Dawn O’Porter says she made the decision to quit drinking “overnight,” a change she “never thought” she would make, as she prioritizes self-care and well-being.
Lifestyle Changes and Self-Care
The author, 47, who is releasing her memoir, Hungry Eyes, in June, says she has made significant lifestyle changes in recent years to become the best version of herself. “There were some major lifestyle changes in the last five years – I’ve quit drinking, which I never thought I would do,” she said.
O’Porter, a London-based mother of two, emphasized she doesn’t want to be “preachy” about giving up alcohol, but she simply grew “sick of being hungover” and decided to stop, almost immediately.
“I’ve partied for 30 years. If someone wants to call me boring, they can go ahead,” she joked.
Focus on Wellbeing
O’Porter added that while she currently doesn’t drink, she “still imagines (herself) as an old lady with a sherry,” suggesting this change may not be permanent. However, she currently views it as “the biggest act of self-care I think I’ve ever done.”
She acknowledged that people’s perceptions of how fun someone is can change, but she is focused on prioritizing her own needs. “What you realise is, a year later, no one actually cares. My social life hasn’t changed at all; I still go out all the time, I still have as much fun as ever,” she said. “It was just, you have to reassess who you are without a drink in your hand.”
O’Porter says she is feeling more “productive” than ever after focusing on self-care. “I didn’t always look after myself,” she said. “I think I was quite wild when I was younger, health and wellness was not on the agenda.”
Prioritizing Health and Fitness
Now, her life is centered around self-care, a shift that has come with age and motherhood. “I gear myself constantly around, what can I do to make me feel as good as possible, look as good as possible, and be as productive as possible.”
She also highlighted the importance of strength training, even though she wasn’t a “naturally sporty person.” “I’m not a natural exerciser… I was never sporty at school,” she explained. “But there is just no doubt that, at this point in your life, if you exercise, especially with weight training, it has a phenomenal effect on the way you feel physically and mentally.”
O’Porter also enjoys cooking and follows the 80/20 rule, eating healthy 80% of the time and indulging the other 20%. “I’m really indulgent by nature, and me fighting my indulgent nature is a daily effort… I love food so much, it is the love of my life,” she said. “I work on my own, I can make most of my own meals, so 80% of the time I’m really looking after myself, 20% I eat what the hell I want.”
The Importance of Connection
O’Porter’s other tips for self-love include reading books that “serve your soul,” following positive accounts on social media, and listening to music. She often listens to Classic FM while working and writing, finding it “peaceful.”
Her ideal self-care day would include breakfast with her two sons, Art, 11, and Valentine, eight, whom she shares with actor Chris O’Dowd, followed by dropping them off at school, working, a strength training class, and more time with her family.
“I was always someone who took care of other people, and now this new version of me, where I really take care of myself first, has meant that I am so much better at taking care of other people,” she said. “I think that is the biggest lesson that I’ve learned, the older that I’ve got.”
O’Porter is currently hosting a series on Classic FM, celebrating love in all its forms, and believes self-love is just as important as other types of love. She describes her “vibe of the year” as self-love, food, and classical music.
“I have my husband, who is the big love of my life, I’ve got my kids, and that’s another kind of love, and then I have my girlfriends,” she said. “Honestly, I spend most of my time in my friend WhatsApp groups – it’s the first thing I do in the morning, and it’s the last thing I do at night, saying goodnight to everybody. My female friendships, I could not live without them, and I celebrate them as much as I celebrate my marriage, the love of my life.”
Classical Love Themes with Dawn O’Porter – Fridays at 9pm on Classic FM and Global Player – the official Classic FM app.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
