A BALANCING ACT

YOU CAN’T WORK WITHOUT SLEEP: SIMPLE. I PRIORITISE MY SLEEP TIME SO I CAN FUNCTION BETTER – SEVEN OR EIGHT HOURS A NIGHT, ALWAYS. WITHOUT SLEEP, WE MAKE POOR DECISIONS AND OUR STRESS LEVELS RISE. EATING WELL HAS TO BE A PRIORITY, TOO – HIGH LEVELS OF IRON, PROTEIN,

SOMETHING GREEN EVERY DAY AND MORE WATER THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED. I TRY AND AVOID REFINED SUGAR AS THIS GIVES ME SUCH AN ENERGY SLUMP. I GET MY SWEET FIX FROM VERY DARK CHOCOLATE AND

A DATE – OR THREE.

WHENEVER I STEAL MYSELF A COUPLE OF HOURS, I REALLY LOVE TO COOK. PREPARING A FAMILY SUPPER IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS AND I AM AT MY HAPPIEST WHEN ALL FIVE CHILDREN ARE SAT AROUND THE TABLE TOGETHER.

MY FAVOURITE WAY TO UNWIND IS SEEING

THE HORIZON – THERE’S SOMETHING LIBERATING ABOUT. I LIVE ON A FARM IN THE WEST COUNTRY SO GETTING OUTSIDE TO WATCH A SPECTACULAR SUNSET

IS A GREAT TONIC.

YOU NEED TO SHARE THE SAME GOALS. IT’S ESSENTIAL TO BE GOING ON THE SAME JOURNEY IN A MARRIAGE.

IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY AS OPINIONS DIFFER, BUT IT’S VITAL THAT YOUR END DESTINATION IS THE SAME. AND HAVE FUN! LIFE IS TOUGH, SO HAVING SOMEONE BESIDE YOU WHO CAN MAKE YOU SMILE IS HELPFUL. ANYONE WHO HAS MET MY HUSBAND PATRICK [THEY’VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 14 YEARS] KNOWS THAT HE LOVES TO HAVE FUN.