The Life Of Bryony - Ashley Roberts – Transforming Bedtime Routines & Embracing Aging with Confidence

Episode Date: July 18, 2025

In this bonus episode, Ashley Roberts – former Pussycat Doll, broadcaster, and wellness advocate – joins Bryony to answer listener dilemmas about sleep, ageing, and self-acceptance. Ashley shares her honest take on battling an overactive mind at bedtime, the rituals that help her wind down, and why putting the phone away is her number one rule for better sleep. The conversation dives into feeling invisible with age, embracing confidence at every stage, and breaking free from societal hang-ups. And Ashley opens up about dating younger, finding joy in healthy relationships, and why she feels more vibrant than ever in her forties.  Packed with relatable advice and uplifting stories, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking real talk about wellbeing, self-worth, and living life unapologetically. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512 - just start your message with LOB Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB  Prefer email? Drop us a line at  [e-mail] If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it—it really helps! Bryony xx Credits:  Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Ashley Roberts Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode of the Life of Briny is sponsored by Asda, with thousands of prices rolling back across the store and online. That's good honest value. That's Asda Price. Welcome to the Life of You, where we tackle your questions and get into the nitty gritty of life's trickier moments. I'm joined again by Ashley Roberts. Today we're diving into your questions about sleep burnout, and most crucially, how to find calm when your brain is doing backflips. Put the phone down. The scrolling is a niche niche.

You got to put it down, hun. Listener questions coming up right after this. Ashley, this is a question from someone who also may be a relation of ours called Alex. And Alex says, I can't switch off even when I'm exhausted. Every night I lie in bed with my brain racing. I've tried meditation apps, but I always end up doom scrolling instead. What are the do's and don'ts of your bedtime routine? Well, Alex, put the phone down. Put the phone down.

The scrolling is a niche niche. You gotta put it down, hon. I mean, again, it's this routine, like going back to like, like the mind is way overstimulated and already if you've got an overactive mind, adding that on top of it is just recipe for disaster. So I think like getting a routine

would definitely be helpful and to try it consistently for like, you know, a few weeks and see if there's a shift. I mean, it definitely helps me. Like you mentioned earlier about how when you, at bed you have a book and I think that's definitely, I'm really strong, like switch, my phone goes. It doesn't necessarily, like it's not necessarily

out of the bedroom, but it's just like off and out of, you know, on a charger. And I do think, and I read and having that fit, because you know, like the reality is I couldn't just lie there and stare at the ceiling. You know. That's what I used to do, you go Craig Craig Jones. Yeah, but reading is a different,

because you can literally only look at the book that you have in front of you. I mean, I have a Kindle as well, so you couldn't go bored with that, go in and buy something else. But you know, it is a different, even though it's not entirely switching off, it is switching on a different part of your brain.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Even a few pages and doing it consistently starts to retrain the brain that like, okay, let's start like sending those chemicals or whatever that it's time for bed. It does make you sleepy reading. Yeah, it does for me now. I mean, it did't back in the day,

but I've just added it into my routine, and now my body starts to know it's time to shut down. What are you reading at the moment? I've gone through every Colleen Hoover. I wish I was like, I mean, maybe she's cool, but I've gone through like all of her books. And now I'm on Tara Jenkins. Okay.

I used to read all of like the self-help, like, coachy ones, but then I'm like, which are great. But you run out of them after a while, right? Yeah, but also like before bed, then I'm like thinking of, my brain's over thinking of what I need to then work on tomorrow. And I'm like, I just need a bit of fluff. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You definitely need a Colleen Hoover. Yeah. She needs to write a new book. She does. If you're anything like me, Colleen Hoover. She needs to write a new book. She does. If you're anything like me, you're juggling about 17 different tasks in your head all at once. So let me give you one less thing to think about. Your weekly shop. Because Asda is rolling back prices on thousands of products this summer. From your daily bits

to BBQ goodies and family favourites. It means less money spent and more headspace for everything else. So next time you're there, keep an eye out, you might end up saving more than you expected. Thousands of prices rolling back across the store and online now. That's good honest value. That's Astor Price price, selected stores and lines, subject to availability. The second question is from Claire, who says, I'm 44 and lately I've started feeling invisible.

I still sometimes feel sexy and confident, but everywhere I go, I seem to be the oldest person in the room and don't even get me started on online dating. I'm constantly worried about age gaps and whether I'm too old for whoever's popped up on Hinge even if they're literally a year younger than me. The thing is, I know I have a hang up about it. I bring up my age way more than my friends do. I'm mostly at peace with a few lines and wrinkles but the idea of being old terrifies me. How do I stop obsessing over this? Claire, you're 44, you're not old.

I was going to say, girlfriend, we're around the same age. And I'm like, this is the best I've felt, if I'm honest with you. I genuinely feel younger the older I get. Yeah, and also maybe the universe is telling you to go younger. I'm kind of here for this. My boyfriend is younger. Is that fun? I mean, I date my boyfriend is younger. And what is that fun? I mean, obviously it's fun because he's your boyfriend.

Like you wouldn't be with him if it wasn't. But well, I mean, I thought it was going to be a bit of fun. And then I was like, actually, you're awesome human. Like you're more emotionally intelligent than guys. I've dated my own age or even older. So I'm like, yes, screw it. Like, let's just. Jen said they do have a better emotional vocabulary, don't they?

I mean, it's it's he's I'm in the most healthiest relationship I've ever been. So there you go. So, yeah, whatever. Screw the age. Like, do you rock it? Like, just have fun. Enjoy it. Go younger. There we go. I love it. There we go. I love it.

Thank you to dear lovely Ashley for answering our questions with such warmth, honesty and trademark sass. If something she said hit home, share this episode with someone who needs it. And if you're struggling with sleep stress or just being nice to yourself, remember you're absolutely not alone. You can grab Ashley's new book Breathwork out now. It's full of practical advice and a lot of hope. Until next time, keep being kind to yourself. This episode of The Life of Briny is sponsored by Asda, with thousands of prices rolling back across the store and online. That's good honest value. That's Asda Price.