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A conversation about building resilience

8/4/2022

0 Comments

 
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Hi there!

​How are you feeling this week?
​
What have been your biggest wins? 

What hasn't gone so well? What lessons have you taken away from these experiences? Are you ready to let them go now?

This week, I wanted to have a little chat with you about how to build resilience in your children.

So, what is resilience?
 
According to Public Health England:
 
"Resilience is described as the capacity to ‘bounce back’ from adverse experiences, and succeed despite adversity.”
 
Those adverse experiences could be anything from falling out with friends to the loss of a family member (and anywhere in between).
 
Some children are “born resilient”, in that they are able to bounce back from adversity quickly and naturally, whilst others find it much harder. This can even vary from sibling to sibling.
 
Here are some of my top tips for raising resilient kids!
 
Tip 1:
 
Start a Daily Positivity Practice…
 
At the end of each day, as your child to reflect on anything they did well, or “bounced back” from. Aim for 2-3 things, if they can. This helps to strengthen the neuropathways relating to resilience and self-love in their brains. The more they practice this, the strong the pathway, and the more resilient they will become.

​Tip 2:
 
The Positivity Jar…
 
At the start of each week, give your child 10 coins. Every time you notice them speak positively about themselves, ask them to add a coin to their Positivity Jar. Every time you notice them speak negatively about themselves, ask them to give you a coin and chat to them about why the comment wasn’t helpful.
 
At the end of the week, count up the coins and see if they can beat the number of coins in the jar the following week. If they get all 10 coins in the jar, you could offer them a prize!

Give them a go and let me know what you think.

Check out ParentKind's useful article on resilience here.

Oh, and here's a great children's book. 

And... That's it from me for another week!

If you’d like a supportive ear, some advice and a chance to talk to someone, feel free to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat today. 

If you like this post...

Follow us Instagram.

Like us on Facebook.

Check us out on Twitter.

If you aren't already, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn too, for more on children's mental health. 

Take care,

Abby and the HappiMe Team x
​
0 Comments

July 12th, 2021

12/7/2021

0 Comments

 

A Conversation About Parent & Carer Mental Health

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Hi, lovelies!

How are you feeling this week?

What have been your biggest wins? 

What hasn't gone so well? What lessons have you taken away from these experiences? Are you ready to let them go now?

If you can, spend some time journalling your answers to the questions above. 

Let's have a chat about parent/carer mental health...

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
 
When speaking with a parent recently, they shared their love of this quote. In exploring how they were feeling, it became clear why this message was so important to them.
 
The truth is, as parents, it can often feel like you are always getting it wrong. Life is hard, but throw children, school, work, finances and everything else into the mix, and it can feel like a daily hike up a snowy mountain – with constant avalanches and 100mph winds.
 
Would you like to know my message to all parents/carers out there?
 
REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN ONLY DO YOUR BEST.
 
You will get it wrong, you will make mistakes and things will be tough… But you are human. No one can get it right all of the time.

I thought it might also be helpful to share some of my top tips for managing our mental health better as a parent or carer too:
 
  1. Accept help! Whether from your family, loved-ones or school staff, accept support even if you think you don’t need it. Allow the kids to spend the day with family, encourage them to join clubs and extra-curriculars. These experiences are good for them, but they can also be good for you too.
  2. When you get free time, use it for you. There are only so many hours in a day, and it can be easy to put your own needs at the bottom of the never ending “to do” list. If you find yourself with a free half an hour, make the most of it! Read a book, call a friend, have a bath… Find time to look after you.
  3. Go easy on yourself. Nobody, and we mean nobody, gets it right all of the time. Life is a journey of trial and error, and providing you’re doing your best and accepting help when it’s needed, you’re doing a better job than you think you are.
  4. Talk to your children about how you’re feeling. It may not be appropriate to pour your heart out to your 5-year-old, but when things are tough, it’s ok to explain this to your children in a way they can understand. Being authentic with them about life’s struggles will allow them to build on their own resilience, preparing them to the realities of life in adulthood.

Here are some other useful resources worth looking at: 
  •  MentalHealth.Org 
  •  Mind
  •  NHS Resources
  •  NSPCC Resources

I just wanted to reiterate that if you are struggling, you really aren’t alone. Parent/carer burnout and overwhelm are very real experiences. If you’d like a supportive ear, some advice and a chance to talk to someone who understands, feel free to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat today. 

I aim to post every Tuesday, but don't worry - if you're following us on our socials, you will get a reminder there. 

Follow us Instagram.

Like us on Facebook.

Check us out on Twitter.

If you aren't already, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn too, for more on children's mental health. 

Take care,

Abby and the HappiMe Team x
0 Comments

May 04th, 2021

4/5/2021

0 Comments

 

It's Mental Health Awareness Week...
A Conversation About Men's Mental Health

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Hey, hey!

How are you feeling this week?
​
What have been your biggest wins? 

What hasn't gone so well? What lessons have you taken away from these experiences? Are you ready to let them go now?

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week.

As a result of how useful many of you found my Maternal Mental Health Awareness post last week, I thought that I would open a discussion about men's mental health...

According to Priory, 77% of men surveyed have suffered with anxiety, stress or depression, whilst over 40% would say they would not seek help.
 
As many of us know, mental health issues in men have been consistently increasing in recent years. This means that more males are suffering with various disorders than every before. I think this is a major problem, which is why we are going to share advice, tips and resources across HappiMe's social media this week... I hope this post can help too!

If this topic is as close to your heart as it is mine, have you watched Sangu Delle’s amazing TED Talk yet? 

When stress got to be too much for TED Fellow Sangu Delle, he had to confront his own deep prejudice: that men shouldn't take care of their mental health. In a personal talk, Delle shares how he learned to handle anxiety in a society that's uncomfortable with emotions. As he says: "Being honest about how we feel doesn't make us weak -- it makes us human."

If you or someone close to you is struggling with their mental health, here are my top tips for managing your mental health better…
 
  1. Talk – Speak to loved-ones or charitable organisations about how you are feeling. Give yourself the chance to offload to people who are able to give you a safe space to share. A problem shared really can feel like a problem halved.
  2. Rest – Whether that be through a 5-minute meditation, utilising childcare offers for extra sleep or even just putting on some music and closing your eyes for a moment… Try to take a chance to reset.
  3. Ask for Help – There is no shame in needing help. Think about the ‘Man Up’ campaign…! If you need assistance with anything; whether it be advice, support or even just a little break, please ask loved-ones, your employer or charities for help.

Oh, and before you go, here are some useful resources...

Organisation: Men's Health Forum

Advice: MensLine Australia's Self-Care Kit

Book: ‘Man Down: A Guide for Men on Mental Health’’ by Charlie Hoare

If you’d like a supportive ear, some advice and a chance to talk to someone, feel free to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat today. 

I aim to post every Tuesday, but don't worry - if you're following us on our socials, you will get a reminder there. 

Follow us Instagram.

Like us on Facebook.

Check us out on Twitter.

If you aren't already, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn too, for more on children's mental health. 

Take care,

Abby and the HappiMe Team x
0 Comments

April 26th, 2021

26/4/2021

0 Comments

 

A Conversation About Maternal Mental Health

Picture
Hi, lovely.

How are you feeling this week?
​
What have been your biggest wins? 

What hasn't gone so well? What lessons have you taken away from these experiences? Are you ready to let them go now?

This week is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. 

Having a baby will create immense change to your life… In every way imaginable. It effects your body, your hormones, your finances, your relationship dynamic, and pretty much everything in between. If you are struggling at the moment, please know that you are not alone and that it is totally understandable.
 
As many as 1 in 5 women develop a mental health problem during pregnancy or in the first year after the birth of their baby. We’re sure you’ll agree that this statistic is awful. The pain this causes women and their families, along with the negative impact on their health and wellbeing can be huge!

With this in mind, here is a little message to any struggling parents…
 
You are strong… Even when you feel exhausted, like there is nothing left to give, you still manage to get through the day. If that isn’t strength, we don’t know what is.
 
You are brave… You provide a space for your beautiful child to grow, which takes great courage.
 
You are allowed to find it hard… You are responsible for another life. That isn’t meant to be easy! If you are struggling, that’s ok.
 
You are not alone… There are parents everywhere who have felt the way that you do. You are no less of a parent or caregiver for feeling the way that you do.
 
Check out tomorrow's social media post (links to our social media profiles are below) for more top tips.

Oh, and before you go, here are some useful resources...

Organisation: Maternal Mental Health Alliance 

Advice: RCGP's Toolkit

Book: 'Mind Over Mother' by Anna Mathur

If you’d like a supportive ear, some advice and a chance to talk to someone, feel free to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat today. 

I aim to post every Tuesday, but don't worry - if you're following us on our socials, you will get a reminder there. 

Follow us Instagram.

Like us on Facebook.

Check us out on Twitter.

If you aren't already, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn too, for more on children's mental health. 

Take care,

Abby and the HappiMe Team x
0 Comments

April 19th, 2021

19/4/2021

0 Comments

 

A Conversation About My Top Recommended 
​Mental Health Books

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It's Tuesday!

How are you feeling this week?
​
What have been your biggest wins? 

What hasn't gone so well? What lessons have you taken away from these experiences? Are you ready to let them go now?

This week, I wanted to share a couple of my top recommended mental health reads, which we are also sharing on HappiMe social media in the coming days!

Before I share my top 4 books; which include celebrity stories, an exploration of depression and low mood, memoirs on overcoming adversity, among other great works; I wanted to share why this is this week's topic. 

I love to read. I love getting lost in a person's story, I love to use my own imagination, I love the peace that reading can bring to my day... But, perhaps most importantly, I love to learn, which is the motivation behind why I have chosen to endorse the following reads. I have taken something away from each and every one of them, and I hope you'll be able to, too. 

So, here they are...

‘Lost Connections’ by Johann Hari

‘It’s Kind of a Funny Story’ by Ned Vizzini

‘Reasons to Stay Alive’ by Matt Haig

‘How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong’ by Elizabeth Day

Give them a go and let me know what you think. 

“We read to know we are not alone.” - William Nicholson

If you’d like a supportive ear, some advice and a chance to talk to someone, feel free to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat today. 

I aim to post every Tuesday, but don't worry - if you're following us on our socials, you will get a reminder there. 

Follow us Instagram.

Like us on Facebook.

Check us out on Twitter.

If you aren't already, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn too, for more on children's mental health. 

Take care,

Abby and the HappiMe Team x
0 Comments

March 23rd, 2021

23/3/2021

0 Comments

 

A Conversation About Parent/Carer Mental Health

Picture
Hi, lovelies!

How are you feeling this week?

What have been your biggest wins? 

What hasn't gone so well? What lessons have you taken away from these experiences? Are you ready to let them go now?

If you can, spend some time journalling your answers to the questions above. 

Let's have a chat about parent/carer mental health...

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
 
When speaking with a parent recently, they shared their love of this quote. In exploring how they were feeling, it became clear why this message was so important to them.
 
The truth is, as parents, it can often feel like you are always getting it wrong. Life is hard, but throw children, school, work, finances and everything else into the mix, and it can feel like a daily hike up a snowy mountain – with constant avalanches and 100mph winds.
 
Would you like to know my message to all parents/carers out there?
 
REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN ONLY DO YOUR BEST.
 
You will get it wrong, you will make mistakes and things will be tough… But you are human. No one can get it right all of the time.

I thought it might also be helpful to share some of my top tips for managing our mental health better as a parent or carer too:
 
  1. Accept help! Whether from your family, loved-ones or school staff, accept support even if you think you don’t need it. Allow the kids to spend the day with family, encourage them to join clubs and extra-curriculars. These experiences are good for them, but they can also be good for you too.
  2. When you get free time, use it for you. There are only so many hours in a day, and it can be easy to put your own needs at the bottom of the never ending “to do” list. If you find yourself with a free half an hour, make the most of it! Read a book, call a friend, have a bath… Find time to look after you.
  3. Go easy on yourself. Nobody, and we mean nobody, gets it right all of the time. Life is a journey of trial and error, and providing you’re doing your best and accepting help when it’s needed, you’re doing a better job than you think you are.
  4. Talk to your children about how you’re feeling. It may not be appropriate to pour your heart out to your 5-year-old, but when things are tough, it’s ok to explain this to your children in a way they can understand. Being authentic with them about life’s struggles will allow them to build on their own resilience, preparing them to the realities of life in adulthood.

Here are some other useful resources worth looking at: 
  •  MentalHealth.Org 
  •  Mind
  •  NHS Resources
  •  NSPCC Resources

I just wanted to reiterate that if you are struggling, you really aren’t alone. Parent/carer burnout and overwhelm are very real experiences. If you’d like a supportive ear, some advice and a chance to talk to someone who understands, feel free to get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat today. 

I aim to post every Tuesday, but don't worry - if you're following us on our socials, you will get a reminder there. 

Follow us Instagram.

Like us on Facebook.

Check us out on Twitter.

If you aren't already, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn too, for more on children's mental health. 

Take care,

Abby and the HappiMe Team x
0 Comments

February 23rd, 2021

23/2/2021

0 Comments

 

A Conversation About Parent/Carer Mental Health

Picture
Good afternoon.

How are you this week?

What have been your biggest wins? 

What hasn't gone so well? What lessons have you taken away from these experiences? Are you ready to let them go now?

Today, I wanted to talk to you about how to manage your mental health as a parent or caregiver,

So, what is mental health? Well, according to the WHO, mental health is, "... a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community." 

We all have a level of mental health, just as we do a level of physical health. In order to maintain good physical health, we might eat our greens, exercise and drink lots of water… And looking after your mental health is very similar. You simply need to feed your mind more of what it needs to stay healthy… Like sleep, connection, self-belief, joy and purpose. Does that make sense?

Since we've now defined what mental health is, I thought we might explore some of the common reasons why parents or carers may be struggling at the moment. Can you identify with any of these?
 
  • Lack of freedom to spend time away from home, even just a coffee with friends.
  • Extended periods of time inside.
  • Poor weather limiting amount of exercise.
  • Daily homeschooling (perhaps combined with working from home).
  • Difficulty managing children’s behaviour as they are restless.
  • Poor diet as no time to plan healthy meals.
  • Financial stress due to furlough or job loss/insecurity.
  • Lack of free time to rest or enjoy hobbies.
  • Communication difficulties both in and out of the household.
  • Boredom – what is there to do?
  • Feeling like there isn’t enough time in the day.
 
Do any of those feel true to you? Perhaps more than one of them?
 

The truth is, there are hundreds of reasons why you might be struggling at the moment, and this is going to feel different for everyone. 

To help you combat some of the challenges you may be facing at the moment, here are some of my top tips for trying to improve, and to maintain, a good level of mental health:
 
  • Try to end each day with gratitude! Not just for the people, experiences and things around you, but for all of the challenges (however big or small) you overcame that day. I truly believe that cultivating your gratitude practice is one of the best tools out there!
  • Daily meditation or “time out”, even if you can only manage it before bed or first thing in the morning. Value yourself enough to give yourself some time alone, to reflect, prepare and feel calm.
  • Talk. This one sounds simple, but we understand that it isn’t always easy to talk to loved-ones or pick up the phone when times are tough. That being said, you know what they say, “a problem shared can be a problem halved”. Accept help from those around you, and start by sharing what you need.
​
Please remember you aren't alone. You are welcome to contact me and the HappiMe team, or check out some of the amazing organisations that are also there to help you. They can be found here. 

If you’d like some useful tips for building confidence, self-esteem and self-worth in your children, please feel free to contact me here.

​I hope this blog helped you in some way.

I aim to post every Tuesday, but don't worry - if you're following us on our socials, you will get a reminder there. 

Follow us Instagram.

Like us on Facebook.

Check us out on Twitter.

If you aren't already, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn too, for more on children's mental health. 

Take care,

Abby and the HappiMe Team x
0 Comments

February 09th, 2021

9/2/2021

0 Comments

 

A Conversation About Self-Care

Picture
Hi-de-hi.

How are you this week?

What have been your biggest wins? Come on, think of 3 if you can...

What hasn't gone so well? What lessons have you taken away from these experiences? 

I thought I'd share some of my self-care rituals with you today, given that 2021 hasn't been easy for many thus far. 

I suppose I am one of the "lucky ones", in a sense that I find it reasonably easy to put my mental health first... However, it hasn't always been that way, and I know I'm probably a bit of an anomaly. 

It takes practice and discipline, but when you start to really take care of yourself, life just seems to feel just that little bit easier. Self-care can help you to be more resilient, more self-confident and better in control of your emotions and thoughts.

Here are my top tips for looking after your mind, body and heart!

- Mind - Meditation! I practice around 30-minutes of meditation each day, and after I made the commitment to do this, my mind was so much quieter throughout the day. It felt like a reset. There are great apps and guided meditations on YouTube, so just find what works for you. When I first started, I found Insight Timer a game-changer.

- Heart -  Joy! Do one thing each day that brings you joy, whether it's savouring a cup of coffee, a walk, time to read or a hot bath... Fill your heart with deliberate happiness for at least 30-minutes every day!

- Body - Exercise! I'm not talking 90-minutes at Spin, but even a gentle walk, a short HIT workout or some fun in the garden... Exercise releases endorphins, as well as looking after your body, too!

Give these a go for 30-days and see how you feel afterwards. 

The message that helped change my mindset on this when we first started HappiMe was... "There is one thing guaranteed in your life, and that is that you'll be stuck with you for the duration, so you just as well nurture that relationship."

How true is that?

So, do you think you can put yourself first?

If you’d like some useful tips for building confidence, self-esteem and self-worth in your children, please feel free to contact me here.

​I hope this blog helped you in some way.

Take care,

​Abby x
0 Comments
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