wisely. I can create income. I can enjoy relationships. I can think clearly. I can be present. When energy is depleted, everything else collapses. Today, I am more mindful, more grounded and more honest with myself. I honour my limits instead of fighting them. I no longer feel the need to prove my worth through constant output. If someone now asks me about money and time balance, my answer is simple: I can do anything I want, if I have the right energy resources to support it.
Energy management is not indulgent. It is essential.
Especially for mothers. Especially for entrepreneurs. Especially for anyone navigating burnout or life transitions.
True wealth is not measured only in income or hours available. It is measured in the capacity to live fully without destroying yourself in the process. Health is not a luxury. It is the foundation.
Without physical and emotional health, money cannot be fully enjoyed or sustained. Long-term wellbeing supports sustainable success.
Can stress affect physical health?
Yes. Chronic stress dysregulates the nervous system and can contribute to fatigue, anxiety and burnout.
How can I create better work-life balance?
By prioritising nervous system regulation, setting boundaries and aligning your goals with your capacity.
If you are feeling burnt out, overwhelmed or disconnected from what truly matters, somatic counselling can help you restore balance between health, time and work. Sessions available in Brighton, Hove and online. You’re welcome to book a free discovery call to explore working together.
