This is what Julie Bishop's perfect day of exercise and food looks like...

Genevieve Rosen wrote in My Body & Soul http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/mind-body/wellbeing/this-is-what-julie-bishops-perfect-day-of-exercise-and-food-looks-like

“My days begin early and end late but first thing every morning whether I am at home or overseas, I run.”  

The Hon Julie Bishop MP has been the Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2013 and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party since 2007, but her well-documented political accolades – she was the first female Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and the third woman in Australian history to hold the title of Deputy Leader of the Opposition – aren’t where this inspiring leader’s achievements start or end.

The 61-year-old, who grew up on a cherry farm in South Australia, is a Harvard business school alumnus, a lawyer – she was made a partner at Clayton Utz – and, beyond the realm of her professional CV, is a runner, triathlete and, inarguably, one of the most glamorous women in parliament. So much so, that she’s graced the pages of the countries glossiest mastheads with her style and wisdom.

In fact, in the March 2016 edition of Vogue, the political force told the fashion bible that, like many of us, she uses exercise to switch off, improve her clarity and boost her mental health – which is why you’ll see her clad in workout-wear in every country her official duties take her.

“[I’ve run in] memorable locations including the ocean cliff tops in Lima, along the Mediterranean coastline in Beirut, through the snow lined winter streets of New York, and, most recently, through St James Park and around Buckingham Palace with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson,” she said, admitting that, regardless, it’s hard to go past soft sand runs at her local Cottesloe Beach in Perth.

It’s an excellent way to start the day – “running is an important part of my routine, to start the day with energy, and when travelling to reset my body clock and overcome jet lag” – especially when a sunrise is involved, which is around the time, Bishop tells us, that she wakes up and checks her emails.

“My schedule can often be punishing with back-to-back meetings plus morning and evening commitments, so my days begin early and end late but first thing every morning whether I am at home or overseas, I run,” she iterates, and serves up the same sage advice any health professional would, when it comes to living a balanced lifestyle: “It’s important to also put aside time for exercise, which I find essential for the body and the mind.”

There are lots of benefits from [running], obviously keeping mind and body active is important, but it’s also ‘me time’. I spend a lot of time thinking about that day, that week, the issues I have to deal with — there’s certain clarity of thought that comes with exercising outside. And when I’m running overseas it gives me an opportunity to see a city,” said Bishop, who cited some of the world’s most beautiful destinations as notable spots she’s upped her endorphins in.

Sleep is also a crucial part of the picture for the MP, who admits that catching those elusive zzzs can be difficult, especially when traversing time-zones and negotiating work commitments.

“I try to get at least 6 or 7 hours sleep per night, although that can be challenging when travelling through different time zones,” she admits, and says that wherever she is, she “eats sensibly, walks rather than drives when possible and always takes the stairs!”

A typical day on a plate – if there were such a thing – would be “muesli, fresh berries and yoghurt for breakfast and small portions at official functions” whether they be at lunch or dinner time, plus a mix of healthy on-the-go snacks to keep her satiated.

And, whether it’s in the realm of health, politics or personal pursuits, the MP says “I am always striving to do better at everything I do,” even after a bad day or in the face of intense criticism.“I back my judgment, and instincts, rather than worry about meeting standards that others set,” she says, and the one thing that makes her feel better when she’s down is “thinking about my family and friends.”

Don’t expect to find this political force wallowing, though.  When she’s have a bad day the one thing she avoids doing is – and we quote – “feeling sorry for myself.”  “Get over it, and get on with it” she says, which are words to live by, if we ever heard any.