FEARNE’S SELF-CARE TOOLKIT
Discover the small things that keep her feeling good – and those that pick her up when she doesn’t
The mood reset I walk whenever possible – I even do meetings on foot. You’re getting your exercise and it feels like you’re physically moving on from things. If I could, I’d walk by the sea every day – I love the feeling of the wind coming off the waves. The nutrition non-negotiable I stopped eating refined sugar after Rex was born. It’s not because I’m being super strict with myself, more because I know how horrendous it makes me feel. It’s a similar story with booze – I haven’t been drunk since my friend’s wedding last year. The energiser If I’m feeling really sluggish, I’ll do a handstand or a headstand against the cupboards in my kitchen. I do neither of them brilliantly, but I’m always determined to nail it. When I get the right way round again, the blood has rushed to my head, the endorphins are going, and I’m all pepped up. The goal I’m busy – we all are – and we love to talk about it. And if we’re not busy ourselves, we’re comparing our lives with those of others on Instagram. But how about we consciously try to make quiet time? I need to practise this more, because I know how much it benefits me. The book Reading is one of my favourite things to do in the world. When author Poorna Bell found out I was having a difficult time earlier this year, she gave me Kitchen by Japanese writer Banana Yoshimoto. It’s such a beautiful novel, I don’t want it to end. I’ll always love Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, too – an inspiring book about creativity. The podcast There is just no better audio hour around than Desert Island Discs – it always makes me cry. I interviewed Kirsty Young once and I was so scared; to me, she is the queen of interviews. She was, of course, lovely. I also love Russell Brand’s Under The Skin – his vocabulary is insane. The reminder Until six months ago, I went through a two-year period of regularly getting panic attacks while driving to work. Worrying about what others thought increased the panic. Realising I could tell people, ‘Just to let you know, these may come on,’ was a big relief. I found out a lot of people around me got them, too. The wind-down routine I have insomnia, so building a good routine around sleep is important. I have a whole ritual: eye mask, ear plugs and a magnesium bath to cocoon me in sleep land. It doesn’t work all the time, but I’m trying to be a bit more chilled about that. The Insta follow I am obsessed with Australian comedian Celeste Barber (@Celestebarber). Her parody videos are pure joy – they make me howl with laughter. I get really serious sometimes because I’m worried about my family or my job and I just forget to laugh, but it’s the best tonic.