As an entrepreneur, speaker, author, trainer and mum of two young kids, Libby Babet is constantly on the go. Thanks to her passion for working with women and creating experiences and products that help them feel more powerful, confident and connected, Libby founded Chief Nutrition, activewear label Earthletica, The Upbeat gym in Bondi and was a coach on The Biggest Loser Australia.
Despite her jam-packed schedule, Libby, who is set to headline the upcoming FitHer Expo Melbourne on October 5th, still knows how to find a moment of calm in her busy days. All she needs is a good book!
5-7PM
I am in the ‘dinner rush’ zone during this time. I’ve usually picked up my two little kids and made my way home via one extracurricular activity or another, and now it’s a big ol’ rush to get the dinner ready before the kids get too hungry and wild! There’s a bit of homework in there for my 6-year-old daughter and a bit of TV for my 2-year-old son (current fave is Danny Go and Kids2Kids) while I make dinner, and then it’s time to eat!
Fun fact: I actually hate cooking, so making dinner for the whole family is a special kind of punishment for me, the very opposite of relaxing. This always surprises people because I’m in the health industry, but it’s always some variation of steamed vegetables and protein in my house. There’s little to no dinner variety because complex recipes are my enemy, no joke.
7-9PM
I’ll shower with my kids now – it’s just easier, quicker and I can wash them better than in the bath – and then dress them/myself and jump into bed. My alarm clock goes off early and I still co-sleep with my 2-year-old, so it’s just easier to jump into bed at the same time.
9-11PM
After a shower I’ll read my kindle, and this is hands down my favourite part of every evening. I listen to non-fiction audibly as I drive around but evenings are strictly for other-worldly fiction and I so look forward to this time of day, cuddled up to my sleepy toddler reading a book. It’s more like 9-10pm though, because there is no world in which I am awake by 11pm!
Are you a night owl or a morning lark?
Morning lark all the way – my alarm goes off at 4:15am on the days I’m training people early at my gym The Upbeat, and 5am on every other day. Very occasionally I’ll sleep until 6:30/7am on a Sunday morning but anything later than that just never happens for me. I love mornings and I especially love mornings teaching in my gym, it’s just such a fun time of day!
What is the one thing that you do that always guarantees a good night’s sleep?
Warm shower, early to bed and read a book to help me stop thinking about the day and doze off. I’m not joking when I say I’m OBSESSED with reading at night. During the postnatal periods with each of my kids, I kept my kindle close and read through every breastfeeding stint – it’s just been a lifeline to me. The other thing I do to ensure a good night’s sleep with kids is sleep with them. That way if they have a nightmare or wake up (which they always, always do), I don’t have to get out of bed and can resettle them quickly right there and then.
Do you use any technology to track your sleep patterns?
YES! Big Apple Watch girl over here. I track everything with it – fitness, my cycle, heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep. I don’t watch the data like a hawk but it’s great to look back and get averages from if I’m feeling a bit tired or off.
Does your wind down routine change between weeknights and the weekend?
Weekend evenings are just a lot less hectic. The after-school run-around is not my favourite – the kids are always a bit tired but wired, there’s the rush to activities, to complete homework and get dinner and showers done. Honestly, I have no idea how anyone else’s kids are in bed by 7pm, we’re always closer to 8-8:30pm in my household!
On weekends we usually do an earlier dinner outside on the balcony, chill with some books and a mug of hot chocolate, just take it slow and really ease into the evening. We usually take a ‘night walk’ before bed on weekends too, just a lap of a few blocks to talk and wind down and look at the stars. Weekend evenings are my favourite.
What do you do to wind down?
I’m re-energised by the sun and water, so spring/summer is the most relaxing time of year for me. A moment in the sun with a cup of tea or coffee, a moment by the pool reading a book after a swim with my kids, or a surf when I’m up north visiting mum and dad and have extra hands for the kids, these are all my favourite things to do to relax. When sun and water aren’t on the cards, sweat will also do the trick and chill me out! I’m at my least relaxed when I’ve not had enough movement in my day.
As an entrepreneur, speaker, author, trainer and mum of two young kids, Libby Babet is constantly on the go. Thanks to her passion for working with women and creating experiences and products that help them feel more powerful, confident and connected, Libby founded Chief Nutrition, activewear label Earthletica, The Upbeat gym in Bondi and was a coach on The Biggest Loser Australia.
Despite her jam-packed schedule, Libby, who is set to headline the upcoming FitHer Expo Melbourne on October 5th, still knows how to find a moment of calm in her busy days. All she needs is a good book!
5-7PM
I am in the ‘dinner rush’ zone during this time. I’ve usually picked up my two little kids and made my way home via one extracurricular activity or another, and now it’s a big ol’ rush to get the dinner ready before the kids get too hungry and wild! There’s a bit of homework in there for my 6-year-old daughter and a bit of TV for my 2-year-old son (current fave is Danny Go and Kids2Kids) while I make dinner, and then it’s time to eat!
Fun fact: I actually hate cooking, so making dinner for the whole family is a special kind of punishment for me, the very opposite of relaxing. This always surprises people because I’m in the health industry, but it’s always some variation of steamed vegetables and protein in my house. There’s little to no dinner variety because complex recipes are my enemy, no joke.
7-9PM
I’ll shower with my kids now – it’s just easier, quicker and I can wash them better than in the bath – and then dress them/myself and jump into bed. My alarm clock goes off early and I still co-sleep with my 2-year-old, so it’s just easier to jump into bed at the same time.
9-11PM
After a shower I’ll read my kindle, and this is hands down my favourite part of every evening. I listen to non-fiction audibly as I drive around but evenings are strictly for other-worldly fiction and I so look forward to this time of day, cuddled up to my sleepy toddler reading a book. It’s more like 9-10pm though, because there is no world in which I am awake by 11pm!
Are you a night owl or a morning lark?
Morning lark all the way – my alarm goes off at 4:15am on the days I’m training people early at my gym The Upbeat, and 5am on every other day. Very occasionally I’ll sleep until 6:30/7am on a Sunday morning but anything later than that just never happens for me. I love mornings and I especially love mornings teaching in my gym, it’s just such a fun time of day!
What is the one thing that you do that always guarantees a good night’s sleep?
Warm shower, early to bed and read a book to help me stop thinking about the day and doze off. I’m not joking when I say I’m OBSESSED with reading at night. During the postnatal periods with each of my kids, I kept my kindle close and read through every breastfeeding stint – it’s just been a lifeline to me. The other thing I do to ensure a good night’s sleep with kids is sleep with them. That way if they have a nightmare or wake up (which they always, always do), I don’t have to get out of bed and can resettle them quickly right there and then.
Do you use any technology to track your sleep patterns?
YES! Big Apple Watch girl over here. I track everything with it – fitness, my cycle, heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep. I don’t watch the data like a hawk but it’s great to look back and get averages from if I’m feeling a bit tired or off.
Does your wind down routine change between weeknights and the weekend?
Weekend evenings are just a lot less hectic. The after-school run-around is not my favourite – the kids are always a bit tired but wired, there’s the rush to activities, to complete homework and get dinner and showers done. Honestly, I have no idea how anyone else’s kids are in bed by 7pm, we’re always closer to 8-8:30pm in my household!
On weekends we usually do an earlier dinner outside on the balcony, chill with some books and a mug of hot chocolate, just take it slow and really ease into the evening. We usually take a ‘night walk’ before bed on weekends too, just a lap of a few blocks to talk and wind down and look at the stars. Weekend evenings are my favourite.
What do you do to wind down?
I’m re-energised by the sun and water, so spring/summer is the most relaxing time of year for me. A moment in the sun with a cup of tea or coffee, a moment by the pool reading a book after a swim with my kids, or a surf when I’m up north visiting mum and dad and have extra hands for the kids, these are all my favourite things to do to relax. When sun and water aren’t on the cards, sweat will also do the trick and chill me out! I’m at my least relaxed when I’ve not had enough movement in my day.
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