Meet Jamie Miles Haynes | Licensed Professional Therapist and Health and Fitness coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamie Miles Haynes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamie, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Balance…what is balance anyway? I try to throw the whole term out the window. I think of balance as an anxiety producing term that society has taught us to chase to find. And when we don’t, it leads to anxiety about not doing enough, not being good enough, not succeeding enough, etc. You always feel like you failed at something when you don’t achieve the proverbial “balance” that everyone says you need to have. Especially work life balance. (Hello, try being a working mom!)

What I tend to firmly lean into is recognizing and being able to list priorities in your life and what needs to take precedence at the time. Some weeks, it’s deadlines and projects at work, and yes, you may have to cancel that dinner date or miss happy hour with the girls. Other times, it’s kids’ doctor’s appointments or a family function and you have to put work to the side to be there for loved ones. Being cognizant and smart about where you need to spend your time helps create an honest evaluation of how much or how little you are devoting to these two aspects of your life – work life and regular life.

I am currently working from home pretty much morning to evening, and sometimes moming, wifing and my professional hat can blur lines with all of these facets existing under one roof and generally in the same space. I’ve learned the heavy importance of boundaries – putting down work when you are done for the day or letting some emails/responses roll over until the next day. I’ve learned the importance of self-care – yes to the monthly massage membership, yes to the mani pedis and facials. I’ve learned the importance of fitness – alarm goes off at 5 am for round one, lunch time is round two. I’ve learned the importance of solitude for recharging – bye husband, bye baby, bye Felicia!! I’ve learned the importance of no – nope can’t step out with you; nope, I can’t take on new clients.

Keeping self at the forefront and taking care of self is most imperative.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am currently working as an online therapist for the online platform, BetterHelp. As a licensed therapist, mental health and wellbeing is at the forefront of my platform. My passion also lies in physical health and activity, and I firmly believe these two tie hand in hand. Mental health directly affects your physical health and vice versa. In the past few years, I’ve been a personal trainer and health and fitness coach.

As I worked on launching who I am as a brand, I wanted the world to know the importance of working on both simultaneously. There are many fitness professionals today, but I want to be the one know for standing of the platform of marrying mental health with physical health. Think of me as your Fit Therapist. My fitness journey was born from a season of deep depression and I quickly learned the depths of how intertwined the mind and body are. Now I want to share this with as many people as possible, especially women. I have a special place in my heart for the empowerment of women and leaning into the strengths that we already possess inside. Take care of your temple, you only get one rodeo with it!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So bestie boo and I are definitely starting the week at Pure Taquiera of Highland Avenue near the Beltline and Historic 4th Ward Skatepark. Good drinks and food, good company and a guaranteed good time! Some of the other good eats in the city would be JCT Kitchen off Howell Mill Road, Serpas off Auburn Avenue, a long time favorite of mine – Carroll Street Cafe off Carroll Street, and EAV Thai and Sushi off Flat Shoals Avenue. Local Green Atlanta or Rawsome Juicety in the Auburn Market for some healthier eats. G’s Midtown for some bomb drinks as well. I’m a foodie so there are soooo many good eats here in ATL to knock out day after day.

I’m a huge nature lover so we are definitely hitting some of the outdoors areas and green spaces. Piedmont Park or Grant Park for some walking or jogging. Kennesaw Mountain or Red Top Mountain for some hiking. The Beltline or Silver Comet Trail for some biking.

We would find a few rooftops to spend some evenings on and definitely hit the Jackson Street Bridge for some skyline pictures. Maybe catch a Hawks game or Braves game at Truist Park.

Atlanta is a whole vibe and you can’t beat a night of great conversation with amazing people whether it’s at a restaurant in the city or hanging out in someone’s backyard. Lifelong memories are created here!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh yes for sure! The hype crowd behind me is what keeps me going.

First and foremost, my hubby does encourage me to be a better version of myself. I look at his successes in his career path and notice how he’s grown both individually and as a husband and father, and it inspires me to go harder in those aspects of my life as well. My little human teaches me so much about the innocence and joys in life we often overlook in our day to day movements. She is my light.

The good Lord above blessed me with an older sister who I’ve learned so much from over the years. I’m also richly blessed with a tribe of fierce ass women behind me who both support me and uplift me, but challenge me to show up as a better version of myself.

Some books that have been pivotal in my personal growth along the way are You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero, The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, UnFu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop, The Art of Nonconformity by Chris Guillebeau, and Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. My pastor always says “people and books change your life,” and I wholeheartedly stand by that. Mindset is everything and one of the best investments you can make in life is pouring into yourself and always finding introspective ways to grow.

Instagram: @jamichmiles