The One Show presenter Alex Jones has revealed she suffers from a common sleep disorder that affects roughly one in three adults worldwide. As a television presenter and mother of three, Alex is no stranger to a busy schedule, which she admits can often take its toll.
Balancing Motherhood and Career
Opening up about balancing motherhood with her career, the 49-year-old told Woman magazine: 'I think as women we always have too many tabs open but I wouldn't change it.' She added: 'Sometimes I suffer from a bit of insomnia because my head never stops, but most of the time I sleep well due to pure exhaustion.'
Insomnia is a condition that causes people to regularly struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep, although it can often improve by making changes to sleeping habits. According to the NHS, the most common causes of insomnia include stress, anxiety or depression, noise, a room that is too hot or too cold, an uncomfortable bed, alcohol, caffeine or nicotine, illegal drugs such as cocaine or ecstasy, jet lag and shift work. A GP can help identify the underlying cause of insomnia so you can receive the right treatment and advice.
Family Life and Work Demands
Alex shares three children – Teddy, Kit and Annie – with her husband, Charlie Thomson, whom she married in 2015. Reflecting on juggling family life and work, she added to the publication: 'Every woman is making some sort of sacrifice. Something always has to give.' She continued: 'There's got to be compromise. You can't do everything, it's impossible, life isn't perfect.' Alex described a typical frantic moment: 'I'll be on The One Show and they'll be doing the live countdown and Charlie will be texting, "Does Kit need a packed lunch tomorrow?" and I'll reply, "Yes! I'll get some ham on the way home and don't forget to take the bread out of the freezer. I've got to go, the title music is on."'
Milestone Anniversary and Future
Alex has presented The One Show since 2010, when she replaced Christine Lampard. Over the years, she has worked alongside a number of co-hosts, including Matt Baker, Vernon Kay and Roman Kemp. The programme is currently gearing up to celebrate its 20th anniversary, with a host of familiar faces set to return. Marking her 15-year milestone on the show last year, Alex said she hopes to remain on the famous sofa for as long as possible. 'I'll be here as long as they'll have me! I have loved the last 15 years and love presenting the show and I think we're just getting stronger and stronger, from stories to guests and presenters,' she shared. Alex went on to say: 'The guests we're getting are more and more exciting, and personally, I'm so excited to be a small part of that.' The One Show continues tonight at 7pm on BBC One.
