The Power of the Pause: Why Ambitious Women Need to Prioritise Time for Themselves

When Life Doesn’t Slow Down, Even for a Good Thing

I knew my work-life balance was out of kilter when I stood looking at my 6-month-old daughter in the pram, scraping floor glue off the concrete of my newly acquired clinic space. I remember thinking, “Damn, this is hard work — when will it end?” The real shocker? It doesn’t. Not really.

I’d been given an amazing opportunity to transform a desolate (and very magnolia) office into my dream: a welcoming, multi-room aesthetic and wellness clinic. You might assume that developing a wellness space meant I could revel in the glow of regular facials and peaceful downtime. But most days, I was either in meetings with clients or racing to collect my toddler from nursery. There was barely time for lunch, let alone a facial peel.

Burnout in Disguise: The Cost of Constant Motion

By the end of the renovation, I was completely burnt out. I was running a thriving clinic, teaching dentistry, and training other aesthetic practitioners — often at weekends. I felt like I was on a treadmill that wouldn’t stop, all while someone kept chucking dirty nappies and laundry at me.

My self-care fell to the bottom of the pile. I’d only wash my hair if I had patients or teaching sessions. The toll it took physically, mentally, and emotionally became impossible to ignore.

When Your Body Sounds the Alarm

Eventually, my body forced me to stop, as it often does for professionals pushing beyond their limits. I developed debilitating heart palpitations. I thought it was a lingering effect of childbirth, but in reality, it was my internal alarm system blaring at full volume.

That moment was my wake-up call. I started to breathe. Just breathe — the most basic, essential act we perform. I focused not on my to-do list or the opportunities I might be missing, but simply on my breath. I felt my lungs inflate and deflate. In that stillness, my body began to reset, and in turn, so did my mind.

Self-Care Isn’t a Luxury, It’s a Necessity

For me, pausing isn’t just about mindfulness. It’s about self-worth.

I often compare it to driving a car. If you speed over potholes, ignore the warning lights, and push it too hard, it will break down. The same is true of our bodies. Without rest and kindness, we risk ending up on the metaphorical scrapheap.

Learning to set boundaries was a challenge. I had to get comfortable turning down opportunities — even those that might bring more wealth or visibility. Why? Because they didn’t put my health first.

In advocating for myself, I started to appreciate the simple joys again: the small moments of care, creativity, and choice that don’t always translate into career progression but feel far more nourishing.

Building Self-Respect into the Calendar

These days, my calendar still tries to spiral into chaos — but I’m better at putting the brakes on. I block out time each month for massages with breathwork and meditation, and I book facials that nourish my skin.

Exercise has also become part of my self-care ritual. When I’m lifting a literal weight, my brain gets a break from carrying the mental weight of the day ahead. These moments reset me and give me the energy to keep going.

Your Appearance Isn’t Vanity, It’s a Reflection of Care

There’s a deep — and often complex — connection between how we feel and how we present ourselves. I remember only washing my hair on days I was client-facing because I wanted to appear well, even when I wasn’t.

But here’s the flip side: when we do nourish ourselves — our skin, our bodies, our health — we feel the difference. In aesthetics, appearance is often confused with vanity. But our face is our shopfront to the world, and to ourselves. Why shouldn’t we care for it?

At Ametrine, our motto is “helping you feel like the best version of yourself.” Whether that means improving your skin texture, softening lines, or simply feeling more confident when you catch your reflection, investing in yourself can be incredibly powerful.

The Ambitious Woman’s Balancing Act

Being an ambitious woman comes with pressure. Many of us push so hard that burnout becomes inevitable. But when you start oiling the machine, taking time to look after the inner and outer self, things start to shift.

It takes intention, discipline, and the courage to protect your most valuable asset: you.

So, take the pause. Block it in your diary. Prioritise your wellbeing, not just your next goal. Because by honouring your health and happiness, you’re not only helping your present self, you’re setting your future self up to thrive.

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Dr Bryony Elder is the founder and lead practitioner at Ametrine Aesthetics. With a background in medicine and a passion for natural results, Bryony has been practising facial aesthetics since 2016. She is dedicated to delivering expert care with a focus on client comfort, safety, and subtle, confidence-boosting enhancements.

In addition to running Ametrine, Bryony is a clinical trainer for Acquisition Aesthetics, where she teaches advanced aesthetic techniques to fellow Doctors, Dentists, and Nurses across the UK.

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