From post-natal depression to prioritising self-care

We chat to Founder and Chief Executive of the Kindness Collective about her health journey post having a baby, and how she juggles leading a nationwide charity, being a mum and looking after herself.

Is there a specific topic relating to Women’s Health that resonates with you? Why? 

Women being able to live their fullest and healthiest lives in all ways is something I’m passionate about, but after experiencing my own post-natal depression journey I’m always up for more conversation around how to keep our mental health in check. 

Something I’m lately more interested in is learning about the ‘joys’ of perimenopause and how come we don’t know more about it. These symptoms are wild and I want to know when it will end!?

How has your approach to your own health changed over the last 10 years?

After experiencing significant post-natal depression after the birth of my son I really came to appreciate just how important getting back to basics was (and is) for keeping good physical health.

When I was younger I was very much a “she’ll be right” kind of girl when it came to my health, put the doctors off, keep working till the wheels fell off, late nights and too many things that weren’t great for health, but since having Max it’s become more important to get things checked out and get back to basics. Exercise, vegetables, water, sleep - all the basics we know are important but are often the first to go in times of stress of being a busy working mum! 

I’m learning that in order to take care of my child, my charity, my team and my community (and the 60 odd thousand children we provide for each year) I really need to look after myself too!

How have you found navigating the world of perimenopause / what has helped you? 

Perimenopause is an interesting time. The more I talk about it the more I hear stories of women like me, who are experiencing all sorts of random (and very common) symptoms but were really surprised by it because they just didn’t expect it! 

It’s really only been in the last year or two that we’ve had more brave women (thank you Kate Rodger) talking about it on TV and podcasts, and bringing it into the open a bit more, but there’s so much more work to do. 

Once I get over being hot one minute, freezing the next, the horrendous brain fog and missing words, no sleep, and crying every five minutes, I can hopefully spend more time listening to more podcasts about it so I can learn and share more with women in their early 40s!

What is something you do on a daily basis that contributes positively to your own health? 

Deep breathing, laughing, practising gratitude and active kindness (and trying to get to the gym). 

What are you prioritising in the next 10 years to support a long and healthy lifestyle?

Exercise and more rest. I used to be so much fitter than I am now and have let old work/life habits (more work, less life) get in the way of my love of weight lifting and exercise, so I’m prioritising exercise more. I’m also spending more time taking time off, and trying not to work every day.  

More weights, more walking, more laughter and hopefully some more sleep if I can get on top of these perimenopause symptoms of course.

About Sarah Page

Sarah Page is a Mum to an 11 year old boy, Max, and the Founder and Chief Executive of the Kindness Collective, a nationwide charity that supports over 100,000 people living in poverty every year. The Kindness Collective won Community of the Year in 2023 and Sarah was recognised as a Semi-Finalist for Local Hero at the New Zealander of the Year Awards, as well as Westpac Women of Influence in 2022.

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