A Conversations About Handling StressGood afternoon!
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 handling stress... “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – William James The truth is, stress can be a real nuisance… But, what if I said it can be great too? Stress can encourage us to slow down, motivate us to be more vulnerable with those around us by sharing how we feel, whilst also inspiring loved-ones to share more openly about how they feel too… 2020 was arguably one of the most stressful times in many of our lives. I certainly can’t think of a time during the last 25 years where the nation was in a constant state of worry for this long… Children and adults alike! That being said, stress is something we all deal with, day in, day out – and it looks different for all of us. Some of us handle stress by burying ourselves in a task, others cope with it by offloading to friends and family, and many don’t deal with it at all… The truth is, many of us know how stress feels but don’t have the knowledge, tools or resources to be able to handle it effectively and constructively. That’s why I'd like to share some great tips and advice for those of you wishing to manage your stress better. 1. Get familiar with your emotions… Can you think of 10 terms or phrases that may be used interchangeably with the word “stress”… Perhaps “overwhelm” could be one? 2. Share honestly! The next time you’re feeling stressed, reflect on why (maybe in a journal) then call a friend and tell them how you’re feeling… You might be surprised out how raw and authentic this conversation could be. Give them a go and let me know how you get on. Before you go, here’s a resource to those who wish to find out more about National Stress Awareness Month. 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
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A Conversation About Parent/Carer Mental HealthHi, 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:
Here are some other useful resources worth looking at: 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 A Conversation About Complementary TherapiesHi, hi, hi!
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. Have you ever tried a Complementary Therapy? Since it’s National Complementary Therapy Week, I thought I'd share some of my top recommended alternative therapies... First up, what is a Complementary or Alternative Therapy? According to BUPA, Complementary Therapies offer a different approach to conventional or mainstream medicine. They include therapies that aren't usually part of conventional medical care, such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture and homeopathy. They are usually used alongside, or as well as, Conventional Therapies. Ok, so, which therapies do I recommend? I've picked 2 for this week, and may share more in future... The first I'd like to share is... Pilates. According to our friends at Oxford Dictionary, Pilates is a system of exercises using special apparatus, designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness. NHS England shares that Pilates aims to strengthen the body in an even way, with particular emphasis on core strength to improve general fitness and wellbeing. Pilates was developed by German-born Joseph Pilates, who believed mental and physical health were closely connected. His method was influenced by western forms of exercise, including gymnastics, boxing and Greco-Roman wrestling. The second therapy I wanted to share with you today is Reiki. So, what is it? According to the Reiki Association, “Reiki” (ray-key) is Japanese for ‘universal life energy, and is also a word used to describe a system of natural healing. Reiki can be used alongside other conventional or complementary treatment and often helps to provide emotional support during recovery. The method of receiving Reiki is simple. The recipient remains clothed and lies on a couch or sits on a chair and relaxes. The practitioner gently places their hands in a series of non-intrusive positions on or near the body. There is no massage or manipulation. The whole person is treated rather than specific areas. Sessions can take 45 minutes to an hour-and-a-half, depending on the client’s needs. If you’re interested in either of these Complimentary Therapies, feel free to get in touch. We can recommend tried, tested and reputable practitioners who are currently working remotely. Lastly, I felt it important to offer advice on how to ensure you are using reputable therapists, given that some of the therapies within the CAM sector don't require supervision. Here are some useful tips:
If you give something new a try, please do let me know! If you're struggling at all, 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 A Conversation About Happiness...Good afternoon!
If you're new here, welcome! 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. So, since this Sunday is International Day of Happiness, I wanted to share my advice on how to be happier! Firstly, what is happiness? Well, the team at Cambridge think that happiness is... feeling, showing or causing pleasure or satisfaction. Did anyone else read that definition and think, "is that all?". To me, happiness is a "state of being" rather than just a feeling. I don't think it possible to be in this "state" all of the time, but I think that there are things we can do to try to spend more time in a "state of happiness", than in other, less helpful states. Here are some of my top tips for feeling and being happier: 1. Daily Gratitude - I can't stress to you enough how much cultivating a daily gratitude practice changed my perspective on life. Once I made the commitment to feel grateful for life's pleasures each day, however basic those things may have been (my morning coffee, a gentle breeze, the smile from the shop assistant...), I began to notice myself feeling increasingly more thankful for life's challenges too. Spend 15-minutes at the beginning and end of each day considering the things you're grateful for and see how your outlook changes. 2. Daily Joy - I've said it before and I'll say it again... Do one thing each day that brings you joy, and try to change it up throughout the week! Doing things you love releases endorphins (happy chemicals), so it's a no-brainer really. It can be a small as a bubble bath, as big as a day out... And anything in between. 3. Daily Reflection - This goes hand in hand with gratitude practice, but the idea here is to mentally reflect (or use a journal) on your day - including any wins, any lessons and any thoughts that have been whizzing around your mind. The point is to let go of anything that isn't serving you, so that you can start each day with a fresh, new outlook. Give them a go and let me know what you think. To clarify, if you struggle with a mental health disorder, including personality disorders, depression or anxiety, please consult a medical professional for support. These tips may not help you. If you're struggling at all, 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 A Conversation About CreativityHi, 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? Today, I wanted to talk to you about creativity, although this post is definitely aimed at parents and caregivers... "But Abby, this is a mental health blog, why are you talking about family creativity?" I hear you ask! I strongly believe that allowing children to get creative in their free time boosts confidence and resilience, as it encourages independent thinking, problem solving and can lead to a great sense of accomplishment! Allowing young people to create and follow through freely with tasks is also a great way of allowing them to understand and appreciate their sense of self. Would you like a couple of fun activities to try? Have you ever tried to create a rainbow in a glass? Here’s how…
What about creating a board game? Ah, but here's the twist... I am looking for a game that can be played by at least 2 players, uses a board, along with some kind of game card feature… Do you think you can do it? Have a go and send me your amazing creations by sharing your work and tagging HappiMe on our socials. If you're struggling at all, 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 |
AuthorEach week, HappiMe's Lead Children's Coach, Abby, shares her advice on a new topic.
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