lifestyle – Page 7 – Keeping it creative

health, lifestyle, psychology, self care, wellbeing, wellness

Monday Matters: 9 signs you’re approaching burnout (and how to avoid it)

Posted on Nov 13, 2023Nov 12, 2023 by Laura

When I was teaching, I would regularly feel completely wiped out physically and mentally, and, for the first days of any holiday, whether it was half term, Easter, Christmas or the summer break, I would end up either ill or sleeping most of the time as my body and my mind couldn’t take any more.

The other week, I was listening to a group of pharmacy students at the University as they discussed their workloads and lifestyle choices because of how much they had to do. It reminded me of that feeling of never having enough time and the pressure and stress that came with it. So, today, I thought I’d talk about the signs which suggest you may be heading towards burnout (or are already there), and, perhaps more importantly, what you can do about it before you reach that stage.

What is burnout?

Burnout can be defined as a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion which can result from long-term or repeated bouts of stress. This could include, but is not limited to, working in a stressful or high pressured job, doing an intense amount of studying (e.g. for a degree course or post graduate qualification, or having a particularly demanding life circumstance such as being a single parent, caring for a loved one (such as a young person with special needs or an aging relative), having financial difficulties or worries related to job security, being involved in a house move, divorce or separation or trying to juggle too many responsibilities at once.

What are the main signs of burnout?

The signs of burnout differ depending on the individual but common signs to look out for include:

fatigue – constantly feeling tired, drained or exhausted
sleep issues e.g. insomnia, panicked night time waking, regularly getting less than 6 hours a night etc
frequent feelings of cynicism, anger, irritability and a pessimistic life outlook in general
poor immunity – resulting in regularly feeling under the weather or having frequent coughs, colds, sore throats etc
gastro-intestinal issues such as IBS, stomach upsets, sickness and diarrhea or unexplained abdominal pains
recurring headaches
poor concentration levels which may result in reduced efficacy or success at work, making careless mistakes, being easily distracted, struggling to maintain attention, trouble thinking clearly or making decisions, forgetfulness and poor working memory.
depressed mood which may cause tearfulness, sadness, feelings of emptiness, loss of interest or pleasure in things you once enjoyed, feeling worthless, suicidal ideation, a sense of isolation and inability to relate to others
feelings of anxiety such as restlessness, agitation, irritability, having a sense of dread or fearing the worst

How can I prevent burnout?

Educate yourself Learn about your current stresses and your coping strategies using ‘the stress bucket model’ that I discovered on Mental Health UK. You can download your own to fill in here. Make a list of helpful activities (known as taps in the example) and plan to do some of them each day to help you destress and unwind.

Prioritise self care You might not be able to remove the sources of stress you are dealing with right now, but you can make sure that self care becomes a non-negotiable part of each day. Try writing two lists – everyday (basic) self care that keeps you functioning each day e.g. keeping yourself hydrated, eating regular and nutritious meals, getting some exercise and taking regular work breaks, and ‘me time’ self care activities you find calming or relaxing e.g. having a walk in nature, quiet reading, taking a bubble bath, having some time away from your phone and social media, listening to music with your eyes closed, doing a mini meditation etc.

Learn to say no If you feel like you’re taking on too much to cope with, could it be that you are agreeing to requests or feeling obligated to doing things that are further adding to your stress? Although easier said than done, learning to say no can really help you to prioritise what matters to you or what you consider is absolutely essential for your health and wellbeing.

Accept that perfection is unachievable Perfectionism and the impossibly high standards that go with this trait can become overwhelming and will almost certainly lead to burnout. To manage this, take time to think about your current situation realistically and try to think positively about how well you are doing under the circumstances. Mantras such as ‘I can only do my best’, ‘done is better than perfect’, ‘nobody is perfect’ and ‘I don’t have to do things perfectly’ can help if said regularly.

Show some self-compassion If a friend was having to juggle all the commitments and responsibilities you’re currently facing, what would you say to make them feel better? A helpful exercise I learned in one my compassion group sessions is to write a letter offering sympathy, advice and support and post it to yourself or read it regularly. It might feel a little strange writing at first but it can really help.

Take a break from your devices After a particular busy or stressful day, you might be inclined to sit (or lie) on the sofa and mindlessly scroll through your phone or tablet. This might seem like a good way to relax at the time, but studies show that being addicted to our digital devices has a seriously negative impact on our mental and physical health, not to mention our productivity levels. Rather than constantly reaching for your phone, why not try a screen free hobby, for example, doing a mindful craft such as painting, drawing, sewing or knitting, doing puzzles such as jigsaws, crosswords, wordsearches or Sudoku which stretch your brain and help you relax at the same time or losing yourself in a good book or your favourite magazine.

Get organised Use your planner or calendar to map out your day and manage your schedule. Being organised can help you feel more in control and can also be a useful tool for identifying and planning for your priorities.

Practise mindfulness and meditation Mindfulness is a technique that involves paying attention to the current moment with non-judgmental awareness of our thoughts and feelings. Click here to read about five simple ways of incorporating mindfulness into you daily routine. Meditation, which is a key aspect of mindfulness practice, has been shown to combat potential burnout by lowering stress and anxiety levels, helping us to build resilience and coping skills, improving self- awareness and self-esteem, cultivating positive thoughts and emotions and boosting our ability to focus and concentrate on tasks. For ideas on how to get started, you might like to read this blog post which has beginner friendly suggestions and tips.

Reach out to others Sometimes, when struggling to cope with everything life is throwing at us, we start to believe we’re the only one who’s finding things difficult. Our thoughts and feelings can then lead us to withdraw from loved ones or isolate ourselves from others. However, this is the time when seeking out your support network can be most useful. Positive social interaction such as meeting a friend for coffee, taking a full lunch break with work colleagues or fellow students, or doing something fun with family members can help in a range of different ways such as providing a listening ear, support, sympathy and useful advice, taking your mind off your sources of stress or giving you the chance to do something enjoyable or relaxing.

Take steps to manage your sleep routine High stress levels can have a profoundly negative effect on your sleep. It’s really important to take steps to develop a relaxing evening routine which sets you up for a good night’s sleep. This wonderful article discusses the relationship between sleep and burnout and includes lots of useful tips for your day, evening and bedtime routine.

Final words…

For many of us, avoiding burnout isn’t easy and there are commitments in our busy lives which we can’t avoid or say no to. However, actively taking steps to combat the daily stresses in our lives by using some or all of the coping strategies above can really help. I think filling in the stress bucket would be a good first step in boosting self- awareness prior to making small lifestyle changes with a view to preventing burnout and generally improving health and wellbeing in the future. Let me know in the comments if you try out some of the ideas above and you find them beneficial.

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 Oct 20, 2023Oct 23, 2023 by Laura

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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,

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 Oct 2, 2023Oct 1, 2023 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):

Forgive yourself often – for making mistakes, not being perfect, not being super productive etc. Whatever you beat yourself up about, STOP!
Keep yourself hydrated – this simple act of self-care is important and will help you feel your best throughout the day
Listen to your body – if it needs rest, a day off, a holiday, a break from chores, a lie in etc. provide exactly that.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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

Setting up my Bullet Journal for October 2023: Autumn theme

Posted on Sep 28, 2023 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.

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.

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.

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!

lifestyle, mental health, self care, wellbeing

Monday Matters: 23 screen free ways to relax and recharge

Posted on Sep 18, 2023Sep 24, 2023 by Laura

This week, I’m sharing 23 ways to relax and recharge, which don’t involve scrolling on your phone, looking at things on your laptop, or staring at your TV screen. Why not make a list of your favourites in your bullet journal or notebook and choose one next time you need a break from modern day technology? (that’s every day for most of us!)

23 screen free activities to help you relax and recharge

Try ‘Progressive muscle relaxation‘ This technique involves tensing and then relaxing your muscles one by one and is a great way to release tension. Check out this link for a straightforward explanation of how to do it.
Curl up with a good book or magazine and a beverage of your choice Depending on the time of year and the weather, you might read outdoors in your garden or local park, in your favourite chair with an ice cold glass of water or under a blanket with a hot chocolate.
Spend time in nature This is one of my favourite ways to relax at any time of year but the autumn months are particularly beautiful to be outdoors in a park, woodland or forest setting. Put your phone in your bag or coat pocket in case of emergencies and use your senses to explore your environment. As long as you’re suitably dressed for the weather, I can almost guarantee you’ll fall in love with the peace and quiet and feel restored afterwards.
Connect with family or friends Choose to connect with people who make you feel good and whose company you enjoy. Activities could include meeting for coffee and cake, taking a walk in a scenic location, having lunch or an evening meal together in a restaurant or cafe or inviting people round for an informal dinner party (or takeaway if the thought of playing host for dinner fills you with dread!).
Arrange a games evening Playing games can be great fun and are often so absorbing that you’ll completely forget about your to do lists and responsibilities for a while. My husband and I love Scrabble, Yahtzee, Rummikub and card games such as Gin rummy or Cribbage.
Pamper yourself Depending on your preferences, this could involve a long soak in the bath, an invigorating shower and an all over body scrub, a face mask, a foot massage, manicure or pedicure or even a much needed lie in. See it as essential me time rather than self indulgence.
Look through a photograph album My husband and I did this on our wedding anniversary last month and it brough back some really happy memories of our special day. It’s also nice to look at holiday photos through the years or albums showing your children growing up.
Do some gardening Get some fresh air whilst giving your flower beds and pots some much needed attention. Even 20 minutes can make a real difference and leave you with an outdoor space to be proud of.
Sharpen your mind with a puzzle Why not unwind with a word or number puzzle, a jigsaw or a brain teaser. I love wordsearches, Sudoku, 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles and letter arrangement games.
Spend time with a pet Playing with or observing your furry four-legged friend is great for increasing your levels of seratonin and dopamine to calm and relax you. I love having snuggles with my hamster Millie, seeing her play in her digging tower or watching her collect treats which we hide around her cage.
Make a foodie treat We often make dishes from scratch but these are generally main meals and often involve time and energy. Making something indulgent for dessert or as an afternoon snack with a cuppa is often easier and much quicker. One of my favourites is malteser tiffin and the hardest bit is leaving it in the fridge long enough to set properly!
Enjoy a meal out with your partner, friends or family Letting someone else do the cooking for a change is a great way to rest and recharge. My husband and I love going for a vegetarian banquet at our favourite Asian fusion restaurant we try to make sure we focus on the food and the company by keeping our phones off the table.
Make time for your hobbies Most of us have at least one hobby that we absolutely love but how regularly do you make time for yours? Doing something creative after a busy day is a wonderful way to unwind and leave you feeling relaxed and ready for bed.
Focus on your breathing Have a look at this simple breathing technique (you don’t need to be feeling stressed to find it beneficial). When I first starting doing focused breathing and mini meditations, I found it really difficult to switch off, but now, after regular practise, it’s so much easier so don’t give up if your mind keeps bobbing about all over!
Listen to music I love to just sit with my eyes closed and listen to my favourite classical pieces or songs. Immersing myself in the music or really tuning in to the lyrics allows my mind to switch off from everything else. The tunes don’t need to be relaxing or soothing ones – anything you enjoy will help you hold your focus.
Do a meditative activity If you find sitting still to meditate difficult, doing a repetitive activity can help you reach a meditative state. Check out this post for 8 ideas to try.
Journal your thoughts and feelings Journalling is a great way to clear your mind by putting things down on paper. You might want to write about how your day has gone, what you’re looking forward to in the future or how you feel you are progressing towards your current goals. If the thought of getting started seems a little taunting, journalling prompts are a great way to get ideas on what to write about.
Switch to audio content Instead of scrolling through content on your phone, tablet or laptop and reading or watching videos, trying listening to audio content. This could be a podcast on a topic which interests you or an audiobook which you can listen to with your eyes closed.
Do something fun which you used to enjoy as a child When I was young, phones and tablets didn’t exist and the only screen time I had each day was watching TV or playing games on our Commodore 64 (hand up if you remember this state of the art machine from the 80s!). Aside from these, we used to make our own entertainment, playing outdoor games, doing creative projects, building things out of Lego, making a den under the dining table or playing with toys such as skipping ropes, space hoppers, dolls and Transformers. Whatever you used to do as a kid, think about how adult you can do the same or similar and make some fun plans for the weekend. You might buy a stunt kite and take it to a local hill on a windy day or buy some bubble mix and have a competition to see how can make the best or biggest bubble.
Sign up for an evening class A few years ago, I did a beginners photography course at my local college (which offered a qualification to go with it) and also a couple of ceramics classes where we made and glazed various clay creations. I thoroughly enjoyed all of these and it was great to meet and get to know like-minded individuals. The ceramics beginner and intermediate sessions were incredibly relaxing and it was so exciting seeing our items when they came out of the kiln. Wherever you live, there’s likely to be a range of creative classes in your local area and if not, you could get together with friends to try something new.
Join a choir Group singing is a wonderful way to de-stress and feel part of the community. There will probably be a range of choirs and musical societies available to join depending on the type of music and songs you prefer. A small cost may be incurred but I know from my own experience it’s a small price to pay for something which is very therapeutic and creates a real high.
Do something arty When we were young kids, most of us enjoyed art activities such as painting, drawing, making collages and constructing from junk materials. That’s because it was mainly about enjoying the creative process and experimenting with different techniques. As we get older, we tend to focus on the finished result and being happy with what we’ve made, rather than having fun as part of the process. So, get out your paints, markers, crayons, pencils and pens and simply explore and experiment.
Be a tourist in your home town or city (or one nearby) You’ve probably already visited a few places and buildings in your local area but do you know their and how your town or city has developed over time? A quick check on Tripadvisor and I’ve discovered a number of ideas for places to go, activities to try and history to read up on where I live in Sunderland.

I hope you’ve found today’s blog post useful and it’s given you plenty of ideas for relaxing activities which offer much needed screen free time. I would love to know which one is your favourite and why. And if you don’t feel like you have a space in your day to fit in any of the above, is it because your diary is genuinely completely full or is it because mindlessly scrolling is taking over your life right now?