Alright, so it’s Sunday morning, and here I am, sitting with my coffee, feeling pretty chuffed with myself. Why? Because I made it through not one, but two workouts - strength development and spin. Yep, you heard me right - two classes.🥴

And the weirdest part? I woke up naturally at 6:30 am. On a Sunday. No alarm, no panic, just me lying there like, “Well… this is unsettling.” Not sure if it’s my subconscious telling me that 6 am wake-ups are the key to success or if it’s just my body adjusting to life without alcohol (again). Either way, I’m just rolling with it and pretending this is totally normal behaviour.

So, in spin class today, my Myzone watch decided to gaslight me. For anyone who doesn’t know, it’s a wearable fitness tracker that measures your heart rate and effort levels, using a colour-coded system - grey means "barely trying," blue and green are "moderate," yellow is "pushing it," and red is "full beast mode."

Except today, my watch was totally off. I was practically on my deathbed (okay, slight exaggeration), legs burning, gasping for air - and yet, it kept me in grey and blue. But then, when I was casually cruising, barely breaking a sweat? Boom - suddenly I’m in green and yellow. There was zero correlation to reality.

And yeah, I know this sounds pathetic as I type it, but it was annoying! I was putting in the effort, and my watch wasn’t acknowledging it. But then, mid-pedal, I had a moment of wisdom: Will this matter in 10 years?

Obviously not.

And just like that, my existential crisis over my rogue fitness tracker was resolved - at least for now. But it got me thinking - not just about the watch, but about all the little annoyances in life that frustrate us in the moment but won’t really matter in the long run.

Like when you’re stuck in traffic and late for a meeting - will that matter in 10 years? Probably not.

Or when you lose your bank card - sure, it’s frustrating, but will it haunt you a decade from now? Nope.

A colleague gossiping about you? Let them. In 10 years, will anyone even remember? Highly unlikely.

When I think about life, I see it a lot like the stock market. Temporary dips might feel significant in the moment, but when you zoom out, they’re just blips on the chart. So why waste energy stressing over setbacks that time will eventually make irrelevant? 

Over time, I’ve learned to let go of things more easily. Traffic doesn’t bother me like it used to (unless, of course, I’m desperately searching for a bathroom😳). If I’m late to a meeting, clients are usually pretty understanding. Just the other day, I was 10 minutes late - not because of traffic, but because I took a wrong turn (whoops🫤). It was frustrating, especially since it added an extra 20 minutes to my drive. But once the meeting was over? I barely gave it a second thought.

It happens. The clients understood (they even shared a story about a time they took a wrong turn themselves), and in the grand scheme of life, it was completely insignificant.

However, when it comes to people, I've realised that you have to be intentional about who you let into your life. Sure, if someone annoys or upsets you, asking yourself, "Will this matter in 10 years?" usually leads to a no. But the impact of the people we surround ourselves with lasts far longer than a broken boiler or a lost phone charger. 

Some people will bring frustration and negativity into your life, draining your energy. But here’s the thing - you have the power to control their impact by being intentional about who you let in. If someone’s presence leaves you feeling depleted or uneasy, it’s not just okay to step back - it’s essential. Protecting your peace isn’t selfish; it’s self-respect.

This isn’t about labelling people as good or bad - it’s about recognising who is and isn’t good for you and having the wisdom to choose accordingly.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve come to realise just how much people’s lives are influenced by those around them. As humans, we thrive on connection - the right company can be uplifting and inspiring, while the wrong company can slowly drain our well-being. I see it all around me, and I’ve become much more aware of how the people in my life affect me. I’ve realised that, aside from ourselves (because let’s be honest, we’re often our own worst enemies), others can be the biggest roadblocks to our dreams and ambitions. It's not always intentional, but it drains our energy and shifts our focus away from where it truly belongs.

Peace has become priceless to me - it’s the foundation for the energy, clarity, and calm I need to focus on what truly matters. But I’m still learning how to put this into practice. Only recently have I made a conscious effort to recognise what (hello, social media🙄) and who drains my energy - and more importantly, where that energy should be going instead.

Life is too short to waste on relationships and situations that deplete you. Your energy is invaluable - protect it fiercely and invest it only in those who genuinely value and respect it.

So next time life throws a small annoyance your way, take a breath, zoom out, and ask yourself: Is this worth my energy? If not, let it go and move on to what truly matters. 💗