Being single should never be the thing that holds you back from going out and having a good time. As a woman in her 40s with no partner or kids, I know how easy it is to feel like everyone else has company. Most of my friends are married or knee deep in family life, so I’m used to riding solo.
Category: Wellbeing
Recognising Coercive Control and Healing Old Patterns
It took just one day of our first holiday together for everything to make sense. One day for the knot in my stomach to tighten into something I could no longer ignore. I felt myself shrinking, and suddenly, all the little moments I’d brushed aside in the weeks before snapped into focus.
My Most Read Blog Posts in 2025
Are you ready to discover the top 5 blog posts my readers delved into last year at TheMindfulGingernut.com? Although I published 10 new blog posts in 2025, it was a selection of golden oldies that made it into my Top 5 most-read list!
Moving to London – 10 years on
London. The city that stole my heart, burnt me out, and had an impact on me that will last forever. In August 2015, I packed my bags, waved goodbye to my hometown and left for the big smoke. I’d never lived anywhere other than Northamptonshire. I even went to university there.
Acupuncture – My first experience
Although long intrigued by acupuncture, I had never felt a strong enough pull to seek out an acupuncturist. I have friends who swear by them, so this added to the intrigue. But that all changed when I met Acupuncturist Sarah Bristow at a networking event in Lewes.
What is an empath?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt things deeply. Whether it was sadness, worry, or a subtle tension in a room, I’d pick up on it. For a long time, I’ve put it down to being emotionally intelligent. But recently, I’ve realised it’s something deeper.
What Is A Creative Retreat?
I first met Helen at a Netwalking event with the Being Freelance community last summer. Less than a year later I found myself heading to Brighton to join Helen’s latest retreat.
Why Being Single at 40 Feels So Different
I’m not gonna lie, being single at 40 feels different. When I found myself single at 30, I started a new adventure and moved to London. Dating wasn’t difficult in the city. But when I became single again at the beginning of this year, after almost 5 years in a relationship, singledom felt different.
Overcoming Loneliness Through the Being Freelance Community
Loneliness isn’t something you always see coming – it can creep up on you, especially during big life changes. During the pandemic, I was one of the millions of adults in the UK who felt its weight.
Exploring Newhaven
One of the things I love most about moving to a new town is getting to explore new places. This time, I don’t just have a new town to explore, but a whole new county. After doing some research, I decided on the small port town of Newhaven on the East Sussex coast.
Achievements That Make Me Feel Proud Of Myself
A few years ago, my parents brought me a book that opened my eyes to the importance of self-care: ‘Self-Care for the Real World’ by Nadia Narain & Katia Narain Phillips. My biggest takeaway from the book, was to write down 5 achievements that make you feel proud of yourself.
Life After Loss
If nothing else, the last 12 years have taught me how important it is to find a way to embrace life after loss. Living for today doesn’t always seem possible in ‘normal’ circumstances, let alone after loss. Especially when we’re wrapped up in the Mon-Fri regime of work, eat, sleep, repeat.
The 3 Peaks Challenge: My Story
Training for the 3 Peaks has certainly kept me busy over the last few months. And back at the beginning of September, the challenge finally arrived. After months of training, I finally found myself sitting in a hotel room in Fort William.
February: Dogs, Valentines And Being An Influencer
I don’t quite know where to begin with my usual monthly reflections. February felt like a weird month. I spent so much of it feeling tired and energyless. I felt stuck in first gear. The tiredness dissipated towards the end of the month, but as I pulled together my monthly ‘Look Back’, you’d never know it was a bit of an effort, although it probably does explain some of the zombie feelings!
Why I Joined Borrow My Doggy
If you follow me on social media, you might’ve noticed a bit of dog-related content on my stories recently. As much as I would love a dog someday, none of the lovely dogs are actually mine. I have been borrowing them from dog owners who use the website Borrow My Doggy.
My Top 10 Wellbeing Tips
Every month in my newsletter, I let my readers into some of my favourite self-care and wellbeing tips. Through various features, I’ve also gathered advice from others. Some of these people are real-life experts in the health and wellbeing sector. This week, I’ve been looking back on the wealth of wellbeing tips I’ve gathered through my newsletter.
January: Clearing Out, Celebrations, And A New Challenge
I can’t quite believe we’re a month into 2023 already! Unlike previous years, I really enjoyed January. I eased myself into the New Year and found myself relaxed, with a chilled but positive mindset.
What is a Sound Bath?
Last weekend, I treated myself to my first-ever in-person sound bath. SInce then, I’ve had several people ask me: What is a sound bath and what are the benefits? The impacts of a sound bath will differ from person to person, but they can reduce stress and anxiety as well as increase energy levels.
My Bucket List Plans for Turning 40
This year, I’m setting out on one big bucket list adventure. Ahead of my 40th Birthday in December, I’ve set myself a little challenge. There’s some stuff that I’ve had on my bucket list for a while. So I thought, why not make it into a ‘thing’ in the lead-up to my BIG 40?
A Look Back at The Goals I Set in 2022
Happy 2023 🎉 It’s been a little while since I’ve been in this space, but it’s good to be back. November and December were busy months at The Mindful Gingernut HQ, but I’m back and raring to go. Before I get carried away with 2023 antics, here’s a little roundup of where I got to…
October: Dartmoor, Stalking Deer and an Autumn Retreat
Wow! What an epic month of adventuring October turned out to be! I can go months without seeing people, and then I have a crazy month of socialising and going places. Being an introvert at heart, I find socialising tiring. So as much as it’s been fun, I’m ready to hide away for a bit now!
Post-Therapy Reflections
It’s been almost two months since I finished going to psychotherapy, and there is still a lot to reflect on. It has been one of the most insightful experiences I’ve been through so far. I learnt so much more about myself in those 12 sessions. In this week’s musings, I want to share some general…
A Look Back At August
I’m a bit later than usual with my ‘Look Back’ due to recent events, but I’m back with a round-up of August, which seems like a lifetime ago already! August was a bit of a strange one this year. We sadly lost one of my Aunties last month, which has left my family mourning the…
My Trip To Italy – Part 1
I’d been dreading June since the beginning of the year. The tenth anniversary of my best friend’s passing loomed like a big dark cloud on the horizon.
When my then boyfriend announced he would be away for the anniversary, I found myself in a quandary. I could stay in Kingston on my own burying my head in the sand or spending the day feeling sad.
A Look Back At June
So here we are, already in the second half of 2022. I’ve been appalling at maintaining my blog this year. It always seems to be the first thing to go on the backburner when life gets busy. The irony is, that’s probably one of the reasons I ended up seeking therapy earlier this year. My…