So, how was your day?

What is your typical day – morning, noon and night?

I wake around 7am and spend the mornings getting my daughter Jana-Lee ready for school and my son Gabe sorted for university. I really like to ensure the mornings start positively. The old me used to go a bit crazy in the mornings but these days I try to concentrate on being patient and organised.

Once the kids are sorted, I make myself a yummy breakfast – healthy pancakes or some eggs – and then do some gentle exercise. I go to Pilates twice a week (on Mondays and Wednesdays), otherwise I take a walk around the Orakei Basin.

After lunch I spend time working and doing admin, before finding out who is going to be home in the evening and getting dinner cooked. I like to wind down at the end of the day with a cup of tea, maybe watch some Netflix and catch up with my husband.

I’m in bed early – around 9pm.

When are you at your busiest?

I’m at my busiest leading up to an event like a public speaking engagement or my regular retreats at the Polynesian Spa. I try to keep the rest of the year as calm as possible…

Is your job and/or family life busy and/or stressful?

It is busy, and can be stressful, if I let it be. It really all depends on the way I look at it.

What do you do to relieve stress/alleviate busy-ness?

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When I’m feeling stressed I come back to one word . . . “calm”. If things are feeling a little overwhelming, I think of the word. It allows me to slow down a bit, to focus on my breathing, and to think about what is stressful in my life. This gives me space to work out what I can do to simplify things.I’ve learned how to tell people when I’ve overcommitted myself. I’ll work out a compromise and offer an alternative that will work for them, but which won’t take up so much of my time.

While I don’t meditate as such, I do love to lie on my Shakti acupressure mat, pop on my headphones and listen to my personal playlist for 10 minutes. The musical selection has highs and lows and I really like to l leave the session on a high note.

What do you do to ensure you have “me” time?

I build “me” time into my daily activities, such as Pilates and walking. I also like to maintain a good daily skincare regime.

It’s really important for me to schedule time with my friends, a holiday or a retreat to look forward to. I recently did the Tongariro Crossing with 10 friends; it was wonderful to achieve something a little different from my regular routine.

What wellness routines do you follow?

I’ve made big changes to my attitude towards eating, based on a commitment to self love. I make sure I am eating well to feel good and I’m doing a no-drinking challenge for all of 2017. It’s amazing how much more clarity I have after dropping my “one-or-two-glasses-a-night”!

I take vitamins every day and I have an A4 paper diary I like to write in.

Do you enjoy a visit to a spa?

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Yes, who doesn't! I host the Mindful Moments Retreat at Polynesian Spa in Rotorua three times a year featuring mindfulness techniques, soaking in geothermal hot pools, a spa therapy, yoga and Shakti Mat relaxation. I particularly love their Signature Mud Wrap therapy. Polynesian Spa is such a magical place; the whole Retreat spa side of the complex is like being in another world. I kind of feel like I'm floating around the place when I'm there and the properties of the mineral waters do wonders for my skin and muscles.

Do you have a mantra you live by and what is it?

I have a word every year to inspire me, this year’s word is “calm”. In the past I’ve had words like “hustle” but I suffered from depression last year and had to change many things about my life. Focusing on this word has really helped me to achieve a sense of calm in everything I do.