Madalynne Clifton on the Myth of Work-Life Balance

Madalynne Clifton

Co-Founder of Kate & Kole 

Madalynne has spent the last decade alongside Sara Spence building Kate & Kole from a simple idea into one of Australia's most thoughtful jewellery studios. Based in Newcastle, they create timeless pieces using lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold, intentional luxury in its truest form.

This year brought both the business's 10th anniversary and Madalynne's marriage, marking new chapters in both her creative and personal life. As a mother to her daughter Camí, founder, and partner, she navigates the beautiful complexity of creativity, motherhood, and conscious living with candour and grace.

Here, she reflects on rejecting the myth of work-life balance, the small rituals that anchor her days, and why embracing the ebb and flow releases you from the pressure of impossible expectations.

Maddy, where are we finding you today as you reflect on these questions?

A rare moment of calm on a Sunday morning as my husband has taken our daughter out to the beach. I am sitting in our lounge room with the doors wide open to our backyard, the sun streaming in, drinking tea. A contrast to the 30 minutes earlier when they were both here climbing the walls.

CELEBRATING MILESTONES

This year has brought two incredible milestones; your marriage and Kate & Kole's 10th anniversary. How have you been able to centre yourself and carve out time to truly absorb these moments while protecting your energy through such significant transitions?

This is something I've certainly struggled with - being able to actually absorb these moments and truly revel in the celebration. I think when you're in this fast-paced time of life, it can be very easy to just get swept up in the momentum and the 'what's next'. I kind of equate it to when I had my daughter, Camí. I was so immersed in labour and the chaos of it all that it wasn't until she arrived and they showed me her and said 'it's a girl' that I remembered - this is the whole point!

A big focus has been asking myself what I need around these moments to allow myself to fully be present and take it all in, particularly in the lead-up so I can be as prepared as possible to show up in these huge moments, professionally and personally, and actually feel ready to enjoy it all. It's often in the reflection of these celebrations that I'm able to fully comprehend the gravity of it all and truly cement them as milestone moments in time.

Practicing gratitude is something I try to come back to when such big moments undoubtedly carry stress. Reminding myself of how wonderful the situation at large is, and how lucky I am to be living this little life of mine.

RHYTHM OVER BALANCE

You recently wrote about the "myth of balance" - a sentiment that resonates with me deeply as a fellow mother and business owner. How do you find your rhythm between the different roles you inhabit as founder, wife, and mother? What are your non-negotiables in maintaining your calm, and do you have any rituals that help you transition mindfully between these spaces?

I think the rhythm of these roles definitely comes with time and is something that ebbs and flows. Some weeks I feel like I've set myself up to float between the two seamlessly, and some weeks I feel completely torn between the two spaces with a lack of proper presence in both, and I think that's normal (I hope).

I'm lucky in that I love what I do so deeply. It brings a lot of fulfillment to my life, so I know that even though working full-time does weigh heavily on me, it allows me to show up as my best self (most of the time) and be present in my moments with my daughter. I also love when these roles combine. Sometimes Camí comes and spends time with me in the studio, and over time I'm sure that will increase. I love that we have a space that allows us to be both those roles at once.

Over the past year, I've tried really hard to build time for myself into my weekly routine, whether it's a Pilates class, a sauna, a facial, or catching up with a friend. These moments help bring me out of the divide between both worlds and ensure that I'm somewhat filling my cup, because I can't pour from it for my family or my team if it's completely empty. Burnout sometimes feels inevitable, and I think that's why I really try to make time for these things, to ensure I can maintain my calm, because I have a responsibility to do so for my beautiful family, my beautiful team, and my beautiful business partner.

RETURNING TO CENTER

When the pace becomes overwhelming, how do you return to center? What pulls you back to yourself?

I can often feel when I'm starting to feel off center and out of alignment, and it often means I need to slow down, something I admittedly struggle with but have learned the value of over the last year. I find that in these moments of overwhelm it's all about simplifying and completely lowering my expectations. Just allowing myself to be at home with my family and do as little as possible whilst really enjoying the simple things, like taking my daughter to ballet and going for a babycino after. I have to remember she's only little too, and sometimes all she wants to do is stay at home and play with her dolls on the floor with me, so if that's all we achieve that day, that's okay.

 

MORNING AND EVENING RITUALS

What do your morning and evening routines look like, and how do they anchor your days?

I think the concept of a morning and evening routine has somewhat been convoluted thanks to the overwhelming wellness trends that have emerged over the past few years. I can often get caught up in this idea that I need to wake up, meditate, get in 10k steps, eat a protein-filled breakfast, etc. It's overwhelming and I also find it completely unrealistic as a mum. I like to have little things that I try to factor into my morning and evening routine, but I'm trying to give myself grace and be flexible in that sometimes that all goes out the window. Some nights I finally get Camí to sleep only to just melt into bed and doom scroll, and some mornings when she's been restless in bed with us all night, we just all sleep in and then have a mad scramble to get out the door. That's the chaos of family life, and I try to remind myself that I'll miss that one day when I do have the time to do all the wellness things I aspire to in the morning and night.

At the moment, my best-case scenario for a morning is that I can rise before my daughter and husband and slip out for a Pilates class or quick run. I try to start my day with hot water and lemon, and it's a win if I have time to make myself a smoothie before getting out the door. If I can get some movement in the morning, it really helps put me in a better mood for the day, and having something to eat, like a smoothie or some eggs, helps so much with late afternoon energy crashes, so I try to prioritise these things as best as I can.

At night, once I've got my daughter down, I love slipping into some soft pyjamas that feel extra luxe, indulging a little in my skincare routine and lighting a beautiful candle in my bedroom, and popping on a TV series with my husband to unwind.

THE PALME CHOICE

Which PALME set have you chosen and why?

I chose the Filly Pointelle set. It’s so soft and luxe and perfectly aligns with my prioritising of soft, beautiful sleepwear as part of my nightly routine.

ADVICE TO HER YOUNGER SELF

Finally, as someone who has built something enduring while navigating so many life changes, what would you tell your younger self who was just beginning this journey?

I think I would tell myself to trust my instincts, give myself grace, and trust the process. So much of what has unfolded we truly couldn't have foreseen, and there have certainly been some hurdles along the way which at the time were so hard to comprehend, but in hindsight all led me to where I am today.

THE NOTES

A personal reflection

Kate & Kole has quietly set a standard for what conscious luxury can look like. For ten years, Madalynne and Sara have been creating pieces that feel both timeless and deeply intentional, using lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold in ways that never compromise on beauty or craft.

There is something rare about a brand that refuses to chase trends, choosing instead to build slowly and thoughtfully. Every piece feels considered, every detail purposeful. It is the kind of work that makes you reconsider what luxury actually means, and why it matters.

I have long admired their commitment to creating something enduring in an industry that often prioritises speed over substance.