Balancing Health and Business with Sophie Hallwright from The Curve.
In our latest Two Raw Sisters podcast episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Sophie Hallwright, co-founder of The Curve – a platform dedicated to empowering women with the financial knowledge and confidence they need. While Sophie’s expertise is rooted in finance, our conversation ventured into the intersection of health, food, and overall wellbeing, particularly for busy professionals and entrepreneurs.
Sophie’s Journey: From Stress Eating to Self-Care
Sophie opened up about her own journey of juggling business ownership with personal wellness. She shared the realities of how, at times, work consumed her entirely, causing her to fall into unhealthy habits like stress eating and neglecting her physical health. One of the most memorable moments in her story was when she described a particularly challenging time when, after a stressful week of work, she found herself lying in bed with Smarties on her chest – a stark contrast to her former life as a yoga teacher with a focus on mindful living.
The Connection Between Finances and Food
What stood out most in our discussion was the powerful parallel between managing finances and taking care of our physical health. Both areas require a certain mindset: careful planning, prioritisation, and understanding what truly adds value to our lives. Sophie explained how breaking down her income into essential expenses, non-essentials, and investments helped her approach spending with confidence, even allowing for small luxuries like the occasional matcha, without feeling guilty.
This concept of planning and prioritisation was similarly applied to meal prepping. Sophie explained that just as managing finances helps ease money-related anxiety, meal planning can eliminate the stress of last-minute decisions and costly convenience foods. Though both require an initial time investment, the payoff is massive – less stress, more clarity, and a healthier life overall.
Prioritising Self-Care Without Guilt
We also touched on the challenge many business owners face: the belief that taking time off for self-care is unproductive. Sophie opened up about how, during periods of intense work, even the thought of dedicating an hour to exercise felt impossible – despite knowing it would ultimately make her more effective. This shift in mindset – recognising that investing in wellbeing is essential for productivity – is something we believe many entrepreneurs can relate to.
How Your Environment Shapes Your Health
A particularly insightful part of our conversation was Sophie’s reflection on how her environment played a role in her health journey. She shared how moving back in with her parents in New Zealand, where healthy meals were readily available and positive health behaviours were modelled, had a significant impact on her wellbeing. This highlighted the influence of our environment and the people we surround ourselves with in maintaining balance and making healthier choices.
We also discussed some great ideas for socialising without breaking the bank. Sophie offered practical tips, such as organising affordable picnics rather than heading to pricey restaurants, and skipping alcohol when dining out. By being intentional with how we socialise, we can foster meaningful connections without the financial strain, choosing quality over quantity and ensuring our social interactions are truly fulfilling.
Finding Balance: Making Conscious Choices
What we found most inspiring in this episode was Sophie’s vulnerability in sharing both her struggles and the strategies that have helped her find balance. Her journey is a reminder that finding harmony in life isn’t about perfection – it’s about making conscious, aligned choices, whether in managing our finances or nourishing our bodies. It’s about recognising that both financial health and physical wellbeing require intentional care, attention, and sometimes even expert guidance.
Listen now!
To hear more of Sophie’s journey and practical tips for balancing business, health, and self-care, be sure to listen to the full podcast episode here.