In my ‘past life’ self-care was just a footnote on my list of priorities. Like so many women I know, I was moving through life at warp speed and giving little thought to how that might be affecting my health. Juggling family, a demanding career in the city and a relentless to-do list, I felt like I was just about treading water and paddling hard to stay in control.

When it came to my kids, I was highly skilled at ensuring their lives ran smoothly. I wanted to be the perfect mum! From piano lessons to playdates to school exams; I thought I had it all covered. But what I wasn’t taking care of was myself and my health.

The absence of healthy habits in my daily routine had left me with a toxic lack of balance. Fuelled by caffeine, I grabbed food when I could, considered exercise to be a luxury (despite a drawer full of gorgeous Sweaty Betty outfits), and I rarely took the supplements I’d spent a fortune on. I felt like a prisoner to fatigue and looked forward to the end of every day when I could climb into bed and watch Netflix.

Despite all of that, I somehow still thought I was invincible and took it for granted that my body would cope.