Gok Wan on ‘little wins’, his lifelong quest for balance, and why music is a form of self-care
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Self-care is something that “constantly changes” for Wan, but: “I’m slightly fixated at the moment on little wins, as I’m calling it, which is appreciating the idea of getting up on time, getting to a job on time, being a good person wherever I’m going, making sure I’ve got enough time for my friends, my family, but also my job – it’s all those little wins for me that makes me feel like I’m doing a better job of being myself. “And that includes things like walking the dog, listening to some music – and not being on camera, recording something for social media, or on my computer – otherwise you never stop.” By doing a bit less, he says: “I’ve probably been far more alert in the work that I am doing, instead of constantly rushing to the next job” – which sums up mindfulness and our quest for being more present in the moment. Or I can completely shift my mood by playing something uplifting that makes me smile.” While it’s always been “massively important”, Wan’s relationship with music took on even greater meaning during the pandemic. “If anything, music got me through – well, it’s one of the things that got me through,” he recalls of lockdown.