As I haven’t posted yet this month due to being on holiday, I thought I’d do a quick and easy life update. I think this kind of journalling is great to look back on so you can see how things have changed and even if you don’t have a blog, it’s nice to do an analogue record in a journal or notebook.
Currently eating…
lots of fresh and juicy fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, pears, mangoes, grapes and watermelon. I always try to make sure I get at least 5 portions of fruit and veg each day and I also have one as part of my breakfast and something as a snack later in the day.
Also, whilst in Amsterdam, we had an ‘all you can eat’ breakfast at the hotel on a couple of the days. When perusing the offerings, I found some overnight oats which had been made with soya milk. There were two portions left and it was the perfect opportunity to try them. I mixed a little strawberry jam into mine but, to be honest, they were nice enough just plain. Since returning home, we’ve made some for our breakfast quite a few times and we’ve now managed to get the consistency just right. I can totally recommend them as a tasty and filling start to a busy day.
Currently drinking…
iced coffee. I haven’t yet made it myself but I’ve enjoyed it a few times in different cafes. I have a shot of caramel syrup in mine and they’ve been really nice to have as a cooling refreshment during the hot days we’ve been having as an alternate to my usual hot drinks.
Currently watching…
lots of great dramas on TV. I’m particularly enjoying Shetland, Van Der Valk and The Secrets She Keeps (on catch up) as I love police and psychological stuff. It’s nice to settle down to an hour or too of great television each evening before bed.
Currently reading…
C.L. Taylor’s latest book The Guilty Couple which I’m really enjoying so far. Again, psychological thrillers are my favourite kind to read. I’ve just created a huge TBR list in my bullet journal and I have 13 fiction and 5 non-fiction self help style lined up so they should last me the rest of 2022.
Currently listening to…
the Wet Leg album on You Tube to see if I want to buy it as a download for my iPod. I love their first two singles Chaise Longue and Wet Dream a lot and I enjoy listening to them on the radio and singing along.
Currently pinning…
desk organisation ideas. I’m trying to decide what I want available on the desk in my craft room and what I want to put away so that I have plenty of space to work. I’m also trying to establish how to keep things neat and tidy. I always find really good ideas on Pinterest to pin.
Currently enjoying…
Looking at all of the flowering plants which are in full bloom in our garden. We have lots of different colours out there at the moment and it’s a really bright and cheerful space to sit out in. I wish the weeds didn’t grow quite as fast though!
Currently creating…
journal layouts which document our holidays to Scotland and Amsterdam and pages of images of my recent purchases and why I love them. I’ve just started a new TN insert and I think it will probably be full by the time I’ve finished. For the travel stuff, I like to include photographs, receipts, daily itineraries, food menus, leaflet cuttings etc and decorate with coloured and patterned papers, washi tape, stickers and ephemera.
Final words…
So that’s a mini update on my life right now which I hope you enjoyed reading. I would love to hear what you’re up to in the comments. I’m going to schedule in more posts like this one as it’s really interesting to revisit and see how my focus has changed over time. I’ve only done two ‘currently’ posts since I launched my blog over four years ago but I think at least every six months would be good for the future.
I’ve just finished my previous bullet journal and I’m excited to be moving in to a brand new notebook. This one is again from Notebook Therapy but the cover is white vegan leather with a beautiful butterfly on the front and gilded edges to the pages. I’m already wondering how long it will stay mark free for!
As we’re off on holiday shortly I’m going to keep this post picture heavy with minimal explanation. If you want to know anything about the spreads you can always ask in the comments.
Key and index pages
Future log
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative blog
Grid spacing cheat sheet
Vision board
I love how my vision board turned out. Some of the goals are ongoing from earlier in the year, some are new aspirations.
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative blog
August front cover
For my theme for August, I went for birthday balloons as my niece and our share our birthdays on the 3rd August. I completed my cover page on return from our holiday to Amsterdam. To make it quicker and easier, I used a tracing paper balloon shape to create the balloons but slightly altered them when I inked them in for a hand-drawn look. I used a 0.3 Pigma micron for each balloon and a 0.1 for the strings.
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative blog
August calendar pages
I haven’t managed to get chance to do the front cover page yet but it will feature lots of colourful balloons in the colour palette used for the calendar.
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative blog
Reading log
A space for me to record books read in August and September and rate them out of 5 hearts.
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative blog
When did I last? spread
I found this really useful in my previous bullet journal, particularly for stuff that doesn’t get done that often so I’ve created a slightly more compact version.
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative blog
Packing list
I do one of these every time we go away and refer back to previous ones each time. Obviously things depend on the season where we’re going and how long for but there are some items I take on each holiday. The lists help me feel more organised and mean I don’t forget things.
Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative blog
Final words…
I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at my new bullet journal and my spreads. I always find it exciting to start a new notebook but at the same time I worry about making mistakes (which I inevitably do!). However, then you have the opportunity to get creative with how you fix the problem(s). Wishing you all a wonderful August.
Today as part of my Wheel Of Wellness series, I’ll be looking at the environmental segment. Environmental wellness encompasses your immediate physical environments, such as your home, your workspace and social spaces, and the wider environment including nature and how well we look after The World around us.
Dictionary definitions
The online Oxford dictionary defines ‘environment’ in several ways:
the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity.
Today, I’ll be focusing on both of these including creating an atmosphere conducive to a particular activity, such as working, studying, playing or winding down, or a particular mood e.g. productive, restful, cosy, energising, calming etc and enjoying and looking after our natural world.
Built environments
Built environments are spaces created by humans where we live, work and socialise. This can include our home, our office or workspace, cafes, shops, restaurants, workout places such as the gym, fitness rooms and swimming baths, medical settings such as the doctors, hospital or therapy room, and spaces where we get pampered such as the hairdressers and beauty salons.
Our workspace
If like me, you work from home, you can set your workspace up in a way that makes you as efficient and productive as possible, so that everything you need is at hand and you know exactly where to find it. Some essentials for the perfect home working environment include:
somewhere quiet where you can focus
a sturdy desk and a comfortable and supportive chair – the desk should feel solid and unmoving and your chair should encourage good posture
plenty of storage which is appropriate for your needs – e.g. filing cabinet, magazine files, drawers, labelled boxes, small storage containers etc
plenty of natural light and task lighting for dull days
I also like to have some art on the walls and a number of my cross stitch pieces framed in my craft room too. This makes the space visually appealing and celebrates my artistic achievements as well. Motivational bits and pieces adorn my personal vision board along with messages such as ‘make everyday count’, ‘you are someone’s reason to smile’ etc. I also have a business vision board on the wall above my Ikea unit which is full of pictures and text related to what matters to me and my goals.
Creating a tidy, well organised space is also something I’m working really hard on but I’m finding this quite difficult due to the volume of craft supplies and the fact that my craft room is very multipurpose (any tips in the comments will be gratefully received on this one!!!).
If you don’t work at home, your workspace is generally dictated by your employer but most places allow you to customise things, e.g. by adding photos of family or friends. You can also ask for resources which make your desk set up as comfortable as possible including an ergonomic keyboard, gel wrist supports, a foot rest or a more supportive chair if you have issues with back pain etc.
With regard to social spaces, you will know yourself which cafes you feel comfortable in and which are suitable for your needs whether you are studying, working, relaxing or catching up with friends or family. The same goes for other public spaces, you evaluate them and make decisions based on the environment and how suitable it is for you personally.
A welcoming and restful home environment
Most, if not all of us, want our home to be a haven where we feel safe, comfortable and able to relax and unwind. Beyond that, the place we live should ideally suit our individual needs and those of our family. Here’s some ideas for making your home personal to you:
minimise clutter to create a restful environment (more on this later)
choose your favourite colours and patterns you like for decor
think about your lighting needs – soft lighting for evenings, task lighting for day time use
add plants to cleanse the air and provide other health benefits
choose supportive cushions to make your sofa more comfortable (again you can select those which spark the most joy)
invest in a mattress for your bed which provides comfort and support and choose pillows which suit how you sleep
add cosy throws and/or blankets in your living room and bedroom for chillier times of year
depending on summer weather and temperatures, think about fans or air conditioning to make your space more comfortable
use curtains and blinds to control the light and the temperature and allow privacy
choose pictures and art work which makes you smile or fills you with joy
think about how you want your home to smell – add scented candles, incense sticks, diffusers etc in your favourite scents (be careful that these don’t set off any allergies you may have though – I found wax melts to be too potent and they were irritating my throat and my nose!)
Sources of stress in your home environment
It’s important to take steps to minimise the effects of the following stress inducing factors even if you can’t completely control them.
Messy home, messy mind A disorganised and cluttered home is a huge source of stress and can have a really bad impact on your mental health (see below)
Noise pollution e.g. traffic, noisy neighbours, dogs barking, noisy commercial premises etc. can have a dramatic effect on your health and wellbeing. Tips to deal with unavoidable noise pollution include placing a bookcase along a wall which is adjacent to a neighbour to reduce sound from next door, soundproofing windows to block out traffic noise, cover up unwelcome noises by putting on the radio or playing some peaceful sounds e.g. ocean waves, crackling fire, gentle rain etc. During the Summer hanging windchimes next to your window use ear plugs in bed. You should also make sure you are considerate towards your neighbours so they offer the same in return e.g. apologising in advance for disturbance caused by DIY, keeping the volume of the TV, radio and music as low as possible, if you’re having a party or some other form of get together, let your neighbours know in advance and keep the noise to a minimum, if you are a dog owner, talk to your neighbour to fins out how he/she behaves when you are out. Finally, check out your local council website if you want to make a complaint about nuisance noise.
Work stress If you work from home, it’s important to have a dedicated space for work which is not the same place you use for relaxation. This creates not only a physical separation, but also and mental separation too. You should also make sure you start and finish work at a reasonable time and schedule in breaks.
The negative impact of a cluttered home
The word clutter refers to items or collections of things which are strewn about the home in an untidy state. Clutter is generally made up of stuff we haven’t sorted out which has got in a mess, things which don’t have a home so are left lying about and anything you’re keeping which doesn’t bring value to your life. As well as not being great to look at, clutter can have a negative effect on your mental and physical health, and your relationships with others. Here’s some of the key problems:
Clutter promotes confusion – in other words, you feel like you can’t think clearly, focus or make decisions
Clutter causes stress – it diverts your attention away from what you want to be focusing on, it clouds your thought processes, makes you feel anxious and full of guilt about the situation/mess you find yourself in
Clutter can cause accidents – if you have items all over your house there are lots of trip hazards, surfaces covered in stuff can also mean that things get knocked off and broken, you could also end up standing on things and breaking them too!
Clutter makes you eat more – a study found that people who live in a cluttered environment tend to overeat or binge eat more than those who have a well organised home
Clutter affects your mood – a house in chaos can make you feel drained and unhappy, it can even make you feel like a failure. A well ordered home, however, makes you feel full of pride and creates feelings of ease and happiness.
Clutter steals your time – if your house in full of stuff which is left lying about you’ll spend time thinking about things every time you look at them. you’re also likely to lose things and spend time each day searching through the mess e.g. for lost car keys, important papers that need your attention and anything that wasn’t put away when you’d finished with it.
Clutter affects your relationships – Clutter can make communication with family members more difficult as it constantly distracts you, leading to poor concentration and an inability to interpret facial expressions and emotions of those around you. It can also make you feel more isolated as feeling ashamed of the state of your home can stop you from invited friends and family round.
Keeping your home clean and tidy during periods of low mood or depression
During periods of low mood or depression, you may lack the energy or motivation to keep up with day-to-day chores. However, having a messy and unclean home will only make you feel worse. At these times, pushing yourself to do a few small tasks each day can really help to boost your mood and give you a sense of achievement. You might find my post on behavioural activation useful to help you set some very small goals each day. Here’s a few tips:
keep up with small tasks so they don’t become big ones e.g. wash the breakfast dishes and wipe out the sink rather than letting things pile up and feel unmanageable, wipe the bathroom sink and shower out after each use, vacuum a room each day rather than trying to do the whole house at once and not being able to face it
use the Behavioural Activation method to set small goals each day – you might want to do this with a family member or friend so they can offer you support and encouragement
when planning your behavioural activation tasks, think about the best time of day to do each one, evaluate how you feel after completing each chore and use this to set future goals e.g. if you became overwhelmed with dusting the furniture in your bedroom, just focus on cleaning one item
remember you are unwell right now so you should lower your standards a lot and celebrate every tiny achievement, if something doesn’t get done, it will keep for another day
ask for help – if you’re really struggling, don’t be ashamed if you need to ask for help from a family member or friends – two sets of hands are usually better than one
Time in nature
Time spent in green spaces interacting with natural elements such as air, water and sunlight as well as getting up close to plants and wildlife helps nurture our minds and bodies. Here’s some ideas for enjoying nature:
Use Google maps to locate nearby nature reserves or parks – enjoy a stroll and maybe do some bird spotting too
have a brisk woodland walk and watch the sun as it peeps through the trees
feel the sand between your toes at the beach and listen to the sound of the waves
spend some time in the sunshine to elevate your energy levels and boost your mood (wear sunscreen as appropriate)
go for a wildflower walk (we like using the Seek app to identify our finds)
feel the cool breeze on your face in the back garden as you relax and read your favourite magazine
spend an hour or two gardening – try creating a multisensory space using grasses, herbs and other scented plants
Not only does being out in nature allow for a slower pace, it also helps you to feel connected to something larger than yourself.
Caring for the environment (being green or eco friendly)
Green symbolises our natural environment and planet Earth and the terms ‘being green’ or ‘eco friendly’ mean living your life in a sustainable way, ensuring our activities recognise that nature needs to be looked after and that it is important to conserve our resources. Here’s some ideas:
reduce waste – e.g. avoid plastic single use bags, use a reuseable bottle or cup for beverages on the go, check out love food hate waste for some great tips
recycle – make good use of your recycling bin for glass, plastic, paper and cardboard and also, try to choose products which come in less packaging, avoiding none recyclable plastic if possible
conserve water – if possible shower rather than a bath and limit the time you spend in there, wait until your laundry bin is full before doing a wash, turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth, water your plants early morning or late in the evening to give your garden a good drink and prevent evaporation, install a water butt to collect rainwater, run the dishwasher when full or wash small amounts of dishes by hand, only boil what you need for your hot drinks, saucepan or stock jug, try steaming your veggies (it retains more of the nutrients as well as saving water) check your plumbing regularly for leaks
save energy – turn off lights when not needed, draught proof windows and doors, wash at 30 degrees, take a 4 minute shower (not so easy if like me you have long hair and need to shave your legs but at least try to cut down), avoid using your tumble dryer, swap your bath for a shower, seek out advice about insulating your home and make some changes
repurpose things you no longer want or need – search ‘creative recycling’ on Pinterest (a few years ago my husband turned an old wooden CD storage crate into a really great bug hotel by filling the different sections with pine cones, dried leaves, chopped up bits of bamboo, collections of twigs from the garden and pieces of wood offcuts with holes drilled in)
upcycle – this is where you reuse objects or material in a way that adds value or makes something higher quality. Check out these tips for beginners
shop in charity shops – find one off pieces or nearly new things at a fraction of the price, give money to a good cause and help the environment all at the same time
Final thoughts…
I hope you have enjoyed reading today’s post and it’s helped you consider your environmental wellness. Personally, I would like to focus on dealing with clutter in my home as I know it is having a detrimental effect on my mental health. I’m also aware that I need to start small so that I don’t become overwhelmed and make myself feel worse. Let me know in the comments if anything has struck a cord with you and it has given you some ideas going forward.
Today’s guest post focuses on different ways you can effectively market yourself as a fledgling (or more experienced) creative small business owner. Linda shares her tips on putting yourself and your work out there whether you’re a maker, web designer, poet, blogger, musician or any other type of artist or creator. I hope you find the suggestions useful in helping you grow your business.
How Do I Get Noticed?
Sure, we have all heard the stories of the starving artist being “accidentally” discovered by the right person at the right time. But, this is the exception rather than the rule. Because you can’t bank on the possibility of going viral, you’ll have to put some work into getting your creative endeavors into the public eye.
Today, the Keep It Creative blog touches on a few of the finer points of marketing yourself.
Network
Networking is one of the most important things that any new business owner can do. In addition to current friends and business acquaintances, there’s no shame in reaching back into your past to contact your old high school and college buddies. You never know when someone can give you a business boost. If you’ve lost touch, use a specialized search engine to type in their name, school, and the year you graduated. As an added bonus, you can even find other friends and possibly even former educators with whom to reconnect.
Share your resume
Your resume does not have to be a stuffy one-page introduction to yourself. As a maker or artist, you can get creative. Your resume could be anything from photos of your artwork to samples of your writing or designs. If you need to share your resume, try using a PDF editor, which gives you some flexibility to create in whatever program you want and then edit, download, and share when you’re ready.
Create videos
Short-form video is a relative newcomer in the world of online marketing thanks to TikTok and now Facebook Reels. But, these 15 to 60-second blasts can do wonders for you as a creator. Don’t be shy about getting yourself on film, even if it means creating a hyper-lapse video of your latest project.
Get organized
While people won’t see what’s going on behind the scenes with your business, you can bet your buttons they will see the after-effects of not being organized. According to the productivity Center at Calendar, being organized helps you present your business in its best light, ensures a smooth operation, and leads to better customer service and productivity.
Find your niche
A niche is simply a specialization. But, more than just being an expert in an area, your artistic and creative niche helps you stand out. To choose your specific niche, start by looking at what makes you happy and where you are most passionate.
Establish your social media following
Social media matters more than you might think. Even if you’ve tried to hold off on going “mainstream,” having a solid social media presence is one of the best ways to get attention. While Facebook continues to be the number one platform, artists should also look for those that showcase visuals. The Artwork Archive says all artists should have an Instagram account, but you should also pay closer attention to more specialized platforms, such as DeviantArt.
Pay for ads
There is no shame in paying for advertisements. Although you want to be discovered organically, keep in mind that all of the social media ads, commercials, and billboards you see were paid for by a business. Paid advertising (when done online, it’s known as PPC) is great for starter businesses, and it can help you capture your audience and expand your reach.
Even if you have a niche that no one else is in, it’s not always easy to get your work noticed. But, the tips above, from utilizing paid advertising to networking and sharing your resume can help you stand up and stand out. Once you build your following, stay engaged by using your social media. No matter how big you grow, remember to never lose sight of the reason you create in the first place; otherwise, you may lose your edge.
Image from Pexels
If you want to keep up with everything that Laura is doing, you don’t have to travel to England. Bookmark the blog for updates.
Final words…
Thanks to Linda Chase, who can be found at lindac@ablehire.org for today’s guest post which is full of great tips for small business owners looking to get themselves noticed. The tip about using video particularly interested me as it’s something I’ve not tried before but I’m always impressed those I see on Instagram and it’s definitely something I would like to give a go in the future.
This week, in my series of posts on The Wheel of Wellness, I’ll be focusing on the financial segment. This aspect is all about living within your means and learning to manage your finances both in the short term and long term. I’ll be considering the impact that some mental health conditions may have on your money and will also be sharing some tips for managing your finances effectively, particularly if some of your issues are related to your mood.
What is finance?
Finance is concerned with the management of money and, on a personal level, includes activities such as spending, saving, investing, borrowing and budgeting. It’s about meeting your short and long term financial needs and living within your means, in other words, spending no more money than you have. To help you manage your finances, it’s important to become ‘financially literate’ which basically means having a good relationship with money and become well educated on the various aspects of finance.
Mood disorders and your finances
Most people dislike talking about money but it’s important that you develop your understanding of the different aspects of finance so you can keep yourself financially well. If, like me, you live with depression and/or bipolar disorder you will understand that managing your finances can be a source of distress, particularly during periods of mental illness. Although we all have different experiences, when depressed, you may find yourself struggling to make money decisions or deal with aspects of your finances. You might also try to make yourself feel better by spending money buying nice things. You could find yourself unable to work or have to take time off when you’re unwell and this can also make things hard. During times of mania or hypomania (very elevated or elevated mood) you may find yourself having frenzied spending sprees or making expensive purchases which you / your family can’t afford.
For example, during periods of hypomania, I tend to buy lots of things to fix problems e.g. neat or cute matching storage containers to create order and look good at the same time, the latest kitchen gadgets which I’ve spotted online, new blankets/cushions for our sofa to replace ones which are slightly past their best but we can manage with just fine etc. Also, everything in the shops seems to develop a rosy glow and is heightened in attractiveness and I have to stop myself buying it all. When I watch craft videos on YouTube, I need to have those exact pens in those colours shown, particular stickers or ephemera because it all looks so pretty or a certain gadget / crafty resource so that I can make similar things to those demonstrated. Then, when I get depressed, I get upset because my craft room is bursting at the seams with all of the things I’ve bought and I have no motivation to make anything or use any of my supplies.
Money management tips
If you think you would benefit from increasing your financial wellbeing, you might like to consider the tips I’ve put together below. Some are general tips related to learning more about your personal finances and budgeting, whilst others are specifically targeted at those of you who find that your mental health has a direct influence on your money management.
Know what your current financial status is
Spend some time getting to know your current money situation. Make a note of what is in your savings account, your current account and your ISA if you have one. Also, become familiar with your debts e.g. how much is left to pay on your mortgage?, what do you owe on any loans you may have? do you owe any friends or family some money? etc. Learn how much income you / your household have coming in each month and so on. You could create a spread in your bullet journal such as me and my money or create an e-record on your mobile phone.
Examine your cash flow
When you know how much you earn each month or how much you receive in benefits, find out how much you typically spend and on what. Try creating a tracker for income and expenditure for a month to get a better idea of your incomings and outgoings. You could also consider looking at your spending habits at different times e.g. when depressed, manic or hypomanic or when your mood is stable (neither high nor low).
You could do a paper version of this in your bullet journal or a notebook as shown below or you can use a free app which calculates your spending and deducts the money you from your monthly income. I found a couple of Android apps which were really easy to use by doing a quick search on Google Play.
Source: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative blog
If recording your expenses seems a little overwhelming right now, you could start by look at your monthly bank statements to see where your money is going each month. Although it won’t identify exactly what you purchased, it will tell you the name of the shop or business for each transaction.
Create a monthly budget
This is definitely something to do when you’re feeling well as it can be quite time consuming and requires good concentration and forethought. Once you’ve examined your cash flow situation you’ll know what your income is like and the kinds of things you purchase each month or each quarter. You’ll also know if you’re spending more or less than you have coming in and how much you are able to save (or not).
A monthly budget is a plan for how you will spend your money each month. It’s a popular way to manage your finances as lots of recurring expenses such as mortgage, rent, mobile phone etc. occur on a monthly basis. If you know what your income is each month, you can make sure you spend less than you have coming in. That way you can try to save a small amount of money with a view to creating an emergency fund for any unplanned spends.
There’s lots of information and advice online from money experts about how to create and stick to a budget but the key steps are outlined below:
Calculate your monthly income – only consider consistent sources, not one off things like selling unwanted stuff on Ebay or money you get for your birthday
Track your spending (see above)
Consider your financial goals – this could be something like saving up for a deposit on a house, your wedding or a new car but could also be something small like reining in the amount you spend on clothes each month so you can put money aside for a holiday.
Create your budget – make a list of all of the things you spend money on each month and allocate an amount to each category. This could include spending more or less on your favourite hobbies, cutting down on eating out and takeaways etc. A popular rule for creating a budget is the 50/30/20 rule where you allocate 50% of your income to needs, 30% towards wants and 20% towards savings.
Continue tracking your expenses and refine your budget as and when necessary – do your spending habits align with your budget? have your financial goals changed? etc.
Identify your triggers
If your spending varies depending on how you feel, you might want to track your spending and your mood at the same time. Then, you can identify your triggers. For example, you may self soothe by shopping for little (or larger) treats in attempt to make yourself feel better when you’re depressed. You might overspend when you’re feeling high because each purchase comes with a little thrill or you have boundless energy for a frenzied shopping spree. Once you know your triggers, you can create a plan for managing them or seek advice and support from a professional.
Take steps to manage your spending
If you know your spending tends to get a little out of control during periods of mental illness, try to create a plan when you’re feeling well and maybe share it with close family and friends. This could include:
leaving your debit / credit card at home and drawing out a limited amount of cash for your shopping
shop with a friend or family member who can rein in your spending. You may argue against their recommendations, but ask them to persevere!
get rid of your credit card altogether so you can’t spend money you haven’t got
ask you ‘shopping partner’ to encourage you to think it over before making a decision to purchase. Is the urge to buy still there is a few days time or after you’ve slept on it? Most overspending is caused by impulse purchasing which you are likely to regret later!
if you think you might be about to have an online shopping spree, try to distract yourself with something else which makes you feel good such as reading a book, doing some work in the garden or tending to your houseplants, having a relaxing bath or doing some yoga
Set up direct debits
During periods of difficulty you may have little energy or motivation to pay bills or manage your finances. Setting up direct debits (instructions for your bank to authorise payment when they’re due) for your monthly and quarterly bills such as your broadband, mobile phone, energy, council tax etc. makes things easier and safer and ensures you don’t forget to pay and become in arrears.
Seek medical help
If you feel your money issues are related to your mental health e.g. spending to cheer yourself up when depressed or going on manic spending sprees when you feel high, try talking to your GP, CPN or psychiatrist. Your GP should be able to refer you to the mental health team or your psychiatrist may tweak your medication or advise you upon therapy which may help to manage your symptoms.
Get free professional advice
If you live in the UK and are currently in debt you can get free advice from a number of places such as Step Change, Turn2Us, National Debtline and most people’s favourite money saving expert Martin Lewis. You can also seek our information of different benefits which may be available to you. Bipolar UK is a good source of advice and their website also has a selection of stories about money issues and a section dedicated to finances in their forum.
Ask for help from a loved one
Depending on the severity of your issues, you may just need to ask for help from your partner or a trusted friend. You can ask them to monitor your spending and intervene when necessary e.g. helping you to organise pay your bills when you’re depressed or look after your credit and debit cards during periods of mania or hypomania. You can also ask them to look out for changes in your behaviour related to spending during periods of mental illness.
Check out supportive webpages and sites
There’s a wealth of information available online relating to finances and there’s some particularly useful bits and pieces about money and mental health. Here’s some I found following a quick search:
If you have money worries right now you may struggle to control your emotions and have feelings of guilt, shame, stress, embarrassment and exhaustion. This can lead to low mood and worsening of your mental health. You may be tempted to bury your head in the sand and hope that things will get better at some point but, although it might be really difficult and overwhelming, you should try to take control and find a way forward (easier said than done I know). Many people are currently struggling with managing their finances but there’s lots of help out there in the community and online so you’re definitely not alone. Also, remember the saying a problem shared is a problem halved. If you thought a good friend was having money issues you would want him or her to reach out and not feel ashamed of their situation so try to be self compassionate and seek some help and support.
Final words…
Ultimately, managing your personal finances depends on all kinds of factors including your income streams and how steady they are, your employment status e.g. student, self employed, unemployed etc, your current non-negotiable monthly outgoings such as your mortgage or rent payments, your savings and how much you wish to increase them by if at all, any benefits you are entitled to, your dependents and your financial goals. However, if you dedicate some time to assessing your cash flow by examining your income and expenditure then you will become better educated with regard to your current situation and this will help you to manage your budget. By learning about the link between mental health and money you can identify your own issues and seek help with them, either from resources online, friends and family or professionals.
I hope you’ve found the information contained within today’s post helpful and it has encouraged you to think about getting on top of your finances if you feel it’s an area of your wellbeing that you might like to work on.
Keeping it creative 