“You feel completely overwhelmed, anxious, pressured, as though you’re not getting anything accomplished,” continued Michelle, who’s a mum to 3-year-old Axel and stepmum to partner Steve ‘Commando’ Willis’ three children – Jack, Ella and Brianna.
“That’s where I think: ‘OK, I need to give myself some space. I operate best when I have the opportunity to take some time out with some activity.’
Some days it’s a lot of activity, some days it’s just a walk. But I give that time to myself to just be operating at the best level I can be when there’s a lot going on.”
While this once might have been frowned upon as ‘selfish’, Michelle insists it’s quite the opposite – and is helping teach her kids the immense value in self-care.
“We tend to default to putting ourselves last for our families, which is beautiful, but giving yourself permission to have space for you has a huge knock-on effect. My children all see that – not just that I do it but that their dad does it as well. We do it together.”