As she nears 65, Suzanne Paul says she’s trying to stop running around like crazy – but her life is still packed with writing, walking her rescue dog and attending Zumba classes.
The time I get up varies… depending on how much sleep I’ve managed to get in the night. As I’ve got older, I don’t fall asleep easily and sciatica wakes me up two or three times a night, so I get up and do some stretches, then try to get back to sleep. But as long as I get six hours, I’m okay. I can’t remember the last time I slept right through the night but I don’t have a regular nine-to-five job any more, so I can sleep in, if I need to.
In the morning… my partner, Patrick, always brings me a cup of tea in bed. It’s a great way to start the day – I’m very spoilt. I don’t eat breakfast, I haven’t done so for years. I just don’t get hungry till about 12.30pm.
My first look at my phone is… while I’m in bed enjoying my cup of tea. I’ll check my social media and take a quick look at what’s happening in the world. My morning is spent… replying to emails and working on the second edition of my best-selling motivational book, But Wait, There’s More. I want to change certain chapters and also add to it. A lot has happened since I wrote the first edition – some good, some bad. If it’s a Monday morning, I’ll go to the local Zumba class, which I love.
Lunchtime means… eating my lunch outside. It’s usually just toast with perhaps a poached egg or some cheese.
In the afternoon… Patrick and I will sometimes take our little rescue dog, Matty, to the park for a run around. He’ll want to chase a ball but if it’s hot, he’s happy just sniffing and widdling his way around. I call it the “positivity park”. I made a rule that we can’t talk about anything negative while we’re there. We just try and practice some mindfulness, enjoy nature and talk about the things we’re happy about and grateful for.
Most days I’ll be… busy, but I’m 65 this year, so I’m trying to make things a bit easier and not rush around like a mad thing any more. I want to enjoy like while I’ve still got reasonably good health and fitness.
Some days I… meet a friend for lunch or pop into the mall for a bit of retail therapy. I go to the chiropractor a couple of times a week to try to fix my sciatica, and there’s always something to clean.
At 5pm I’ll be… having a dip in the pool. I enjoy just floating about and having a bit of a swim, and then I might lie outside for a while and read a magazine.
At dinnertime… Patrick cooks – he’s better at it than I am. Then we like to curl up on the sofa with Matty and watch TV and enjoy a glass of wine or two.
Once a week… I do a 6pm Pilates class and either we’ll have friends around for dinner or we’ll pop out to our local restaurant.
By 10.30pm… I’m usually getting ready for bed and putting on my various lotions and potions. I’ve never gone to bed without cleaning my face and putting cream on it. Once in bed, I like to read for an hour or so until I get sleepy. I’ve usually got a good thriller on the go.
Our dog Matty is… by my side practically every minute of the day, and Sid the cat pops in and out.
The one thing I would like to change about my routine is… to go to bed earlier and get more sleep, so that I can get up early and fit more into my day. It’s a work in progress.
Suzanne Paul, best known as a TV presenter and winner of Dancing with the Stars, is currently working on the second edition of her motivational book, But Wait, There’s More.
