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Posted in finances, goal setting, life hacks, money management

Monday Matters: Should you do a ‘No spend November’ challenge next month?

Posted on by Laura

Last week, I was talking to my other half about what an expensive month October has been for me. Firstly, it’s my husband’s birthday on Halloween, and, although I haven’t bought him too many presents, I like to get him something that he really wants and at least a couple of surprises as well. Secondly, an incident occurred with my much loved and well used Kindle. In our house, we have quite a lot of plants and we have an issue with tiny, little compost flies, which, as their name suggests, tend to live in the soil of our plants but also like to venture out around our rooms, gravitating towards anything they like the look of. One landed on the screen of my Kindle when I was reading and I whacked it with my hand. Unfortunately, my wedding and engagement rings also hit the screen and fractured it in several places in the very centre, causing the backlight to shine through. So, because I read my kindle on a daily basis, I had to purchase a replacement straightaway and that was an unexpected expense (well, obviously I could have managed for the time being but I love reading so…). Finally, my craft room tends to get a little cold in the autumn and winter months so I have added to my collection of jumpers to keep me warm.

My husband suggested that I do a ‘no spend November’ and I thought, “Ooooh, that has a nice ring to it, surely he hasn’t just made that up?” and sure enough, I Googled it, and it is already an actual thing. I read up on the basic premise as obviously the month can’t be entirely expense free (I’m pretty sure HSBC won’t be impressed if we don’t bother paying our mortgage next month and it won’t be much fun if we let the cupboard go bare and have nothing to eat!) and so I thought I’d share what I learnt in case you want to know more or join me in the challenge.

Let’s get to it…

What is ‘No spend November’?

Basically, ‘No spend November’ is a way of saving money by only purchasing things that are absolutely necessary. The goal of the challenge is to save more, make better spending decisions and to live more simply throughout the month. It’s considered an ideal time to reign in your spending as you’ll avoid buying unnecessary ‘bargains’ during the Black Friday period and it will help you to save a little (or maybe even a lot) for the festive period.

You can plan for the challenge to last the whole month, or you can identify a shorter period of no spend time in November – say for a week or a fortnight. You could also choose certain days of the week as no spend days such as weekends or Fridays. If you found it fun or helpful, you could also repeat the challenge at another time, such as when trying to save up for a holiday or a special event.

Essentials to continue to spend money on

Obviously, no spend doesn’t literally mean no money coming out of your bank account, but it does mean keeping costs to just the absolute essentials. What you class as essential will be very personal to you and will differ for each individual doing the challenge. Here’s what you might include but might include:

  • rent or mortgage payments
  • utilities such as gas, electric, Internet
  • taxes e.g. council tax
  • groceries
  • childcare
  • insurance payments such as health, life, car etc
  • phone top ups or phone bill
  • fuel or other car expenses
  • memberships that are on direct debit
  • things that absolutely need to be fixed straight away such as a broken washing machine or things that fall in to complete disrepair and need replacing
  • newspapers and magazines (except free ones)

For me, my gym subscription is an essential as it is a key part of my routine and going to classes and talking to others is one of the ways I keep myself well mentally as well as physically.

Non-essentials you might choose NOT to spend money on

Again, this differs from person to person, but some examples include:

  • takeaways
  • coffee shop coffee
  • cake from a cafe
  • meals out
  • craft supplies
  • hobbies
  • branded toiletries and cosmetics
  • entertainment (try visiting free events or go for a walk in your local park)
  • branded groceries or premium selections at the supermarket
  • clothing
  • shoes
  • impulse purchases
  • seasonal decor items
  • lunch from a sandwich shop – make your own packed lunch!
  • books – borrow some from the library instead, read some already purchased novels on your Kindle or re-read favourites

Reasons why you might choose to do a ‘No Spend November’ challenge

  • you overspent last month and so want to have a light spend month
  • you really want to assess your finances and become more in control of your money
  • you want to save money ready for the festive period itself
  • you like to choose Christmas gifts during the month of December
  • you plan to class Christmas gifts for family and friends as part of your essential spending
  • you want to be more intentional with your spending
  • you would like to do more home cooking and having a takeaway free month will facilitate this
  • you want to cut down on luxury items such as expensive toiletries and make up items in favour of choosing simple products like supermarket and chemist own brand items
  • You are a creative crafts type and want to encourage yourself to complete projects you are already working on or use materials you already own such as stickers, papers, yarns, fabrics etc
  • You have a debt to pay off and having a no spend month seems like an ideal way to do it

Reasons why you might not want to do a ‘No Spend November’

  • You have plenty of money for essentials and luxuries so saving and cutting down on spending doesn’t really feel like a priority right now
  • You have a list of items you want to get in the Black Friday sales and you know you are capable of sticking to that list and not buying things on impulse
  • You’re already pretty pleased with the state of your finances and you rarely purchase luxury items anyway
  • You want to try the challenge but at a different time of year, for example January of next year
  • You don’t see the point of the challenge for you personally
  • You feel totally unprepared for such as challenge and know that you won’t keep up with it so why start!

A few tips for a successful ‘No Spend November’

  • Record your why – why have you decided to do the challenge? what do you hope to get out of doing it?
  • Make two lists – one of essentials that you will spend money on and the other non-essentials or luxury items which you agree not to buy
  • Let others know that you are doing the challenge – explain to your partner, tell the kids and explain why the challenge is important to you, tell your friends so they don’t wonder why you are saying no to big night’s out and coffee catch ups.
  • Make a meal plan each week and then create a shopping list based on it
  • Create a picnic of homemade and home-prepared items for your free days out e.g. cheese and tomato sandwiches, chopped vegetables such as carrot or cucumber sticks with hummus for dipping, crisps from a multipack or decanted from a large bag, homemade scones, cakes or a traybake
  • record your expenses and see how they compare to other months – write down how much you think you’ve saved
  • plan some fun nights and days in – maybe have a pamper day or a games night, suggest friends come around for tea / coffee and each bring a sweet treat
  • make a list of things you were tempted to buy during the month and journal about why
  • seek out alternatives to more expensive grocery items e.g. supermarket own brand, budget range items etc

Final words…

So, who’s going to join me for a ‘No Spend November’ and who’s horrified by the idea? If you would like to curb your spending, I would love to hear what category of non-essentials has the most negative impact on your finances and which items you will struggle not to spend on. Let me know in the comments. Mine has to be craft related items or coffees from cafes I think although I may prove myself wrong when I start doing the challenge. Also, I think I may have to identify Christmas presents for others as essential if I see something that is just perfect when I’m out and about!

Posted in life hacks, lifestyle, productivity, self care, Setting goals and intentions

Monday Matters: 7 benefits of a clutter free and well-organised home environment plus some tips for getting started with decluttering

Posted on by Laura
Photo from a selection on Canva Pro

One of my current goals, which has been ongoing for quite a while now, is to declutter, tidy and organise my craft room / office, in a way which makes it a pleasant and distraction free environment and consequently a productive place to work and get creative. It’s an enormous job because a) I have soooo much stuff and b) it’s packed into what, in house buying terms, would be described as the box room / box bedroom. I did get started with the process, but then, I found other easier and more preferable projects and activities to do, and now, even the thought of ‘it’ is overwhelming and enough to put me off.

My knowledge and experience of tackling large projects tells me that taking it one tiny step at a time and making a list of tasks to work from (and tick off) would be helpful but I’m sure any of you who have ‘lots of stuff’ can relate and sympathise with me when I explain that pretty much anything and everything else is getting prioritised instead. To give myself the idiomatic ‘kick up the backside’, the idea of writing this blog post was born, to hopefully be a good reminder of the main benefits of a clutter-free and organised space even though I’m pretty sure you can guess a few of them. This might also help with the absorbing of information and fingers crossed with taking action. Clutter-free, super-organised readers can read and then polish their halos plus maybe leave a tip or two in the comments to help me and others. If today’s post has motivated you or helped you feel less alone in having a less than immaculate home environment I would love it if you dropped a comment below to generally make me and others feel better.

Without further ado, here are, what I consider to be the main benefits of a clutter free and well-organised space whether it’s your whole home, a room within your house or just a small area, such as your pantry or the junk drawer. I hope you find the following useful and that, fingers crossed, it gives you the incentive to take that first baby step and then keep going.

Reduced stress and anxiety

Being in an environment full of clutter causes sensory overload, heightened stress levels and feelings of shame and embarrassment (especially if you have visitors). The opposite is true of a clutter free and well-organised home. You’ll find yourself calmer, more relaxed and in control. You’ll likely feel a sense of pride when you look at your environment and what you’ve achieved and are able to maintain, and, you’ll also be much happier showing visitors in – even those who are unexpected! Plus you won’t be needing to apologise for the mess anymore or spend frantic hours trying to hide clutter in random, out of sight places.

Boosts productivity and creativity

A neat and tidy work environment means fewer distractions and plenty of space in which to work. This generally leads to better concentration levels, deeper focus and improved productivity. It also helps to free your mind of mental clutter and provides the space for innovative thoughts and letting your creative juices flow.

So much easier to find things

When you have fewer possessions and every item has a specific home, it makes it much easier to find something when you need it saving you a lot of time and energy. On the other hand, if you’re house is in disarray, it can become extremely frustrating and time consuming to locate the item you need. Often, when I’m struggling to find something, I get myself so worked up that I end up in tears. Aldo, searching places that the item might be reminds me of how much stuff I actually have (and creates feelings of guilt) and brings to mind how, in the past, I’ve bought things to try to make myself feel better when I’ve been depressed.

Rids your home of allergens

As someone who is asthmatic and has a dust allergy, this one is a huge plus for me. Keeping a tidy and uncluttered home makes it much quicker and easier to clean and remove dust, moulds and mildew. Plus, less stuff in general helps with airflow and ventilation. This is good news for anyone with respiratory conditions or other allergies which many people have.

Improved sleep

A neat, tidy and clutter free bedroom creates a sanctuary in which to seek comfort and relaxation ready for a restful night’s sleep. It also provides a peaceful and calming space in which to enjoy a slow start to your morning routine, rather than being immediately overwhelmed by stuff as soon as you open your eyes.

More time for hobbies and socialising with family and friends

A clutter-free and organised home environment is so much quicker and easier to clean and keep tidy. Less time on household chores leaves you with more time to engage in your favourite hobbies and more opportunites to socialise with family and friends. It also means that you can happily invite people round to enjoy your home with you.

Better relationships with those you share your home with

When researching today’s blog post, I came across a range of articles and studies which discussed how mess and clutter can affect relationships and even completely destroy them. This can be due to the clutterer struggling with psychological issues as a result of their stuff, leading to feelings such as stress, anxiety, overwhelm, shame, depression and low self worth. Or, the clutter can cause conflict between individuals living in the home creating feelings of anger, resentment and frustration as well as being a source of arguments and ill feeling.

On the other hand, a tidy and clutter free home environment creates a harmonious and happy house, where all occupants can relax and feel comfortable. A well-organised home also reflects personal qualities such as a sense of control, high self worth, confidence, purposefulness, self love, resourcefulness and resilience, which, together with teamwork and authentic conversation with regard to belongings can result in a much more amicable and loving relationship with your partner or housemates.

Tips for getting started with decluttering

  1. Make a commitment – before you start, you need to be prepared to put in the required time and energy for decluttering. Creating a clutter free and organised home doesn’t happen overnight, it takes a huge commitment which is why it’s good to consider the benefits discussed above. Tidying and decluttering needs to be a priority in your life and something you put your heart and soul into. The tip below should really help to get clear in your mind about what the benefits are for you personally.
  2. Think about and visualise your overall goal – imagine what your tidy home would look like and how it would feel to be there. Visualise yourself walking through your house when you’ve met your goal. Consider exactly how you would spend your time at home. Sketch or write about the improvements you’ve made and ask yourself why it feel the way it now does – a key to manifesting a clutter free and organised home is to imagine you already have exactly what you desire.
  3. Start small – set tiny goals such as tackling one box, one drawer, one shelf, a single pile of papers. Work on one room at a time and make a note of places to work on which will really make a difference – so for example your desk space in your office or craft room, the main counter in your kitchen or the coffee table in your living room.
  4. Allocate an amount of time to the job – you might decide you have 5 or 10 minutes, an hour or a whole afternoon (starting small is good if you’re feeling overwhelmed) . Set a timer and turn on do not disturb mode on your phone.
  5. Take before and after photographs – want a visual reminder of how much progress you’ve made? Take a quick snap on your phone of what the area looked like before and what it looks like at the end of your allocated amount of time. Repeat before and after each decluttering and tidying session.
  6. Get support from an expert Once you’ve got started with the process and have seen some of the impact you can have, you might want to get help from a professional declutterer or a celebrity who has created a home you admire. So, for example Marie Kondo has developed the Spark Joy method for tidying where you work on categories of items in your home in the order suggested, whilst Stacey Solomon has her TV series ‘Sort Your Life Out’ plus her ‘Tap to Tidy’ book full of advice and tips. You don’t need to actually invite Kondo or Stacey Solomon to your home – just make use of their skillset.
  7. Enlist help from family or others in your social circle – if you find decluttering overwhelming, you might want to enlist the help of a family member or friend, even if they’re just there to help you gather things together, make decisions about where to store things or to offer moral support. And if they can’t be there physically, use them as an accountability partner asking them to regularly check in to see how you’re getting on and what progress has been made.
  8. Donate, sell or recycle what you can. This will help you reduce waste (and feel good about your impact on the environment), make a little extra cash or help someone in need (just because it doesn’t spark joy for you, doesn’t mean it won’t for others).
  9. Find a specific home for each and every item – the key to keeping your home neat and tidy is to have a specific storage location for every single item. That way, you’ll know exactly where to put it when you’ve finished with it or where to display the object in your home. Try to keep most things out of sight in drawers, cupboards and boxes as this will make it easy to clean surfaces.
  10. Don’t strive for perfection As you embark on your decluttering journey, be kind to yourself and celebrate small achievements and elements of progress along the way, rather than expecting everything to be perfect before moving on to the next task. Decluttering is a process and can take a lot of time (often much longer than you think), so little and often is the way to go. Also, slightly lowering your expectations can help you to feel like you’re getting there.

I hope you’ve found today’s blog post useful and have picked up a few tips as you’ve read. I’m sure you can see how beneficial a clutter free and well-organised home is for your mental and physical health and how it can make for a happier living space overall.

Additionally, I’m thinking about doing another piece at some point in the future that focuses specifically on decluttering and organising craft supplies, as this, for me, is the area that needs most work. Let me know in the comments if you would find this helpful too.

Happy decluttering, tidying and organising,

Posted in psychology, relationships

Monday Matters: Seven ways to bring more romance into your relationship

Posted on by Laura
Photo from Canva Pro

At the start of a relationship, we’re usually very keen to show how much we care for or love our partner. However, sometimes, as the years go by, we can take each other for granted and romance and affection can become less prevalent. Today, I’m sharing seven ways to keep the romance alive in your relationship however long you’ve been together.

Make time for your partner

Back when you started dating, you would arrange to see each other, carving out time in your diary and getting together as frequently as you could, whilst your relationship bloomed. As you make the commitment to live together or get married, have children (or a pet like my husband and I) setting aside time for one another is still just as important if your relationship is to stay strong. Some couples, especially those with kids, arrange date nights so that they can have a quiet evening with just the two of them together. This helps them to reconnect, communicate freely without interruption and have some fun.

Personally, my husband and I can enjoy hamster free time as we wish and regularly go out on a weekend to places of interest such as nature reserves, local woodland and forests for walks or to cities for shopping, coffee and cake or lunches in vegetarian or vegan cafes. We also often go out for a meal and occasionally for a few cocktails, to the cinema to watch a film or to the theatre in the evening for further quality time together.

Try new things together

Sharing new experiences together can help you feel a closer bond to your partner. This might include starting a new hobby, attending a class, or doing something that has been on your (real or virtual) bucket list for a while.

As part of my Autumn bucket list this year, I decided I would like for us to visit a pumpkin patch at a farm we pass on our way to Hexham. My husband booked us tickets which cost a few pounds each and the plan was to go there for 11am and then continue on to Hexham to have lunch in one of our favourite veggie cafes, do a little bit of shopping and then have a walk in the country park there. I took my DSLR with me and took lots of photographs at the farm of the various pumpkins and squashes, plus some snaps of the decor. We also had a little look in the shop and visited the tea rooms to check out what was available to eat should we wish to go there again.

We spent just over an hour at Brockbushes and it was so much fun wandering around the muddy fields and choosing a few squashes to buy to take home. It was lovely seeing lots of young and older children picking their own pumpkins and filling their little wheelbarrows. We both took plenty of photos of the scenery and each other and I intend to do some journalling about the experience to go in one of my traveller’s notebooks to spark memories of how much we enjoyed ourselves. I also got a couple of bits of autumnal home decor from the shop which are now on display in a couple of houseplant pots. Again, these will serve as a reminder of our time at the pumpkin patch.

Give small gifts and surprise them

Obviously, I’m not talking vastly expensive little gifts that leave you out of pocket for this one. Just small tokens of appreciation which you know they will love. For example, last month, I made my husband a personalised mug. The mug itself was 60p from ASDA and the vinyl for the message was a few £s but I spent ages in Cricut Design Space choosing fonts, making the decals the correct size and thinking about which colour vinyl he would like best. Surprises could include bringing them breakfast in bed, leaving a love note for them to find, bring home or cook a meal for them.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Show your appreciation with compliments

Who doesn’t secretly love compliments and crave words of encouragement that they’re doing okay as a husband/wife/partner? Try to cultivate the habit of saying nice things to your partner each day which affirm your love, show your appreciation and demonstrate that their efforts haven’t gone un-noticed. For example, you might tell them that an item of clothing really suits them, that their hair is looking good, you love their sense of humour or that their ability to make you feel calmer during periods of stress or anxiety is so helpful. Or, you might thank them for doing a particularly mundane household task that has been on your to-do list for a while. You don’t have to shower them with compliments all the time, else they might think you’re after something ha ha! but just a couple of niceties each morning or evening will certainly make a difference.

Listen attentively

During a conversation or when they are talking about their day, remember to give them your full attention, maintain eye contact and make relevant comments to show you are listening carefully. Even if you’re tired, or the topic of conversation doesn’t particularly interest you, show you care by really tuning in.

This can also be applied if you go out together somewhere for the day, for coffee, lunch or dinner . Try to resist the temptation to check your phone or show more interest in what other people are doing, whilst half heartedly listening as there’s nothing worse than feeling like your partner is distracted or not enjoying your company.

Show physical affection

Physical affection shouldn’t be limited to the bedroom. Hold hands when you’re out and about, snuggle up together whilst you watch TV, kiss them when they or you get home and when either of you leave in the morning, share hugs regularly to demonstrate your romantic feelings for them. Again, this is probably something you did all the time when you first got together but often, over the years, can dwindle or stop.

Know your partner’s love language

The idea of love languages was first identified in a book by Gary Chapman, a marriage counsellor, back in 1990, who identified five ways that romantic partners can express and experience love. Knowing you and your partner’s preferences can be super useful as it can help you demonstrate your love in a way that they will really appreciate and vice versa. The 5 love languages are:

  • Words of affirmation
  • Quality time
  • Physical touch
  • Acts of service
  • Receiving gifts

I’m sure you can see how these relate to the tips above, but this article goes into more depth on finding your language, and that of your partner, and gives some wonderful examples of ways in which you can show how much you care for them. Incidentally, love languages can also be applied to platonic relationships too as you will see in the webpage.

Final words…

Whether you want to up the romance in your relationship, or want to check you’re doing everything you can to show your partner you love them with all of your heart, I hope you’ve found today’s blog post an informative and useful read. Let me know in the comments what your love language is (or if you sway towards several of them) and if you share the same as your partner or if theirs is different.

Posted in compassion, creativity, depression management, lifestyle, meditation, mental health, self care

Monday Matters: Working towards a life full of calmness and positivity – simple ideas to try today

Posted on by Laura

Today I’m sharing some easy self-help strategies to enable you to create a life which is both calmer and more positive. I hope you find the tips useful and they motivate you to make a change or two going forward.

Be kind to yourself

Showing self-compassion, practising self-care and giving yourself grace when you make mistakes or are struggling with the stresses of modern day living is an important and helpful first step to take in developing a more positive life. If a good friend of yours was finding things difficult right now, you would offer them support and encouragement, sympathy and well wishes, yet when we find ourselves in a similar situation do we behave in the same way? Here’s a few ways to be kind to ourselves (and they don’t need to be reserved for when we are down or struggling with our mental health either):

  1. Forgive yourself often – for making mistakes, not being perfect, not being super productive etc. Whatever you beat yourself up about, STOP!
  2. Keep yourself hydrated – this simple act of self-care is important and will help you feel your best throughout the day
  3. Listen to your body – if it needs rest, a day off, a holiday, a break from chores, a lie in etc. provide exactly that.
  4. Explore how you’re feeling mentally and why – try a spot of journalling or talk to a close friend, then, if need be, take appropriate steps to remedy the situation.
  5. Eat well – eating a balanced diet full of fresh produce, wholegrains and all of the vitamins and minerals you need is a great way to look after yourself. Yes, you shouldn’t deny yourself the occasional treat, but eating a predominately healthy diet will help you maintain good energy levels, restful sleep and better mood.
  6. Get some exercise – you don’t need to lift weights at the gym or pedal the exercise bike for hours each week, do something you enjoy whether it’s yoga, pilates, a walk in the countryside or playing outside with your dog. Exercise releases feel good hormones as well as keeping you in good shape.
  7. Celebrate your achievements – think about what you’ve achieved this week / month / year and give yourself a pat on the back. Even better, treat yourself to some kind of reward such as a bunch of flowers, a new notebook or something else that’s been on your wishlist for a while.

Be kind to others

Small acts of kindness towards others can have an enormous impact on both on the giver and receiver. Just something simple like holding a door open for someone who has their hands full or letting someone who is only buying one item go before you in the queue for groceries is enough for benefits such as brighter mood, lower stress levels, feelings of connection and belonging to the community and improved self-esteem and confidence.

Release your inner creativity

No matter how busy your day is, there’s always at the very least a small window of opportunity to get creative (try putting your phone in another room for half an hour!). Whether it’s doing some colouring in and choosing colours which complement each other, developing a poem about your experiences, doing some seasonal doodling in your bullet journal or creating a mood board for your living room, anything which uses your imagination or original ideas to make something is a boost to your creative side. And even if you don’t see yourself as the creative type, trying out different expressive activities will help you develop this part of yourself which I promise is lurking inside somewhere! Engaging in creative pursuits is wonderful for bring calmness and tranquility as well as a sense of achievement. It’s also a lovely way to practice self care.

Develop an attitude of gratitude

I write about gratitude in a lot of my wellbeing posts here on my blog but it is with good reason. Being grateful for what you have and celebrating ways in which you are very lucky has proven health benefits such as being better able to cope with adversity, enjoying improved sleep and immunity, building stronger relationships with others (particularly if you show gratitude for family and friends) and generally feeling much more positive and happy. Feeling gratitude and expressing your appreciation for things in your life is a very spiritual practice, creating a feeling of ease and contentment.

Be more mindful

Mindfulness is all about paying more attention to the present moment, focusing on your current thoughts and feelings and what is going on around you right now. Some examples of how this might manifest itself in your life include:

  • meditation and breathwork
  • paying full attention to the little things you do each day as part of your routines such as taking a shower, brushing your teeth, eating your breakfast, making your bed, brushing your hair or getting dressed. This will help you to change the focus from rumination about the past or worrying about the future
  • taking a walk in nature and becoming really conscious of your immediate surroundings – use your five senses to explore the environment
  • working on one thing at a time – avoid trying to multi-task (which is a complete myth anyway as you can read here)
  • eat mindfully – really pay attention to what you’re eating, how it tastes, how it feels in your mouth, how it is making you feel (this is also good for making sure your eat slowly and stop when you start to feel full and satisfied)
  • use the 5,4,3,2,1 grounding technique to bring you back to the present moment (this is particularly useful if you start to become anxious about something)
  • do some journalling – writing your thoughts, feelings and experiences in a journal is a great way to slow down and become aware of how things are for you right now
  • try movement meditation – most of us associate meditation with sitting or lying very still and focusing on the breathe. However, this is just one example of how to meditate. Check out this article for seven popular styles of movement which are meditative in their nature.

Start a slower and more relaxing morning routine

Your morning routine has the power to set you up for a calm, happy and productive day or leave you stressed out, tired and wanting to go back to bed. For a gentle start to your day, try the following tips:

  • prepare for your day the night before – check your planner to see what you have scheduled for tomorrow, write a list of intentions for the next day or choose your priorities from your to do list, choose your outfit and check to see if it needs ironing or unfolding to let the creases drop, if you are going out somewhere, pack your bag ready.
  • wake up early – plan to get up at a time which gives you the opportunity to get ready without rushing (this might involve going to bed earlier or other tweaks to your evening routine to encourage restful sleep)
  • open your curtains or blinds to let natural light in, or, during winter, use a sunrise simulation lamp to mimic the effects.
  • try journalling – this could be completing the morning entry of The Five Minute Journal like I do, doing morning pages or making note of a few things or people you are grateful for
  • avoid reaching for your phone – checking our phones as soon as we get up is an automatic reaction for most of us but it has been shown to have negative effects on the brain. Issues include heightened stress and anxiety levels, poor performance levels at work, lack of productivity as well as loss of our precious time. Instead, eat your breakfast mindfully and slowly, take yourself outside to get some morning light, do some gentle stretches or record your thoughts, feelings or daily gratitudes.
  • choose a slow living activity to put you in the right mindset – read a chapter from a motivational book, listen to a podcast, make a nutritious breakfast, savour your morning coffee (rather than downing it when it’s too hot or going cold), sit outside and watch the sunrise, close your eyes and focus on your breathing or flick through your favourite magazine. Make the most of rising early before you start to tackle your to do list or head off to work.

Final words…

I hope you’ve found the above tips useful and are motivated to try some of them. I know that making lifestyle changes can be quite difficult and require time and commitment. You might want to try to transform many aspects of your current life but doing too much at once will most definitely lead to overwhelm and the temptation to give up. I recommend choosing one thing to focus on and, where possible, enlist the help and support of your partner or a close member of the family or a good friend. I also encourage you to regularly evaluate and reflect on how things are going for you and consider if the small change you’ve made is having the desired effect. This will help you to refocus and serve as a good reminder of why you started.

Posted in bullet journal, Bullet journaling, crafting, lifestyle, Planning and journaling

Setting up my Bullet Journal for October 2023: Autumn theme

Posted on by Laura

This month, I’ve been using my Cricut Joy to make stickers to decorate my October spreads and other pages as I start a new bullet journal, this time from Notebook Therapy. I bought lots of sheets of printable vinyl adhesive backed paper and explored using my cutting machine along with a hack I found on YouTube to create print and cut images. The process has been frustrating at times and quite a few sheets have unfortunately ended up in the bin as the offset around the images is sometimes off by a millimetre or two but I’ve made lots of little stickers that I’m pleased with and are worthy of a place in my new notebook.

My gorgeous new journals for the Autumn time – such a contrast!

Front cover

In order to have a good range of images at my disposal, I signed up for a free trial of Canva Pro. I have Cricut Access but I’ve found that the images aren’t as good on there as they’re mainly designed for cut files with coloured vinyl or iron on products. Canva Pro has so many amazing images and I’ve been spending time each day downloading themed pictures and patterns to make the most of my month of free use. For the cover, I typed into ‘autumn watercolour’ to get similar types of image. Each one was saved to a 3x3cm canvas which enabled me to reduce the size on Cricut Design Space before adding an offset. As you can probably see, none of the offsets are perfectly aligned but I think the finished stickers look okay. The image for the title was also found on Canva and a second layer was added with a calligraphy style font.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

October calendar

For my calendar page, I simply searched ‘autumn’ and again saved each image on a canvas as above. I also find some border style images for the top and bottom of the title. After sticking them on, I regretted adding two as there was little room left to write the header but using my letter stamps worked out okay.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Weekly spreads

I decided to pre-prepare my spreads for October and went for a vertical Dutch door so that only one lots of decoration was required to either side. These washi style strips on either side are again borders from Canva Pro, this time with a pale colour background added in. I’m pleased with how my weeklies turned out and it will be nice to know that I don’t have to draw my set up for the week first thing on a Monday Morning. As my tasks are separate, I’ve only left a small amount of room for events on my daily sections. Hopefully these are big enough for anything I need to make note of.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Finances

In the excitement of creating some Dutch doors, I completely forgot about my finances spread so I’ve added it on after the weeklies. I love the hedgehog decor and there were actually about six different images on Canva to choose from which were clearly designed by the same artist.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Other spreads

As this is a new bullet journal, I’ve also created index pages, a future log (with Dutch doors and also little tabs) and some pages for Level 10 life reflection and goal setting. However, I’m yet to fill them in yet so it’s pointless me sharing them! I might share them on Instagram if I remember.

Final words …

I hope you enjoyed seeing my new BuJo and my spreads for October. I’m now totally addicted to making stickers and even have a themed set ready and waiting in a little handmade envelope for November. I’ve also started making Christmas themed ones too! I’m sure at some point I’ll go back to drawing my own images in my bullet journal but for now, I’m happy stickerating!