2020 has been crazy as we know.. Lockdown saw many videos all over social media about how we spent our time, from making TikTok videos to DIY projects and how to cut each others hair. Sales of hair clippers went through the roof!
Lockdown has also reminded us that we love our hairdressers more than we ever knew! Hairdressers, stylists, and barbers are invaluable aren’t they? They help us feel good about ourselves.
Despite the stress and chaos of this year, we have had wonderful weather during Spring and Summer meaning we’ve been able to spend much more time outside. Heaven! However, as we officially move into Autumn and Winter, with the clocks going back, the darker evenings and ongoing restrictions in place; we will be spending a lot more time inside at home and away from essential trips out and yes, that includes the hair salon.
I always feel SO much better for a trip to see my hairdresser, there’s a real truth in the mantra “look good, feel good” For me, it’s always such a treat, a bit of time out, a pamper, a good old natter and leaving with the perfect blow dry; you can’t put a price on that!
There’s no doubt that the combination of cooler weather and central heating can have a negative effect on our hair and skin, so how to we keep our locks looking luscious for longer, especially when we aren’t able to visit the hair salon? I’ve teamed up with my gorgeous hairdresser Dawn Atiba to bring you some top tips to help.
“Hairdressers are a wonderful breed. You work one on one with another human being, and the object is to make them feel so much better, and to look at themselves with a twinkle in their eye.”
Vidal Sassoon
What can you do right now?
You don’t have to wait until your next trip to the hair salon or spend a fortune, you can start to tend to those locks right now..
Diet and Hydration I know, it’s not rocket science, but it’s true, you really are what you eat!. Good hair comes from a good balanced diet and being well hydrated. If you wish to do something right now for your hair, makes sure you’re drinking plenty of water and eating healthy nutritious foods.
Reduce Heat damage: We know that heat causes damage to our hair but what can we do without having a wild “au natural” style? Choosing to let your hair dry naturally or using only ONE styling item; (hairdryer, straighteners, heated brush) with have an obvious benefit of damage limitation. I don’t know about you but I have significantly reduced using my straighteners over the last few months.
We all love a lovely hot shower, however reducing the temperature whilst you wash and condition your hair will also have beneficial effect. Try it over the next few weeks and see if you notice a difference.
Watch out for those elements! This time of year sees us having to deal with cooler and often quite horrid weather conditions, then we go straight into the warmth of the house or work thanks to central heating.
Being caught out in the rain whilst on the school run, dashing to the supermarket or whilst outside for a workout or run can also have a negative effect on the hair and can really dry those strands out. I remember by days with running my outdoor fitness camps, Dawn would always ask if I wore a hat..!
Protect your hair as much as possible from the cold wind and rain. I always keep a hat or two in my car. One to wear when I’m running and a good old woolly hat for those coastal walks!
“Invest in your hair, it’s the only crown you don’t take off”
Unknown
Invest in good hair products. Find the right products for you and your hair, much as you would for your skin type. They say you get what you pay for and tempting sit is to grab the cheapest hair products from the supermarket, by using the products in the right way, it’ll be worth every penny and they will last too!
“The Olaplex Shampoo no.4 and Conditioner no.5 conditioner are also favourites of mine. A little really goes a long way, you only need a drop the size of a 5 pence piece and I calculated that a bottle will last on average a year when washing your hair twice a week. Even at £28 a bottle that’s a really reasonable amount for a years worth of shampoo.”
Dawn goes on to say” “I like to use Redken “all soft” range in place of Olaplex if my hair is feeling a little dry.
They are Infused with a rich blends of rejuvenating oils, including avocado to add luminous shine and argan to prevent dryness. you can expect sleek, salon-style results with every use.”
All Change! Autumn also sees lots of us going for a colour change, adding in slightly darker, richer and warmer tones. When you spend those all important pounds on hair colour, it’s equally important that you look after your hair with a shampoo and conditioner range that’s not going to strip those beautiful tones back out.
“Redken have an amazing colour extend range specially formulated to keep coloured hair looking fresh and vibrant” says Dawn. “Both the Magnetic Shampoo and Conditioner will work to help extend the life of your colour, as well as helping to keep your hair tangle free, nourishing your colour and leaving hair feeling softer and smoother, so that you look and feel like your hair has been washed at the salon.”
Pamper Evenings. Remember that aged old excuse “sorry, I’m washing my hair..?” Well, why not do just that? Give you and your hair a good pamper! Take some time out to look after yourself and book some pamper sessions in place of those nights out (remember those!?)
Treat yourself to a long bubble bath, light some candles, play some relaxing music. Face masks are gorgeous but why not give your hair a mask too?
It’s no secret that I love Olaplex no.3, which is a pre shampoo treatment which that is scientifically designed to repair bonds in the hair, that are broken down by chemicals such as colouring and heat such as straighteners.
I apply before I shampoo (they recommend at least 20 minutes before) although I often apply it, tie my hair up and leave in whilst carrying on with every day chores before heading of to full pamper, it’s a great time saver and leaves my hair feeling lovely and feeling soft.
The Matrix Biolage Hair Masks are a firm favourite and highly recommended by Dawn, especially the Hydrasource and Repair masks. They only need to stay on for 3-5 minutes so perfect for a quick fix. They are “perfect for dry, dull hair that appears worse for wear. It’s also 100% vegan and packed with plant-based emollients. the hair mask contains Aloe, known for its ability to restore elasticity, and Spirulina, an ingredient favoured for its strengthening properties.” comments Dawn.
“Straight, wavy or curly, if it’s healthy, it’s beautiful”
Unknown
I really hope that these little top tips from my gorgeous hairdresser Dawn and I have given you a few ideas and reminders on hoe to keep your hair looking gorgeous over the next few months.
As always, do let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Gardening really is good for the soul and it’s been proven to support mental wellbeing too.
Time spent outdoors, hands in the soil, surrounded by nature, helps us slow down, breathe, and reconnect.
Recently, my friend and talented garden designer Alice Blount joined me to answer some of your top gardening questions from Instagram. Together, we’ve gathered practical advice, easy ideas, and inspiration to help you create a garden that feels calm and rewarding.
Why Gardening Boots Your Mind and Mood
Gardening helps reduce stress, encourages mindfulness, and even improves happiness. Whether it’s planting seeds, arranging flowers or simply enjoying a cup of tea outside, gardens bring a sense of calm and purpose to everyday life. Read more here
“Plants and gardens have the power to uplift us. It’s more important than ever that we savour the beauty of flowers and trees because gardens are a natural tonic.
If you don’t have a garden or any indoor plants, remember to pause and appreciate the natural world around you when you take your daily exercise. Take a moment to enjoy plants next week and I know you will feel better for it.
It’s proven that plants and gardening have a positive effect on our mental health and happiness. They uplift us, they heal us, they bring us closer to nature. They attract life and offer hope and we could all do with more of that right now.”
Alan Titchmarsh
My White Garden Inspiration
Over the past 18 months, I’ve discovered a real love for gardening, especially creating a White Garden. Working with my friend and talented garden designer, Alice Blount, we’ve transformed ideas into reality, including turning our treehouse into raised beds!
Alice’s expertise has been invaluable, she combines a keen eye for design with practical planting know-how, wealth of horticultural knowledge, while I bring enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Together, we’ve explored planting, structure and seasonal blooms to make gardening enjoyable and therapeutic.
Watching our garden evolve has reminded me how rewarding even small changes can be and how much happiness comes from connecting with nature in your own space.
You can see some of our ideas on Instagram and Pinterest, and I hope they inspire you to try your own garden refresh, whatever size your outdoor space.
I adore my baskets from The Basket Company
Meet Alice Blount
Alice started her design consultancy in 2004, in Oxfordshire. Now based in South Devon, she works throughout the UK and Europe and is a highly qualified, experienced RHS Award winning garden design professional.
While historical garden restoration is her specialist area, she has a passion for working on urban-chic town gardens all the way through to very large country estates. She employs classic, yet contemporary, design skills where structure is of the utmost importance, softened by gorgeous planting.
Alice is a knowledgeable plants woman and this, combined with a thorough knowledge of modern landscape construction requirements, means she can take your project through from initial concept to the finished garden. When Alice designs a garden, she is led by your needs and dreams for your garden. She is informed by the feel of the site itself, as well as the surrounding landscape and architecture. It will be a design that is totally tailored to you.
You may simply need a border redesigning; or your whole garden overhauled, requiring a complete design and set of planting plans. Alice hand-draws and colours her plans, which makes them totally unique. Her vision really brings the garden alive for you and makes gardening easy to understand. Trust me, she is amazing!
Your Gardening Questions Answered
I’m new to growing vegetables. Where should I start?
Start small and grow what you actually eat. Carrots, beans, peas, or salad leaves are perfect first crops.
Alice recommends the No Dig Method: simply lay cardboard over your soil, cover it with compost or well-rotted manure, and let nature do the rest. It improves soil structure, reduces weeds, and is much kinder on the back!
“Begin with two or three varieties, learn how they behave, then expand next year.” – Alice Blount
Invest in a good “How To”: gardening manual. Charles Dowding’s “No Dig” books are some of the best and of course there are hundreds of videos online also.
“No Dig is an attractive way of growing. It provides a rich soil to grow in, and it’s an excellent way to clear a weed-infested growing area. In principle, by avoiding digging you will not be disrupting the soil life. This is the important micro-organisms, fungi and worms, that help feed plant roots. You will need a large quantity of organic matter. You can use home-made compost, leafmould, well-rotted manure, green waste compost or even bagged peat-free compost.” Garden Organic
If the soil is heavy and clayey, then it does need improving. Add well rotted plant matter to balance it out and help to break it up. The best way now you’ve turned it over is to add a 2” deep top dressing of well rotted horse manure. (it shouldn’t smell at all if it’s rotted down enough!) You don’t need to dig or fork it in. Leave it on top and the worms that are in the manure and soil, will pull it down into the earth. The rotted straw will improve the soils texture. Repeat this process every year and the soil will become more friable and beautifully nutritious, with no digging required!
Desdemona – David Austin Roses Visiting the White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle was magical and bought real inspiration.
How Do I Manage Weeds Naturally?
Weeds are part of every garden, but you can keep them under control:
Top the earth with a weed suppressing mulch such as well rotted manure, well rotted bark or “Strulch” (mineralised straw)
Hoe the area regularly, throughout the growing season, to take the tops off annual weeds in order to keep the weeds at bay.
Lay sheets of cardboard, old carpet or plastic sheeting like DPC membrane also keeps out light which allows the roots to grow. Leave this on for several weeks and ideally overwinter and this will kill off the roots in time. Mulches will also improve the condition of the soil.
Grow medium to large shrubs that will cover the area and keep out light below and therefore help prevent weed growth.
Smaller gardens obviously take less work and time, so try and make sure you can cope with the size of garden you have or bring in a gardener to help!! You may wish to ask a garden designer to redesign your space effectively so that you have the minimum amount of weeding to do. Firstly, always try digging them out first.
Alice prefers using organic methods and not using weedkiller but suggests you may like to use it sparingly in key areas on hard to remove weeds like docks, dandelions and brambles.
Weeds like couch grass and bind weed are a problem. Once you’ve got them, its very hard to get rid of them altogether as a plant can grow from the tiniest section of root!
What’s The Best Way To Move Roses Or Established Shrubs?
Roses are notoriously difficult to move from one place to another, as they have a single, very long tap root. The remaining roots are very short and sparse and very often the main root gets severed when trying to move it. If the rose holds sentimental value, a wedding gift or a memorial for example, then try to take cuttings ahead of time, so you can grow new plants.
Water the plant well a day before moving.
Dig a wide circle around the roots, lifting as much soil as possible.
Replant straight away into a hole enriched with compost.
Mulch well and water regularly until it settles.
Sometimes replacing an older rose is more successful than relocating it—but it’s always worth trying if the plant is special to you.
Alice feels that roses – as with other plants when relocated- have one chance, they will either do well or die! They are also relatively inexpensive to replace (around £12.99 now) so often it is easier to simply buy a new one. (Alice acknowledges her advice maybe a little harsh!)
What Small Updates Make The Biggest Difference
A little fresh paint or oil on fences, decking, or garden furniture instantly brightens your space. Many modern outdoor paints include built-in preservatives to extend the life of timber.
Add pots of herbs near the kitchen door, solar lighting along pathways, and a few cushions or throws for a relaxed, lived-in feel. Find more inspiration here
Favourite Garden Resources
A few books Alice and I reach for again and again:
You’ll find endless ideas and seasonal advice on rhs.org.uk and at annual garden shows, which are wonderful for discovering new varieties and meeting like-minded gardeners.
A Final Thought
Gardening doesn’t have to be grand or time-consuming. Whether you’re planting a single pot of herbs, refreshing your garden furniture or redesigning your borders, every small act of care adds calm and beauty to your day.
In the meantime, if you fancy a little more inspiration then head over to Alices’s Pinterest page
You can find me on Instagram and Pinterest – take a look at the Dartmoor Village Garden board, that Alice and I created for my White Garden inspiration.
Gardening is good for the soul—because it reminds us to slow down, nurture, and notice the little things.
I’d love to hear about your garden!
Share your latest project or favourite plant in the comments or Alice and I on Instagram so we can see what you’re growing.
If you’d like more home, wellbeing and seasonal inspiration, subscribe to the blog to receive the next post straight to your inbox.
In a world that rarely slows down, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly catching up — with work, family, and life in general. Those waves of overwhelm can creep in quietly, leaving you feeling flat, restless or simply not quite yourself. This post is all about simple ways to help you feel less overwhelmed and a little happier, wherever you are right now.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve felt it too and over time, I’ve found a few simple rituals that help me feel less overwhelmed and a little happier, calmer and more in control.
So, if you’ve been feeling stretched, scattered, or emotionally tired lately, these gentle habits might help you reconnect with yourself and rediscover a sense of calm and balance.
Simple Daily Habits To Help you Feel Less Overwhelmed.
How To Share How You’re Feeling
It’s amazing what happens when we stop bottling things up. Talk to someone you trust ~ a partner, a friend, a colleague and be honest about how you’re feeling. They say it’s good to talk and it really is.
It doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human. We all have moments when things feel heavy. Opening up helps lighten the load and reminds you that you’re not doing this alone.
If talking feels too much, try journaling or writing a few lines in your notes app. It’s a simple way to release what’s sitting on your mind. open about it, try not to bottle it up.
How A Power Hour Helps You Feel Less Overwhelmed
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I love a good list. When your mind feels cluttered, grab a notebook and write down everything that’s worrying you or taking up space in your thoughts. No filter, no order, just get it out of your head and onto paper. Make it exhaustive.
Then, set a timer for one focused hour — your Power Hour. Make a cup of your favourite drink, turn off all distractions and notifications and set your timer for ONE hour. Look at your list and circle one or two things you can actually do something about today. Even small steps count.
Taking gentle action helps you regain a sense of control, and often, that’s where calm begins. Focusing on what you can influence — even just a small part of it, is surprisingly powerful. By reclaiming a little control, that sense of overwhelm can ease, even if only slightly. This is also a wonderful activity to do with children of any age when they’re feeling stretched or anxious.
Coffee And Candle Chats
Connection soothes the soul. One of my favourite rituals is arranging what I call a Coffee and Candle Chat , a simple catch-up where I make a fresh coffee, light a candle and have a meaningful chat with a friend.
If meeting in person isn’t possible, pick up the phone or have a video chat. It’s these small moments of connection that remind us we belong.
It doesn’t need to be fancy or long, just intentional. Sharing stories, laughter, or even silence over a cuppa can shift your whole mood.
Send Some Happy Post
There’s something so joyful about receiving a handwritten note, isn’t there? I’ve always had a soft spot for stationery and keep a little box of cards ready for when I want to send some happy post.
This week, why not send one? It could be to a friend, a relative, or someone who’s simply been on your mind. A few handwritten words can brighten someone’s day ~ and yours too.
Sort Out The Little Things
Sometimes it’s the smallest tasks that create the most mental noise. The squeaky door, that messy drawer, the email you’ve been avoiding.
Set aside half an hour and deal with a few of them, home at your desk or even in the car. Dedicate some time to sorting out the little things, the ones that every day you think “I must sort that out”.
You’ll be surprised how much even small actions can lift your energy and bring a sense of calm to your space. It’s not just about tidying your home, t’s about clearing mental clutter too. Over half term, alongside my linen cupboard Mission, I gave my study a thorough spring clean, and yes, even tackled those tricky kitchen drawers! I also sorted my Pinterest boards and replaced the cracked screen protector on my phone, little things that make a real difference. The result? A clearer space and a lighter mind.
Boost Your Vitamin D
Getting outside, even for ten minutes, can work wonders for your mood and energy.
Vitamin D supports bone health, immunity and overall wellbeing, but it also boosts your mood. So, whether it’s a short walk, coffee in the garden, or standing barefoot in the grass for a moment, let yourself pause and soak it in.
It’s amazing how much brighter the world feels after a little fresh air.
Create A Positivity Jar.
This is a lovely habit to share with family or keep just for yourself. Each time you think of something you’re grateful for or something you’re looking forward to, write it down and pop it in a jar.
Over time, it becomes a collection of happy thoughts and small moments, something you can dip into whenever you need a gentle reminder of what’s good.
Simple, meaningful and full of hope. It’s a wonderful mini Mission to set some time aside at the end of each month or year and read all notes. For more simple ways to ease stress, the Mind UK wellbeing tips are a supportive read.
A Few More Simple Mood Boosters
Listen to a favourite podcast or audiobook.
Dance around the kitchen to a song that makes you smile.
Look through old holiday photos or start planning your next adventure.
Move your body, even a ten-minute stretch or walk counts.
Challenge a friend or family member to a board game or online quiz.
Daily And Weekly Planners
I’ve created a few printable planners that help me stay focused, grounded, and organised, especially when life feels full. You can find them here. They’re designed to help you take back your time and energy, so you can focus on what truly matters most.
Daily Planner Weekly Planner
Final Thoughts
Remember, small steps make a big difference. Whether it’s lighting a candle, writing a list, or taking a few moments outside, every tiny act of calm adds up.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up for yourself, one gentle step at a time.
What helps you feel calmer when life feels overwhelming? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
I’m the creator of Woman on a Mission, a lifestyle space dedicated to helping women bring more calm, confidence and balance into everyday life. Born from my own journey to slow down and live with greater intention, it offers inspiration around wellbeing, organisation, home and mindset, one meaningful mission at a time
