Six Broadsheet Editors Share Their Go-To Wellness Habits, From Morning Yoga to Mario Kart

My therapist always says we tend to drop our self-care routines when we need them the most. When I’m stressed, sluggish and tired, taking care of myself is often the last thing I want to do. Going to bed early? Hmm, I’d rather stay up and binge-watch until my eye-bags are down to my elbows. Cooking and eating a nourishing dinner? No thanks, I’ll order a giant greasy burger straight to my door on a Tuesday instead.

When life’s busy and the overwhelm is real, it helps to have a toolbox of low-effort, high-reward habits – the kind you can slot in easily, even on your worst days. Everyone’s toolbox looks a little different. Maybe your bestie loves Pilates classes, while you hate the thought of working out in a crowded room. Maybe your partner keeps bugging you for a bushwalk, but you’d much rather stay in and rewatch your favourite series for the second time this year. To give you a little inspiration, I asked six Broadsheet editors and staffers about the wellness habits that they use to reset – no willpower needed.

Simone Richardson, shopping editor

I’ve got a full routine for when I really need to block out the world. I’ll shower and drench my body in moisturiser afterwards, which my mum taught me as a kid. I use Cetaphil’s fragrance-free moisturiser (or a Necessaire one if I’m going out). Then I’ll put fresh sheets on the bed and set up some mood lighting with a candle. My favourite one is Le Reve by Maison Balzac – I’m currently on my third one. If I’ve got one, I’ll put on a sheet mask. I love the Go-To one, or the 111 Skin number if I’m feeling extra bougie. Then I’ll get into bed and rewatch the The Real Housewives of New York. There’s something about listening to 40-year-old women scream at each other that calms my nervous system. 

Audrey Payne, Melbourne food and drink editor

I don’t have trouble falling asleep, which means I’m excellent at napping. If I’m overwhelmed or I’ve had too much screen time, I’ll recharge with a little day nap. I also go to bed early most nights. I realised I was very dehydrated, so I’ve started drinking a big glass of water before I go to bed and as soon as I wake up. Drinking warm water is a big one, especially in winter – it helps to keep my body at a nice temperature. And sometimes, you just need a “cigarette”, which for me is playing a game of Mario Kart. I play the knockout round online. I’ve unlocked all the outfits, which actually takes a lot of time – it’s quite alarming. 

Nadia Bailey, travel editor

The biggest one is that I do Yoga with Adriene on Youtube every morning. I started this during the pandemic and never stopped. Sometimes I’ll just do a 10-minute session, or sometimes I’ll do half an hour, depending on how much time I have. To reset during the day, I’ll go outside and walk in nature. I also like doing things with my hands; I feel like it’s really refreshing when you do a lot of desk-based work. Cooking is a big one and I love a baking project – the more complicated the better. Right now I’m on a Japanese cooking kick, so I’ve been making ginger tsukudani (simmered ginger) and nori no tsukudani (simmered seaweed). To wind down at the end of the day, I try to avoid screen time and read a book – but often just end up lying in bed scrolling Depop. 

Pauline De Leon, branded content editor

Honestly, waking up and making my cup of coffee first will make my day. On weekends when I’m out and about in the city, and I’ve maxed out my caffeine intake, I get my nutritional fix at the nearest Boost Juice. I recently tried the new Too Good to Be Green flavour – there’s something about it that’s both filling and refreshing, and it helps keep up my energy levels. During the week, after a long day, I’ll put on a vinyl record and listen away while doing my chores. That helps me relax and takes my mind off work. I always get in 8000 to 10,000 steps per day. I have a walk pad at home, so when I work from home, that’s something I’m on while I’m editing. I used to go to the gym and Pilates a lot, but now with this horrible weather I like staying indoors as much as possible, and hitting my step-count really helps. I just wouldn’t recommend doing it while watching TV, it’s a real balancing act. 

James Williams, creative solutions manager

My wellness ritual is all about romanticising my own life. I give myself little treats that fill my cup, like sleeping with my blinds open and waking up to the sunshine. When the cup runneth empty I stop by Mario’s before work, order a cappuccino and sit there with a book. Sometimes I’ll invite friends to join me. My main self-care practice is swimming at the Melbourne City Baths, because it’s cardio, muscle and breathwork all in one (it’s not necessarily low-effort, but it’s very high-reward). Then I get to back it up with a sauna trip, which is where I like to finish. And on the weekends, I love op-shopping for clothes and second-hand books.

Julia Monaco, campaign manager

Owning an alarm clock means I don’t actually use my phone before bed or first thing in the morning. I bought one that lights up with the sunrise and plays nice music to wake you up, instead of the jarring iPhone alarm. I do Pilates and stretching, and I like to do it after work – I find it’s a really nice way to switch off and separate the workday from my home time. I love reading and listening to audiobooks; at the moment I’m listening to the full Harry Potter audiobook series. I’ll also treat myself to a Boost Juice if I’m rushing around like crazy on the weekend and just need a moment for me. I recently tried the new Strawberry Glow. The collagen is an added bonus and makes it feel like a great part of my routine. I also love going for a walk to get a treat with my boyfriend, spending lots of time with family, and going to the footy. 

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Boost Juice. Its new Blends With Benefits range has six limited-edition drinks, all packed with extra benefits, like collagen, creatine, whey protein and fibre. Whether you’re chasing a glow (Strawberry Glow, Peachy Glow ), gains (Peanut Butter Protein, Blue Hydrate, Mango Refresh) or gut health (Too Good to Be Green) the new range has one to match – for a limited time only, at Boost.