Lucy Nott: It’s been a year of rebuilding myself

When I was 15 I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour on my pituitary gland. This meant my teenage years were spent in and out of hospital, very unwell, on lots of medication.

Before my diagnosis I had started rowing and it quickly became my solace. It gave me back control over my body and the choice to push myself out of my comfort zone.

Rowing also gave me a support network of friends and I was a valued member of the team, just like everyone else. But equally, I knew that when the chips were down, I had people to talk to and they would listen.

See also: Lucy Nott – talking should accompany the walking on public access

About the author

Lucy Nott

Farmlife opinion writer

Lucy lives with her husband, a sixth-generation farmer, and their two children on a 100ha (250 acre) arable farm in Worcestershire. On the farm they have a passion for regenerative agriculture and aspire to transition to a regenerative system. They are also part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot and are trialling lots of new things on the farm. They hosted their first LEAF Open Farm Sunday (LOFS) this year and Lucy is now the LOFS Ambassador for the West Midlands.

Read more articles by Lucy Nott

As an adult, I moved into cycling. It is mine and Ben’s shared hobby. We used to travel the country racing, it was our social life and outlet for life’s stresses.

Riding a bike is a freedom like no other. The mindfulness of focusing on each pedal stroke and the euphoria at the top of a climb is pure bliss.

In 2022, following two difficult pregnancies with traumatic births within two years, the athletic me seemed a distant memory.

But aside from the obvious physical changes, I was shocked by the deterioration in my mental health. So, 2023 has been a year of rebuilding myself both physically and mentally.

I thought I was never going to be able to cycle up a hill, run 5km and or do a back-squat again. But here I am having done all three. For the second time in my life, sport and exercise have saved me.

If this resonates with you, think about the process, not the objective. The hardest part is starting. Once you have started, you have conquered the biggest mountain of the challenge.

Next, keep showing up every single day. The most advanced thing you can do is the basics consistently.

Taking the opportunity to do something outside in nature, other than work, is so beneficial for your mental and physical health.

It gives you the chance to reconnect with the beauty around you and experience the joy the countryside brings.