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

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

Your TL;DR on the latest health and fitness research

LET COUNSELLOR KEREN LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

THAT FEELING OF BEING ON THE OUTSIDE, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE WITH EVERYONE? YOU’RE NOT IMAGINING IT – AND IT CAN CHANGE. HERE’S HOW TO GET THE FEELING OF CONNECTION BACK

For anyone devoted to a fitness regime, party season can feel like the least joyful time of year. But swerving nights out and anything stronger than a protein shake risks more than a buzzkill reputation – it can put a downer on your entire emotional wellbeing. Instead of Team Health or Team Hedonism, the best festive gift is unwrapping a middle ground between clean living and a little chaos