Creative producer Leonie Marsh knows that the biggest positive contributor to her everyday mood comes from going offline to experience life’s key moments.
Waking up to the sun, going for ocean swims, cuddling her four sons and getting in a good belly laugh with a friend, are the key moments she makes time for. And despite working on screen, she aims to keep these moments free from screens.
Marsh certainly isn’t completely opposed to screen time, given that as the founder of Screen Vixens she’s leading a collective and advocacy group of producers identifying as women, intersex and non-binary working across all mediums in the Australian screen industry.
With a passion for bringing creative dreams to life through podcasts, films and events, Marsh believes screen time is all about balance and being intentional with the time you spend online.
She also knows the importance of prioritising her health through eating well, honouring time spent alone and exercising – especially pilates classes.
Marsh was an Arts & Entertainment finalist in the 2022 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards and is the latest to feature in our weekly health series examining how dynamic women from different career backgrounds manage their physical and mental health.
Read Leonie Marsh’s full “How I Manage My Health” profile below, and see other women profiled in this series here.
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And for any female identifying screen producers out there wanting to get involved, Screen Vixens would love to welcome you.
In the morning, I…
GO OUTSIDE! It’s been my biggest revelation; to go outside first thing – look at the sky and take some deep breaths, before the chaos of the family takes over. That and waking up naturally – there are strictly no screens in our bedroom so no alarms, we wake with the light and it makes such a difference to my overall mood and day.
My exercise routine includes…
With four young sons I have to cram what I can into little windows – it’s mainly pilates and walking to and from school, pushing a double pram up a hill which is my equivalent of the sled at the gym.
My favourite workout is…
Absolutely without a doubt, The Pilates Class by Jacqui Kingswell. Jacqui is a friend, and a former professional dancer (she’s danced for Beyoncé, truly!) She started the platform during lockdown and it changed my life. She has a brilliant mix of classes including hit, stretch, barre all created on the fundamentals of pilates. I LOVE her teaching style, choreography, her general attitude of each day getting on the mat, and of course that kilowatt smile. The classes range in duration from 5mins to an hour so it really works for me as I know I can carve out 10mins each day. Am trying to exercise less more often if that makes sense!
I find balance in…
Going offline, for a small period every day and at least one full day on the weekend. Standing barefoot on the grass. An ocean swim, you never regret a swim. Bushwalks. Stretching. Cuddles with my boys. A walk and talk with my husband. A good (ideally belly) laugh with a friend. Reading my book.
On health, I encourage women to…
Make yourselves a priority. It’s so easy to say and much harder to do, but I think we women always put ourselves last and it’s to our detriment. I now know that I will be much better – in every sense – if I have eaten well, done my movement and had some time alone. And to be ok with the ebbs and flow of life. Some days you get it all done and you’re winning! Other days you don’t. But every small thing counts so don’t be hard on yourself and keep trying the next day and the day after that.