Nostos Nest | Real Stories of Burnout, Personal Growth & Mental Health
Peaceful coastal living space symbolising burnout recovery, mental health, and wellbeing – a soft, nurturing space that reflects Nostos Nest.

Real Life.
Real People.
Real Workplaces.

Real stories, tools and support for navigating burnout, life’s challenges and creating more human workplaces.

I’m Michelle – writer and former corporate leader with lived experience of burnout and recovery. After almost 40 years in the corporate world, including 14 years at one of the world’s fastest-growing companies, I created Nostos Nest to help people and workplaces prevent burnout, strengthen mental health, and create sustainable wellbeing. Through my blog, resources, Personal Guidance, and workplace services, I share practical support grounded in lived experience and years of mental health advocacy in the workplace.

Real Life.

Stories and reflections on burnout, sobriety, identity, and midlife change.

Read the Blog

Real People.

Personal guidance through burnout and life transitions.

Work With Me

Real Workplaces.

Practical services for healthier cultures and real conversations at work.

Explore Services

Curious about the story behind Nostos Nest, its mission, values, the meaning of the name, and my journey? You can read it here.

The Blog

The blog is the heart of Nostos Nest – a place for real stories on burnout, mental health, midlife change, quitting drinking, life after redundancy, and everything in between. No hype, no fluff, no ads – just honest reflections and insights to help you feel less alone and more understood. Read more…

Why Work Boundaries Are So Hard to Keep (And How to Get Better at Them)
The Privilege and Empathy Paradox: Why Pain Is Still Pain
What Choosing Mental Health Cost Me, and Why It Was Still Worth It
Burnout In Corporate Culture – When Your Personality Meets A System That Never Says Enough
Problem Drinking: When Functioning Becomes the Excuse
Boundaries for Burnout: 50 Work and Home Boundaries to Protect Your Energy
Your Recruitment Process and Workplace Culture: The Message You’re Sending
3 Years Alcohol Free: What I Gained Once Alcohol Was No Longer Part Of My Life
Life After Burnout: Building a Different Life Without the Old Pressure
The Social Hangover: When Other People’s Opinions Leave You Drained

Media & Conversations

I’ve recently shared my story through media features and in-depth conversations exploring burnout, mental health, midlife change, sobriety, and recovery.

Daily Mail:
Three Years Sober: What Changed When I Quit Drinking
A personal feature on quitting alcohol, anxiety, marriage strain, and the life that opened up after three years alcohol-free.
→ Read the full article

Mistakes Were Made Podcast:
Navigating the Complexities of Burnout
A candid discussion on stress vs burnout, leadership responsibility, recognising the signs, and what growth after burnout really looks like.
→ Watch the full conversation on YouTube

Midlife Reclaimed Podcast:
When the Storm Clears: Burnout, Sobriety & Coming Home to Yourself
A deeply human conversation about midlife upheaval, quitting alcohol, hormonal shifts, identity loss, and rebuilding from the inside out.
→ Watch the full conversation on YouTube

Feedback That Fuels Me

I met Michelle around seven years ago at Salesforce, and we connected instantly through our shared passion for meaningful work and customer impact.

I have since reconnected with her following the launch of Nostos Nest, and she is now coaching me personally. We are working through her framework together, and she generously shares practical tips, tools, and resources as I navigate burnout and consciously redirect my goals.

Michelle is one of those rare people whose passion genuinely moves mountains. She quite literally moved heaven and earth to bring the Wellbeing at Work Summit to the Salesforce Tower for the first time in 2024. Thank you, Michelle, for making it happen! 🙏🙏

I got to know Michelle through her wonderful work as a fellow founding member of Mental Health Matters ERG. She is such a kind and empathetic individual who really cares about her coworkers AND customers.

I have known Michelle for over a decade and worked with her as a peer and as a manager. She has exemplary skills in delivery management and customer success. I highly recommend Michelle for her exceptional diligence and work ethic. Her positive “can-do” attitude is infectious, making her a valuable asset to any team. She has a strong collaborative spirit, contributing significantly to collective success.

Michelle has been my partner for 12 months in bringing culture to life at Salesforce. Michelle is a fantastic advocate for mental health and being your best self at work, so that you can do your best work!

I attended a Mental Health First Aid course, facilitated by Michelle in May 2025, and I was impressed by her personal commitment, passion and dedication to the Mental Health training.

Michelle is a wonderful facilitator and has changed my view on people with mental health challenges, to make me a more understanding & compassionate listener. Thank you for making the world a better place. 🙏

Wow, what an impact you made at Salesforce. From Customer Success to Consulting, from managing the volunteering at Our Big Kitchen to running the DEI group “Mental Health Matters”. You touched so many people across the business and I will be forever grateful for your kindness and support. I know you’re on the right path, educating us all on the importance of Mental Health.

Just wanted to let you know that I’ve been really inspired by your courage to bring out the hidden impacts of burnout into the harsh daylight of public discourse.

Thank you for being brave enough to speak so openly about burnout – maybe one day / some day, I will have the courage too. I LOVE your work!

I started the week red, then ended on green.  Thank you Michelle for your advice. There’s always someone out there that you make a difference to – I am that someone.

Michelle was great. She was well prepared, ensured she gave us accurate information and when she didn’t know the answer she was sure to follow up with finding an answer. (MHFA Training)

Michelle was an incredible facilitator! Managing the extensive content well, keeping us on schedule while fostering an open & inviting environment for questions & discussions. Her expertise & approachability made the course both informative & engaging. (MHFA Training)

Michelle was a great facilitator who was engaging throughout the entire two days. You could feel Michelle’s passion for Mental Health. Content and activities were explained clearly. I learnt a lot and enjoyed my time over the course. (MHFA Training)