You can tell yourself that everything is normal, and try to keep the same routine from every other Test match, but there is always something extra special about an Ashes series.
The Ashes are the biggest Test series played in the world.
I need to keep moving my game forward, because Test batsmen will keep moving their games forward.
A lot of the things we do in Test cricket revolves around planning for the Ashes series down under.
In 2015, I was privileged to host the first ever televised Women's Test match during the 2015 Women's Ashes on Sky Sports, which saw every game covered of the multi-format series.
I want to be part of the team that wins a Test series in England and Australia.
At that time in my career, everything ended up moving so fast, honestly. Within the first five years of my career, I think I did two TV series and four big movies, and I've never been that hot again in my career.
Growing up, my education about Test cricket came from dad's video of the 1981 Ashes series - and Ian Botham's incredible match at Headingley.
You turn up to an Ashes series and put everything you can into it.
I do love the Ashes and some of my best memories are from Ashes cricket. I just wish we'd played a few more Test matches.
Everything goes out of the window when you start an Ashes series. It's about grabbing the moment.
Life is actually a series of tests. It's a social test, a happiness test, a business success test. You'd like to get A's in all of them.
Remember that nearly all extraordinary accomplishments began by overcoming a series of challenges that discourage and tempt us to quit, before we succeed. Those that maintain faith, stay committed, follow through and keep moving forward are the few that achieve everything they want in life. Be one of the few.
I think we match up with anybody because our pitching. In a short series you run your big three out there or four out there. That generally is what wins a series - pitching and defense. If we can catch the ball and not give away any runs like we do sometimes.
I've always been taught that life is a series of chapters, and it's all about moving forward and not carrying around baggage.
Every sailor knows that you can't sail a ship that isn't moving forward, strong leaders understand that to change direction, you first have to create forward progress.