There is a particular kind of quiet that comes when you finally have the house to yourself. No one asking where something is. No emails demanding an immediate answer. No diary to coordinate, dinner to think about, lift to organise, problem to solve or person who needs something from you. Just quiet. And increasingly, I’ve realised how much I value it. Life can be wonderfully full. Work, children, family, friendships, relationships, commitments, deadlines and the endless mental checklist that...

There are days when life feels manageable. And then there are the days when everything seems to arrive at once. Work. Deadlines. Family. Money. Relationships. The endless messages. The thing you forgot to do. The thing somebody else didn't do. Your phone won't stop buzzing and suddenly even the smallest inconvenience feels like it might tip you over the edge. I've been thinking a lot lately about self-regulation, particularly what we do when our stress levels are high. Because knowing you're...

I had a moment recently that made me laugh (possibly not in the hahahhaha way). I'd finished a spin class, justified the glass of wine I'd planned for later, booked my next hair appointment, realised my nails were overdue, mentally added "buy eye cream" to my shopping list and wondered whether I should finally try that new collagen everyone keeps talking about. Somewhere between the spin class and the nail salon, I stopped and thought... Who exactly am I doing all of this for? A few days...