One Life. Work. Play. Love. By Anna Mulock Houwer
For too long, we’ve been told to compartmentalize life.
Work belongs in one box. Play in another. Love (romantic and family) — fits somewhere in-between, squeezed into evenings, weekends, and holidays.
This way of living might have worked in the pre-digital era, but today it’s not just outdated. It’s suffocating.
Outgrowing Old Models.
Many (most?) of us have followed a familiar path. We studied hard, built careers, established homes, and reputations. We did the things we were told would lead to fulfillment.
And for a while, it all worked.
But at some point, many women I speak to begin to feel a quiet, persistent question: Is this all there is?
It’s not that we regret what we’ve built. It’s that we sense there’s more. More depth. More joy. More freedom to live fully and authentically as the women we’ve become.
This question becomes more persistent in midlife, historically viewed as a time to “stop the dance” and quietly move to the back of the room. But we women 40+ do not want to sit down. And we certainly do not want to stop dancing!
A Seamless Life.
In a recent conversation with Lifestyle Portugal, I talked about my deep belief that personal and professional are not separate.
There is no neat division between Monday to Friday and the “real life” we wait for on weekends.
There is only one life, and it’s meant to be lived fully, with nothing held back.
That philosophy has guided me through every major life decision over the last decade, from my move to Portugal to how I design my days.
I didn’t come here to slow down. I came here to live better.
To create a life that doesn’t feel like a balancing act, but a seamless experience of personal and professional fulfillment.
I want this for every woman I meet, every woman I work with, and every woman I mentor.
The Integration of Work, Play, and Love.
One of the biggest myths women have been sold is that work, play, and love are separate, and often in conflict.
We’re made to feel we have to choose. We can have a great career or a rich personal life. We can lead or nurture. We can succeed or savor.
But true empowerment comes when we stop choosing and start integrating.
That’s why I began writing poetry (as I shared at TEDxMarvila recently!) while continuing my work as a board advisor and consultant.
I have just one soul, and it seeks expression in different forms. I can’t help being both a leader and a poet.
This belief is deeply personal to me. After years of advising top global companies, sitting on boards, and mentoring leaders, I know well the pressures and rewards of leadership.
Yet, no matter how high you climb, if you don’t have the right relationship with yourself — if you aren’t connected to your true self — success can feel hollow.
That’s why I believe the real power move is integration.
Work is not just a means to an end; it’s a source of inspiration.
Play is not an afterthought; it fuels creativity and vitality.
Art is not just for artists. It belongs in the boardroom.
Love, whether for ourselves, our romantic partners, families, or communities, is not a distraction from our ambitions but their foundation.
The magic happens when these areas of life flow together, naturally and powerfully.
Do not settle.
Work. Play. Love.
About Anna.
With a career that spans PepsiCo, Novartis, and the founding of two boutique consultancies, Anna has been a trusted advisor to some of the world’s top players in Life Sciences, Healthcare, and Consumer Goods.
Clients like AstraZeneca, Danone, Medtronic, and many others have called her a “Rocket Booster” for her unique ability to craft strategy and inject focused energy, turning ideas into results.
Today, she works with senior leaders and boards while also mentoring women.
Since moving to Portugal three years ago, Anna has fully embraced her new home, immersing herself in the country’s vibrant culture and lifestyle. Rediscovering her passion for writing, she has become an avid poet, sharing reflections on her experiences and feelings about Portugal. Her love for poetry led her to the TEDxMarvila stage, where she recently spoke about the transformative power of creativity.
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