Toni Collette: What my kids taught me

Toni Collette didn't know she could feel such an "overwhelming amount of love" until she had children.

The 41-year-old actress is mom to six-year-old daughter Sage and son Arlo, three, with her husband Dave Galafassi. Having such a busy day-to-day life, Toni appreciates the smaller things and looks to her young ones for a fresh new view of the world. They have also taught her new things about herself.

"First thing I do in the morning is I drink a sh*tload of water. The last thing at night is I check on my children," she told Refinery29 about her daily schedule.

"[Children are] just so present and playful. One of the benefits, or the aims, of meditation is to allow yourself to be present, and kids just do that naturally. That's pretty inspirational. Also just the incredible, overwhelming amount of love that you can feel. I didn't know that I could feel that."

Toni has played a number of troubled characters on the big screen before, such as suicidal mothers Fiona in About a Boy and Maureen in A Long Way Down. Away from the camera, the star doesn't let herself get into ruts and finds busting some moves is the best way to keep the blues at bay.

"I also have a job which is very varied, and I still find it exciting, even though I've been doing it for more than half my life. I feel very lucky for that," she explained.

"I really appreciate it and I get to learn from each character that I play. Also, music is the most evocative tool, really. If you put on some happy music and jump around the room, have a dance, have a boogie, you can't get really get away with being miserable at a time like that."