McMillen Virtual Assistance

McMillen Virtual Assistance Virtual Assistant. Helping to empower your business efficiency and reclaim your time.

Managing the Mental Load: Birthday EditionToday is my birthday.They’re a bit different once you’ve had kids, no lie-ins,...
19/11/2025

Managing the Mental Load: Birthday Edition

Today is my birthday.

They’re a bit different once you’ve had kids, no lie-ins, just two very excited small humans bursting in at 6.55am l already asking for cake!

This is my first birthday while grieving. He’d absolutely tell me not to spend the day sad. So I’m not.

I swam the final stretch of my 10-mile challenge this morning, over 10 miles in 15 days, through solo parenting for 8 of them, a stubborn virus, and running a business. I did it. I’m proud of myself, and finishing it today felt… poignant.

I’m celebrating with a rare espresso martini at lunch (decaf, because it’s after noon and I’m not a complete monster 😂).

Later, I’m heading out for pizza with my little family, their request, and I’ll spend the rest of the day with the people I love.
Squeezing them a bit tighter this year.

For now, I’m going to rest my water-soaked bones and enjoy the peace and quiet for a few hours.

Cheers 🥂

Half term, you sneaky thing, you! Usually, you're here before I know it, but this time you took your sweet time. Now, we...
29/10/2025

Half term, you sneaky thing, you! Usually, you're here before I know it, but this time you took your sweet time. Now, we're off to the coast to hunt for fossils and, more importantly, the best ice cream in town! Dorset locals, spill the beans - are you team cream-first or team jam-first? Today's ice cream verdict: toffee apple & cinnamon swirl gets a solid 7/10. Not bad, but not the best either.

Is there anywhere more overstimulating?
28/10/2025

Is there anywhere more overstimulating?

I’m not sure why I’m like this but…I can’t seem to just enjoy anything without turning it into a challenge — so I’m swim...
27/10/2025

I’m not sure why I’m like this but…
I can’t seem to just enjoy anything without turning it into a challenge — so I’m swimming 10 miles in November for Swimming the Distance 2025 with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

My why:
In December 2022 my stepdad was diagnosed with lung cancer, found by accident on an X-ray for something totally unrelated. No symptoms. No warning.

He had surgery in Jan 2023, fought hard, recovered, and we genuinely thought he’d beaten it.
Then in August 2024 the pain started and by September we were told it was back, rare and aggressive. It spread to his adrenal gland and lymph nodes. It was terminal.
Tony died on 10th January this year at 2.33pm.

So this November, I’m swimming for him, and for every family going through this right now. The money raised funds things that mattered to us: nurse helplines, patient info, support groups, the stuff that stops families feeling alone.

I’ll put my donation link in the comments — if you can spare anything at all, I’d be hugely grateful. 💙

Coffee and a Catch-UpMay has been non-stop, but I managed to squeeze in something exciting…We’re starting a FREE local n...
21/05/2025

Coffee and a Catch-Up

May has been non-stop, but I managed to squeeze in something exciting…

We’re starting a FREE local networking meet-up for women in business – relaxed, supportive and full of real conversation (with coffee, of course).

The venue’s gorgeous (right on the edge of the park) but the coffee grinder was broken, so I dashed home to make one before my 12 noon cut-off 😂

If you’re near Harborne, Bearwood, Quinton, Sandwell or Halesowen, come along! Or tag a friend who might love it 💬

🗓️ Tuesday 9th July, 10am
📍 Message me for location + details

Managing the Mental Load: ConnectionRunning a business is great, I LOVE it, but it can also be lonely. When you’re doing...
02/04/2025

Managing the Mental Load: Connection

Running a business is great, I LOVE it, but it can also be lonely.
When you’re doing it all yourself, every decision, every task, and every responsibility falls on you. You’re proud of what you’ve built, and letting go of any part of it feels impossible. I know because I’ve been there, I am there!

I’m a pretty confident person, but I hate walking into a room full of strangers. It’s uncomfortable, it’s nerve-wracking, and honestly, I’d rather not do it. But I’m so glad I did and still do. Because now, I have this amazing group of business owners on my doorstep who just get it.💁‍♀️

This photo is a group of us who met at a now-disbanded local networking group. A photographer, an after-school science club owner, two artists, a mortgage and protection adviser, an independent travel consultant, and a mindfulness coach helping mums find time for themselves. Very different businesses, but the same challenges.
The mental load, the juggle, the pressure of wondering if you’re doing the right thing.
For female business owners, the weight of it all can feel even greater.

Balancing business and life, keeping clients happy, managing everything behind the scenes. It’s a lot.
But you don’t have to do it alone.

Whether it’s finding a community or outsourcing the tasks that weigh you down, support makes all the difference.

What’s one thing that has helped lighten your mental load in business?

What Could You Get Done in 5 Hours? Only 2 spaces left for April!Imagine this: 5 uninterrupted hours. No emails, no dis...
30/03/2025

What Could You Get Done in 5 Hours? Only 2 spaces left for April!

Imagine this: 5 uninterrupted hours. No emails, no distractions, no admin hanging over your head.

What could you achieve?

✔ A fully updated CRM

✔ A LinkedIn profile that’s growing and engaging

✔ Price lists finally sorted and accurate

✔ That ‘boring but important’ admin done and dusted

That’s exactly what you get with my TaskBox package (£175). 5 hours’ worth of tasks, taken off your plate.

So, what would YOU do with 5 extra hours of focus?

Small Tasks, Big Impact.... Only 2 Spaces left for April!!Some tasks don’t take long. But when you add them all up, they...
27/03/2025

Small Tasks, Big Impact.... Only 2 Spaces left for April!!

Some tasks don’t take long. But when you add them all up, they eat into your day, your focus, and your ability to grow your business.
Things like:
📌 Cleaning up your CRM
📌 Keeping your LinkedIn active
📌 Updating price lists
📌 Tidying up spreadsheets and customer data

They seem small. But getting them sorted makes a huge difference.

That’s where my TaskBox packages (£175) come in, designed to handle the small stuff so you can focus on the big picture.

What’s one small task that would make a BIG difference if it was done?

Have you ever felt lost?If I’m honest, I think I have for the last five years.If you’re new here, I used to be a Sales M...
17/03/2025

Have you ever felt lost?

If I’m honest, I think I have for the last five years.

If you’re new here, I used to be a Sales Manager in a large distribution company. I thrived on leading a team, hitting targets, and working under pressure. I loved, loved, loved being busy. I LOVED the time-sensitive, goal-driven energy of it all.

Then life changed A LOT.

I had my little boy. I was made redundant six weeks before returning from maternity leave. And it was during Covid.
Everything Felt different, career gone, identity shifted, loneliness and then another baby came along. 😍

Who is this Christianne?

I’ve always thought of myself as self-aware, but taking a moment to really check in, I’ve realised I’ve been ignoring some feelings for years.
Since redundancy, I’ve bounced through a few jobs, never quite feeling like myself. Last year, I became a Virtual Assistant, thinking I chose it for the flexibility. But now I see it’s because I felt lost, career-wise, as a mum, as me.
And yet, maybe that’s exactly why I chose it?
Because alongside flexibility, I wanted to help. I wanted to support small business owners who need an extra hand but can’t afford hiring an employee.
And I wanted to help mums in business with their mental load, because believe me, I know how overwhelming it can be.

So if you need a helping hand, or even just someone to talk to, please don’t be afraid to reach out. 💛

Happy International Women’s Day!!!To all the wonderful women supporting and lifting each other up!! 🙌“Here’s to strong w...
08/03/2025

Happy International Women’s Day!!!
To all the wonderful women supporting and lifting each other up!! 🙌
“Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”

Day 1 of 5 Day Spring Reset. Challenge.Daily Intentions. Mine set and 2/3 completed already.1) Move my body intentional...
03/03/2025

Day 1 of 5 Day Spring Reset. Challenge.
Daily Intentions. Mine set and 2/3 completed already.
1) Move my body intentionally for at least 30 minutes ✅
2) drink at last 2l fluids ✅
3) stick to meal plan 2/3 already ✅

I am trying to reframe this to I *want* to, not I should or have to.

This challenge has come at tbs perfect time as the last 6 months have been pretty s**t and I am knee deep in grief but I am determined to carve out some glimpses of light and to prioritise how I feel.

Managing the Mental Load: Movember Fourteen years ago, I wore a fake moustache every day for 30 days in November 2010. I...
20/11/2024

Managing the Mental Load: Movember
Fourteen years ago, I wore a fake moustache every day for 30 days in November 2010.

I was working at Norbain SD at the time, I remember asking my manager if it was okay to come in daily with a “Mo” stuck on and, (uncharacteristically I have to say) She just laughed and said, "Why not, it'll be funny!"
So, I did.

It was a bit of a big birthday year for me that year too, so I not only wore it to work, I wore it to Wembley, The Ritz, and all around New York.

Yes, it was funny (and yes, it often flapped about when the glue wore off), but more importantly, it sparked conversations.
As a “Mo-Sister,” I wanted to create awareness for Movember and raise funds for men's health issues: mental health & su***de prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.

I still laugh about Tim Field, who sat opposite me and took the whole thing in his stride. Come the first working day of December, he commented how weird it was not to see me with a tash – he’d gotten so used to it!

So if you were one of my customers during that era… this was my “everyday look” in November! (Thankfully, I was an internal account manager 😂)

What things have you done for Charity? Or are you taking part in Movember this year?

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