Biohacking with Kate

When I look back on this past year, it feels like piecing together a puzzle—each country, each season, each challenge adding something to the whole. It wasn’t perfect, but together these experiences created a picture I couldn’t have imagined before becoming a mother.

🌞 Portugal was our first big leap, with Jasmin only three months old. The Algarve gifted us endless sunshine, fresh seafood, and a slower rhythm of life. It was the season of learning to live with light, of feeling nourished by nature and community. Portugal reminded me that health is not just what you eat—it’s how the sun warms your skin, how you share meals with loved ones, and how you allow yourself to enjoy the present moment.

🏔️ Mongolia, my homeland, was a completely different piece of the puzzle. After 17 years away, I saw it with new eyes—through the lens of a biohacker and as a mother. Grass-fed meats, fresh dairy, and mineral-rich traditions felt like reconnecting to something ancient, something deeply human. At the same time, I couldn’t ignore the challenges: air pollution in the city, the rise of fast food, and the reality that not every environment supports optimal health. Mongolia reminded me of the strength of my ancestors, of resilience, and of the power of returning to basics.

🍼 The year of travel itself was perhaps the hardest puzzle piece to place. I went into it thinking we could balance everything—work, biohacking, parenting, exploring new places. But life quickly taught me that sometimes just making it through the day is enough. Mental health became the cornerstone of my biohacking practice. The truth is, there weren’t dramatic physical transformations—just a slow, steady lesson in resilience, patience, and self-compassion. This piece of the puzzle was messy, but it was real.

🌿 Finally, returning to the Netherlands felt like the piece that completed the picture. Coming home after eight months, I saw things differently. The accessibility of fresh fruits, vegetables, protein products, and supplements felt like a luxury. The walkability, the small green spaces, the thriving biohacker community—all of it gave me a sense of grounding I didn’t know I had missed so much. Yes, there is rain, and yes, routines here can feel predictable—but in this season of life, routine and community are exactly what I need.

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Together, these four pieces form the full picture: biohacking isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s not about never missing a workout, always eating clean, or finding the latest gadget. It’s about adapting to the season you’re in, learning from the environment around you, and staying rooted in what really matters—mental health, connection, and presence.

This year showed me that biohacking can look different in Portugal, Mongolia, or the Netherlands. It can mean sunlight and seafood, ancestral nourishment, survival-mode parenting, or weekly meetups in Amsterdam. The puzzle pieces don’t look the same—but together, they tell the story of growth, discovery, and a deeper understanding of what it means to live well.

Now, with the last piece in place, I feel ready for the next chapter—grounded, grateful, and open to whatever comes next.