Soap Hub Wellness Wednesday: DAYS’ Martha Madison on ‘Me Time’

Like her legal eagle character, Belle Black on Days of our Lives, Daytime Emmy nominee Martha Madison is a savvy individual. She’s no-nonsense and gets right to the point, which makes her an ideal interview subject for Soap Hub’s Wellness Wednesday column.

Martha Madison – Wellness Wednesday

Soap Hub recently chatted with the fan-favorite, who has played Belle Black on and off since 2004, to get her thoughts on exercise, nutrition, and “me time.”

Soap Hub: You’ve got a busy life with DAYS, family – husband and daughter, and your non-acting work in the restaurant world. How do you factor in working out into your life?
Martha Madison: It’s so easy to scratch off the exercise hour if you need more time to get everything done, but I really try not to do that. I actually bought a Peleton. [Chuckles] It’s here in my house and staring right at me, so I make sure I use it. The weather’s getting nicer, so I like to get outside and hike, too. It’s good for your mental health to get outdoors and clear your mind.

Soap Hub: Is there something you’d like to work on more this year? More water? More working out? Nutrition?
Martha Madison: This year, I’ve been working really hard to incorporate more ‘me time’ into my schedule, a time when I don’t have to attend to anyone else’s emails or phone calls. I’ll take time to read a book or go for a walk. I take time to be with myself and decompress. It’s easy to use every waking second to do things for everyone else. I find that if you don’t take the time for yourself, then you’re going to burn out. It’s the whole ‘Put your oxygen mask on before helping anyone else put theirs on.’ It’s true!

Soap Hub: Meditation is big these days. Have you gotten into that?
Martha Madison: I can’t. I’ve tried too many times. I wish I could do it. I can’t get my brain to that frequency. I can’t calm myself enough to benefit from meditation. I can’t do it. [Laughs] I’ve tried so many times! I do think the closest I’ll get to meditation is when I do my walking and when I exercise.

Soap Hub: What advice do you have for someone who is looking to take those first steps on improving their wellness?
Martha Madison: I don’t really believe in ‘diet culture.’ I’ve tried every diet. I’ve done everything. But, I think the ‘secret’ is to not do that. There’s a lot of information you can find when you google ‘food freedom.’ Start there. I think we spend too much time obsessing about everything we eat and how we exercise. I think if you tune in to your own instincts – both physical and mental, then you’ll get yourself there. You have to listen to yourself.

Soap Hub recommends consulting with your physician before embarking on any new diet or fitness plan. Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on DAYS spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.