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FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT hether you know her as co-host of Good Chef Bad Chef or you're one of the 75,000+ followers lapping up her relatable health advice on Instagram, Melbourne GP Dr Preeya Alexander is the kind of expert you want in your corner when you tackle parenting. But despite her vast medical knowledge and years of counselling parents in her consulting room, it wasn't until she became a mum herself that she realised how much parents need looking after too. "I'd heard about sleep deprivation but when | lived it myself, it was a completely different ball game," she recalls. “| was very foggy and my GP brain imploded. | wasn't implementing [tactics] like | would for a patient because | was so tired.” Now, out the other side of the baby years (with a seven-yearold daughter and three- year-old son], she’s a wealth of knowledge on everything from infant medical needs to sleep strategies. But perhaps the biggest thing she's learnt is that if you can find ways to fill up your own cup while raising kids, your whole family will benefit. Ditch the guilt As much as she makes it look easy to work as a practising GP and TV host who also somehow manages to keep her Instagram updated with helpful medical recalls. “She gives me really practical tips Reframe self-care intel, Dr Alexander feels as challenged by and tells me why | am doing a great job, Having kids is arguably the most time- the working parent juggle as the rest of and that really fills my cup.” consuming undertaking you'll ever attempt, us. “One of the biggest surprises of having Dr Alexander also colourcodes her but Dr Alexander says your own needs don't children was the guilt,” she says. “There's time with her kids in her diary. “When I'm have to fall by the wayside completely. that constant feeling of guilt [around] feeling guilty, | go, ‘Oh, look how much "| think the notion of self-care has been 1 ; choosing to have a career or choosing orange there is’ — that’s the kids,” she says. somewhat shattered by social media,” she @ to go out for dinner. [You're always [| realise] | am striking some kind of balance says. "I's like, ‘Go to a spa for a day or go ‘ asking], ‘Am | there enough? Am | there because | can actually visually see it.” to Coachella with your friends’. But it doesn’t too much? Am | giving them every And when she's in that scheduled time have to be fancy or glamorous.” opportunity? Am | exhausting them with with the kids, she’s careful to always make So, while you might not be able to fit in too many opportunities?” sure she's all in. "I really try and separate the daily gym routine or leisurely sleep-ins of She uses her own mother as a sounding it. | put my phone down and put everything years gone by, celebrating small moments board and relies on a carefully orchestrated away," she says. “I'll say, ‘I’m going to of peace can really make a difference. calendar to make sure everyone's needs are ~— read you 20 books’ or ‘Let’s build the "Finding ways to put yourself first, just being met. “My mum was a single mum and __ train set and see how long it can go and occasionally, | think is really important,” a King's Counsel who really juggled career how many noises it can make’. It's being she says. "Selfcare things can look very and kids — and nailed it because | always present, which makes me feel better and different for all of us. It might be having a felt like she was around and loved me," she | can tell the kids pick up on it.” mindful cup of tea in the morning before the 18 | JUL/AUG 2023 COSTCO CONNECTION