Balancing the Grind with Kyah Seary, Founder of Happy Bum Co

Kyah Seary is a colon hydrotherapist and the founder of Happy Bum Co, which offers at-home enema kits and was inspired by Kyah’s own personal health struggles dealing with chronic stomach issues.

1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I have been working in natural health for over 10 years now. While studying Business at UQ, working for a hotel chain and pursuing a career as a chief executive in the corporate world, I found my passion in Colon Hydrotherapy.

This was something that really hit home for me as I had struggled with my own gut health since I was a child and it really impacted my life. I ran other clinics and learned the ropes and 4 years ago, I opened my own clinic in Brisbane called Bayside Colonics.

It has exceeded every expectation I ever had, growing exponentially every year with over six other therapists in the practice now. We have people from all over the world contact us for help with their gut issues and it is so rewarding. But we needed a way to help them remotely. That’s how the Happy Bum Co began.

The Happy Bum Co is my own brand of home enema kits, gut health and detox products. All of which are designed by me and backed by my own personal health journey and years spent working in health. I never expected my own health struggles to lead to my future career but I cannot imagine doing anything else!

2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

My day always starts with my Happy Bum Bag, which yes, is my enema bag! I find coffee enemas really help to set the tone for the day, provide mental clarity, stress relief and a great natural energy boost. This I usually share with our Happy Bum Co followers on Instagram – check in for the day and start to respond to messages, emails, live chats from the website, anything that needs my attention.

I have two young children, 3-years-old and 18 months, so they are always assisting in this process, usually featuring in videos. Prior to them I did an hour of yoga to start each day but… as a busy mum that doesn’t always happen. Let’s be real.

If I am at the clinic, I have clients back-to-back all day, but if not, I am at home working on content creation, logistics, putting out fires and product development. No two days are the same, some are more productive than others with my helpers, but we have a lot of fun doing it.

We often meet with our suppliers, manufacturers, and head to the warehouse where the kids play while we go over branding, the website, design packaging, sales, etc. Whatever needs to be done! 

I am so grateful to have such supportive colleagues, it’s not easy being a mum and a business owner but with the right support you can make it work! Plus, I think it’s great for the kids to be around as well. Hopefully it inspires them one day to follow their dreams!

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

Yes! I mainly work from home when I am working on the Happy Bum Co products and e-commerce side of things. I can do as I please which is pretty handy and one of the perks of working for yourself.

If I don’t have kids, I’ll always sneak into a reformer or yoga class before I start my day but if not, I can do most of my work from the park if needed. Technology is truly amazing these days. My staff are also amazing, they give me a lot more freedom than I’ve had in the past.

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

A work life balance is something I am forever working on. Being a start-up business owner, it is pretty tough to switch off, but over the last few years I have taken huge strides in prioritising my family time, my health and making the best use of my time.

I really try to set myself personal non-negotiables each week for my mental and physical health, as well as planning in uninterrupted family time. I do my coffee enema every morning, Pilates or yoga 1-2 times a week, have Wednesdays and Fridays off with my kids and in the evenings when I get home, devices off so my husband and I can spend quality time together.

We also make sure to plan a date night at least once a month! I’ve noticed as my business evolves, so does my work life balance. I have recently hired a manager at my clinic which was a part of this plan and she has taken a lot of the stress off me which has been incredible, but that wasn’t an option when I was starting out.

I am also a big believer that everything ebbs and flows, sometimes you need to work a bit more to get where you want to go, knowing there will be the flow afterwards where you get to enjoy the benefits.

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

Stress and an overwhelming workload have probably been the toughest things for me as I watch my passion projects really take off. A big habit I stopped doing was taking the work phone home with me at night, it now lives in the clinic. That was a huge one, I also stopped responding to emails and messages outside of standard business hours. I just had to draw a line somewhere. 

I have been extremely health focused since I was a teenager, I eat really well, do my daily enemas, practice yoga and meditation where I can. I am learning the art of saying no to things that do not serve me, being very conscious of how I spend my free time and who I am with.

I’ve felt such a huge growth shift in myself and my family over the last few years, a lot of things that used to fit have fallen away, and I’m so okay with that. I try to read as often as I can, try new holistic therapies and meet other like minded people.

I have also broken up with the idea of being the perfect mum and just embrace the days that come. We have a lot of fun and I feel the kids get a pretty cool snapshot of what it’s like to run a business!

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

One of my favourite books is The Five Love Languages. I think it is so important to understand how to connect to the people around you, and of course yourself. Podcasts, I love The Proof with Simon Hill, the Angie Lee Show and Joe Rogan. Also a big fan of the content from Food Matters and Dr. Libby. 

7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?

My Happy Bum Bag, baby carrier, high speed blender and my food processor. I make everything we eat from scratch and am entirely plant-based. The boring ones are of course all of the work apps, acuity scheduling has my entire life on it and of course, Instagram. I’m pretty old school and prefer to do most things by hand and offline if possible.

8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?  

Anyone with 3 or more kids, who is running a business and sleeping more than 4 hours a night and looking vibrant. Successful business mum’s in particular I have so much admiration for!

9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

Don’t take yourself too seriously, remember to have fun along the way and never lose sight of why you started on your journey in the first place. There is no “perfect” work life balance, it is ever changing and different for everyone but knowing your ‘why’ is key.

I also think it’s really important to have clear goals that you communicate with the people whose working life balance impacts the most so they understand your needs as a business owner but also feel important and get the attention they need!

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