I am not a total prude, but I've always possessed a degree of awkwardness about nudity. I can change into swimmers in a communal changing room, but I'll do it as fast as I can with my eyes fixed to the floor.

So when I read that naturists have higher self-esteem than those who keep their clothes on, I decided to spend a week in the nude in the privacy of my own home to see what I could learn. I hoped that my naked experiment would make me more comfortable with my body and its imperfections.

I absolutely gained was a sense of "knowing" about my body. Credit:Stocksy

I worked, slept, cooked, cleaned, and got on with family life minus my clothes. Although I was a little apprehensive about my nudity project, on the whole I really enjoyed it.

There were low points. On one of Sydney's excruciatingly hot days, sweat pooled under my unsupported breasts and my thighs stuck to my synthetic office chair. I was extremely uncomfortable and desperate to cover up. On other days, though, my nudity was liberating and fun. There were even a few moments where I felt profoundly present in my body.