One of the things they tried to instill in us at drama school was the idea that if you’re going to be someone who creates through performance or just your presence in the world, some exercise first thing is really good for you. This was too hard a pill for me to swallow even when I was training, let alone when I got out into the “real world”, but I’ve found it to be true for me and it’s one of those simple things that slips into my blind spot, especially when I get busy, and then I wonder why I’m not at my best. I went for a run this morning and bingo-bongo, I’m writing already.

I guess hearing “your body is your instrument and that’s why you have to look after it and warm it up every morning” was just too wanky for 19-year-old me, but also I know that not looking after myself, despite knowing what’s good for me, is a long-term pattern.

Drink more water! That’s another one. Since I started my ADHD medication, and was strongly advised to minimise caffeine intake with them, the only alternative I could face was decaf coffee. So I have one “proper” coffee first thing and then I’m onto the decaf. I try to get good stuff, not too chemical-ish, but really it’s just flavoured water, so why not just go with water? I generally work at church in the morning, come home and have some lunch and then do some writing and talk to folk in the afternoon. But when I sit down here after lunch, my brain tells me I need a big pot of coffee, so I get a big pot of (decaf) coffee and invariably feel worse by the end of it and forget that I really just need simple hydration. Big pot of water next time please, brain.