Step one – make sure you’re sitting correctly. A quick google search will tell you how to sit properly for your poo, and the key is to have your knees higher than your hips.

“The most important thing is to get your feet up on a stool or a stack of books, anything that allows the muscle that wraps around your rectum to release,” advises dietitian and poo expert Sophie Medlin. “This will make it much easier for the poo to pass out, preventing fissures and piles from excessive straining. 90% of people who use a stool under their feet when they poo strain less and 71% had quicker bowel movements.”

It’s something we tend to do when we’re younger and have shorter legs – it’s time to go back to basics and get a stool.

How to have a better poo: from prime positioning to breathing correctly, expert tips for a happier gut