Stay fresh for the festive season with Body & Soul!
Elyse Knowles has been busy. In just a few months, she’s turned a rundown Melbourne house into a multimillion-dollar home to win this season of Nine Network’s The Block, landed major campaigns for Aussie swimwear brand Seafolly and the new Bras N Things lingerie collection, and completed countless media interviews in between.
By all accounts, she should be tired - exhausted, even - but despite her jam-packed schedule (and the fact she was on a 7am flight from Melbourne to Sydney this morning), the 24-year-old arrives at the location for our cover photoshoot looking fresh-faced and ready to roll.
As the queen of multi-tasking (who does it all with a smile), Elyse knows a thing or two about maintaining her energy levels in times of stress. Here, she reveals her top 10 tips for nixing fatigue during the hectic party season.
1. Keep moving
“I try to go to the gym every day because it makes me feel positive and happy. I had so many things going on while we were filming The Block that I could only exercise once a week, but I made the effort because it sparked my energy levels and I’d walk out feeling amazing. I’m all about heart rate, so I go for high-intensity exercise.
I get competitive with myself by trying to get into my highest heart rate zone and that perks me up and gets me ready for the day.”
2. Fuel up
“If I’ve eaten well, my body feels good and I can go out feeling energised.
I always have a green smoothie in the morning, but during the show I didn’t have time to make it, so I’d buy juices for me, my partner, Josh, and our tradies. In a fast-paced environment it can be hard to have healthy options on hand, but you need your vitamins, so I always carried raw treats such as nuts, a protein ball or raw chocolate for a hit of energy - even at 4am!”
3. Get back to nature
“Josh and I love getting away from our home in Melbourne on weekends because it restarts us for the week ahead.
We just go to the beach, walk our dog, Isla, and feel grounded again.
It really helps me to get out in nature, even just smelling the plants. I always hit the bush and go camping over the summer because that’s my ideal break - getting out in the dirt and getting back to basics.”
4. Find a friend
“When you’re busy, you need happy energy around you, so surround yourself with positive people. Doing the show, Josh and I always amped each other up and it helped having that support - we were in it together. Negative people bring you down, but being around people who have a smile on their face gives you a spark that keeps you going.”
5. Meet in the middle
“By the same token, while I always want to do the best by my friends, if they have an event on and I’m sick of talking to people, then I just try to go for an hour or two and have a smile on my face. Making the effort is what’s important.”
6. Learn to say no
“During The Block we sometimes wouldn’t sleep for days, so when people would go to the pub for dinner or a beer, I’d go to bed. Even if the sleep was minimal, it benefited me for the whole week, so sometimes you have to be selfish and just think of yourself. You can try to put on a face for your friends, but you get mentally drained, so it’s important to say no and learn that you can do what you want. And if you don’t want to drink, don’t - you can still have an amazing time.”
7. Switch off your phone
“Turning everything off, focusing on the moment and not having a phone next to you is so important for your brain and for being sociable. Social media can really zap your energy and I sometimes end up with a headache from checking emails all day, so Josh and I know when it’s time to stop, put the phone away and just enjoy wherever we are and whatever we’re doing.”
8. Let yourself go
“Having fun is empowering, so seek it out. As you get older, it’s easy to forget to just cut loose and enjoy the moment, but make it a priority this party season. It can be as simple as kicking a footy around at a barbecue with friends, or turning up the music and having a dance.”
9. Keep calm and carry on
“There’s not much time to pause for breath at this time of year, so you need to find windows of calm where you can. The scent of essential oils makes me instantly relax and helps to reset my nerves - I often put a dab on the end of my nose to remind me to be calm. Plus, the bottles are small enough to keep in your handbag for when things get hectic and you start to feel overwhelmed.”
10. Stay grateful
“When you’re tired, and the last thing you want to do is go to another party, just remember where you are and how hard you worked to get there. Josh and I always took a minute to remember how grateful we were for The Block experience so we wouldn’t give up.”