My Eat, Pray, Love Awakening in Bali: Motherhood, Mindfulness & Slowing Down

We’ve been in Bali for a month now. My husband was here for two weeks, and Philip and I are staying for a month in total.

I can honestly say that this is exactly what mama needed – I’ve found my Julia Roberts Eat, Pray, Love spiritual awakening in Bali.

Being Philip’s mama has been the most rewarding, most challenging, and most difficult job I’ve ever had. My husband was on paternity leave for four months and then went back to work. I’m very lucky and grateful that he’s been beside us, supporting us, and that he’s such a wonderful dada to Philip.

During the day, though, it’s just me and the baby. Some days are absolutely magical, others are very messy. Most days are a mixture of both. Sometimes it can feel a little lonely, and even though I have fellow mama friends, I don’t have any other help during the day.

Separation anxiety is going strong – there are literally days when showering feels like a luxury I can’t afford. Philip is a happy, thriving little boy who’s crawling everywhere, being cheeky and curious about everything. I love every minute of it, and I’m soaking up every moment because he’s growing so quickly.

My maternity leave is ending soon, and I feel sick to my stomach knowing I’ll have to get back into office attire. I’m not ready for it. There are days when the mundane routine gets to you, when you argue with your spouse and say things you don’t really mean. Then you patch things up and carry on.

I knew I had to break this cycle—clear my mind, get a fresh perspective, see new things, and experience life differently. A close friend of mine lives in Bali, and I thought: we haven’t seen each other in ages, so why not go now? Stay longer. Experience the whole zen thing. Feel the ocean breeze, drink coconut water, show Philip the other side of the world. See how babies grow up outside of London, where everyone is rushing, headphones in, lost in their own thoughts. Slow down. Breathe deeply. Just be.

And that’s exactly what Bali has given me—the chance to pause.

Back home, it’s so easy to get caught up in little complaints — the weather, some drama with friends, politics, or just the day-to-day grind. Here in Bali, life is simpler. People don’t have a lot in material terms, yet they are always smiling, always warm, always positive. It’s humbling and inspiring. It reminded me that joy doesn’t have to depend on circumstances; it’s a choice, a mindset, and one I want to carry with me long after we leave.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned here is the importance of asking for help and building a village around you. In Bali, families lean on each other, and daily life feels less isolating than it sometimes does back in London. Watching that has reminded me that we don’t have to do it all alone. Whether it’s leaning on friends, asking your partner for an extra bit of support, or even hiring a babysitter for a couple of hours, it’s not a weakness—it’s survival and self-care.

I’ve also realised how powerful it is to create small rituals during the day. For me, that’s been treating myself to a Balinese foot massage while Philip naps on me in the carrier—I usually managed to time the one-hour massage with his first nap, and it worked beautifully. I’ve also given up chocolate and sweet treats here (which is huge for me, because give me a Lindt milk chocolate or a spoon of Nutella and I’m gone 😄). Instead, I’ve been moving more, watching the ocean waves, and slowing down enough to notice Philip being completely fascinated by the endless shades of green in nature. He loves spotting birds (the Balinese pigeons, I think!) and watching geckos on the walls—although mama is absolutely terrified of them, ughhh. I’m also incredibly proud that I haven’t watched a single minute of TV in the last month. I’ve discovered there are so many other ways to pass the time or unwind during Philip’s naps rather than automatically catching up on Netflix. These little shifts have made me appreciate the simple things so much more. And yes, even my daily Starbucks ritual looks different—back in London it’s my mama treat in the afternoon, but here I order it in the morning and savour it slowly.

Finally, slowing down here has reminded me that babies don’t need a perfectly curated schedule or endless activities—they just need us. Our presence, our smiles, our energy. And sometimes, that means letting go of the pressure to be “productive” every minute of the day. If Bali has taught me anything, it’s that motherhood becomes a lot lighter when we give ourselves permission to slow down, simplify, and actually enjoy the season we’re in. And in order for me to be fully present and energetic for Philip, my cup needs to be full—only then can I pour from it and give him the best version of me.

In the end, my time in Bali hasn’t been about escaping motherhood but about embracing it in a new way—slower, lighter, and with more intention. Just like Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love, I came searching for something I couldn’t quite name, and I found it in the simple, everyday moments: in a coconut by the beach, in a massage during nap time, in watching Philip marvel at the world. My spiritual awakening wasn’t in temples or long meditations—it was in learning that joy, balance, and peace are possible right here in the chaos of motherhood, if I choose to slow down and let them in.