Isn’t it funny how sometimes the smallest changes can have the biggest impacts on your life? I’ve been having a battle for much of this year with one of my colleagues. He was constantly sending messages in our group chat outside of working hours (and inside sometimes, despite the fact we all work opposite each…
Category: Wellbeing
Birthday Reflections
This weekend, I celebrated my 35th birthday. Birthdays often create moments of reflection for me. A chance to look back on what I’ve accomplished in the last year. And thinking ahead to what I’d like to accomplish over the next 12 months. Until now, life has been too busy to pause and reflect.
Reflections
When I decided to book my trip to India earlier this year, I knew it was a life changing decision. I still find it hard to explain the feeling I had at the time. It was a mixture of excitment and overwhleming emotion, just knowing that this was absolutely something I had to do. I…
Onions
This post was originally published on 5th September 2018 and updated on 2nd November 2019. Rumour has it…I’m an onion. Last year, I received some professional coaching as a parting gift from my old CEO. My sessions with the coach, Beth, were pretty epic. They often felt more like therapy sessions then coaching sessions. Either…
Book Review: Kenya – A Mountain to Climb by Rod Wood
If you enjoy travel writing, adventure stories and books about Africa, Kenya: A Mountain to Climb by Rod Wood is a fascinating insight into one man’s journey to climb Mount Kenya and explore the country’s incredible wildlife. Five years after his first trip to Africa, Rod once again feels the pull of adventure.
Why do we exercise?
Ok, so a large part of exercising is about us looking after our physical fitness. Keeping in shape, improving our health, as a way of letting go of our frustrations after a long, gruelling day in the office, to improve our mental well-being. All perfectly valid reasons to exercise. Whilst many people choose to join…
Exploring Fulham Palace House and Gardens
Did you know there is a Palace tucked away in leafy Fulham? At the start of this year, I promised myself more London adventures. Not the usual tourist hotspots, but quieter corners of the city. London is full of hidden gems if you take the time to look for them.
My Notebook
This post was originally published on 16th October 2018 and updated on 3rd October 2019. I’ve been carrying a notebook around with me for a while now. Even pre-blog. I’ve always loved writing, but I’ve never known what direction to take this ‘hobby’ in. Travel Writing Fresh out of university, I dabbled with the idea…
Self-Care Neglect
As I write this blog post, I’ve been trying to think of a suitable word to sum up how I’ve been feeling during the last couple of months. All I can think of is… ‘meh’. A pretty nondescript word, but sums up how I’ve been feeling. Life has been a little bit all over the…
Sparkle
Sometimes in life, we come across people who have a very particular kind of impact on us. It’s like they make us sparkle. They’re not necessarily the loudest people in the room, or the ones who demand attention. But somehow, being around them changes the way we feel about ourselves. Their presence brings warmth, reassurance, and a quiet kind of confidence that’s hard to explain but impossible to ignore.
Virginia Water
What better way to start a week off in August than a day out in the rain! Not deterred by the weather, I loaded my rucksack and headed to Virginia Water. Virginia Water itself is a small town just outside London, nestled in the Surrey countryside. It’s one of the most expensive places to live in the UK.
Patience, Fate and Saying Things Out Loud
One of the reasons I created my blog was to offload some of the things running around my mind. I hoped it would free up some mental space, whilst helping me to process my thoughts in a more productive way.
Since creating my blog, writing things down has helped me to reflect and to start to understand some of the jumbled chaos in my head.
Mindful Gardening
I first fell in love with gardening when I moved into my first house. I was in my mid-20s, with my first mortgage, and my very own back garden. And it was awful. With the neighbours’ conifers blocking out the sun, and the stickiest clay soil, it left a lot to be desired.
Mental Health Awareness Week
I’ve been thinking about mental health a lot this week. Particularly apt with it being Mental Health Awareness Week. Everywhere I’ve turned there have been reminders about mental health awareness. Social media has been full of quotes and articles. And celebrities as well as us ‘normal’ folk have been talking about our experiences with mental health.
Is self care easier if you’re single?
A few weeks ago, I attended a friends hen party. The hen party was fun. But something was troubling me. I was staying in a hotel that night with another friend. While we were busy getting ready for the hen party, she started pouring her heart out to me. It appeared that her marriage was…
Wedding Season
It’s been a good few years since I last went to a wedding. They can be a bit like buses. You wait ages for one and then two come along at once! This spring, two of my closest friends are marrying their respective partners. I’ve very much been looking forward to their weddings.
Time to Reprioritise
Do you ever find yourself caught up in life and realise that you’ve not quite got your priorities right? Life has been busy lately. Finding time to relax in the evenings and at weekends has been nigh impossible, especially since my trip to Portugal in February. I’m not complaining.
Positivity
Have you ever wondered why you attract certain types of people into your life? I try really hard to embrace positivity. But allowing negative people into my life seems to be something I have made quite a habit of. Not deliberately, of course. But time and time again, I have found myself attracting friends and partners who are negative.
Knife crime, dirty laundry, and self care
The last couple of weeks have made me realise just how important it is to have a self care bank. If I hadn’t been able to cash in on some of my self care reserves, I definitely wouldn’t have got through it as well as I have. Most of the drama that has unfolded, has…
Dreams
I’d be lying if I said I was looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I’m not. But, I’m not sitting around dreading it either. This was never the job of my dreams. Although it hasn’t all been bad. I’ve never really seen a dream job as something that could be obtained by ‘ordinary’ people.
Praia Santa Eulália and Praia da Oura
Thursday was my last full day in Portugal. I had intended to have a rest day. But I also wanted to see what else was around. This time, closer to where I was staying.I had been staying at the beautiful Alfagar II Aparthotel, which has private access to Praia Santa Eulália.
Balancing Relaxation and Adventure in Portugal
In Portugal, I try to balance exploration and relaxation during my holiday. Recognising the need for self-care, I alternate days of adventure with rest. Enjoying hotel amenities, I incorporate gym sessions and spa treatments into my routine. I learn the importance of downtime, aiming to return home rejuvenated, not exhausted.
How a Shower Can Improve Your Mood and Sleep
It’s funny how the smallest new habits can change how we feel and deal with situations. Being quite new to self-care and wellbeing, I’m constantly learning new tools to experiment with. Some stick, others don’t. But I know my self-care journey is all about working out what works best for me.
Breaking Free from Toxic Relationships
I reflect on past relationships that crushed my self-esteem and emphasises a commitment to breaking this pattern. By prioritising self-discovery and happiness, I’m learning to be content alone, hoping future partnerships will foster mutual growth without control or jealousy. Excited about the ongoing journey of self-improvement, I embrace my newfound identity.
Self-Care Sunday
After a tumultuous week, the weekend was a much-needed break. With reduced work pressure, self-care became a priority. A haircut, housework, jogging, and weightlifting filled the days. Pampering with beauty products and holiday shopping brought relaxation. Tending to the plants capped off a rejuvenating weekend, gearing up for the upcoming challenges.