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We can’t believe it’s already mid-January! With this new year still in its beginning stages, we think it’s the perfect opportunity to set ourselves up for success later on. One of the things most of us struggle with nowadays is how stressful our lives can be.

No matter how careful we may be, stress is an inherent part of life, for each of us. While low levels of stress can be helpful and expected, most modern lives are now filled with higher and higher rates of stress. This can not only be uncomfortable, but stress can have serious mental and physical consequences.

So, this year, let’s set our sights on tackling our stress levels, one day at a time.

1. Breaking the momentum. When we find ourselves particularly stressed-out, it can really help to completely change the environment or situation we find ourselves in. Taking a walk outside, watching a funny video, or even leaving to get a cup of tea can help to shift our minds into a different state, allowing us space to come up with even better solutions and reactions.

2. Identifying the main problems. It is not uncommon for us to have many points of stress throughout our days. If we can begin to focus on the primary causes of stress, we can begin to put techniques in place to change our response to these triggers.

3. Breathe. We know, it can sound cliche, but it really does work. Taking deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth, deeper each time sends a message to our brains that we are safe and that it is time to calm down.

4. Trying some adaptogens (and other natural remedies.) These herbs support the body’s adrenal functions, while helping to lower our response to the stress hormone, cortisol. While these herbs are natural and can be beneficial on many levels, they are used medicinally and should ideally be taken in consultation with a doctor.

5. Finding some outside help. There are numerous ways to find counseling, therapy, and any other type of support we might need when our stress, anxiety, or problems seem a bit too big to face alone. Be sure to talk to a GP if you’re in need of some extra support.

6. Use the 4 As: Avoid, Alter, Adapt, and Accept. Learning how to say no to things we don’t need, making changes to the behaviour that does not help us, practicing gratitude, and accepting what we cannot change are only a few of the techniques to use in this framework that can make all the difference!

7. Tuning in to our bodies. Taking a few minutes each day to be still and focus on how our bodies are feeling can help us to make note of any habits that might need changing to make us feel better. This can remind us to get some more sleep, eat a few more veggies, move our bodies more, and to let our bodies relax more. Listening to our bodies can help us to change how we feel and how we live our lives.

There are many ways to reduce our stress levels and it is important to remember that what works for one body many not work for another. So, having patience with ourselves and finding what works for our individual lives is key! Trying to create more stress-free moments in our lives is a great way of showing ourselves love in this new year.

Be sure to share your tips, tricks, and any stress-free goals for 2018 in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear your voices and share more with you, each day.

Happy sharing,

Sam

Photo by Andrew Loke on Unsplash

Happy 2018! It seems the constant question around a new year is about our resolutions. What will our new year look like? How will we accomplish it? Will we succeed or fall short? This week is the perfect time to take a step back and look at our year through a lense of reality and optimism!

Whether you are a habitual new-year resolution maker, you make new resolutions throughout the year, or you’ve never made any resolutions before, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to get our hands dirty and reflect upon what it is we want to accomplish and experience throughout this new time.

Our intentions can help to shape our outcomes. How we think about ourselves and our abilities can truly make a difference in what we will do. Having a goal in mind can help us to focus on energy and decisions in the direction we would like to move.

So, how can we start?

1. Reflecting. We cannot begin to move forward if we do not learn from our past. A new year is full of beginnings, but it is also rife with important endings. There are many, basic ways to begin reflecting. Try asking yourself “what? so what? and now-what?”

2. Starting fresh. Whatever is holding us back from completely moving into the new year should be allotted some attention, now. Physical baggage or emotional, let’s clear it all out so that we can create some space for what is to come in 2018.

3. Structuring for success. Whether it being creating a new calendar, changing our schedule around,

4. Writing it all down. Putting our thoughts into words and putting those words onto physical paper can make them more real and even more tangible.

5. Thinking big, then getting specific. Starting with our end goals, which could be massive or very achievable, and then tapering down into smaller, stepping stones can help us feel less overwhelmed and more inspired by what we have set our to accomplish!

6. Paying more attention to what makes us happy. Whatever it might be, even in the little moments, the things that make us happy are well worth listening to. This year, we can begin to center our lives around what brings us joy, more than ever before.

7. Remembering gratitude. While there is much to look forward to and strive for in this year, it is also important to remember just how far we’ve come. We would not be standing where we are now without each and every misstep, mistake, or hurdle. Remembering to appreciate our journey and ourselves can help to remind us of how strong we truly are.

So, however we feel about creating a new-year resolution, we can all do our best to be more intentional about how we will move forward into this year. We can support others while holding ourselves accountable by sharing our ideas, plans, and any tips or tricks!

Let’s learn to be more ourselves than ever in this year, together. Share your 2018 plans and ambitions in the comments below!

Happy growing,

Sam

Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

While the astronomical winter season does not technically begin until December 21st, for many of us, this week has brought about the cool reminder that winter is indeed coming in the near future. The end of Autumn is the perfect time for taking a little extra care of ourselves as the weather gets colder and the days feel shorter.

The colder months may be magical for some, many others find the dark, colder weather more of a battle than a blessing. Aside from moving to a warmer climate, there is not much we can change about the weather, however, we can change how we react and feel about this winter.

Everyone has their own winter-survival tips, so here are just a few to get started, spark some inspiration, or add to your arsenal!

1. Taking advantage of the light. As our daylight seems to disappear a bit more each day, it can be important for us to take advantage when the sun is shining. Whether we look out the window during our morning commute instead of looking at our phone or take a moment during a lunch break, letting a little more light in can help ease the transition.

2. Trying some morning affirmations. Much like when we start a project, having a goal or an intention in mind from the beginning can help us to focus our day in the direction we choose. For some inspiration, take a look here!

3. Try some eucalyptus in the bathroom. In addition to adding a little friendly green to the room, this plant can improve air quality, and absorb moisture. Steam from the shower also activates the essential oils in eucalyptus, helping to clear lungs, alleviate pain, reduce stress, and improve mood!

4. Going on more walks. Walking in cold weather has many mental and physical benefits, from helping sleep patterns, improving energy levels, reducing inflammation, and helping to fight infection.

5. Ward off the sniffles. There are many habits that help our bodies fight off unwanted germs, so let’s get them started before the coughs begin! Take a look here for some great tips.

6. Hibernate, when needed. Whether we notice or not, the seasons tend to impact our natural sleeping patterns, so understanding our needs and planning accordingly can have a tremendous impact on how we feel this winter!

7. Being gentle with ourselves. When motivation might be lacking and all we want is to stay in bed, sometimes it can be much more useful to allow ourselves a little extra time than to force ourselves out. Listening to our needs is often more important than that email or train schedule.

8. Getting cozy! Creating a space in our homes where we can relax, unwind, keep warm, and do something we enjoy can create something we look forward to while also helping to keep us feeling safe and happy. So, let’s grab some blankets, a tea, and a good book and snuggle in.

Be sure to share your favourite tips, tricks, and traditions for colder weather in the comments below.

Stay cozy and happy sharing!

Sam

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Monday is International Day of Happiness, which is definitely something to celebrate! Even if it requires a little extra thought now and again, we can all think of something that makes us happy and something that brings us joy. This week is the perfect opportunity to look into what sparks happiness for us and think about how to bring even more of it into our lives!

The term “happiness” is something we tend to use a lot, assuming that everyone has some level of happiness and that we all feel the same way about our own happiness. However, if we look a little deeper, what it means to be happy and how important this is, can vary widely from person to person.

When we talk about being happy, we are often thinking about the larger sense of being at peace and thinking positively about our lives at large. We can often mix happiness with joy, thinking these two are the same. While happiness can be a symptom or a sign of joy, the two are not completely the same. Happiness can be fleeting and dependent upon external factors, such as money, people, or material possessions. Joy is an overarching mindset of well-being, without being to be overtly “happy” in each moment. Joy includes all aspects of life, including the negative parts, without losing a sense of satisfaction in life.

Happiness and joy are not merely states of mind. How we feel about our own happiness directly impacts our mental and physical wellbeing. Our health can largely depend upon how content, safe, and joyful we feel in our daily lives.

Happiness is not only a result of how we’re living our lives, but it is also a driving force in motivating us to better ourselves and live the lives we’ve envisioned. There are always spaces for us to improve, to help others as well as ourselves in bringing a little more happiness into our lives.

So, what can we do to cultivate more joy on a day to day basis?

1. Spending a little more time outside. Even just a few extra minutes outside can make all the difference for our physical body and mental clarity. Just going for a short walk can improve our mood and boost our sense of happiness, quickly and effectively.

2. Getting some extra sleep. When we sleep, we give our bodies and minds time to recover. Sleep can often widen our capacity for patience as well as helping us to be less reactive to negative emotions. Sleep helps us to be more resilient, which is essential in cultivating joy!

3. Returning to gratitude. Whenever any negative thoughts or frustrations come to us, remembering what we are grateful for is a perfect way to remind us of how much we have to be happy for in our lives.

4. Add in some more nutrients. Focusing on our physical health dramatically impacts how we feel about ourselves and our happiness at large. Small changes can make a huge difference.

5. Listening to ourselves. Whether that means we need to do a little less on a Monday or push ourselves to do a little bit extra, we know what is best for ourselves and what we need in our lives. We can all do a better job of listening to those signals.

6. Find some furry friends! It has been proven that spending time with and petting animals releases oxytocin (the warm, fuzzy feeling) into our bodies, making us feel happier and more at peace.

7. Sharing with others. Connecting with friends and family helps us to build a stronger sense of community, attachment, and belonging. Being around those who love and support us is an easy way to feel happiness and share that happiness with others!

What does happiness look like to you? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas below!

Happy sharing!

Sam

Photo by Delaney Dawson on Unsplash

There are many things that can appear to set us apart as individuals, but one thing that has the ability to connect and bring us together is our desire for kindness. As humans, we all want to be shown compassion, understanding, and forms of love. We want to be able to help others where we can and bring positivity to the work we are doing in the world.

Monday is World Kindness Day and we can’t get enough of how wonderful our community can be! Over 50% of people told us they perform some type of kind act each day! Now is the perfect time to bring our attention to how much kindness we bring to ourselves and to others. We can all begin to mark this day by bringing a little more care and understanding into our weekend!

There are many ways to show kindness to ourselves, to those we love, stranger, animals, and even to our environment. How you go about these small (or large) acts of kindness depends upon you! Get creative and spread some warmth wherever you can throughout this coming week!

So, what are some things we can do this week?

1. Showing gratitude. It can often be easy to forget those who help and support us on a regular basis. Reminding them how much their care and work matters can be a meaningful way of showing kindness.

2. Random acts. This is the creative (and fun) bit! Finding a few ways that could make someone’s day much brighter, like buying the next person’s coffee, train ticket, or lunch, holding the door open for a few minutes, give the parking space to someone else, the choices are endless! Try making life a little easier for a few people each day and see how it feels.

3. Show yourself a little extra kindness. When we work from an empty cup, we can’t possibly help others in the most honest or caring way. When we look after ourselves, we allow ourselves the ability to make decisions out of abundance and desire rather than obligation.

4. Try taking care of a plant. Plants have the incredible ability to bring out the nurturer in each of us, while also cleansing and calming the spaces they are in. When we care for plants, we also care for ourselves.

5. Going the extra mile. In whatever we are doing, we can choose to do mediocre work or we can choose to shine. Choosing one area that could use a little extra attention and care can help us feel more fulfilled while also achieving a goal!

6. Eating (and sharing) some nourishing food. Filling your body with food that is nutritious, while also being comforting is a great act of kindness to yourself. Sharing this food with others can be much greater.

7. Support animal welfare in some way. Whether that’s through donating time or goods to a local animal shelter, eating vegetarian for a day, or just cuddling our own pets a little longer, they will most likely appreciate the effort!

8. Reaching out to someone who might be struggling. Whether it’s through a text, call, letter, email, or an in-person visit, remembering to show a little extra love to those going through a tough time can make all the difference.

Share your experiences and ideas for showing a little extra kindness this weekend in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Happy sharing,

Sam

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again, where many of us devote a little time and attention into paying tribute to those who have given their lives within the armed forces. There seems to be more and more debate surrounding whether or not we should wear a poppy for remembrance day and what exactly this symbol means.  

The poppy symbol seems to be of increasing contention, as the opinion that the symbol serves to glorify war and violence has gained some traction, along with the idea of wearing a white poppy to promote peace. This alternative poppy, while promoting peace in theory, has not been without controversy.

These mixed opinions are shown in this year’s poppy appeal. According to Consumer Intelligence research, one in five adults are unlikely to wear a poppy this year, but a third of the population say they will be giving more to support The Royal British Legion appeal.

So, how can we bridge the divide this year?

1. Listen to alternative opinions. Going a little deeper past hearing only to prepare our argument, active listening allows us time to truly absorb and understand what another person is saying.

2. Share our experiences. Telling and showing others parts of our past, our history, and what makes us who we are helps us to understand ourselves better while also helping others to understand us.

3. Fostering a mindset of understanding. When we change our goals from making everyone agree with us to having a better understanding of the people and world around us, opinions and actions become much less hostile.

4. Appreciating our similarities. Regardless of where we are from, what we think, or even who we are, it can be important to remember how alike we are and how close we are as humans on this earth together.

5. Not taking opinions personally. This month, we can do our best to take a step back and realise that the actions and words of others rarely, if ever, have anything to do with us in actuality. Most often, they are only reflections of how others are feeling and thinking. When we take things less personally, the world can open up for us.

6. Showing compassion. We never know what those around us are facing, so we can all do our best to bring as much compassion to our interactions with others. A little truly goes a long way.

Whether you will be wearing a poppy this year or not, there is always an opportunity to show a little extra care and spread a little more understanding for one another. As we can see from The Royal British Legion itself, stating that “There is no right or wrong way to wear a poppy. It is a matter of personal choice whether an individual chooses to wear a poppy and also how they choose to wear it. The best way to wear a poppy is with pride.”

Please share your experiences, thoughts, and ideas on wearing a poppy in the comments below.

Happy sharing,

Sam

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

Halloween isn’t just for children and the adults who absolutely love fancy dress. There are quite a few themes surrounding the holiday that each of us can use to brighten up our everyday lives!

While modern-day Halloween can feel a bit like a recently imported American tradition, in actuality, Halloween has been celebrated here in the UK for thousands of years, originating with Celtic and pagan traditions.

Dressing up, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins are all traditions rooted in the concept of warding off evil spirits and protecting those we love from the devil, starting with the Celtic Samhain festival bringing us guising (dressing up in costume) and carving turnips to keep fairies out of the home.

Like many ancient traditions, there are quite a few concepts within Halloween that we find silly and outdated today, but there are also overarching themes and ideas we can carry with us and uphold in many other ways.

So, how can we all honour the Halloween spirit?

1. Protect and support our bodies. Now is the time of year when most of us start to become ill, (if we’re not already!) We can protect ourselves with a little sleep, fruits and veg, and a few more supplements! If you need some extra tips, take a look here.

2. Changing-up our appearance! Whether it be an elaborate costume, a different outfit than normal, or a new hairstyle, let’s try to change something about the way we look this weekend and see how we feel!

3. A little more rooted: From pumpkin picking, carving, or eating, let’s get in the festive spirit and get our hands on some root vegetables!

4. Celebrating those we have lost. Aspects of traditional Halloween show us how to get more in touch with the concepts of life and death, and how to celebrate the lives of those we have lost. This time could be a great opportunity to grieve a little further or to just remember the people that have been in our lives.  

5. Uncovering our own shadows. Each of us have parts of our personality that we do not like to share with others or even ourselves. This season is an excellent (and often uncomfortable) time to dig deeper into our “uglier” sides. Where do we need a little extra love and healing? We have to open up in order to find out!

6. What are we so afraid of? Halloween is all about confronting our fears, seeing what truly scares us, and being able to move past it. This week is a great time to look at what we have been too scared of and finding ways rise above.

7. Getting a little silly. There are some heavy themes tied into Halloween, but let’s remember to weave some laughter and silliness into the spooky darkness as well! We can all grab some extra treats and make ourselves (and others) laugh during this holiday!

If you’re not looking to ward off evil spirits, but still want to mark the day in some way, take a look here for some ideas!

Be sure to share your Halloween memories, plans, and thoughts in the comments below! Will you be dressing up, partying, or laying low this spooky season?

Happy scaring!

Sam

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

To double up on all things spooky this month, we have fallen directly into Friday the 13th right in the middle of October. This weekend is the perfect time to kick off early Halloween-related celebrations, discussions, and questions!

Friday the 13th is one of the classic examples of a culturally-ingrained superstition without a clear history. Many of us tend to think of the day as “unlucky,” without much, if any, reasoning or background behind the sentiment.

So, why do we believe in a superstition we can’t fully explain?

Whether we wholeheartedly and actively believe in superstitions or not, many of us partake without knowing it! Once they are within our culture, we tend to uphold these superstitions together, feeling that if we do not at least acknowledge them, we are tempting fate.

Superstitions take many forms, carrying across nearly all cultures and providing an array of different reasoning for taking part. Superstitions tend to give us a stake in an often seemingly chaotic and uncontrollable world. When we know the rules, we feel safer. Superstitions tend to explain why bad things happen and tell us how to avoid them. Knocking on wood may not have a direct impact upon un-doing something negative we’ve said, but it sure makes some of us feel better!

According to recent research, believer or not, we overwhelmingly believe in the thought behind the words that we say. Most of us feel that, in one way or another, what we say matters, so putting positive sentiments into the world helps to bring about positivity (and we tend to think the opposite is true as well!)

Whether you’ll be playing it safe this Friday the 13th or doing your best to ignore the superstition completely, we can all bring a bit more positivity into the “unluckiest day” of the year!

1. If you’re in the market for a new furry friend, consider adopting black cat! Black cats tend to stay in shelters the longest, finding it the most difficult to be adopted.

2. Commit to 13 random acts of kindness! Spread a little joy today by paying for someone’s train or bus fare, buying someone a tea, holding the door open, giving a stranger a compliment, donating to a charity, giving someone a hug, or smiling at a stranger!

3. Declutter and donate 13 items you rarely use. Spread the love and clear out unwanted clutter in your home!

4. Tell someone in your life 13 reasons why you love them.

5. Get into the spooky spirit with some Halloween-inspired activities this weekend! Carve some pumpkins, make caramel apples, tell ghost stories, get a few costume ideas ready, and maybe even watch a scary movie or two!  

Share your Friday the 13th, superstition, and Halloween thoughts in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear all about them.

Happy sharing and happy celebrating!

Sam

Photo by Nathan Riley on Unsplash

In our busy lives, it can be easy to overlook our own mental health, but even easier is to overlook the wellbeing of those around us. The coming week brings us World Mental Health Day, on October 10th, which is the perfect opportunity to raise our awareness to the importance of comprehensive support.

As the seasons change and the weather gets colder, the topic of mental health can become increasingly important for many of us, but it can begin to feel even more relevant when we look back at the political, environmental, and social turmoil that have been present over the past few months.