Welcome to the new year. I hope that you enjoyed your Christmas (if you celebrate) or enjoyed some time off. It is so important to make time to rest. If we follow nature more closely, winter is the perfect time to rest more. It is not the best time to set new year resolutions or for starting new projects. So why not kick back and relax instead of feeling like you need to lose weight, join a gym or learn a new language.

How about realising that you don’t need to do these things just because others are. It is much better to postpone these things until a time that feels right for you. If you follow nature’s pattern, Spring is a much better time to start new things. Lighter, longer days, brighter weather (hopefully) and more energy. I am still in full snuggle, hibernation mode. Embracing lots of candles and blankets and cosy fires.

So don’t let society push you into setting resolutions that you will probably give up on in less than 2 weeks because you don’t have the energy right now. Instead, take stock, rest and recharge as best you can. Save your new beginnings for when you have more energy and feel like it’s the right time for YOU.

Here are some self-care things you might like to try instead:

• Enjoy reading a good book
• Walk in nature
• Listen to relaxing music
• Take a long bath
• Book a treatment or massage
• Practice mindfulness
• Eat comforting, warming food
• Cosy up by the fire or with candles
• Watch an old favourite movie

Best wishes

Louise

It has been a long time since I have written a blog post. Life has become very busy and I don’t know how it is September already! At the moment there are many challenging things going on from the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis, the rise in Covid cases again, the climate crisis etc. It is easy for me to go back to my “worry about everything nature”. Making time to appreciate autumn and the changes all around me is really helping.

Choose

There are many things that I cannot control and therefore I can choose to not worry about them. How? By reminding myself that worrying doesn’t help anyone, least of all myself and by focusing on things I can control instead.

“Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.”
Erma Bombeck

Be Present

I am choosing to really be present in nature at the moment. It is tremendously grounding for me. The Autumn is the perfect time as there are so many changes and they happen every day. The leaves changing colour and falling from the trees. The unsettled weather, raining heavily one minute and bright blue skies the next. The other day there was a beautiful rainbow that took my breath away.

Make time to get outside and be really present. Feel the wind or cooler air on your face. Be aware of your feet connecting with the ground. Acknowledge the changes happening all around you. See which trees are bare and which ones the leaves are still on and changing colour each day.

Notice the small things that you can control e.g. what you consume. Choosing nourishing, warming food at this time of year is also helpful. Stews, soups and curries make me feel grounded in my body. Be very careful about the time you spend on social media, which accounts you follow etc. Let go of anything that doesn’t make you feel good. Seek out the good things – inspiring or helpful people or stories. Don’t watch the news especially before bedtime.

Tap

Daily tapping really helps me and stops me going into worry mode. I make sure I make time for this and for regular exercise including walking/jogging, yoga and Qi Gong.

I love to tap using the phrases “I am safe” and “I am grounded in my body”. Both of which help me feel safe and grounded in my body and stop me ruminating.

If you would like to learn how to tap you can get in touch with me or start here.

I hope this has been helpful.

Best wishes,
Louise

I hope that you have managed to avoid Covid. Unfortunately I caught it back in September. My husband caught it first and we took every precaution we could for me not to catch it (separate rooms, face masks, distancing, lots of cleaning and sanitising!). I was really pissed off that I caught it when I tried so hard not to. Lots of other people I know or have heard of didn’t catch it off their partners or children even when they didn’t do any of those things.

I think some people just won’t catch it. Lucky them! Thankfully neither my husband nor I were too ill. We both were very fatigued and this did seem to last a good few weeks. We’d both been double vaccinated too. I was rather cautious about having the vaccine but was so glad I did. Others I know ended up in hospital and suffered much more. Several people I know have been suffering from long Covid.

The fatigue that I am talking about here though is the general fatigue from living through a global pandemic that has gone on for over 2 years! We all thought Covid would be around for a few weeks and that would be it. How wrong could we be? It certainly took it’s toll on me and lots of other people.

What Now?

In the UK all restrictions have now been removed and life is “back to normal”. But there remains a lot of worry and anxiety for many people. All those who are vulnerable or have an existing illness, those who have not been vaccinated and those still suffering from long Covid.

Do we still wear a mask and wash our hands more often? I personally am continuing to wear a mask in shops or where there are high volumes of people. I am happy to wear a mask for clients if they wish and am a regular hand washer anyway.

I believe we need to do what we feel is right and what we are comfortable with. I hope that people can respect other peoples choice! It is a very personal thing and will very much depend on your experience with the virus. Many people are now having to isolate and restrict their lives because the virus has not gone away and they need to stay safe.

I hope that if you are still worried or anxious that you can get some help. I am here to help anyone I can with EFT, Mindfulness or Reiki. Do be in touch if you’d like some help.

Stay safe and well
Louise

Wishing you a very happy, healthy 2019.

Forget about the resolutions as most of us end up ditching them by mid January anyway! They can also induce feelings of inadequacy and guilt.

Instead, take some time to review your 2018 and plan for this year. Here are some suggestions for you:

Review 2018

• What was the best thing about 2018?
• What are you most proud of achieving in 2018?
• What was your most important lesson of 2018?

Plan 2019

• What do you want to achieve the most in 2019?
• What is your focus word for 2019?
• What hobbies/activities do you want to do this year?
• What self-care things will you do to look after yourself this year?

Set Your Goals

Using the answers from above, set your goals for the year. Then break them down into goals for the months and weeks ahead. Remember to regularly review your goals and break them down further if you’re not achieving them, or make them bigger if you are exceeding them 🙂

I hope that you have a great 2019. Do let me know if you’d like some help.

Louise

How much time do you spend sat down? For many of us, it’s way too much! It can be hard to remember to get up and move about during our day. We often spend a large part of the day sat in our car, desk chair and sofa! We need to move though. We weren’t designed to be sat still for hours on end. Recent studies show the negative effects of long periods of sitting include reduced electrical activity of our muscles, increased LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), increased insulin resistance, weight gain, reduced concentration etc.

It can be hard to remember to move when we are busy working and concentrating. However, getting up and moving will help us concentrate better – moving pumps fresh blood and oxygen to our brain – releasing brain and mood enhancing chemicals. When we sit still our brain function slows (ever have that afternoon fog?).

So get up every half hour and walk around. Go to the photocopier, make yourself a drink, talk to a colleague rather than emailing them etc.

Make sure you get 30 mins moderate exercise a day (e.g. walking).

If you find it hard to move your body then try some tapping, e.g.

• Even though I find it hard to move during my busy day, I choose to remember to look after my body
• Even though it’s hard to remember to move, I accept myself anyway
• Even though I forget to move and feel stiff and sore, I choose to be more active
• Even though my shoulders and neck feel stiff and tense, I choose to stretch and move during my day
• Even though I find it hard to fit in any exercise, I choose to make time to look after my body

You can help yourself by setting a reminder on your computer or phone to get off your butt! Just standing for a few minutes and stretching or walking away from your desk will help.

If you’d like some help with this, then do get in touch with me.

Keep tapping (and moving)
Email Louise