Home Truths with Denise Lewis - can you guess what she does every single day?

I usually take my shoes off.

I actually think it’s night time, as even though I am up early with the kids to do the school run, I am a real night owl. I tend to potter about at night, getting things done that I haven’t had a chance to do when the kids are up. Then when it’s midnight, I’ll try and take myself off to bed.

I love my bed. Even though I am up late, I know that having eight hours sleep is essential, even if I don’t always get it.

Books! I love reading books but with a four-year-old it is often tricky to find the time so I tend to listen to audiobooks on the go. I also love to listen to all types of podcasts. 

That’s why I loved the opportunity to present my own one Runtethered, in partnership with Google Pixel Watch, where I chatted to a range of people about how they got into their chosen sport. 

It explores the benefits and joy that come from focusing on a sport, task or challenge - rather than your phone.

I don’t have a pet peeve, although with a busy household it’s very noisy so I do like to embrace the peacefulness whenever I can get it.

Not really, although as a family I try to encourage my kids not to be on their phones so much. I want them not to be distracted by scrolling through phones and hearing the pinging of their mobiles.

I enjoy cooking but I'm fortunate in that my husband likes to entertain. During lockdown, I enjoyed baking things, like sourdough for example, as I had the time.

I have to have a morning routine because of the kids so I’m up to give them breakfast and take the younger ones to school. And I always try to get some exercise in at some point during the day, every day, even if it is just walking. 

The physical and mental wellbeing effects of being out in nature are amazing. Fortunately, where I live there are green spaces, trees and I love to hear the birds sing so I don’t have to go too far to find it.

I don’t have the time to host a lot, which is why I’m lucky that my husband is the one who likes to entertain!

There was obviously a lot of homeschooling going on then, but now things are back to normal, I suppose finding the small minutes of time I have to be myself is important. 

I have to highlight lockdown, because it was a very transformational time for me. Having been a busy working mum for so long, I enjoyed really focusing back on exercise and what it meant to me. 

It's so much more than looking and feeling good, it does wonders for the mind, too.