We’ve all been there: scrolling through endless feeds, convinced that wellness means complicated green juices, gruelling workouts, or, worst of all, constantly chasing an “ideal” aesthetic. It’s exhausting, often unsustainable, and, according to Noa & Co founder Megan Pietersen, completely missing the point.
“Discipline in one area really spills into every other part of your life. If you’re moving your body, you’re more mindful of what you eat.”
A successful entrepreneur, mother and wife, Megan knows a thing or two about juggling. But instead of subscribing to the hustle culture that demands perfect diets and impossible boundaries, the Noa & Co founder relies on a powerful secret weapon: a straightforward set of practices designed to keep her grounded, sane and strong. “What I’ve noticed is that discipline in one area really spills into every other part of your life. If you’re moving your body, you’re more mindful of what you eat. You drink more water and make healthier choices. Then suddenly, everything feels like it’s flowing in the right direction.” Here are her wellness markers.
1. Wellness Goes Beyond Weight – Mental Health Matters
True markers of wellness might be much simpler than you ever thought. “So many women still attach wellness to weight. When they think of ‘wellness,’ they immediately think, ‘I need to lose weight’,” explains Megan. “But it’s really about your mental health – your sleep and how you feel each day.”
WELLNESS TIP: “Are you waking up rested? Are you coping okay? Those are the real markers of wellness,” says Megan. With Noa & Co, I’ve been intentional about not portraying women in a way that reduces wellness to aesthetics. Wellness is about feeling good in your mind, body and soul – and building a life that supports these three things.”
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2. Try Prioritise Self-Care Even When You Have Zero Time
We’ve all been there: Convinced we have to do it all, when sometimes the bravest self-care move is simply requesting back-up. “Entrepreneurs are notorious for not having boundaries – the work never really ends. In the early years, I was just winging it, guessing order volumes and doing everything myself. That’s the reality of being an entrepreneur – you wear every single hat,” says Megan.
WELLNESS TIP: “The one thing I’ve become really good at is knowing what I’m not good at, then finding the right people to do it. The team we’ve built at Noa & Co is big on family and kindness.”
3. Make Movement Your Most Important Self-Care Rule
“So often, as moms, we forget to treat ourselves with the same love and nourishment we give to our kids,” says Megan. “Along with my faith and family, movement keeps me steady. I’m a curvy girl; I don’t exercise to be skinny – that’s not the goal. For me, it’s about being strong enough to still be around to help out with my grandkids one day.”
WELLNESS TIP: “At least four times a week, I carve out an hour somewhere, no matter how busy things get. That hour is my therapy. No smartwatch, no notifications, no messages about orders or problems – just me recharging and pouring into my long-term health.”
4. Master Your Meals and Your Mental Load
“I’m a big believer in meal prep; it just makes life so much easier. I’ll usually do it on a Sunday, though not every week. JP’s great on the braai, so he’ll do chicken pieces or a few proteins and I’ll prep the veggies,” says Megan. “That way, by Monday we’ve got options ready to go, and during the week I can just throw together salads or sides. Working from home helps, but having those basics prepped is a lifesaver.”
WELLNESS TIP: “For breakfast, I’ll prep something like chia pudding so it’s ready to grab – and add the Noa & Co Vanilla Replenishing Protein Powder in the morning. Meal prep is one of those small things that helps keep the chaos under control.”
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5. Instill An Ultimate Night Routine
“A lot of people are really scared of routine, but I honestly believe that families thrive on it,” says Megan. Indeed, routine has been found to help children feel secure by removing the anxiety that often accompanies uncertainty. It helps parents too. “Having a structure in place means that if I travel or JP travels, no one has to micromanage the other – the rhythm is already there. Consistency makes everything calmer and more connected.”
WELLNESS TIP: “From about five o’clock until bedtime, I switch off my phone because that’s our family time. We play Monopoly with the kids (they call it ‘Ponoply’ and absolutely love it!), have dinner together, then it’s bath time for the girls. We’re an early-bedtime household because our daughters are up at the crack of dawn. Once the kids are asleep, JP and I chat for about 25 minutes, then it’s lights out.”
Remember… It’s never too late to start living well. Check out the October 2025 digital issue of Women’s Health SA for the full scoop on Megan Pietersen and Noa & Co. Happy Reading!
