Last updated: 22 November 2025
Welcome to Nostos Nest – a space built on honesty, lived experience, and a deep desire to help people live and work in ways that feel more human and less performative.
That said, I believe in being upfront about what this space is – and what it isn’t.
Personal, Not Professional Advice
Everything I share on this blog comes from my own lived experience – including what I’ve learned through burnout, midlife reinvention, quitting alcohol, nervous system healing and years of mental health advocacy.
While I am a licensed Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor and have led wellbeing initiatives in the workplace, I’m not a psychologist, counsellor, doctor, lawyer, or financial advisor. What I write about is not professional advice. It’s personal reflection, general information and the things that have helped me along the way.
Everyone’s circumstances are different, and your situation may need individual guidance from a qualified professional. If you’re struggling or concerned about your mental health or wellbeing, please reach out to a doctor, counsellor, therapist or support service. You don’t need to navigate it alone, and support is available.
Use What Resonates, Leave What Doesn’t
We’re all wired differently. What helped me might not be the right fit for you – and that’s completely ok. Please use your own judgement when applying anything you read here to your own life or workplace.
Affiliate Links
Some pages and blog posts on Nostos Nest now include affiliate links – most commonly through Amazon Associates and other trusted partners. This means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
I want to be completely transparent about how and why I use affiliate links:
- Integrity first. Every product, book, or tool I link to is something I’ve personally used, read, or genuinely recommend.
- No paid placements. I don’t accept free products, sponsorships, or “gifted” items in exchange for promotion.
- Relevance matters. I only include links where they fit naturally within the content – for example, a book that influenced my burnout recovery journey, or a tool I use to manage mental health workshops.
- No extra cost. If you choose to purchase through an affiliate link, the price you pay is exactly the same as if you’d gone directly to the site.
- Support with gratitude. Any small commission earned helps support the ongoing running costs of this site – hosting, tools, and time spent creating content that’s always free to access.
Even with these links, Nostos Nest will never become a sales-driven space.
I will never publish a post just to make money. My focus will always remain on honesty, connection, and meaningful storytelling.
No Ads, Ever
Because of the topics I explore – burnout, mental health, life transitions, and the emotional complexity of being human – I’ve made a conscious decision to never run ads on my blog posts.
This space is designed to feel like a nurturing pause in the noise – not another place to be sold to. You won’t see flashy banners or aggressive popups here. The only prompt you might occasionally see is a gentle invitation to subscribe to the newsletter – and even that will be a one-click dismiss.
This is a place for depth, reflection, and connection – not distraction.
Use of AI (Words & Images)
Everything I write on Nostos Nest starts with me – usually out walking, using voice-to-text on my phone to capture thoughts while they’re fresh. That becomes my first draft, which I shape and refine through several rounds before bringing in any tools.
I use ChatGPT later in the process as an editing assistant – to help clarify ideas, tighten structure, and cut down on my natural tendency to waffle. I never use it to write full posts or create content from scratch. The voice, message, and lived experience are entirely my own.
For images, most feature visuals are created using the WordPress AI image generator – particularly when I want to express a mood, concept, or metaphor that’s hard to find in stock photography. I also occasionally use:
- Canva Pro (if I find one that fits perfectly)
- Screenshots of my own templates or tools
- Royalty-free or publicly available images
Sometimes it takes dozens of tries to get an image that works – and doesn’t include an extra hand or head! But every image is chosen intentionally, to support the message, never to fake reality.
Coming from a tech background, I fully embrace the value of digital tools – when used thoughtfully. In an age shaped by algorithms, I believe our humanness is our superpower. That’s why everything I share here is grounded in real emotion, real life, and real connection – supported by technology, but never defined by it.
In Short…
Nostos Nest exists to support, uplift, and invite reflection – not to sell, perform, or manipulate.
This is a space built on lived experience and guided by heart – with full awareness that we’re all engaging through tech. From the platform to the images to the occasional AI polish, I use tools to help tell real stories more clearly – never to replace the truth of them.
Everything you read here is written by a real human, with care, curiosity, and a deep belief that work and life can be more honest, sustainable, and connected.
Thanks for being here. I’m so glad you found your way to the nest.