The Lockdown Habit This Exec Wants To Keep Until She’s 90

When you take yourself out of the day-to-day, the mind is free to play, says Productivity Commission chair and paddleboarder Danielle Wood.

Australian Financial Review, 2025

Danielle Wood is the chair of the Productivity Commission. She’s 45 and lives in St Kilda, Melbourne.

How did you start paddleboarding?
It’s a lockdown habit that’s taken hold. I’d always wanted to try it – I thought it looked quite relaxing and I’d done a bit of windsurfing when I was younger. Then my husband bought me a board as a surprise for my birthday and I haven’t looked back.

How often do you go out?
Usually on the weekends, and sometimes in summer I’ll go out in the evening or morning.

How committed are you? Do you paddle rain or shine?
No. I am a total wuss. I do it for pleasure rather than physical exercise, so I don’t torture myself by doing it when it’s freezing cold.

What do you like about it?
It’s a way to relax, unwind and be out in nature. It’s meditative and gives me the space to switch off. You can just be in the moment, and you’re not striving in any way. Also, you’re away from tech, which is important. You can’t take your phone with you.

There are probably easier ways to avoid your phone …
There’s no cheating when you’re 200 metres from shore! I do try to be disciplined, but there’s a gravitational pull towards email and social media. I think these sorts of opportunities to really take a break are important.