BALANCING ACT

From meditation to margheritas, WH columnist and PT Alice Liveing reveals the feel-good fallbacks that keep her wellbeing in check

With her positive energy and high-impact fitness regime, you’d be forgiven for thinking Alice Liveing doesn’t need much in the way of motivation. But, as she admits, the struggle is real. ‘I can be affected by so many things: if I’ve had a bad day, if my hormones are all over the place, if my period is due,’ she says. ‘So it’s about falling back on those things that you know will help you feel better.’ Here, we quiz Alice about the everyday wellness must-haves that keep her on track.

01 Making time to move

‘If I don’t feel like doing a full workout, I’ll think about what I can do instead to move my body and make myself feel good. It could be some gentle yoga or going for a walk. Making movement a habit definitely helps because it means you don’t always have to rely on motivation to get you to the gym. I’ve exercised regularly for so many years now that it feels strange for me not to do anything at all.’

02 Filling up on feel-good foods

‘My attitude to food has changed a lot over the years. I’m far more flexible with what I eat now – I just have the things I enjoy. Typically, a lot of that is healthy because I like eating well. I follow a mostly Mediterranean diet, so that means lots of healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocado, nuts and seeds, plus fresh fruits and vegetables, grilled fish and Greek yoghurt.

‘Pizza is one of my favourite foods — you can’t beat a classic margherita. I’ve been trying Dr. Oetker’s new Good Baker pizzas recently and they’re really tasty. They are made from different types of flour, grains, seeds or sourdough and include lots of colourful vegetables and plant-based proteins, so you get a great balance of flavour and goodness.’

03 Relying on routine

‘I minimise the number of decisions I have to make in the mornings by laying out my clothes and packing my bag the night before. It makes getting up and out so much easier. I usually wake up at 6am (I’m not a snoozer) and shower, then I’ll have some form of eggs on toast for breakfast. After that, I do my make-up, get dressed and go.’

04 Turning on Do Not Disturb

‘It’s tough maintaining a good work/life balance, especially as a lot of what I do is on my phone. I have to set boundaries. So, after dinner, I’ll put my phone on Do Not Disturb mode, which helps me properly detach. To relax, I listen to podcasts, such as Fortunately… with fiand jane and Offmenu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster. I’m also currently watching Schitt’s creek for the second time. I’m obsessed!’

05 Having a mental health toolbox

‘There isn’t just one thing that helps my mental health. We can see exercise as a panacea for everything but it’s not always the answer. I’ve learned to have a toolbox I can use. One thing that definitely helps is therapy. I have a session every two weeks, which is a chance for me to offload and release a bit of pressure. I also use the Calm meditation app and I regularly do breathwork.

‘From time to time, it’s just about taking myself away. I give a lot to other people in my job and sometimes

I just need some quiet time to completely switch off.’

‘My attitude to food has changed. I’m more flexible now – I just have the things I enjoy’