In case you haven’t heard…

You may very well have woken today feeling great, (or maybe that’s pushing it a bit in the current climate, so we’ll go with that you’re feeling OK). Perhaps you feel like today is going to be a good day. Maybe you have something exciting planned – a Zoom call with a loved one, a walk with a friend (that is still allowed in England I think!), you’re planning to launch an exciting project at work, or maybe you’ve a moviefest with popcorn and chocolate all set up and ready to go this afternoon.

Let me stop you right there. Have you not heard? It’s the third Monday in January!!! That means it’s Blue Monday. And a very specific algorithm tells us that due to the fact many are in between pay days of a very long month, the days are shorter and darker with weather most likely to be wetter and greyer, we’re post-Christmas festivities and we’re maybe falling behind with our New Year’s...

I was chatting to someone recently who was bemoaning the fact that although we are told we live in a free country in the UK, that’s just nonsense. I responded by saying that you can do what you like in this country provided you have two or more options to choose from, that there is no physical coercion and that it’s possible to do whatever it is - unlike flying without some external aid or running a mile in under two minutes.

She disagreed and proffered some examples:

“You can’t build a home extension without planning permission.” - “Some people do”, I said.

“You have to pay your taxes.”- “Some people don’t,” I replied.

“You can’t murder people!” - “Some people do,” was my answer.

“You have to look after your children.” - “Some people don’t,” was again my reply.

“You have to drive on the left in the UK.” - “Unfortunately, not everybody...

2021 will soon be upon us and for many, our thoughts turn to the New Year and what our Resolutions might be…

We read much doom and gloom about the custom of making these resolutions and why they're not worth signing up for because we never stick to them. Making the resolutions in the first place is just a knee jerk reaction to the whole ‘New Year, New You’ theory and it’s just a waste of time because for many, they never come to fruition.

The problem is, too many people trust in ‘willpower’ which will only get you so far. That’s why when you look back, you'll notice gyms are so busy in January and February and then the numbers starts to drop...

What we need is a daily routine that keeps us on track without needing to push ourselves daily to give things up; rather that's it's about doing things that in time, will serve us well and that as they become part of a routine, they are habitual.

So, how about thinking and focusing instead on how we...

This time of year is very often one of reflection. In amidst the hurrying and scurrying, I have been thinking about the Mindset Blogs I have written and decided to take a look at the stats – which Mindset Blogs have been the most viewed and it’s no surprise really that the ones written during Lockdown Part 1, were the most looked at.

We had no reference point for how to feel at the very beginning of all this. When something happens, or we’re told something, we become aware of it and process it and then decide how we want to feel about it – we attach an emotion to the situation. This is all going on in our subconscious and how we choose to feel will depend on our past experiences, our values, morals and beliefs. For example, one of my daughters was telling me about something she’d read on Instagram (I lose count of how many conversations in my house start with: ‘The other day, I saw on TickTok/Instagram…’!). She said that she’d...

You can listen to the audio version of this blog via Spotify.

Goodwill to all men

In my last blog, I wrote my own version of the The 12 Days of Christmas, the premise being that it’s important to think about the gifts you can give to yourself to ensure your mental wellbeing is kept in check. It has after all, been a year quite unlike any other and so, to bolster ourselves against whatever 2021 might bring us, it’s about making sure you use the oxygen mask first, before helping others.

A reminder of one of the gifts I suggest you give to yourself:

A good deed for my neighbour

A chat on the doorstep, taking the bin back, some homemade baked goods – each small act of kindness can help to lift the spirits of someone who might be in need of some good cheer. Sometimes, we’ve no idea the impact it can have on another, to make time for them, to hold space for them in your day. And the effect on you is warm and fuzzy, that you could have made the difference to...

You can listen to the audio version of this blog via Spotify.

Christmas is supposed to be a time of great joy, happiness and celebration. Let’s face it, in reality, many of us are running around like headless chickens, spending far more than we should on gifts that people probably don’t need or want. People place such high expectations on this time of year and many feel under pressure to provide a sumptuous meal for that one day, and then it’s leftover turkey and bubble and squeak for the following week - and thereafter. For some, this time of year compounds deep grief and sadness, it’s not all shiny baubles and glistening tinsel.

Some people might feel an added pressure this year due to the fact Christmas will look slightly different. Maybe they want to pull out the stops to make it extra special to make up for the strange year we’ve had; maybe many would like to, but the rollercoaster of the past 12 months means finances don’t permit...

You can listen to the audio version of this blog via Spotify.

Tis the season

As Christmas approaches, new rules have been introduced in the UK as to how we can meet up with family and friends. Tis all a tad confusing, especially as tiers have also been announced, which will remain in effect until reviewed on 16 December. We’re all trying to get our head around this information and already today, I have had confusing conversations with grandparents in my family as to who will be in which bubble and whether we can see each other or not.

Social media is awash with people commenting on the announcements – many questioning how much sense this all makes. Many of the comments might be fuelled by frustration, disappointment and sadness which is completely understandable. We have had thoughts on what our plans in this family could be, but they’re probably going to need to change which I know my children will find upsetting because it means not seeing much-loved members...

You can listen to the audio version of this blog via Spotify.

Leaders of tomorrow

Finally, we know the result - Joe Biden is to be the 46^th President of the United States of America, with Kamala Harris by his side as Vice-President. On paper, an exciting combination. Let’s hope, that after a turbulent four years of American politics, they can heal the stark rifts that exist in the country and unite those 50 States, amongst all the other work they have on their agenda.

So, what kind of leader is Biden? Well, word on the street is that he’s a good man, he’ll steady the ship. He does after all have almost four decades under his belt as a Senator, only resigning to serve as vice-president for Barack Obama – in my opinion, a trail blazer of a President. Apparently, Biden listens to expert advice, even when it might go against what he believes; he is a multilateralist – again demonstrating that he wants to unite, rather than to divide. And, he is...

You can listen to the audio version of this blog via Spotify.

You’re in for a big surprise

2020 has in no way panned out in the way we thought it would. Except for one person I know of… My friend took delivery for her neighbour back in late January because her neighbour wasn’t home. When he collected the box from her, he told her it was full of face masks. At that point, there was news of a virus in China, but not much more was known than that. Clearly, someone had their finger on the pulse and whilst my friend and I found it amusing he was panic buying face masks, we were laughing on the other side of our face (mask) as the months wore on…

As individuals, and businesses, we made plans for 2020. Plans for trips afar, maybe savings plans for exciting adventures in 2021; intentions to see old friends; begin new pastimes and activities to meet new ones; maybe to grow a role at work, to move on to enhance skills, or maybe to stretch oneself, perhaps to...

You can listen to the audio version of this blog via Spotify.

Paint it black

Over the past year, we’ve been updating our home. Apart from a new kitchen, everything else, in the main, are cosmetic changes There have been many decisions made – ones around the kitchen requiring the most thought but something as simple as choosing paint sent me into a bit of a spiral last week. Well, it didn’t send me into a spiral, clearly my thoughts did. I often reiterate that self-development is a work in progress, and I am aware that each and every day, I need to work on my own thoughts in order to think effectively. Just because I write about mindset, doesn’t mean I claim to have it all sussed. What it does mean however is that knowing this stuff, I am very consciously aware of the nature of my thoughts and I know the tools and strategies to get myself out of the headspace which isn’t serving me well at that particular point. If I want to enough.

So, as I drove...