The clocks were going back at the weekend, and Bob had decided to use the end of daylight savings as a marker to re-start his fitness regime. Over the past ten months, since his aborted attempt to create a regular gym routine for himself, he’d bemoaned his ever increasing waistline and gradual decline in energy. Bob knew he wanted to be fitter, and this time he was going to do it right. He knew he had to set a goal, so he’d set his sights on the local 10k in February. That gave him...
Of the three issues in the title, only one of them is within our control - but I do know that if you eliminate the one we can control, the self-care, then the other two things can have a much worse effect on us. It’s fair to say that self-care is the buzzword of the year, but I’d like to suggest that it is trending for a reason. When we take ownership of our self-care, the things that can bring us down; from stress and all its side effects to family drama and work issues, become...
"The Buddha called suffering a holy truth, because our suffering has the capacity of showing us the path to liberation. Embrace your suffering and let it reveal to you the way to peace." ~Nhat Hanh Do you avoid painful emotions in one of the following ways?
Workaholism. Racing mind/obsessive thinking. Any tool used to distract yourself: TV, smartphone, laptop, tablet, radio, games console etc. Keeping really busy all day, without stopping until it’s time for...
We all experience intense periods of stress, where it feels like everything is getting on top of us. Work begins encroaching into our home lives - working just a couple of extra hours in the evenings starts turning into working weekends, just to feel like we’re on top of things...
Slowly, things begin to feel like they are too much; emotionally, physically, mentally.
You start feeling overwhelmed. Drained, like you can’t meet with the constant onslaught of demands. Over time, you...
We all walk but there is walking and there is walking! Here, I share the benefits of walking, how to get the most from it, how much you ought to try to walk and how long the benefits can last. We are all aware that exercise helps us to stay physically fit. It is also now known that it uplifts the mood, if carried out regularly. Some scientists report that this is due to the release of endorphins (chemicals in the brain). Endorphins are natural painkillers and can also trigger feelings of...
“Welcome back; now that you are rested, we can get down to some hard work.” Has your spirit ever sagged at that statement? You have had two weeks leave, but feel rested? Ha! Returning to work exhausted after a break can be caused by several reasons:
You are in a season of life, where being on holiday means you just look after your kids or someone you care for in a different location. This is more stressful and expensive than being at home because you have to...
‘The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.’ Eleanor Roosevelt Today, are you feeling inspired, energised, enthusiastic? Or are you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious or even stuck, when you think about the week ahead? Focussing on your 'why' can help you to feel more motivated and positive - even about more mundane activities. Why are you doing what you are doing this...
Engaging in physical activity and the consequent realisation of it’s subsequent benefits on our mental health, in addition to the obvious physical health benefits, cannot be underestimated. It’s impact on our mental health have been recognised to the extent that it can be used as a stand alone treatment for depression or in conjunction with psychological therapies and/or medication. I regularly walk my Border Collie over the moors and notice the positive effect on my mood once I...
During times of stress and adversity it can be far too easy to become our own enemy inflicting even more pain and hurt by being unkind to ourselves. The effects of an external stressor can be magnified by thinking negatively exasperating feelings such as guilt, hopelessness, anxiety and sadness. Whether those unexpected life curveballs relate to matters of our heart, career or health we go through a process of change which can be challenging and feel devastating. Focusing on ourselves and...
Do you recognise patterns in your life, your routines which keep you on one track and stop you moving towards where you want to be? It is how we tend to operate until we can own and empower our lives. We may need a new perspective and reminders of how we can keep grounded, in balance and in a state of joy. Being honest with ourselves, we can see, feel and know and can release all the unhelpful things and flow into what will make each day better for you. Everyday reminders to keeping balance...
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