After strapping Belle into the back of the car today (the one thing she can’t do with a cast on her arm) I turned around and rushed face first into a lamp post.

It’s amazing how my British upbringing kicked straight into gear — under my breath I unleashed every expletive I knew but pretended to passers-by that I was completely fine. I got into the car and the kids dried my embarrassed tears with sticky fingers and baby wipes. It took a little while for my ego to calm down though. I mean, really, a lamp post!

So sometimes the universe sends you a sign, telling you to slow down. I just wish my sign hadn’t been made from solid steel. I took a deep breath at home and thought of a few ways to simplify my life. For me, that always starts with food.

When you love to cook it’s hard not to line up one fabulous meal after the next. I’m always coming across new recipes to test.

They may be healthy but they are not always simple; so often my ingredients list is too long and my to-do list is endless.

The thing is, even when a to-do list is packed with things you enjoy, it’s still a little stressful if you never get to the end. I love my family, my friends, my job, working out — I know I am lucky and privileged for that reason. But still, the constant race to get things done is overwhelming. It’s not good for my family and it’s not good for me.

I read a great article this week about “having it all” — how having it all actually sucks. Women fought long and hard for a level playing field and in many respects we’re still fighting that battle. But at what cost? It’s impossible to give 100 per cent in every area. But what if I said that was OK?

Last year, in a talk I gave with Julia Pitt (The Royal Gazette’s wonderful success coach), we discussed the issue of the “highlight reel”. How most of us hold ourselves to an artificially high standard that doesn’t really exist. Facebook, Instagram, bravado at work and parties…. we see the things people want us to see, but rarely the reality.

So what do you think I have for dinner every night? It’s not all cacao nibs and fermented veg, I can promise you that (in case you didn’t know, everyone is fermenting everything!). When the list gets too long, I rein myself in and go back to basics. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Scrambled eggs on toast with a big pile of arugula, hummus and crackers and olives and baby tomatoes, Waitrose fresh soup and an apple; tonight was pasta and chicken nuggets and broccoli with the kids.

Eating on the go can be easy and healthy, even when travelling through life at 100mph.

But sometimes the biggest health tip of all is to just stop accelerating. Pull back on the unnecessary complications and let go of 100 per cent in the areas that aren’t crucial.

I read a whole chapter of Harry Potter to Chloe tonight but my house looks like crap. And you know what, that’s OK.

• The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is the managing director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. For details, please go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnaturalnutritionbermuda