Like anything in life, feeling prepared, with the right mindset is half the battle
Exam season is looming, especially for those taking A level and GCSE mock exams. A stressful time for students and parents alike, especially during a pandemic when school life over the last 20 months has been so disjointed.. It really hasn’t been easy for parents and teachers as we try to help them navigate this time in their lives,
Many students feel the pressure really is on to hit those grades. In this blog, I’m sharing a guide to help you make a plan, ensuring the students in your home feel prepared and balanced as much as they can be.
Enjoy the big outdoors, have a break from the book and get some fresh air, even if it’s only for 20 minutes.
Did you know that your diet and lifestyle can affect exam performance?
I believe the right nutrition and exercise plan can energise your mind and body to get you through revision time and sharpen your memory, improve concentration and boost confidence. However, the wrong dietary and lifestyle choices can potentially put you at a disadvantage.
Time to relax with a good novel is always a good idea.
Diet will have a huge effect on your body and mind, choose the wrong meals and you can become sluggish and tired, but if you give your brain the right fuel, you will be able to think quicker, have a better memory and have improved concentration.
The key to boosting your energy and keeping your concentration levels up are nutritious foods, water and oxygen.
Here are my top tips for success during exam season:
Stay Away From Caffeine
Drinking energy drinks like Red Bull or high amounts of tea and coffee will give you a short burst of energy but will burn out and give you a sugar crash.
Try not to rely on the caffeine fix to get you through the regions and exams. Switch to a warming hot chocolate instead!
Keep Your Body Hydrated
Herbal drinks and water hydrate your brain and encourages it to function at an optimum level, delivering nutrients to the brain and eliminating toxins.
Being hydrating is essential for concentration, clarity of thinking and mental alertness.
Avoid Snacking On Junk Food and Ordering Takeaways
A lot of students can fall prey to this mistake because they are so busy revising they run out of time to buy and prepare food in advance, unlersas of course they are living at home!
Many students tend to study in their rooms, however if you are able to separate the study zone and the relaxing and sleep zone, the quality of the nights sleep is vastly improved.
Exercise
Often when we feel stressed or overwhelmed, we feel we just don’t have the time to exercise. Having worked with clients, who felt the same for almost a decade, they all felt a huge benefit for taking some time out of their busy lives to get some training in. What’s more, they felt more productive too with improved memory! Win!
Exercise can help boost energy levels, clear the mind and relieve stress. Just 20 minutes of fresh air and exercise a day will boost your mood and concentration too.
A walk around the block can really make the world of difference – to all of us; parents and students alike. A walk and talk is always a good idea!
Breathe..
I can totally appreciate that this time of our Teens lives can feel like it’s THE most stressful time for them. The last 20 months of extremely disturbed schooling due to the pandeamic, has been stressful for everyone..
Go easy…
That’s both parents and students!
Exam stress can be shown in many different emotions and behaviours.
Take time to talk; share how you are feeling… talking, tears and sharing emotions, nerves, worry, make all the difference. Please don’t keep the worry to yourself students!
Good luck and try not to stress too much. It will be OK…
I really hope this guide helps you and your students alike to navigate the exam season.
This blog is all about you! Let’s explore how to make your dreams come true by answering some simple questions.
Let’s discover what’s holding you back and how you can make that first move to unlocking the life you want.
If not now, then when? Grab a cuppa, your journal and a comfy spot – let’s go in!
If you were to write a list right now about what you would like your life to look like, what would be on it?
Take 5 minutes (or as long as you wish) to write down in your journal or notebook, everything you’d LOVE to be doing.
Don’t over think it.
Consider it almost like a wish list. You don’t need to think how it will happen, just simply what you would like your life to look like..
Sounds simple doesn’t it?
‘Rather than stifling enterprise, the pandemic has led to entrepreneurs creating new businesses in response to the crisis’
Dylan Jones-Evans, Business Live
These last 20 months have thrown our worlds upside down and inside out. The way we live, work and travel have all changed.
Face to face interviews for jobs became a 10 minute video submission to the panel sharing what you could bring to the company.
We worked from home, our childrens classrooms became the dining room table and we spent more time than ever online, connecting, communicating and evolving.
More than ever, we have become a world where we have had to adapt and craete a new way of living.
For many people I’ve had spoken to, it has bought a conversation of what has worked well for them during these strange times.
People have shared with me that they’ve felt that working from home has been better for them as the commuting times are non existant, therefore improving their quality of life. For some, it’s given them the nudge they needed to create their dream business or structure their home life balance a little better.
With this in mind what’s on your wishlist?
Maybe you’d like to start your own business.
Adopt.
Move the the country.
Write a book.
Overcome your biggest fear.
Find your body confidence..
Renovate a room in your home or maybe build your own home.
Whatever made your wish list, NOW is the time.
ASK YOURSELF: What’s holding you back from making your dreams a reality?
You may already know.
Perhaps you are thinking “nothing is holding me back” but don’t have exact clarity on where to start.
That’s OK.
Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.
Imagine..
Imagine the thermometer in your home.
Set it to 21 degrees, guess what? Your home becomes a gorgeous 21 degrees – no more, no less.
Imagine if you set your personal thermometer to HIGH. You removed all the worry, self limiting beliefs and behaved that your wish had already become true.
What would you be doing?
What would your day look like?
What would you be wearing, feeling, saying?
Once you know the answers to these simple questions, you can start to make your dreams become true.
Really knowing what you’d like your life to look like and actually visualise, right down to the nitty gritty, what it would look like, that’s when the magic starts to happen1
Be bold, be brave and go for it!
”Happiness Is Not Something Readymade. It Comes From Your Own Actions.”
Dalai lama
More than anything, these last couple of years have taught us that nothing is certain and whilst that can be really scary. In some form it’s exciting..
Now really is the time to go for it.. make that jump, live that dream, because if not now – when?
It’s OK to make YOU a priority and create the live you wish to have.
I’d love to know how your attitudes and passions have changed. Please do join me on Instagram, where the conversation continues, with inspirational weekly mini missions which help you make life changes so your dreams come true.
In this weeks blog, I’m sharing my top tips to plan effectively so that you can prioritise more time for what’s important in your life, how I plan my diary and one very key lesson I learned years ago, which I still use today.
How do you plan? Are you an electronic diary kind of person or, like me, love to have a pretty planner..? Or several..?
Whilst this may seem excessive, I’m yet to find a planner that ticks all my boxes – so I use two or three. One for the home and my interiors projects, one for my Blogs and Missions and one for my Fitness and Wellbeing Goals including the “everyday” . The dream is to take all the aspects I love about the planners I use and add my own little spin. Wonder if you can guess what I’d add? Do you think if I make a wish, it might just happen..?
“The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Stephen Covey.
I have used the diaries and calendar from Boxclever Press for years, in fact am sure I was one of their first customers the year they launched which coincided with me becoming a new mum. Writing the important things down is key to managing my time effectively.
I was delighted recently when they asked me to review their new academic diary and calendar for 2021 / 2022 and share with you how I use them and what works for me. These planners are as close to perfect as I can get. They have everything for me as a busy mum of teens and and help me plan my writing and goals effectively.
The new school term for me is a perfect time for a new focus, and yes with that, a new planner! There’s something about having a new pencil case and notebook to reignite the passion around your working life, home life and yes, planning the final quarter of the year, all whilst wondering how that time has passed so quickly!
The planning starts for me before the Autumn term begins. I’m not sure what it’s like in your house but as the school summer term finishes, my inbox starts to flood with fixtures and dates for the new term. As a swim mum, this includes swimming fixtures as the season runs from late August through to the following summer.
Getting everything in place from dates to labelling the school uniform, early in the school summer holidays, means I can relax that little bit more without too many shocks the week before the new school year begins!
“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.”
Stephen Covey
Look after the big rocks first.
The same year I became a first-time mum, I attended a Franklin Covey course on time and life management. There began my love for Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits for Highly Effective People. The biggest lightbulb moment was to look after the Big Rocks first.
The Big Rocks are the things in your life that are MOST important, they go in your planner first. It sounds a simple thing to do, but how many times when we are in the thick of life, we can revert to reactive living and not proactive. With a planner that works for you together with effective planning, life really does seem that much more manageable.
My Top Tips to Effective Planning:
Find a planner that works for you. it sounds really obvious but get to know it, spend time looking at all its functions so you are able to use it to your best advantage.
Put the big rocks in first, including YOU time – book it like an appointment. You wouldn’t miss you appointmentt for your car to have an MOT. Book them in for you too! Easier said than done I know, however practise makes perfect!
Create a system; with pens, stickers, whatever works for you to highlight the important appointments and fixtures that matter.
Create time for a Power of an Hour each day. Having focused time to work on ONE thing, working with intention and without distraction, it’s incredible what you can achieve.
Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail! It’s the little things that have a huge effect on the big things, so simple but true. So plan ahead – if you’re planning on working out first thing in the morning, prepare ahead by getting your kit ready the night before.
Consider how you can limit any stresses that come your way. What do you need in place to limit any stresses that may come your way? As a stationary lover, having a box of birthday and celebration cards to hand is always helpful with children in the house.
Each Sunday, I spend a little time getting prepared for my week ahead. This involves looking at my planner, doing a diary check with the family. Adding and taking out what can help and hinder the week ahead. I confirm my workouts, plan the weekly menu, including the shopping list and print my Consistency Checklist for the week ahead. I’ve created some free downloads which might help you.
“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically, to say “no” to other things.
Stephen Covey.
Let’s be real.
Trying to plan effectively and having systems in place, are all well and good, but let’s be honest and realistic for a moment, life happens! We can plan for most things, yet curveballs can occur which will send us out of kilter. We’ve certainly learned that in the last year haven’t we?
We all know that it is how we respond to these circumstances that matter so please be kind to yourself. If you drop the ball, that’s ok. I truly hope that sharing some of the things that work for me, help you too. Be kind to yourself and put things in place that work for you.
Traditionally, we all tend to make New Years Resolutions or new plans at this time of year. I really hope we can all be happy, healthy and safe in 2021 and as we adjust to this new life, not to be too hard on ourselves..
This is the first in a series of blogs focusing on using this crazy time during Lockdown to do just that.. This year more than ever, I firmly believe we need to remove “stuff” from our plate that doesn’t serve us, before we start adding more things on. Therefore, giving us more head space and less stress to concentrate on the things that bring us true joy.
In this first blog, I’m asking “what are you letting go of in 2021?” We all talk about being kind to one another and ourselves but when you dial in deeper, what does that really mean?
What does that look like in your day to day life?
I’d love you to grab your journal or notebook, a drink and set a few of moments aside to consider these two questions:
What are you willing to do to ensure you really do look after yourself wholeheartedly this year and beyond?
What are you planning on letting go of this year to make sure that happens?
Don’t worry.. at first you might look at these questions blankly and wonder how to answer. That’s totally OK, it doesn’t have to make sense, you don’t have to know how to get there right now. However by opening the mind, spending a few moments in the quiet, letting your thoughts run free, write the things that first come into your head… Forget punctuation, spelling etc – let that pen run freely across the page.
Then ask yourself the questions again.
The first question, about looking after yourself in a kinder way, might be easier to respond to…
The second question I suspect maybe a little trickier.
One of the emotions I work with in my role as lifestyle and wellbeing coach is resentment. Resentment, along with feeling hurt, especially in relation to letting go of toxic friendships that have built up over time. They are a huge self-limiter on our general feelings of happiness and contentment.
Letting go isn’t just a case of ‘giving it time.’ It can be one of the hardest things ever, because it can often feel protective in the sense of constantly reminding you never to put yourself in a position to be so hurt again.
The Power of Letting go is so therapeutic. It’s not easy, it takes practise. You’ll begin to release emotions and stresses that you have got used to holding onto, maybe as you didn’t know how to let go OR were too worried about about the consequences of doing so. Trust me, you will start to feel so much lighter and more in control as you work on this.
With the second question in mind, yesterday I asked on my Instagram ” Has the pandemic affected your friendships? If so, how?”
These were just some of the responses:
“I’ve realised I don’t like a couple of my friends, constantly sending conspiracy links..”
“There are less frequent trips to the pub, but other than that, my friendships haven’t changed hugely. They’ll still be there when the world gets back to normal”
“Some friends just disappeared now that I can’t drive them around or babysit their kids. So sad how some people form friendships for their own interests, but have also found new lovely friends who are just amazing”
“Yes….I feel connected more to some and others who, looking back, were toxic I have let go …feels good x”
“Life is always so busy that we rarely have time to meet so chatting on the phone has become the norm, in fact FaceTime video has been the norm over the past few years for me.”
“Friendships have grown stronger during the Pandemic, I speak to my best friend everyday x”
“Some friendships have grown stronger. I have realised the friends who are actually really there during the tough times”
“My friends have always been really important to me, but they’ve become even more so during these times”
“Yes! I’m much more in contact with those who matter digitally”
“In short yes. I have become much closer with my good friends and, with a couple, we have really reconnected. I feel like my friendship groups have re-centred too. Before, I spent most of my time with school mums because we saw each other daily. Over lockdown it was my ‘lifelong’ friends I spent most time with (virtually speaking). Some of my wider friendship groups have waned to the point where we don’t even really say hello anymore. xxx”
“Yes! When friendship fall below our expectations it is always hard. I have suffered from those over the years. I try to view those experiences as areas of self growth ( even if painful) I now do not prioritise friendships over family, before I would juggle the family to fit in friends and I believe that this is right ( unless an emergency) and I also realise the value of my friendship, I am very loyal and true and my kindness has been exploited by others in the past. I am now more wary of whom deserves my time.”
Fascinating isn’t it? I haven’t shared all the responses, but the general feeling was that
1) The friendships that were important and mattered, had become much stronger.
2) Those friendships that were causing frustration before or during the pandemic had become weaker or non-existent.
My granny always said to me from a very young age “treat others how you wish to be treated and all will be well!” Sadly as we all know this isn’t always the case. Yes, I’ve been hurt too and remember a time last year, when someone I considered a friend was going through a really tough time. I shared empathy and kindness, checking in from time to time to ensure they were OK and that I was thinking of them. Yet this was greeted as if my actions were being the opposite, in turn, she has decided she no longer wished to have my friendship and has erased me from her life. It was just horrid, has made me very sad, affecting my self-worth. I questioned my beliefs, moral compass and true values. Life isn’t always easy huh?
I wonder if any of this resonates with you? If you feel that you can relate to any one of the comments above or my experience, know that you are not on your own..
Having reflected lots and moved on, I feel SO much happier.. Sad that it happened at all, but again, wise words from my granny “it’s better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all.” Yes, I faltered, I questioned myself but on reflection, it’s okay to be ME! Not everyone is the same or shares the same values and you know what? That’s okay.
I truly value my friendships, being immensely loyal, I’ll always have your back. If you choose to confide in me, you can be sure it won’t go anywhere, I’ll always be true (once a nurse, always a nurse!) I love these quotes by Sylvester McNutt and Brene brown, they have certainly helped me during this time:
May you attract the type of friends who are going to hold you to a higher standard.
May you create the space for others who love you, but who won’t allow you to settle for less than you deserve”
Sylvester McNutt
Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. Only when we believe, deep down, that we are enough can we say “Enough!”
Brene Brown.
So how DO we create boundaries around our friendships or find the Power to Let Go of things in our lives that no longer serve us or make us happy?
Here are my thoughts:
Setting Boundaries around what is acceptable and what isn’t..
Have an open and transparent conversation if you can. Come to the conversation with good heart, good intention and empathy.
Journal – openly and honestly. Please don’t keep your feelings caught up inside.
Practice – saying no! It doesn’t have to be no, full stop. Try ” thank you for thinking of me, I’m unable to help this time but do consider mew in the future”
Don’t wait for ‘time’ to heal. Be proactive in letting it go, be kind to yourself. You are worthy and enough.
Surround yourself with positive people who bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart.
It’s not possible to go back in time and fix a bad childhood, but with love, trust and understanding, it IS possible to fix a failing friendship, IF and only IF that’s what both want. “Your past does not equal your future.” Tony Robbins.
It’s important to remember that YOUR boundaries are important with all relationships: at work, at home and with your friendships and I believe certainly even more so during the last 12 months, going into 2021 and beyond.
Healthy relationships are based on mutuality and require boundaries and trust.
Toxic relationships are the ones where we feel as though we have just been run over or drained.
These relationships often leave us feeling undermined or devalued. Our job is to uphold our boundaries.”
Brene Brown.
It is also key to remember that this is a crazy time! We are all out of sorts..
We can be distracted, certainly in our own little bubbles, simply trying to do the best we can on a day by day basis. We all know many friends and family members that have lots going on behind the scenes, be very busy just trying to juggle life, work, home schooling etc. It doesn’t always mean that person is rejecting you as a person or doesn’t want to spend time with you anymore…
If you are no longer hearing from a friend, consider why? Maybe they are having a really bad time and just need someone to reach out to them, as they are struggling to pick up the phone and call you. Perhaps they misread or misinterpreted something you’ve said or texted. It’s okay to reach out and ask.. You’re friends after all right?
Let me remind you of those two questions again:
What are you willing to do to ensure you really do look after yourself wholeheartedly this year and beyond?
What are you planning on letting go of this year to make sure that happens?
Go back to your initial thoughts you wrote down. How do you feel? Has anything changed?
Every day is a new day, a chance to make new choices. Learning how to move on from experiences and situations of the past, means you’ll have so much more energy to focus on the things that truly make you happy and not the negative energy that brings you down. You can’t take back an unhealthy relationship, but you can learn from it.
I really hope this has helped you, I’d love to know your biggest take home / lightbulb moment in the comments below, together with how you’ll take action this week.
So that you don’t miss next weeks blog, sign up to receive it straight to your emails, it’s quick and so simple to do, simply follow the link
Wishing you a very happy and healthy week ahead,
Love
PS If you are struggling with the January Blues, check out the blog I wrote last year which might help you -> CLICK HERE
In a world where it seems like every continent is in a Hollywood movie, we need to stick together, really stick together.. Many of us have intermittent feelings of being overwhelmed with the situation we find ourselves in..
We were told over a month ago that this virus will effect us all in one way or another, more than we’d realise – it’s tough. Now we are in lockdown and these feelings of being overwhelmed are very real, it causes fear, panic, sleepless nights – regardless of how we try to feel calm and in control. It stops us in our tracks, it messes with our minds & clarity of thinking, but what can we do about it?
MY TOP TIPS TO GET YOU FEELING A BIT HAPPIER AND LESS OVERWHELMED:
SHARE HOW YOU ARE FEELING.
Be open about it, try not to bottle it up. They say it’s good to talk and it really is. 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.
HAVE A POWER HOUR
I’m a big one for lists and am rather old fashioned so recommend grabbing a piece of paper and writing down every little thing you are worried about – everything… no matter how big or small. Make it exhaustive. Keep going until you can’t write any more. Trust me, you’ll feel so much better for getting it out of your head and on paper.
OK, now I’m going to invite you to have one of my ‘Power Hours’ – grab a cuppa, turn off all distractions and notifications and set your timer for ONE hour. Take a look at your scribbled list – some of the things you may have written down you won’t be able to do anything about – we are in a world of the unknown. However, there will be things that you CAN do something about. What are they? How can you action them?
Taking a small amount of control about what you CAN do something about is really powerful. By taking back a teeny bit of control, that huge overwhelm, I hope will diminish, even if just a little. This is a great task to do with your children also, get them talking about how they are feeling or even enjoying about being at home.
COFFEE AND CANDLE CHATS
Meeting up with friends isn’t always easy so we arrange a time to catch up on the phone – which for me has become known as a coffee and candle chat. Having an arranged time to call, much like you would with an actual coffee or lunch date, I make sure I have a fresh coffee and light my favourite candle in my study at home. It might sound a bit silly but it’s one of my favourite things to do. Now with the new guidelines around Coronavirus, my candle and coffee chats have been more valuable than ever. (Although I’m considering switching coffee for wine, obviously depending on the time of day!)
We are social beings and we are living in the most surreal of times. Connection is more important than ever. I’d love you to have your own candle and coffee chats and encourage you to organise a FaceTime chat for your children and their friends, write it into your home schooling timetable, maybe a different friend each day perhaps? I know we moan about screen time but if we are feeling a little lost, our children will be too.
HAPPY POST
We all know how fabulous it is to receive some happy post… I love writing, always have, I also have quite a passion for planners and stationary. Anyone else buy lots of cards they love, just in case? Yup that’s me, I have a box of cards ready to go…!
I’d love you to join me in sending a card or a letter to someone – a relative, friends, whoever you think it would make smile to have a lovely envelope come through the door. In fact please don’t limit it to just one! We used to write to each other when we were little before the age of technology – yes I’m old! Happy post is always a good idea, even if you can’t be sure it will get there. The Royal Mail are now able to sell stamps online so you won’t need a trip to the post office for stamps.
THE LITTLE THINGS
It’s the little things that take up the most head space. Well sometimes! Dedicate some time to sorting out the little things, the ones that every day you think “I must sort that out”. Imagine that squeaky door that no longer squeaks.. The tap that no longer drips… That kitchen drawer that you don’t have to battle with each time you open it – (we all have a drawer like that don’t we?).
It sounds silly but spending a few moments checking around the home OR maybe in the car, your desk at work – wherever it maybe. This week, take a look at the little niggly jobs that would make life lighter.
I promise, when they have been addressed & fixed, you’ll smile!
During half term, along with my linen cupboard project, I had a real spring clean in my study and yes those kitchen drawers! I even spring cleaned my Pinterest boards & changed the screen protector on my phone that had a crack on it in a silly place! Spark Joy? Oh yes!
BOOST YOUR VITAMIN D
We’ve been blessed with sunshine and have really enjoyed the first signs of spring. We all know that vitamin D is essential for maintenance of teeth and bone health, 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, is to get outside when you can. Get outside in the fresh air… regardless of the weather and I promise you will feel better for it. Honest, even if it’s a quick trip around the block or to the post box on your daily walk with those cards!
POSITIVITY JAR
I’d love you to look forward and think about what you are looking forward to doing again when all this is over. When my daughter was revising for her GCSE’s just a few weeks ago, we had a jar that she would put a note in suggesting something she’d like to do, just her and I, after when the exams are over. She’d add this note on a day she felt overwhelmed or bogged down with the studies, we flipped it to a positive by thinking of something fun we could do, having a chat about it and then adding the idea to the jar. We’ve now turned this into a post Covid19 jar – the things we as a family would like to do when we are through this;
Meeting and hugging our friends & family again, maybe we will even have a street party!
Having a BBQ on our glorious Devon beaches
Walking on Dartmoor
Long coastal walk for a pub lunch
Visit to our favourite hotel in Cornwall as our visit last month was cancelled
These are just a few things we’re looking forward to doing. This is a really simple but fun idea. Why not get the whole family involved and see what you can come up with?
A FEW MORE IDEAS…
BBC Sounds has a fantastic array of audible books and podcasts which are free to download, suitable for children and adults alike.
Challenge a family member or friends to a game of online chess – my son currently has a championship going on with his grandfather and cousin.. it’s fantastic for all involved!
Stick on a top tune and dance around the kitchen – this is my current playlist which is keeping us moving!
Look through a photo album of a fun summer holidays or even plan one!
Exercise and release those feel-good endorphins!
I really hope these tips for bringing a little positivity to the situation we find ourselves in help you.
Daily Planner Weekly Planner
I’ve created some planners which I find really useful in keeping me focused and organised which you can find here. I hope these will give you a little inspiration so that you can create a feeling of being more in control and less overwhelmed so that you can concentrate on the things that are most important to you.
I’d love to know which one is your favourite and which ones you’ll be trying out.
What makes you feel less blue? I’d love to hear from you.
Maybe you’d like to start your own business.
