Give yourself the Gift of a Stress Free Christmas – the Food Edit. How to spend more time with your family and less time in the kitchen on Christmas Day.
Christmas for me is all about enjoying time together as a family, so if I can do as much planning for our Christmas festivities, the better. As a busy mum, running a business, managing the swim taxi service including National Swim Championships just days before Christmas, it’s important to me that I don’t have a mountain of “foodie jobs” to do in the kitchen on Christmas Day itself.
Garden Trading Company
Having spent a fabulous day with Chef Ben Palmer, a quarter finalist in BBC TV’s MasterChef: The Professionals in 2011, at Glazebrook House several years ago, I learned some wonderful tips, while enjoying a delicious Christmas meal and a glorious day with friends. A memory I will treasure and which totally changed how I prepare for not only the festivities but also my day to day food organisation.
“Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.”
Dr Seuss
We all have little things that appear, meaning Christmas isn’t far away. For me, Mary Berry’s book, Christmas Collection full of ideas for entertaining your family and friends throughout the Winter and festive season and complete with timings. It’s a much loved book and well used!
I can wholeheartedly recommend. With timings including a cooking itinerary, Mary has everything covered!
Festive Mulled Wine
The most delicious mulled wine, a recipe by Ben Palmer.
Perfect if you’ve been outside in the cold or not!
Ingredients
2 oranges * I lemon * 1 lime * 200g caster sugar * 6 whole cloves * 2 cardamon pods * 1 cinnamon stick * 3 fresh bay leaves *10-12 gratings of whole nutmeg * I vanilla pod (halved lengthways) * 2 star anise * 2 bottles red wine
Method:
Peel large sections of peel from your fruit.
Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add peel and juice of oranges. Add the spice and vanilla pod and add enough wine to cover the sugar.
Simmer until the sugar has dissolved, bring to the boil. Boil for 5 minutes until a thick syrup. Turn the heat down to low and add the rest of the wine. Gently heat and serve.
Christmas Traditions.
Every family has a little tradition on Christmas Day don’t they? If we are at home, we love to walk on the beach (after popping the turkey in the oven of course!) We prefer to have canapés with a glass of fizz in front of the fire opening presents, rather than a starter. Then a little later, we sit down for our roast turkey and all the trimmings.
I love living by the coast in Devon, so a walk along the beach on Christmas Morning is the perfect way to celebrate. Everyone has their own preferences to enjoy over the festivities. A selection of our favourite tipples over the festive period. **BeDrinkAware.
Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut offers a bright fruitiness, a seductive palate and an elegant maturity, revealing aromas of pear, citrus and brioche.
Villa Maria: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Sourced from vineyards across the Marlborough region, this intense Sauvignon Blanc is alive with a myriad of flavours dominated by gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus and herbaceous aromas.
A sensational choice for your winter dinner party or special occasion, the ‘Catena Alta’ Historic Rows malbec 2017 from the legendary Catena label is our best malbec for 2021. has gorgeous, rich, blueberry and cassis flavours, a hint of spice and a long, satisfying, plummy finish: a level of sophistication and elegance that is often only found in wines twice the price. A great wine for a winter dinner party.
The scent of Christmas – The White Company
Look After Your Guests Who Are Driving or Who Don’t Drink.
Finally there are some delicious drinks on the market for those who don’t wish to drink Alcohol. Hurrah! If you’ve not tried No 1 Living Drinks yet, then this is your message to do just that! In my opinion, they are the best wellness and alcohol free products on the market.
No.1 Living Brewery – Citrus Hops is refreshingly light, with a subtle earthiness of bitter hops blended with a citrus burst of lemon, our Citrus Hops is completely alcohol-free! Delicious sipped straight from the bottle, or served over ice with a twist of lemon or orange.
This premium range of drinks covers all the bases – no sugar, low calorie, vegan, gluten free and no alcohol…. but above it is a flavoursome to unwind your mind morning, noon or night. Serve with crushed ice in a fancy glass!
I feel so much better welcoming guests when I know we can have all angles covered and our guests will be able to enjoy If you’d like to try No I Living Drinks, which incidentally is founded by Jonny Wilkinson, former England Rugby legend, you’ll be able to receive a 15% discount when you use the code “womanonamission15” at the checkout. You won’t regret it.
I’m looking for a delicious champagne alternative so if you can help me, please do get in touch.
“My secret to Christmas this year, as it is every year, is my to-do list. I’m always in charge if preparing the lunch – I like to think of it as simply a big roast dinner”
Mary berry
Christmas Day Preparation.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, I prep as much as possible including writing a menu plan, a shopping list for fresh products and equally what I can organise in advance that don’t have any time restraints. The week before the big day, I potter, (ha in-between swimming taxi and other life events, much like everyone else!) doing little jobs in the kitchen, whilst I’m preparing every day meals, so that Christmas Day is kept stress free and smooth!
Vegetables
Crunchy Roast Potatoes
Like Mary Berry, I’ve always thought of Christmas lunch as if I’m planning a roast – the pressure is immediately removed!
Whenever I prepare a Sunday roast, I always peel double the amount of potatoes required and use this method With my roast potatoes, so I always have some in the freezer. Christmas is no exception!
I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you how to cook roast potatoes, however I’m sharing how I save time and to help you have a stress free Christmas Day so here goes!
Peel and cut your potatoes into a size similar to the image on the left. Parboil them for approximately 5-7 minutes, drain and shake in a colander to fluff the edges. Pop them onto kitchen roll and dab dry.
Tip onto a roasting tin and season with salt and pepper and a sprinkle of plain flour, now put into the freezer overnight. When frozen, pop them into a freezer bag, (Remember to date!)
On Christmas Day, take the potatoes out of the freezer and cook as you would normally. Heating 3-4 tablespoons of goose fat, add the frozen potatoes, coat and season. Cook for about an hour, depending on size, turning from time to time, until golden and crisp.
4 large parsnips (about 500g), peeled and cut into 5cm strips
3tbsp of sunflower oil
25g of semolina
1tbsp of paprika
1tbsp of chopped fresh thyme
Method
Cook the parsnips in boiling water for four minutes. Drain and leave to cool
Preheat the oven to 220°C/ 200°C fan/Gas 7. Add a tablespoon of oil to a roasting tin and place in the oven for five minutes to get hot.
Add the remaining oil to a bowl. Season the parsnips with salt and black pepper and toss in the oil to coat.
Mix together the semolina, paprika and thyme in a small bowl. Add to the parsnips and mix well to coat them in the mixture.
(At this point, I do exactly as I do with the potatoes, pop in the freezer until the big day.)
Place the parsnips in one layer in the tin with the hot oil and roast for about 20 minutes, turning over halfway through the cooking time, until golden and crisp.
Sprouts!
Love them or loathe them, they have to feature don’t they?!
These should be cooked at the very last minute but can be prepared a day ahead and kept in a freezer bag in the fridge.
Cook in boiling water for 5-6 minutes, and season with salt and pepper and a dash of butter.
If you’d like to go for a little more glamour, stir fry sliced sprouts with bacon lardons, and or chestnuts.
Honey Roasted Carrots
A great side dish to any roast, or with Christmas dinner, these thyme-speckled honey roasted carrots are cooked to enhance their natural sweetness. This recipe from Justine at the Good Food Guide is simple yet full of flavour.
1 kg/2lb 4oz small carrots such as Chantenay or baby carrots
2 tbsps olive
3 tbsp clear honey
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3–4 sprigs fresh thyme
salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/ 180C Fan/Gas 6. Trim the carrots and peel, if you prefer. Cut any particularly large carrots in half lengthways.
Place on a large baking tray and pour over the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, toss well and roast for 15–25 minutes, or until almost tender and lightly browned. (The time will depend on how thick the carrots are.) Whisk the honey and lemon juice together.
Take the tin out of the oven and drizzle over the honey and lemon mixture. Pick the thyme leaves off the sprigs and scatter over. Toss lightly and return to the oven for a further 8–10 minutes, or until the carrots are tender and glossy.
Neptune always brings a special touch to Christmas
“Christmas is about sharing our homes with the people who matter to us the most. And a little planning goes a long way in making every room sparkle, cosset and glow.
From the thoughtful touches to the most memorable moments, we’re all set to help you make your home a place of celebration, comfort and joy this season.”
Neptune
Lemon and Cranberry Possets
This is an absolutely delicious desert at any time, but is special for Christmas too. Light and super easy to make. Make in advance to serve on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Ingredients
Makes 6-8
1 1/2 pints double cream
9oz caster sugar
Juice of 3 lemons
handful of cranberries
Method
Boil cream and sugar for 2 minutes. Add lemon juice.
Put Cranberries in the bottom of your pretty individual serving glasses. ( 6-8)
Pour mixture over the top. Refrigerate until set. Serve chilled.
Chocolate Roulade
A firm Mary Berry favourite in our house for any celebrations and especially at Christmas. This is perfectly light dessert and a lovely alternative to the Christmas Pudding.
It’s very easy to make, can be made 24 hours ahead or can be kept in the freezer for up to a month.
Serves 8-10
Ingredients
175g (6oz) plain chocolate
175g (6oz) caster sugar
6 eggs, separated.
2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted.
300ml (1/2 pint) double cream
icing sugar
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C / Fan 160C / Gas 4Lightly grease a 33x23cm swill roll tin and line with non-stick baking parchment, pushing it into the corners.
Break the chocolate into small pieces into a bowl and stand the bowl over a pan of hot water, the bowl must not touch the water or the chocolate may overheat. Place the pan over a low heat until the chocolate has melted. Allow to cool.
Measure the sugar and egg yolks into a large bowl and whisk on a high speed until light and creamy. Add the cooled chocolate and stir until evenly blended.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Stir a large spoonful of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Mix gently, fold in the remaining egg white and the sieved cocoa powder. Spread evenly in the prepared tin. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until firm.
Remove the cake from the oven, leave in the tin, cover with a dry tea towel and leave until cold.
Whip the cream until it just holds its shape and dust a large piece of greaseproof paper with sifted icing sugar. Turn out the roulade and peel of the greaseproof paper. Spread with the cream. Roll up very tightly like a Swiss roll using the paper to help. Don’t worry if the roulade cracks, a good one should! Dust with more sifted icing sugar to serve.
(If you’re planning to freeze, omit the final icing sugar until you’re ready to serve.)
“Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.”
Edna ferber
Garden Trading Company
“Christmas is a together-y sort of holiday.”
Winnie the pooh
Remember the most important thing about this time of year is spending time with your loved ones and not stressing about the gravy! Be kind to yourself! Have a glass of something special, relax and enjoy your day.
Let me know in the comments what your best preparation for Christmas is and what you might try from this Blog.
Creating a routine each morning that works for you, which in turn helps you boost your productivity, makes all the difference to your day.
However, it is tempting to stay under the duvet as the mornings are that much darker! The consequences of tapping that snooze button once or maybe three times, are that an already busy hour becomes even more chaotic.
How have your mornings been going this week..?
Let’s start slow before we make any adjustments..
What does your routine look like at the moment?
How would you like it to look in comparison?
Grab a cuppa and 5 minutes to scribble anything that comes into your mind in your journal.
It helps to have a clear vison of the now and the wish..
I know it sounds crazy but writing it down brings a clearer idea of what you are striving to achieve.
Do you wake up every morning full of vigour, ready to tackle the day with all of your energy, youthfulness and vitality?
No? Well, if it helps, you’re not alone. Promise!
Many of us virtually sleepwalk through the morning in a serious mental and physical fog, desperately plying ourselves with coffee in an attempt to wake up!
If this sounds like you, you might think you’re just not a morning person, and there’s nothing you can do about it. This isn’t the case.
While it’s true we all have varying predispositions to being either a “night owl” or a “morning person” it is possible to boost your morning energy, with a few simple strategies.
Going to a room that’s inviting and calm to sleep really does have a positive impact on a productive day.
Get A Good Nights Sleep.
Obvious I know, a good nights sleep increases productivity to function at our best and most of us need around 8 hours of sleep each night. If this sounds too good to be true, here are a few tips:
Establish a routine.
What does your routine look like at the moment?
Go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time each day.
Your body loves routine, and sleeping similar hours each day helps adjust your circadian rhythms, so that you naturally fall asleep and wake up refreshed.
Vigorous exercise or mentally stressful activities in the last hour or two before bedtime, can make it more difficult for you to fall asleep.
Chill out and relax before you go to bed. Watching Squid Game in bed isn’t the answer to relaxed sleeping, sorry!
The body responds to light and it is much easier to sleep in a completely dark room. Light can actually interfere with the body’s production of melatonin, a neurotransmitter which helps us sleep. Keep electronics and low lighting from alarm clocks to a minimum, especially your mobile phone. In an ideal world, it should be left outside your bedroom.
Start your morning right with a healthy, feel good breakfast.
Eat A Healthy Breakfast.
One of the main causes of low energy in the morning is low blood sugar due to the overnight fast and in addition to skipping breakfast.
We know this don’t we but eating a balanced breakfast, with a source of protein, whole grain carbohydrates, and fruits or vegetables prevents that mid morning slump and reaching for the biscuit barrell.
Avoiding sugary, highly processed carbs each morning, which trigger rapid peaks and troughs in blood sugar levels, means that those dips in energy will be gone and your productivity on point!
Avoid Excessive Caffeine And Alcohol.
Many of us feel dependent on the caffeine in tea or coffee, to get us through the morning. It does indeed provide a temporary boost, although this boost isn’t always as effective as you’d first think. Excessive caffeine can impair your ability to relax and it can interfere with your usual sleep patterns too. Alcohol on the other hand, tends to disturb your sleep cycle, leading to frequent waking, a poor night’s sleep overall and maybe even adding to that foggy head in the morning!
I’ve been loving these non alcoholic drinks which I’ve been switching for a glass of fizz – they are super yummy and low in sugar too.
Exercise In The Morning
One of the best ways to boost your morning energy, and ability to concentrate, is to get some exercise first thing in the morning. It was one of the many reasons I ran my fitness camps in the mornings at 6am and 9am.
Exercise helps improve your circulation, strength and flexibility, as well as your mood.
Exercising before work also gives you more energy on the job, while boosting your creativity.
As an added bonus, many studies have shown that people who exercise in the morning are the most consistent at staying with their exercise plan.
Waiting to exercise in the afternoon or evening, problems or scheduling conflicts often occur and prevent you from getting your workout in. (I know I’m guilty of this!)
Going for a morning walk, jog, swim session, or working out in your own home ensures that no matter what else happens that day, you’ve already had a chance to exercise. No excuses, hehe!
On a side note if my workout gear is all ready to go, prepped the night before, there is another little nudge to getting it done! Especially if you have arrange to workout with a friend.
Start your morning at the day ready to be productive
Creating A Morning Ritual Helps With Productivity
Try getting into the habit of starting your day with a relaxing ritual. Bare with me, especially if your morning this morning started with the alarm not going off and everyone charging out of the door clutching shoes and toast..!
Start slow but aim high – little by little introduce the above tips and it’ll happen! Promise!
I love to set my alarm that little bit earlier and head out for a walk in the Devon lanes, meditate or stretch. I know that might sound a little strange but I am SO much more productive for doing so.
Taking time out to simply be thankful for the day ahead, listening to uplifting music will help you to feel more in control of your day and set you up to deal with whatever life throws at you.
Remember, dreary, sleepy, foggy mornings don’t have to be the norm… With a little planning and preparation, you can start your day full of energy, enthusiasm and vitality!
Let’s make those little adjustments to a calmer and more efficient life without adding more!
Welcome to this blog, based on my experiences that I hope you’ll find useful if you are preparing for your child to leave home for University for the first time. I’ve compiled a list of what we did to prepare and what we packed in the hope it helps you support your fresher and family.
Firstly, congratulations! I really think we as parents need to stop, breathe and give ourselves a pat on the back of getting this far in parenthood. Yay! I hope that by sharing my experiences of navigating this emotional rollercoaster of a time, it”ll help you feel that you’re not only not on your own but it will help you save more and spend less.
It’s hard to believe that this time last year we were through with exams, both our teens had completed GCSE’s and A levels earlier in the summer, and we were in limbo waiting for results…
Our eldest had applied to University and is the first to leave home. In all honesty, I wasn’t ready.. I’m not sure if it’s because of lockdown and all the usual landmarks of school prom, leavers assemblies and more, hadn’t happened. It seemed the lead up to this time arrived so darn quickly..
This time reminds me very much of how it was when we were expecting our girl to arrive into the world – no idea what to expect as new parents, what we would really need, (the list appeared endless for such a teeny human!) and also how we would feel as a couple becoming a family.
Except this time was so very different, we were getting ready for our 18 year old to fly out into the big wide world and my heart was breaking. Of course I wouldn’t dampen her excited spirits but we’re close and it was so very odd, knowing our lives would be changed..
“Slipping through my fingers all the time I try to capture every minute The feeling in it Slipping through my fingers all the time”
Lyrics from Slipping Through My Fingers, Abba
There seemed SO much and yet so little information out there about our young adults leaving home. This period of time reminded me of when we were expecting our second child. I was keen each of our little family equally involved in the new arrival. Except this time we were preparing for a sibling to leave home, not arrive for the first time. We are extremely lucky, our children are very close. I knew my sons life would also change, they aren’t just as siblings, they are friends. Life would be different for all of us in our little household.
What did I do? I got list writing and preparing of course! It’s what I do!
I’ve compiled a list of what we packed and what we did to prepare in the hope it helps you support your fresher and family.
Kitchen Items
The temptation is to go overboard and get one of everything you own in your home kitchen. The truth is, you really don’t need to.
Here’s what we bought and has proved very useful – our girl used everything!
Tin opener
Sharp knife
Wooden spoon
Spatula
Kitchen Tongs
Kitchen Scissors
Cheese grater
Vegetable peeler
Saucepan (1 large, 1 small)
Frying pan
2 plates, 2 bowls 2 mugs
Resealable freezer bags
Sealing clips of different sizes for bags of pasta etc.
Bedroom Items
Similar to the kitchen items, I’d advise to pack what you know you will need and anything else you can order via Amazon or use as an excuse to visit! Remember even though they have gone off to University, shops exist and they will be fine!
Prepare with an aim to make the room as homely as possible. My girl and I went to buy the dovet and covers together, it was fun deciding on a new colour scheme from her room at home. I added a couple of items which I’ll share in my next blog Little Mission ~ Helping Your Fresher Settle Into their new Life
Cushions, throws, rugs, plants and photographs all add an instant homely feel. Check University halls individual guidelines as most won’t allow items such as kettles and candles.
Storage solutions are key for Uni rooms and this is where your trusty home furnishing stores such as Ikea, Homebase, Dunelm etc come in. Baskets and under bed storage bags are invaluable.
We packed smart as much as we could.
The dovet, pillows, pillow cases, towels etc we vacum packed into storage bag which saved a huge amount of space in the car. When in the room, these bags
A top tip we were given was to simply lift the clothes out of the wardrobe on their hangers put a dustbin bag over the hangers to form a temporary cover. When you arrive, you can simply hook them straight into the hanging space!
By planning ahead and spreading the costs, over what is an extremely expensive time, I hope you will have saved a little money too. Remember facebook marketplace and many of the homestores I mentioned earlier will have offers on for Univeristy students so keep a look out.
On that note, we found that shopping earlier, especially in Ikea, was key. (not an ad at all!) The store proves very popular at this time of year so don’t leave everything to the last minute.
I really hope this has helped take away a little of the overwhelm for you and your new University student in the preparation for them flying the nest. It’s an emotional roller coaster of a time but ride the wave in the knowledge you’ve supported your little one to this stage and you aren’t alone.
Stay in touch for more in this series including helping your fresher settling into their new life and how to manage moving in day!
Let me know in the comments if this helped and how you’re feeling.
On the day that traditionally is the Monday in January when people feel more sad, I’m sharing my simple and effective ways to stop the Blues. Do you have the Blues this January? It’s not uncommon.
Some people call today Blue Monday but this year it seems it’s taking some of us longer to get over the January blues.
Why is that?
Christmas and all the festivities that come with it is over..
New Year has been celebrated and the Champagne corks have been tidied along with several trips to the bottle bank!!
You may still even be finding pine needles!
Normality (whatever that is!) has resumed!
It’s cold and dark and although we’ve had a dry winter, summer seems a long way off. Oh and then to top it all off your friendly postie arrives with some bills!
No more ‘happy” post filling our letter boxes but those hideous brown envelopes informing us we need to pay the bills.
Darn it – everything was happy and smiley and we forgot reality for a while. Yes this week is a week when many of us feel a bit blue!
‘No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world’
robin williams
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a recognised condition. It’s also known as Winter Depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues or seasonal depression.. a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms during the winter or summer…
So no, you are not going mad if you feel a bit blue this week..
Join in the conversation on Instagram or Facebook and link in with this weeks Mission to help combat those blues.
What’s your plan of attack this January..?
Are you feeling overwhelmed, not sure where to start?
Maybe you’ve had so many big ideas this New Year that this year was going to be different to last year and maybe the year before that, but it’s all fallen a bit flat?
If you’d like a helping hand with your Missions this year, I’d love to help. Visit my Instagram or join my free Facebook Group “Mission HQ” for this weeks Mission and where you can join the conversation.
‘Extraordinary things are always hiding in places people never think to look’
Jodi picoult
Here are my top tips to stop the Blues this January and help you feeling a little bit brighter again.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s OK to have a good cry or feel a bit rubbish sometimes, it’s how you deal with it that counts.
Talk to loved ones and good friends, it’s OK to be vulnerable and share how you are feeling.
Be kind to yourself, holistically. Self care goes a long way especially at this time of year.
My Free Consistency Checklist is a tool to help you keep track of your progress each day. Be consistent with your actions; stay hydrated, eat fresh foods and make sure you get plenty of sleep and you’ll be amazed with the difference it makes.
Get outside in the fresh air..
You might be reading this when there is possibly a howling gale going on outside and snow might even be forecast but wear the right clothes are you will feel better for it. Honest, even if it’s a quick trip around the block!
Get some Vitamin D in you!
We all know that vitamin D is essential for maintenance of teeth and bone health. It does this by supporting the incorporation of calcium and reducing the loss of calcium from the teeth and bone structure. But did you know that if your vitamin D levels are low, you can feel blue?
A way to boost your vitamin D and your immune system, especially in winter when there is not much sun around is to do so with a Vitamin D supplement. I love these ones.
Light Therapy.
Light helps relieve the blue feeling also, although there is not much light around at the moment. Something else you can try is an investment in a Dawn Alarm Clock..
There are lots on the market, with lots of different price tags! However, they have been proved to be very effective and an 85% better response than using bright light therapies.
They work by waking you up with a gradual brightening light – helping you feel alert and energised all day. The light cues your body to produce more cortisol, setting a sleep and wake cycle which aids early mornings and beating those winter blues.
* A study in 2012 showed that patents who used dawn alarm clock experienced improvement during the first week and increased results throughout several weeks.
Most studies have found the dawn alarm clocks most effective seasonally as opposed to all year round, until frequent natural light exposure is naturally obtained. i.e. the clocks go back and spring has sprung!
Avery D.
Interesting don’t you think?
Finally, if the blues don’t seem to be going away, please don’t be afraid of seeking professional help, You don’t have to deal with them on your own.
The moon and the sun this evening at The RingFeeder – a view that always makes me smile. The beautiful South Hams, Devon at it’s best.
Before I go, here’s a quick fix you can do right now, so stop what you’re doing and give these a try!
* Scribble a list of all the things that make you smile.. * Stick on a top tune and dance around the kitchen. Feel free to check out my playlists on Spotify * Look through a photo album of a fun summer holidays and plan another. * Release those feel-good endorphins!
Whatever your Mission this year, this January, be sure that by trying these quick little tips, will help do a little something to keep the Blues this January at bay. .
Escaping into a beautiful book – bliss.
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ll know that my “go to” treat to cheer me up is a walk in the great outdoors, flowers, candles and of course hugs from my family too.. Guaranteed to make me smile every time and they are calorie free too 😉
I’d love top know what you are doing to stop the blues this January. Let me know in the comments.
Wishing you a very Happy Monday,
PS Remember you can find some free organisational tools that will help reduce overwhelm and help you feel more in control.
* (Avery, D. H.; Eder, D. N.; Bolte, M. A.; Hellekson, C. J.; Dunner, D. L.; Vitiello, M. V.; Prinz, P. N. (2001). “Dawn simulation and bright light in the treatment of SAD: A controlled study”.Biological psychiatry 50 (3): 205“216) (The Can-SAD Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Light Therapy and Fluoxetine in Patients with Winter Seasonal Affective Disorder”.American Journal of Psychiatry163 (5): 805“812.
** Woman on a Mission will occasionally contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase from an affiliate site, then I may make a very small commission from that purchase but this will not cost you anything additional at all. Any sponsored posts will be noted as such but as always I only include products that I truly love and I will always be 100% authentic.
It’s January 2022. How are you reflecting on the last 12 months? It’s certainly been a turbulent time – many highs and lows. The week between Christmas and New Year is often a time where we sit and reflect on the year. However for me, this is best done when the decorations are down, teens have gone back to school and there is a little space to breathe.
I’d love you to make time to sit and reflect in a cosy spot this week with a mug of something lovely and your favourite journal or notebook. I’ll be guiding you through a simple yet powerful way to reflect in order to feel empowered moving into this next year.
Firstly, before we delve in, I really want to share my gratitude to each and everyone of you who have subscribed and read my blog, followed along on my instagram and social channels. Every comment and message has been fabulous. I’m excited to be sharing more with you over the next year. I truly believe 2022 is going to been to remember don’t you?
“Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming.”
There are two main questions I’d love you to consider whilst reading this post.
What is the biggest thing you have learned about yourself this year?
What will you be reflecting on this time next year?
Don’t worry; you won’t need to answer them right now!
Things are different today. Uncertain.
We have woken up every day for almost two years trying to digest the enormity of what is happening in the world around us..
We’ve baked, created, home schooled, worked out in the garden, worked from home, even finished jigsaws and so much more but have we actually taken the time to scribe and put on down paper how this decade has affected us to date?
If us grown-ups find it hard to comprehend, how do our children even begin to take it all in..?
I’ve always been a big fan of journaling – it helps free the mind, especially at the end of the year, as we start a brand new one. Taking the time to reflect, acknowledge what you’ve achieved and how you feel about everything is key. It’s often as we do this, we appreciate there are probably way more successes that you first imagined.
“Identify your problems but give your power and energy to solutions.”
tony robbins
I’m going to invite you to journal about last year…
Sounds scary – it’s not trust me. I’m sharing a format with you I’ve used for years with my coaching clients and also with my children. It’s simple but effective. Grab a comfy spot and let’s dig in!
WINS – what have been the highlights of your year
I wonder if you’ve taken time to celebrate each Win as it’s happened, without flying onto the next thing?
It’s easy to forget all that comes with a win, the lead up, the effort taken to get there.
At times a BIG win can be an anticlimax so it’s important to STOP and take a moment to celebrate! Write each win down and if you’ve not celebrate yet… take a moment to consider how you will acknowledge your achievements of last year, no matter how big or how small. A win is a win!
STRUGGLES – what been you been struggling with..
There have been so many struggles we’ve had to deal with individually and as a Nation over the last year. each one of us has a different experience. But you’re here, you got through it and are that much stronger because of it.
Use this time to journal your reflection on what exactly you struggled specifically with and with that in mind, what you might need to let go of this forthcoming year.
LESSONS – what have you learned from the wins and struggles..
Putting the Wins and Struggles together..
Often we can put emotion into an event or a time line but when able to reflect back this way, you’ll always be able to see there will be something you can take forward.
Looking back without emotion, we can see events clearer, enabling us to learn from any event or even a whole year.
“It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over.”
paulo coelho
Wherever you decide to journal and document your review or thoughts about last year, make sure you’re warm, cosy and have a drink to hand xx
Remember those questions I asked you to consider whilst reading this post?
What is the biggest thing you have learned about yourself this year?
Finally, how can you plan to make this forthcoming day and year even better?
What will you be reflecting on this time next year?
I love this quote from Judy Garland and think it would be wonderful if we all lived by it, don’t you?
“Well, we have a whole new year ahead of us. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all be a little more gentle with each other, a little more loving, and have a little more empathy, and maybe, next year at this time we’d like each other a little more.”
judy garland
Let me know how you get on with the Reflection. You may even want to do this with your family and friends.
Please share this post with anyone you think would love it too..
Peel large sections of peel from your fruit. 
