How Influencer Alex Light Finds Her Feel Good

Here at NEOM, we’re all about embracing those small everyday steps that make a BIG difference to your overall wellbeing. ‘Finding Your Feel Good’ is a series where we chat to women about the little moments in their day that bring them the most joy. Below, we talk to Alex Light, influencer, podcaster and author of You Are Not A Before Picture. 

“I’m a new mum, so my mornings have recently become a lot earlier than they used to be! I get up at 5 or 5.30am so I can be productive before my son Tommy wakes for his first feed – I’ll either shoot content or sort my inbox and complete some work admin.” 

I Like My House To Be In Order At All Times 

“Having a tidy environment is something that is really important for me and my mental health – so I then spend a bit of time making sure everything is put away and sorted while I listen to a podcast. My favourite podcasts are Hidden Brain and Invisibilia: I love anything to do with psychology.”

When I’m Feeling Tired Or Sluggish…

“I find that the ritual of applying make-up and doing my hair makes me feel more perky and ready for the day. I recently had a C-section so I’ve not been able to get back into exercise yet but my favourite exercise is either spinning or boxing. A boxing class is my favourite way to release tension and anxiety and just zone out for an hour. Exercise also helps if I’m having a bad body image day: I find shifting my attention from how my body looks and feels to what it can do to be really powerful.”

The Best Time Of Day For Me Is… 

“Curling up on the sofa with my dog Betty, Tommy and my husband and watching a British drama on TV with a cup of tea and a biscuit (the M&S Chocolate Rounds have my heart). I love a lavender candle so usually light the NEOM Perfect Night's Sleep one for added relaxation!

I always take five minutes before going to bed for my skincare: a routine I’ve always loved doing and that I make sure I take time for every day.” 

My Working Week Is Usually Quite Varied 

“My job is quite difficult to describe and I always struggle with explaining it to people I meet but I guess a good word for it is ‘influencer’. I create content around body image, body confidence and self-esteem, born out of my own personal experience with eating disorders. I always wanted to be a writer, a job I did for 10 years, but when I began recovery for my own problems with body image and eating, I was compelled to speak about my experience online. I started connecting with people with similar issues on Instagram and ended up writing a book called ‘You Are Not A Before Picture’, which is essentially a body image bible to help anybody who doesn’t feel comfortable in their own skin.

I spend a lot of time creating and editing content that I hope will resonate with my audience, but often have photoshoots or days in the studio where I am recording my podcast ‘Should I Delete That?’ with my friend Em Clarkson. We interview different guests, which is one of my favourite parts of this job!” 

Whenever I Feel Overwhelmed I Write Lists 

“There is often a lot going on at all times with my job – there are a lot of different Whatsapp groups! – and I can sometimes feel overwhelmed. The way I manage this is very boring: lists! I’m a big believer in writing everything down as it helps clear my mind and compartmentalise. I also like to do guided breathing: I find this incredibly helpful at quieting my mind and easing anxiety.

My husband sometimes has a bath before going to sleep, but I prefer to read a book in bed – it helps me avoid screentime and reading is a ritual that I find incredibly relaxing. When I’m feeling sleepy, I put a podcast on a 30-minute timer and hit the pillow. I sleep well but my son still needs feeding in the night-time so there aren’t many great stretches of sleep for me at the moment!” 

Inside My Wellbeing Toolkit 

1. Skincare.
2. Make-up.
3. Candles - I go through so many candles because they just bring me a lot of joy. 
4. Exercise - particularly boxing or spinning.
5. Guided breathing – I use an app called Breathwrk that’s great.