Headlines about the hardships of motherhood are rife – and one group of women have been paying close attention. Here, a thirtysomething writer takes a break from her to-do list to hear from those who are burning themselves out to prepare for parenthood

LET COUNSELLOR KEREN LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

Taking time out for recovery is key to meeting your goals, so don’t let guilt or anxiety put you off relaxing

‘After the divorce and the kids moving out, I feel like I’ve disappeared. I’ve spent so long being someone’s wife, someone’s mother, someone’s employee – I don’t know what I want any more. Even small

Often find you’re getting overwhelmed by changes, or feeling stuck and can’t seem to shift into healthier patterns? Alison Middleton shares her toolkit for moving from scattered to centred, to help you start the new year on a good footing!

I started my career as a news journalist, working in frantic newsrooms and reporting on key events. But my heart was always in health – I enjoy writing about things that benefit people, rather than si