STARTING THE DAY RIGHT

Gabi Jennings is founder of Love Ocean, a sustainable marine-ingredient bath and body product company. She lives in Windsor with her husband, Ross, and their children, seven-year-old Max and Ava, five.

“This year, for the first time and despite Covid, we are going away for Christmas Day. A few months ago we rented a large house on the Isle of Wight in the hope that we can get together with Ross’s two brothers. Fortuitously this forms our threehousehold festive bubble,” she says.

“Our change of routine is not just about seeing the family – we also really wanted to be by the sea on Christmas Day. I worked in London for years as an account director for Condé Nast and the pandemic has coincided with a lifestyle shift for me. I started meditating before the Gabi Jennings with her husband Ross and two children, Max and Ava lockdown but my practise was sporadic as I never had time to fit it in with the school run and commuting.

“Since March I do it every day, without fail. I get up at 5.30am and meditate, practice yoga and write in my journal. I have also cut out alcohol and started a plant-based diet. These lifestyle changes helped me to counterbalance the stress of the lockdown and the stress of starting a business. The routine means I am not jumping on the computer at the start of the day.

“I also started a wellbeing blog this year (@gabijennings on Instagram) and the whole family has embraced this new way of life, with Max taking on 5k runs with Ross.

“Christmas Day will reflect these changes. I will do my normal routine, then Ross and I have made a pact to swim in the sea on Christmas morning before a quick family jog or walk with the kids.

“We’re not totally wholesome. I like to think of our lifestyle as 70:30 (health to indulgence). After starting Christmas Day with some exercise it will be time for some well-earned fizz and I’m sure the day will descend into riotous fun and games as the brothers and cousins have not been together for such a long time.”