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.
This Power of an Hour is for YOU! What will you do today to recharge the batteries so that you’re ready to embrace anything that comes your way? Remember the analogy about looking after your oxygen mask on an airplane before you look after anyone elses.? The same applies to your everyday life..
Please don’t ignore the warning signs, take time out for you.
If you are running on empty or your emotional bank account is overdrawn, then everything will feel so much harder, or even stop. Ignore the warning signs and you could become poorly and require an enforced rest, so pay attention to your body. Whatever you decide to do during your hour, make sure you focus on you… removing what you don’t need and putting in place things to ensure you are functioning at your very best you:
Without distraction
Without scrolling
With purpose and intention.
Some ideas about what you can do on this Power of an Hour just for you:
Diary Check
Make sure you haven’t overstretched yourself this forthcoming week. Do you need to rearrange anything or book any workouts?
Health Check :
When did you last visit the dentist, have your blood pressure checked, or have an eye test..? Is your smear test up to date?
Do you need to book any appts? We all know that times flies and we can easily lose track of the weeks and months.
Home Spa
(although a trip to an actual spa would be amazing! Would be amazing wouldn’t it?)
Having a quiet spot in your home where you can sit and read your favourite fiction, journal or even meditate, is quite magical.
Some feel spending your time like this is a luxury. I feel that taking time in the quiet, is essential to health, wellbeing and piece of mind.
If an hour seems too much to start, try just 15 minutes and build up. Consider adding a block of time to your diary. Make quiet time happen.
Workout
Sometimes we feel too tired to workout or are simply too busy. However, by scheduling a workout into your Power of an Hour, you can really inject some energy into the rest of your day.
I believe the key is finding something you love. Walking in the fresh air, yoga, running, anything as long as it brings you joy.
Personally, I love the online workouts from Digme Fitness, having discovered them through Lockdown, they have really kept me sane! SO many workouts to choose from to workout out with live or on demand. take a look, I think you’ll love them too.
Taking the time to stop, refuel in the quiet is so powerful.
I’d love to know what you’ll do just for YOU during this Power of an Hour and how you feel afterwards. I really hope you add these to your week so that you’re recharged and ready to embrace anything that comes your way.
Find a space where you can take a moment to catch your breath.
We are gradually returning to our normal lives here in the UK. How are you feeling about life post Lockdown? Anxious? Excited? Maybe a bit of both..? I really hope this blog post will help you gain some perspective on what you can do about feeling overwhelmed at a time when we feel we should be excited about life returning back to normal.
It has been 16 months like no other hasn’t it? Life as we knew it changed beyond all recognition. We had to learn, and fast, how to manage our lives with a global pandeamic.
Our homes have been our sanctuary over this last year. Love this calming space and gorgeous Olive Tree from Charles Ted
Whatever you feel today is totally OKAY. Repeat that out loud!
How you are feeling in this moment is totally OK..
No one can take that away from you. We have all had our own individual experiences of the Covid-19 pandeamic, some good, some horrific, yet it would be wrong for anyone to suggest how you should be feeling..
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing. It’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.”
Brene Brown
You are not alone, 1/2 of the UK are feeling anxious and overwhelmed about the changes to ease Lockdown and indeed what about life post lockdown will now be like. For many of us, we are now used to logging on from home to have meetings, workouts and order our food shopping, all online, without leaving the house.
We’ve learned that our new normal is to stay at home. The commute is as far as from the bedroom, to the kitchen, dining room or study and as we reach these longed for dates, the thought of the work commute on the tube or heavy traffic is something we’ve not missed and the heart starts to race..
Postives and negatives about working from home, this was a postive!Homemade cookies and coffee Sunrise walks on Dartmoor was a huge positive to this last year
Many of us will feel excited, many of us apprehensive. Lots of us maybe feel a bit of both. Join me in trying to navigate these next few weeks together..
“Self-reflection entails asking yourself questions about your values, assessing your strengths and failures, thinking about your perceptions and interactions with others, and imagining where you want to take your life in the future.”
Robert L. Rosen
Let’s take baby steps..
It will take time to find our feet again. (I can’t even remember when I last wore heels!) In all seriousness, much like last March when we were told to stay home, it took time to adjust and adapt accordingly. Now the reverse is happening and again, it will take time us time to adjust and get back into a natural rhythm. Be easy on yourself!
Keep talking! Share how you are feeling with friends, family, colleagues. (and even in the comments below) Be open and transparant, I’m sure they will resonate with you too. This whole situation has been a BIG deal. Our mental health and wellbeing is truly key.
“Journal what you love, what you hate, what’s in your head, what’s important. Journaling organizes your thoughts; allows you to see things in a concrete way that otherwise you might not see. Focus on what you think you need to find in your art.”
Kay Walkingstick
Journal. Consider writing down how you’re feeling. We have good days, great days and everything inbetween and by writing them down, we can distinguish between. Writing down can be freeing, can help figure out what you truely think and can be very therapautic. Love this journal from Gisela Graham Leather Effect Mini Notebook A6 – Grey
You don’t have to do everything at once! Breathe, take your time.. (Although I’m trying to remain calm about the sports fixtures that are coming in thick and fast for my children and me as taxi driver!!) I shared in a previous blog thoughts about feeling a little happier and less overwhelmed. I believe these ideas haven’t dated in 12 months and so hope you may find some inspiration.
Go at your own pace – if you’ve ever been off work with an illness or had maternity leave, then you may have had a phased return to work before. Much like a return to work, consider adapting your own phasing back to your “new normal” This is a motto I’ve shared on many occaisions and especially with my clients:
Start Low, Go Slow, Aim High
Start Low – With anything new, decide what you want to achieve and start with low expectations. What is the minimal thing you’d be happy with? This isn’t a negative by any means, but by starting with low expectation instantly removes some pressure and you’re more likely to feel in control.
Go Slow – Once you have your new routine in place, take it steady before you start adding new pressures to your daily life. Get used to the new normal, adjust the sails if you need to.
Aim high – Remember the saying “begin with the end in mind?” This concept of aiming high, is similar. You may have had time over the last year to really think about which direction you wish your life to take – so go for it!
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. You can then concentrate on the things that are most important to you.
Spend time with people that make you happy, where you can be your true authentic self. Go for a walk in the wind, rain and sun! Make time for the coffee..
Let go of the people in your life who add to the anxiety and stress, or the situations that don’t serve you. So hard to do but trust me, you deserve to be happy and not worry about the people that don’t champion you. This might help..
Pratice gratitude and being vulnerable. It’s no secret that I’m a huge admirer of Brene Brown’s work, having first read The Power of Vulnerability years ago.
She taught me that there is absolutely no shame in being vulnerable, that you don’t have to be in control of every situation.
Easier said than done, I know! Writing down 5 things that you are grateful for can really help gain perspective.
Empty the mind – many struggle to sleep, with the brain starting to whirl the minute you turn out the light.
Keeping a notebook by your bed so you can scribble any thing you think you might struggle to remember in the morning can really help.
How pretty is this one from LifeStyled Planner? The Journal is an A5 bullet journal with high quality pages printed with dotted graph for all of your planning needs. Great for creative bullet journalling and making notes.
“Journaling is paying attention to the inside for the purpose of living well from the inside out.”
Lee Wise
Take care of yourself today, tomorrow and all 365 days of the year. Beautiful flowers from Bloom and Wild
I really hope this blog post has helped you gain some perspective on what you can do about feeling overwhelmed at a time when we feel we should be excited about life returning back to normal. I’d love to know your biggest take home / lightbulb moment in the comments below, together with how you’ll take action this week.
What will you be keeping in place from our Lockdown days? Maybe you’ve opted to continue to work from home? Maybe you’ve decided to change career altogether?
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
Whatever you decide to do, stay happy and healthy – those two things are priceless.
It’s been a little while since I’ve shared a blog post here and I’m so happy to be back. As part of relaunching Woman on a Mission, I’m revisiting some of my most-loved posts ~ refreshed, re-edited and more relevant than ever. With International Stress Awareness Week in mind, I thought it was the perfect time to check in on how full your stress bucket might be and share some practical ways to manage it. Over the last few weeks on my Instagram, I’ve been sharing the importance of removing things from your plate before piling on new commitments, whether that’s a new project, extra responsibilities, or even just the stress of the approaching festive season.
So, let’s talk about how to gently rebalance and refill your self-love bucket, even when life feels overwhelming.
Why Stress Buckets Overflow
Right now, many of us are juggling home, work, children and the uncertainty that life can throw at us. That “constant juggling” can leave both adults and children feeling drained, especially with disrupted routines and less social contact. All of this piles into our stress buckets, not just for us but for our children too. The trick is knowing how to pause, rebalance and refill your self-care reserves before they overflow.
I love an analogy I heard years ago: being stuck in front of a screen all day is like attending back-to-back meetings with 30 people each. You’re expected to remember everything, act on it, and perhaps even be tested on it — all while moving straight into the next “meeting.” No wonder our stress buckets overflow!
The good news? We can refill our self-love bucket, even in the middle of chaos, by paying attention to our lifestyle choices and carving out little pauses.
Nutrition And Lifestyle: Fuel Your Brain and Body
Your diet and lifestyle choices directly impact your energy, focus, and resilience. Comfort foods and alcohol might feel like instant relief, but they can leave you feeling sluggish and foggy.
Here are my friendly, practical tips to help keep that stress under control:
1. Think Before You Sip Caffeine might give a quick boost, but it’s a short-lived lift. Energy drinks, coffee, even lots of tea can leave you crashing later.
2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate Your brain loves water. Herbal teas count too! Staying hydrated helps you concentrate, boosts mental alertness and keeps your body running smoothly.
3. Eat Like Your Brain Depends On It Because it does! Easy snack options or takeaways are tempting, but proper meals give you steady energy, better focus and keep you feeling less sluggish. You’ll find lots of delicious recipes here on the Blog
4. Sleep is Non-Negotiable Yes, staying up for “just one more episode” is tempting. But your brain will thank you for a solid 7–8 hours. Better memory, better focus, better mood!
5. Move Your Body Even 20 minutes of fresh air and exercise can lift your mood, clear your head and sharpen your focus. Taking small daily steps and suddenly you’ll feel far more productive and energised.
6. Keep Track of Your Habits I’ve created a little Consistency Tracker that’s brilliant for checking in with yourself. Are you drinking enough water? Sleeping well? Exercising? Tracking habits for just four weeks can reveal tiny changes with a big impact.
And above all, be kind to yourself. You’re doing better than you think.
“I’m presently experiencing life at a rate of several WTF’s per hour!”
Unknown
I saw this quote and it made me laugh out loud.. Don’t underestimate the power of a good laugh, even in stressful times.
Tracking Your Stress
I’ve created a Consistency Tracker to help you check in with yourself. Track small habits for four weeks including your sleep, water intake, movement and mental load and notice the ripple effect. Even minor adjustments can reduce stress and improve focus.
It’s so easy to get into the habit of going to bed that little bit later or waking up in the middle of the night worrying. Maybe you’ve dropped your water intake, switching for coffee.. Every little alteration has a little knock on effect.. Try tracking your habits for four weeks and see what happens.
Remember: be kind to yourself. Progress is not perfection.
Small Daily Actions Make a Big Difference
Declutter one drawer or corner of your home.
Clear out digital clutter — delete old emails, organise files, or unfollow accounts that drain you.
Take a 5–10 minute pause mid-day to breathe and reset.
Each small action helps empty the “stress bucket” and refill the “self-love bucket.”
Your Next Step
If you’d like more tips on reducing stress, simplifying your home and creating space to breathe, subscribe to Woman on a Mission or follow along on Instagram for weekly inspiration.
Feeling inspired to take charge of your stress and refill your self-love bucket? Try out the tips in this blog, track your habits with my Consistency Tracker and let me know how you’re getting on in the comments below.
One thing that’s magical for your mental health and that is setting boundaries. This weeks Blog discusses how to set boundaries and the benefits to your mental health and well-being.
Over time what we deem to be “OK”, gets blurred.
On occasions the we are treated or spoken to by work colleagues, friends and even our partners can cause upset, yet the need to do something about this situation may be delayed as you worry about the repercussions, regardless of how this makes you feel on a daily basis.
It’s no secret that I love Brene Brown’s work and her research on boundaries is amazing. (She’s one person I’d love to meet & have on my Dinner Party Wishlist!) Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. She’s funny and shares a deep insights from her research in her many books. Research that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.
Maybe you run your own business and the boundaries around your working hours have become blurred, meaning that you’re trying to juggle work and home life, whilst going the extra mile for your clients..
Whatever your situation is, being mindful that creating boundaries of what’s OK and not OK can have such a powerful effect.
Mini Mission
Join me on a mini Mission. Grab your journal or notebook and consider a situation that is causing upset and worry to you in your life. How does that situation make you feel? Have you thought about setting clear boundaries. Read on for how to resolve the issue.
I’m not as sweet as I used to be, but I’m far more loving”
Brene Brown
They say if you want something doing, ask a busy person! Yet, how often to we feel ourselves saying yes to something when really your head is screaming “no!!”
Why?
When your default setting is to help out, It’s not easy saying no, it makes us feel guilty or judged. . Yet by saying yes, you know that it will be adding more to your plate, causing increased stress, resentment and maybe even a sleepless night or two..
So how do we fix this?
Brene Brown shared her top three tips on how to create your boundaries: (direct quotes)
Make a mantra. I need something to hold on to—literally—during those awkward moments when an ask hangs in the air. So I bought a silver ring that I spin while silently repeating, “Choose discomfort over resentment.” My mantra reminds me that I’m making a choice that’s critical for my well-being—even if it’s not easy.
Keep a resentment journal. Whenever I’m marching around muttering cuss words under my breath, I grab what I lovingly refer to as my Damn It! Diary and write down what’s going on. I’ve noticed that I’m most resentful when I’m tired and overwhelmed— i.e. not setting boundaries.
Rehearse. I’ll often say, to no one in particular, “I can’t take that on” or “My plate is full.” Like many worthwhile endeavours, boundary setting is a practice.
I find this really powerful and wonder if you do too?
Like a candle or rose petal, our wellbeing and mental health is delicate, something that should be treasured. If looked after well, it will give you years of joy and happiness. If you fail to look after the little things, setting boundaries, being kind to yourself, then they will in turn become bigger things and eventually your mental health and well being will suffer.
“Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.”
Brene Brown
I love these mantras and have over the years, integrated them into my daily life.. Not easy, it takes practice, but remember every time you say “yes’ to someone else, you are saying “no” to you.
Writing your boundaries down is really powerful, it cements the “why” and as Brene says, what’s OK and what’s not OK.
If you have 5 minutes, take a look at Brene’s famous TedTalk that I believe you’ll love..
I’d love to know your thoughts about this one thing that’s magical for your mental health. Will you be joining me in this Mission of setting boundaries? Let me know in the comments below.
Feel free to share with a friend who you think would love this Mission too. Furthermore, I’d love you to subscribe to receive my blog straight to your inbox.
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
Maybe you’d like to start your own business.
