In a world that demands more from us, Georgia May teaches how to give back to yourself. As a wellness coach and podcast host, she’s learned the importance of setting boundaries, prioritising mental health, and embracing the ups and downs of life.

 

Name: Georgia May

Pronouns: She/Her

Day job: Creative, Podcast Host, Wellness Coach

Location: Bondi Beach, Sydney

 

Describe your work in one sentence…

I love my work and working for myself! It’s creative and demanding, and every day is different.

 

What's the journey that brought you here?

How much time do you have? Haha! I’ve worked in media for the last 10 years. Initially, I went to acting school, then found my way through a university degree and master’s in media. I’ve worked in journalism, television, and various areas of digital marketing. Finally, I moved to Los Angeles to work for a start-up! I’m always seeking the next challenge and have been lucky to pursue opportunities that have helped me grow immensely. I could jump into almost anything and learn on the fly – it’s a great skill.

 

What are your biggest lessons from working with brands like JSHealth and Sunroom?

I think it's crucial to work for companies where you genuinely believe in their mission—it makes the journey so much easier. My top 3 lessons are:

• Believe in yourself. You can achieve anything when you back yourself. Take on roles that scare you and aim to be the least experienced in the room—it’s the best way to grow.
• Know your worth. Negotiate pay raises, go for big roles, and leave when things aren’t aligned. Life’s too short to hate your work.
• See the bigger picture. Don’t get stuck in a comfortable role. Many stay because it’s “easy,” but push yourself to grow, learn, and build a life you love.

 

What inspired you to create the Life Chats Podcast?

The lack of meaningful stories in social and mainstream media disheartened me. While they’re out there, you have to search for them. I wanted to create a show where people could open up, reflect, and share their unique life stories in a safe space. It’s been incredible, and I’m gearing up for a new direction in 2025. Stay tuned!

 

What’s the most surprising lesson you’ve learned from your podcast?

Most people want to feel seen and understood. It’s incredible how many guests said, “I’ve never told anyone that before” or “I swore I wouldn’t talk about that today!” My favourite part is seeing them empowered to share their stories and then receive positive feedback from the community. Connection is so powerful.

What inspired you to start your wellness journey?

Working with big brands and personalities over the years led to inevitable burnout! At one point, I worked full-time for a rapidly growing start-up, studying for my Masters before and after work, trying to exercise, and getting just 4-5 hours of sleep a night. That lifestyle wasn’t sustainable. I’ve been into self-development since I was a teen, but it wasn’t until my mental and physical health declined that I was forced to make a change. Now, I work for myself, control my days and hours (for the most part), and would never go back

 

What are your top tips for staying balanced?

On the busiest and most stressful days, we need our habits the most, yet they often get thrown out the window. I’d encourage people to pick 2-3 daily non-negotiables and prioritise them. If you have time to scroll through Instagram, you have 5 minutes to meditate in the morning and stretch your body before bed! It makes all the difference. A mantra I remind myself is, "Small actions count."

 

How does mindset impact burnout recovery?

Mindset is everything! Thanks to our evolutionary biology, we’re wired for negativity, so it takes real commitment to show up every day and coach yourself into positive thinking. It becomes easier with time. When recovering from burnout, I did a 75-day ‘soft reset’—daily meditation, outdoor walks, no caffeine, staying off screens for an hour, etc. I called it my ‘Burnout to Balance’ reset—something more is in the works for people. It saved me. Though I still have tough days, I turn to trusted people who remind me everything is temporary and will pass.

 

Do you have a favourite mindfulness or meditation practice for stress?

Learn to breathe. Breathwork has been transformative for me. Understand the difference between thoracic and deep belly breathing. When I worked in a stressful office, I set alarms every 3 hours to step into the bathroom and take five deep breaths. I breathe deeply before meals and start each day with energising breathwork. You can shift your state in minutes—it empowers me!

 

How do you set boundaries to avoid overcommitment?

Setting boundaries is tough. I got good at it through my sobriety journey. Anyone who wasn’t a ‘fck yes’ was a ‘fck no.’ Healing and becoming your best self takes fierce boundaries and spending time only with those who build you up. Professionally, it’s harder—I’m excited by new opportunities. This year, I said goodbye to major work opportunities to pursue something more aligned. Boundaries are like a muscle—they get stronger the more you practice.

 

How has social media amplified traditional media’s impact on body image?

I had a boob job in my early twenties, influenced by the normalization of cosmetic surgery on social media. The recovery was tough mentally, and I remember thinking, “Why does nobody talk about this?!” We’re becoming more aware, but it comes down to the consumer being conscious: check who you follow, be aware of the ads you see, and notice how this constant barrage affects how you feel and the decisions you make.

 

Any advice on having a healthier relationship with social media and body image?

Visualise the healthiest version of you and take steps daily to become her. Everybody’s ‘healthy body’ looks different, so there’s no value in comparing. I love feeling strong, connected, and stress-free, so I look up to people who chase that. I’ve been all sizes and weights, but the happiest I’ve been is when I’m honouring my body, mind, and spirit. Body image is just a byproduct.

 

Can you share your journey with binge drinking and sobriety? 

Yes, absolutely. I struggled with alcohol because I have an extreme personality. I didn’t know where to stop—most people would go home after getting drunk or have a few glasses of wine with dinner, but I’d drink until I blacked out regularly. I liked the escape from my incessant thoughts—it made me feel free. I have so many crazy stories, but one day, I was tired of waking up hungover and anxious, so I decided enough was enough. That was nearly 5 years ago, and I’ve never looked back.

 

What advice would you give to someone struggling with alcohol?

Only you know the way out. Find your reasons—why you deserve a better life, why you deserve to feel better in your body, and why you want more out of life. Remind yourself of this every day. Cut off anyone who doesn’t support you. Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up— I tried and failed many times, but eventually, I tried again, and it stuck.

 

What tools helped you maintain sobriety and build a healthier lifestyle?

I’m competitive, so I gave myself a challenge—30 days at first. Then I extended it to 60 and 100 days because I felt so good. By two months, the cravings and social anxiety about sobriety were gone, and I thought I could never go back.

 

What’s a motto or quote that motivates you?

My mantra changes often, but right now, it’s: “I show up as my highest self.”

 

What does period self-care mean to you?

To me, period self-care means being connected to your body and honouring what it needs—physically and emotionally. It’s trusting your intuition, feeling empowered in your health, and leaning into practices that support you at every stage of the month.

 

Why are periods still such a taboo topic?

We’re making progress, but many people (especially men) haven’t been educated or exposed to these conversations. I speak about my period openly—whether with my boyfriend, at work, or even with strangers. It normalises a process that so many of us experience every month.

 

What is your number one health message?

Take time to connect to your body and listen to what it’s telling you. The answer to everything is always inside.

 

What are your hopes for the future of period talk?

I want young women to feel empowered by their cycle and excited that their period reflects their health and how they’ve cared for their body. It’s the most powerful feminine energy when harnessed! My period is synced to the full moon, and my ovulation to the new moon—I love the fresh energy it brings.

 

MY CYCLE

• My period in 3-words: Connected, powerful, grounding.
• Period self-care toolkit: Heat packs, peppermint tea, dark chocolate and lots of TLC from my boyfriend!
• Best period hacks: I’ve been learning to cycle sync my workouts. It’s made SUCH a difference and allows me to give myself some grace the week before and of my period. I work out how I feel my body needs at any given time of the month.
• Contraception of choice: I was on the pill for 8 years; now you couldn’t pay me to be! I track my cycle/ovulation as it’s very regular, and I have never had any scares.
• On day 1 you can find me: Going for a gentle walk, taking a slow day and eating whatever I want!
• Scarlet pick: Period Bikini Brief Underwear! Perfect for when your cycle is lighter (or towards the end) and a bit more coverage for those days you want to be comfy.