Since I’m a recovering people pleaser, self-care has always felt paradoxical for me. I’m no stranger to burnout, but I still tend to let anything ‘more important’ take priority over the guilty pleasure of my own wellbeing. That is, until recently, when something happened to completely flip that switch!

2025 has been tough. Eleven months ago, both of my beloved dogs unexpectedly passed away shortly before Christmas. From one day to the next, it felt like part of my identity had disappeared.

Known locally as ‘the lady with the two black and white dogs’, suddenly I was no longer able to call myself a Border Collie breeder - in fact, I wasn’t even a dog walker. And though I persevered with ‘no dog’ dogwalks, my heart wasn’t really in it.

Then seven weeks back, everything changed. First, my step count doubled overnight (and has stayed consistently high)! Clearly, my previous Border Collies wanted me to recognise the gift they were sending me. A new foster dog, one so special that within the week, I knew Lulu would be staying.

Lulu provides me the perfect excuse for frequent short nature breaks throughout the day. This new approach has sharpened my focus and melted my stress, but more than anything, it’s made me feel like I’m back in the game. Best of all, there’s no need for me to agonise over all ‘this self-care’ because I’m doing it for Lulu!

In Charles Duhigg’s language, Lulu represents a keystone habit. Behaviourally-speaking, Lulu does not do half measures. She always plays to win and this uncompromising Border Collie attitude truly lights my spark. Somewhat ironic that with no solid self-care effort on my part, my best habit saved me!