ROUGH NORTH
Mind, Body, People, Planet:
Compass points to a more interconnected, sustainable self & planet.
ABOUT ROUGH NORTH
Rough North exists as a counterpoint to the noise, disconnection, and unease that modern life so often brings to both people and the planet. It isn’t a map or a formula but a guide: a collection of tools, ideas, and practices to help navigate a more sustainable and meaningful path for ourselves and the world around us.
Whether through practical steps, fresh perspectives, or small but meaningful actions, Rough North is a space to explore what balance might look like—balance that benefits not just individuals, but the interconnected web of life we’re all part of.
At its core, Rough North challenges the false narratives that have pulled us off course. Myths of endless progress, consumerism, and materialism have overshadowed what truly matters. The relentless pursuit of “more”—measured by GDP, professional success, or material gain—has distracted us from life’s essentials: the peace of our minds, the health of our bodies, the people who connect us, and the planet that sustains us.
We’ve lost our way not because we’re broken but because the world around us constantly pulls us in the wrong direction. Somewhere along the way, we began to see ourselves as separate from nature, as if the Earth existed solely for our use.
Rough North is about reclaiming that connection—about remembering that we are not outside of nature, but part of it - connected to something larger than ourselves. It’s a call to pause, reflect, and find our way back to what truly matters: a life lived in balance with ourselves, each other, and the natural world.
WHY ROUGH NORTH?
The name Rough North is both a nod to my roots and a metaphor for the journey we’re all on. There’s no fixed “True North,” no perfect path to follow. Yet, at our core, we already have a sense of what’s right. Each of us has an inner compass—a quiet intuition that, if we reconnect with it, can guide us toward balance and well-being.
In the chaos of modern life, however, we’ve become disconnected from this inner compass. Rough North is about helping us tune back in. It’s not about doing more or being more—it’s about peeling back the noise, quieting the distractions, and learning to listen once again.
Through mind, body, people, and planet, we can reconnect to what truly matters and find our way once more.
COMPASS POINTS
Mind, Body, People, and Planet are compass points guiding us toward a more interconnected and sustainable way of being for both ourselves and the planet.
The compass, one of humanity’s oldest tools for navigation, serves here as a metaphor for finding our way—not through rigid maps or fixed paths, but through exploration and intuition. These compass points are not rules or destinations. They are guiding elements—areas to explore as we navigate our shared journey toward balance and connection.
Just like life, the compass doesn’t always point to True North. It’s imperfect, shifting, and deeply personal. There’s no single “right” way to navigate it; each journey is unique, shaped by individual experiences and needs.
Each compass point represents a distinct yet interconnected part of the self and the web of life. While they can be explored individually, they are deeply intertwined. Focusing on one area naturally influences the others, creating a ripple effect that fosters greater harmony within ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us.
Together, the compass points form a framework for reconnection—helping us find balance, meaning, and a deeper connection to ourselves and the world we share.
ABOUT ME
Natalie Bailey
I grew up in the North of England. Wellness wasn’t something we ever talked about—it wasn’t even on the radar. As a child of the 80s, it was a world without the internet or smartphones. If you were bored, you were simply told to, "Go out and play on your bike!" Hours were spent outdoors, frolicking on the moors and knocking about with mates. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t even allowed back inside until tea time.
Fast forward 30-odd years, and I find myself in the midst of a social and environmental crisis—or more accurately, a metacrisis. I’m not naive enough to pin this entirely on the rise of the internet or smartphones; the reality is far more complex. It’s an intricate web of contributing factors—rooted in systems, cultures, and histories that continue to disorient, burden and overwhelm us.
Now, in my forties, I live and work in Hong Kong as an educator—a role I’ve embraced for the past 13 years, though I’ve been in education for nearly 20. I’m fortunate to have a meaningful career, a home, a loving partner and family, and, most importantly, my health. Yet, like so many of us, I still feel the weight of modern life: the relentless pace, the endless striving, and the persistent narrative that if we just had more or did more, we’d finally be happy or “complete.”
We’re constantly sold the idea that the next thing, the next milestone, or the next upgrade will bring fulfilment. But instead of becoming more connected, we’ve grown more disconnected—disconnected from ourselves, from one another, and from the planet that sustains us.
I want to make it clear that I do not profess to have it all figured out or hold all the answers. I’m finding my way and working hard to educate myself on a daily basis. I screw up constantly: I complain about things I really shouldn’t, I eat and drink things I know better than to consume, and I buy things I absolutely don’t need. I am, like everyone else, a flawed human with a long list of subconscious, neurotic needs that I try to meet in these ways.
At my core, however, I know this isn’t the right path. I’m striving toward the adjacent possible—just like the rest of us.