INNER CALM

Star of stage and screen Martine McCutcheon on managing her health issues and feeling grateful

For actress and singer Martine McCutcheon, the past year has been “a time of self-exploration, and realising what really matters” – with her wellbeing becoming a priority.

After being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, ME and Lyme disease over the past few years, the mum to sixyear-old son Rafferty with songwriter and producer husband Jack McManus tells hello!: “Anybody with an ongoing illness has their own lockdown. It’s harder in a way because you’re not in it together.” Now Martine has partnered with CBD brand Pureis, in search of ways to keep calm, alongside brand ambassadors such as rugby union legend Mike Tindall.

Here, the 45 year-old, who hopes that people will continue to support each other beyond the pandemic, talks to hello! about meditation, the importance of “showing up for yourself”, and her essential wellbeing accessory…

What lockdown habits will you take into postlockdown life, Martine?

“I work less now, it’s about quality rather than quantity and I’ve realised I can do things on my own terms a lot more. I’ve said no to more things.

“[I’m] a self-employed working mum at the end of the day. People think that when you’re well known, everything’s always covered and done, but you still have to have that balance of saying: ‘That’s my cut-off point.’ Give yourself that routine and say: ‘That’s when I’m going to finish,’ and set your own rules for selfpreservation in all of it.”

How have you maintained your mental health over the past year?

“Sometimes it takes more than one thing. It’s a work in progress everyday. I can wake up one day feeling mega-confident, ready and able to take on the world and then there are other days when I’m more fragile or more vulnerable. I’ve learned the tools – be it meditation, exercise, time out and quiet for myself – to make those days more doable, to realise that you’re not on your own and to realise that lots of people feel the same way and that you don’t always have to put a brave face on. And to know: ‘This too shall pass.’ I always say that. Nothing stays the same forever.”

Have you ever tried journaling?

“I wasn’t consistent and then felt bad because I wasn’t consistent. I’ve always written, be it my thoughts, poetry, song lyrics. When I write it’s cathartic. So in a way, I do journal and I am mindful. We’ve got a mantra that we say, even when I’m taking Rafferty to school in the car, and it’s about gratitude. It seems like it’s this fashionable thing at the moment, but it’s so powerful. To be grateful for what you’ve got makes you feel so much calmer, centred and in a good place. I make completely different decisions when I’m grateful. I do things more from a place of happiness and love rather than fear and insecurity.

“And that’s why I don’t really watch the news very much. I try to keep away from the propaganda, hearsay and speculation, but I’m not ignorant, I know exactly what’s going on.

“I can hear it once a day and that’s enough for me. Your world is what you choose to focus on.”

Do you practice any alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or reflexology?

“Yes, I do it all. My husband says I’m like a classic car: ‘When you run, you run like a dream, but you’re high maintenance.’

“I love acupuncture. I see an amazing woman who worked for the Olympic team as a physio, but she also has these incredibly healing hands and she can scan you and feel your energy where it’s blocked, where it’s not. She does my acupuncture, acupressure and reflexology. She’s amazing, I see her at least once a month.”

How do you keep motivated?

“Being a mum. You have to find the thing that makes your heart sing in your life, the thing that means most to you. When you pinpoint what your values are, that gives you the get-upand-go [and] that passion. Your values can change and that’s okay. You’re meant to keep evolving. The minute you stop evolving, you’re not here any more.

“It’s about being a good example to my son. It’s really important to me that I inspire him [and] be a good example and role-model.”

How did you hear about Pureis, and why did you start taking CBD?

“Chanelle McCoy [Lady McCoy, the brand founder] is a family friend. She’s always been involved with pharmaceuticals and wanted to bring something to the market that’s natural, without any of the toxins. She knows her stuff and approached me to try it. She knows that I have fibromyalgia, ME and Lyme disease and so I like to find things that soothe me.

“For anybody who is anxious, this is a great product. It really calms my body down, my aches and pains. It calms down my fight or flight reactions, but there isn’t a high with it and it’s not addictive as it’s got 0% THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] which is the part that can give you a high.

“I’m better off with the drops because my digestion is not great. It’s got a nice taste to it. I like the orange-flavoured one. I do six sprays, leave it under my tongue for a minute and let it sink in. My husband and my little boy say I’m less shouty when I’ve had my CBD oil.”

When do you use it?

“I normally have it in the morning and then I have it in my handbag during the day in case I need it because with my job I can suddenly be thrust on set, or asked lots of questions.

“It could be that you’re stuck in a traffic jam, you’re late, or just getting a bit stressed out – then I would use it. I don’t use it when I don’t need to, and don’t ever feel the urge to use it. When I go to bed, it’s part of my ritual.”

What’s your secret to a good night’s sleep?

“I like to have a lavender and Epsom salts bath and rub my skin with magnesium cream. I love the smell of the NEOM Magnesium Body Butter. It has that aromatherapy smell that makes you feel like you’re in a spa. It knocks you out a bit. I need that at night time because my circadian rhythm is very much that I am awake at night and wanting to have a nap during the day.

“All this helps get me back into a nice routine. I also use a grounding mat in bed, they’re amazing. Because I do a lot on social media, I find the grounding mat – when you plug it in, lay on it on your bed – it takes off all the electricity and absorbs all the frequencies that you’ve taken in during the day.

“At first, I thought: ‘What is this?’ but it’s made such a difference to me. If it works, I’m not knocking it.”

How do you approach your diet?

“I don’t preach to anybody about diet because we’re all so different. You could have underlying medical issues that mean your needs are completely different to someone else. What works for one doesn’t work for all.

“I’m all about being healthy. I eat organic, fresh food, lots of fruit, lots of vegetables and I think a little of what you fancy is good, too.

“I like to walk the dogs, I do qigong, I stretch and I do meditation everyday and it’s really brilliant.

“Someone else might need to go hammerand-tong in the gym, but I’m best when my adrenals are calmed down and everything is more relaxed and I get a good night’s sleep. I’m a busy working mum so I give myself half an hour in total every day.

“In the morning, I do the five-minute stretch on the Calm app.

“It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made and I do the night-time one as well. Stretching is great for making you feel like your muscles have eased up a bit. That, with the Pureis for fibromyalgia or any muscle tension, is just really good.”

How has your lifestyle changed to help manage your health conditions?

“At first, I had some resentment towards it and that in itself can make you feel quite stressed and delay healing. Then someone said something that really rang true – when you’re getting symptoms or a flare-up, it’s a sign that your body’s doing too much. It’s a friendly voice saying: ‘Just pace yourself.’

“Now, I look at taking care of myself as an absolute priority. It sounds really naff, but it’s taught me to love and cherish myself. When I do that, I’m so much better in every other area of my life, whether that’s half an hour that I give myself before everybody’s up in the morning, or ten minutes at night. It’s not much, but in the grand scheme of things it’s a complete game-changer.

“It’s important that you just show up for yourself every day. I’m a big believer in buying yourself a bunch of flowers. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune – have that little bottle of perfume, or that bubble bath that you like. They’re the things that fuel your soul and keep you ticking.”

Do you take any supplements?

“I take a multivitamin and Rafferty has his chewable ones. I use the Boots multivitamin that’s also got acidophilus in it, so it’s really good for your gut health as well.

“I love B12. I take the spray as it’s better for your digestion, it goes in your bloodstream a lot better and it’s good for energy levels. I also take vitamin D as we don’t get enough sunlight and it really helps with mood as well.

“I take my magnesium citrate three times a day; I take two in the evening for muscle relaxation. When you say it, it sounds like there’s a lot going on, but it’s really simple.”

‘You have to have that balance of saying: “That’s my cut-off point”… Set your own rules for self-preservation’