Health Scan: Kate Carbery

Kate Carbery: ‘Sometimes every hour of my day is full and I get to a point every few weeks where I crash.’
Kate Carbery: ‘Sometimes every hour of my day is full and I get to a point every few weeks where I crash.’

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle? I don't lead a particularly healthy lifestyle. I am very active, in that I race around after two children all day. I eat a fairly balanced diet, though I've an unhealthy appetite for crisps and need to eat more vegetables.

On busy days I have been known to grab a ham sandwich on the go for lunch and that could be it until dinner time. I am mostly happy and almost always grateful for what I have, so that certainly contributes to good mental health.

How often do you exercise? I used to take very regular power walks with my sister in the evenings and do Pilates classes. Since the birth of my second child, seven months ago, I haven't had any regular exercise apart from activities with my kids.

I am still searching for a way to exercise that is enjoyable. I will find it one of these days.

My latest idea is tennis. Maybe a bit of competition would motivate me.

That being said, I am rarely sedentary during my days; I don't sit down that often. Do you get your five fruit and vegetables a day? Usually, yes.

Do you worry? I worry much less now than I used to. That has come with age, I suspect. I usually notice anxiety when it creeps up on me, identify the cause and either make a change or accept it. It works for me.

What do you do to relax? Read a book or the paper. Watch TV. To be honest, if I have time without my children, a deadline for interviews or something related to my book, I go to bed. What's your worst habit? I overfill my days with activities and meeting people. Sometimes every hour of my day is full and I get to a point every few weeks where I crash. I rest, get back up and start all over again. I'm not sure I will ever change.

Kate Carbery is author of Becoming Mum, a reference book for new and expectant mothers, which gives personal accounts and advice from dozens of mothers on the issues associated with childbirth and the early months of motherhood.

Colin Gleeson

Colin Gleeson

Colin Gleeson is an Irish Times reporter