Katelyn Swallow is a small-town country girl from WA, turned journalist, editor and communications professional based in Melbourne. She currently works full time for a University, while simultaneously running her own side-hustle – a media training and copywriting business for health and lifestyle brands. She has recently been appointed Editor-in-Chief of STRONG Fitness Magazine Australia, launching in October. Before then, she was one of the youngest editors in the country, appointed Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Health and Fitness magazine at just 25 years of age.
Katelyn Swallow is a small-town country girl from WA, turned journalist, editor and communications professional based in Melbourne. She currently works full time for a University, while simultaneously running her own side-hustle – a media training and copywriting business for health and lifestyle brands. She has recently been appointed Editor-in-Chief of STRONG Fitness Magazine Australia, launching in October. Before then, she was one of the youngest editors in the country, appointed Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Health and Fitness magazine at just 25 years of age.
Find inspiration as we talk to Katelyn Swallow in our #StrongHealthyWomen interview.
Hi Katelyn! Thank you for being part of the Health and Fitness Travel, Strong, Healthy Women Interview Series, where we are shining a light on the importance of self-care, not as an indulgence but a necessity to reduce stress and general health issues.
Is there such a thing as a typical day for you and what does that look like?
I do my best work when I’m in routine. I train most mornings at 5am, which usually includes a high-intensity boxing class, leg-focused resistance training session or an hour walk. On the tram to and from my full-time comms job (I spend close to four hours a day on public transport), plus weekends, I work on my own freelance copywriting business or STRONG. This includes planning out content and themes for issues, liaising with various stakeholders, writing and editing features, giving direction to the design team, commissioning out articles to journos and scouring various channels for potential talent.
Nine to five, I’m interviewing researchers and academics, writing stories and strategizing for the University. Other days, I’m producing video or podcast content, or I’m on set for a photoshoot. In a word, I’m BUSY!
At night, I try to step away from the laptop as much as I can and actually relax – whether that’s watching a TV show, hitting the sauna for 20 minutes, or having dinner and a glass of rose with a friend or my housemate.
Can you share a time when you felt your well-being was challenged in the past and what you did to turn this around?
Last year, my grandmother got sick and it really shook me – we were very close. I went back home to WA to help nurse her, and I wasn’t prioritizing my training, nutrition or mental health for months after she passed away. I couldn’t sleep and I just wasn’t motivated to achieve much, particularly anything associated with my own health.
I turned it around by talking to people, and finding new ways of exercising and eating to rekindle my motivation. Once I felt supported and was able to talk through what I was feeling, my sleep improved, I set new goals and I joined a new gym for a fresh start. It’s part of the reason I am ensuring STRONG Magazine Australia has a solid mental health focus – what you think and feel about your life and body has a huge impact on if (and how quickly) you achieve your wellness goals.
What are your non-negotiables when it comes to your personal health and how do you keep this at the forefront when life gets too busy?
If you had asked me two years ago, I would have said training. Now, my priority is sleep. That may sound lazy, but I’ve noticed that when I don’t get my eight hours sleep at night, everything else falls apart anyway – including my training, nutrition, mood and ability to work. So no matter what, I’m in bed at 8-8:30pm. All the studies say quality sleep is one of the most important indicators of good health and, for me, it is such an easy thing to do. It makes sense for it to be a priority when everything else is just ‘too hard’.
Have you ever taken a holiday specifically for your well-being? If so, where did you go and what did you do?
I went on wellness retreat with RBT gyms when I was working for a previous health and fitness publication, and it was one of my favorite experiences to date! The retreat was in a beautiful villa in Bali, overlooking the water. We trained twice a day (one weights and one HIIT session), did yoga every morning at sunrise, ate lots of beautiful, nutritious food, and took part in wellness workshops and cooking demos. A massage was also included every day, so it had it all. I came back very sore and very motivated.
Every woman’s idea of self-care is different, tell us about yours?
For me, it’s about spending time with people I love or just taking time out to be by myself – to train, to take myself out for breakfast, to sit in the sauna or watch a Netflix series.
It may sound counterintuitive, but my work is also a form of self-care. Helping women achieve their health and fitness goals, and become stronger emotionally, physically and mentally, is so empowering and gives my life a sense of purpose. I think this is significant, given how hard women have had to advocate to be taken seriously in a high-powered career and to be seen as drivers of social change. In short, to me self-care is finding your passion and pursuing it without apology.
Want to tell your story? Reach out to us via info@healthandfitnesstravel.com.au and be featured as our next strong, healthy woman.
