HOLLY’S GOLDEN RULES FOR HAPPINESS
She’s become one of the most recognisable faces on TV, thanks to presenting roles on This Morning and Dancing On Ice. And as Holly Willoughby, 38, juggles her high-profile career with raising a young family, Closer looks at the secrets to her success and what she’s learned... ‘MUM KNOWS BEST’
When it comes to family, Holly – who is mum to Harry, nine, Belle, seven, and Chester, four, with TV producer husband Dan Baldwin – looks to her own mum for guidance, revealing the 70 year old is her biggest role model. She said, “My mum Lynne has always been a big influence in my life… When I was a child, she was really supportive towards me. And now I’m a mum, whether it’s the brand of washing powder I use or what I should feed the kids, she always has lots of advice. The one thing I’ve learned is that it’s better to listen straight away rather than try my own thing, because nine times out of ten she is spot on and it saves me making my own mistakes.” She also credits her mum for teaching her how to dress for her figure. “My mum and I are the same shape,” she said. “So, growing up, I always had a role model for dressing to suit my shape.”
‘TRY TO SLEEP ON IT’
Holly believes in putting things on the mental back-burner when it comes to managing the daily difficulties and pressures of being a working mum. She said, “Sometimes I just need to have more of a level head, so I just go off and calm down… I wake up the following morning and things don’t seem as bad. Sometimes, you’ve just rationalised things a bit better in your head, and you’re not so emotional and quick to snipe and shout.”
‘HOME LIFE IS IMPORTANT’
She once described This Morning as the “perfect” job for someone with young kids, as her working hours mean she can be there for the school pick-up. However, the TV host has said that one of the biggest misconceptions about her is that people seem to think she “wants it all”. She said, “Why would you want to have it all?… I mean, something has to give. You can have it all at work, you can have it all at home, but you can’t have it all combined.” She added, “I don’t think you should want it all at work, because home life is so important – and much more nourishing for your soul.”
‘MARRY YOUR BEST FRIEND’
Holly and Dan, 44, were good friends for six months before they started dating in 2004, tying the knot three years later. And Holly believes their solid friendship is the secret to a long-lasting relationship. “If you get on and have the same interests, it makes the difficult times easier because you’re both approaching it from the same angle,” she explained. “We have a good laugh together.” Holly also cites her parents Terry and Lynne’s marriage as her inspiration, saying, “My mum and dad have been together for years and years, and they’re a real team.”
‘Looks aren’t everything’
Her effortless style has won her an army of fans, while her Instagram account boasts a staggering 5.2m followers. But Holly insists she doesn’t obsess about her looks. She revealed, “There’s an awful lot more going on in my life than the way I look. If you make your looks the day-to-day focus of your life, you’re just going to cause yourself stress.” She has the same no-nonsense attitude towards ageing, saying her confidence grows the older she gets. “I’ve realised I don’t want to put the lashes on and the hair in any more; that’s the benefit and joy of ageing,” she explained. “You realise that this is me and it’s got me this far and I’m happy with it, and there are more important things in life.”
‘trust your instincts’
When it comes to family, Holly says she always goes with her gut. In 2016, she said, “The lesson in all of this is that there is no one ‘right’ way to do things. The reason I had to write a book [Holly’s guidebook for new mothers, called Truly, Happy Baby] was because I felt that with most of the baby manuals, an expert tells you to go down one path and stick with it – but what if what you planned just doesn’t happen? Look at me: one mother, three children, and three completely different experiences.”
‘Prioritise Family’
As the years have gone by, Holly’s learned to value her time and isn’t afraid to make sacrifices, even if that means putting her career second. The star recently pulled out of a lucrative lifestyle brand she was due to launch with her sister Kelly after reassessing the lack of family time it would leave her. She once said, “I love work but the most important thing is my family and making that right. If that doesn’t feel right, I really put the brake on and pull back… Even friendships will sort of go down the pecking order because it’s not as important as that really. If they’re true friends, they’ll always understand that.”