personal development – Page 2 – Keeping it creative

Over the past week, the weather in Sunderland has cooled down and it’s been quite breezy with a few warmish rain showers. It feels like the end of summer is fast approaching and that we’re quickly heading into the autumn time. My husband reckons there are still some bright and sunny days to come and I shouldn’t pack away my shorts, vest tops and cropped trousers just yet but, although I love a nice bit of sunshine, I certainly won’t miss applying greasy sunscreen to my exposed skin before spending time outdoors and feeling hot and sweaty in bed at night despite only having a thin cotton sheet as a covering. In fact, I’m looking forward to autumn this year and will be planning lots of lovely activities for the season. Today, I thought I’d share how I’m getting ready for autumn 2024 with the intention of giving you some simple ways to prepare for what’s to come and hopefully helping you to look forward to the coming months too.

Home decor

A few months ago, I was looking at the autumnal home decor in Next and saw some really cute pieces. I was very tempted to make a purchase of yet another pumpkin but I resisted as I already have over ten in my collection. However, when I got home, I decided to look at everything on their website, as often, many of the products are not available in store. With 205 items including bedding, kitchenware and tableware, vases, fragrances, lighting, pictures and more, I found it difficult to restrict myself to just one item but I was very restrained and, for click and collect, ordered a sweet little three-dimensional autumn picture with battery operated tiny light up sections.

Cute little light up 3D Hello Autumn sign

Other ways I’ll be getting my home ready in terms of decor include:

putting away a couple of my current mugs and replacing them with my oversized autumn leaves design one (from TKMaxx)
adding our autumn wreath to our front door (I got ours from Lights4Fun)
getting out my various pumpkins to display – I have different sizes and different textures including some ceramic ones, some plush ones in velvet (including a fantastic orange doorstop with sequins on along the grooves) and a lovely handmade crocheted one which I got last year
bring my throws and blankets out of storage to place on the arms our settee and the chair in our living room
airing our thicker quilt to put on the bed as the nights get cooler
choosing a few new candles to scent our home to go with the ‘baked apple pie’ one I purchased late last year (unfortunately, Aggie, our hamster doesn’t react well to stronger smells so I’m having to place them well away from her cage in the hallway)
collecting and using pine cones, dried leaves, stems and branches to create natural centrepieces and arrangements
making my own autumn inspired decor using my collection of watercolours (for this, I will experiment with mixing different earthy and autumnal colours in my palette such as browns, yellows, oranges and deep reds)

Planning some fun activities for the season

Over the past year, starting in autumn 2023, I’ve been creating a seasonal bucket list and then working on a journal to record my experiences. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed creating these but making and finishing the journals has been time consuming and involved quite a lot of expense – I must have gotten through over 50 roller tape glues over the course of the year. So, now that project is almost over, I’ve decided to continue making a bucket list for each season but only record a few of our favourite and completely new experiences in journal pages. I’m yet to create my Autumn 2024 bucket list but here’s last years in case you haven’t seen it already.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

Wardrobe changes

Although I have my shorts and crops out at the moment, as the season gets going, I’ll be laundering and putting them all away and getting all of my thin and more cosy knits out. I picked out a few new jumpers and cardigans last year and have already bought a gorgeous pale khaki green batwing jumper with metallic fibres from Love & Roses at Next so I’m pretty much set for the season already!

We’ll also be washing and vacuum packing our thinner summer weight duvet in favour of a higher tog but we won’t put the thickest one on until the really cold nights! And finally, my sandals will be heading into the loft and my walking shoes and ankle boots will be taking their place. I keep my trainers out for my gym sessions but rarely wear them out and about unless I know I’m only going to be walking on solid, open paths where they won’t get soggy or muddy.

Recipes and drinks

As I write this section, I’m enjoying an icy cold J2O Summer Shine to help me hydrate after an intense Clubbercise class. However, in the autumn time, I will crave warming coffees, creamy hot chocolates and tasty mochas. I’m also hoping that I will still be enjoying my new, very low calorie option, mint tea, which I believe only has about 2 calories per cup. I’ve long wished to develop a liking for herbal teas (to ensure I don’t drink too much coffee in the colder months) but it has taken me a long time to find something I can tolerate let alone grow to love!

As well as transitioning mainly to hot drinks, my husband and I will also be swapping light salads for heavier and warming soups, stews, pasta and risottos. Before the autumn season arrives, I like to pick out some online recipes to try using my favourite ingredients. I also like to fill our store cupboard with wholegrain rice and pasta, packets of other healthy grains such as quinoa, freekeh, bulgur wheat and oats, plus tins of pulses such as chickpeas, kidney beans, butterbeans, black beans and lentils. We also tend not to have ice cream when the temperatures drop, opting for warming desserts with lashings of custard such as treacle tart or syrup sponge. I’m also planning on having a go at making a pineapple upside down cake (complete with cherries in each pineapple ring) this year as I remember enjoying the ones my mum used to make when I was a kid. I just need to add it to my bucket list so I don’t forget!

Pumpkin everything?

Personally, I love cooking with the various squashes that are around at this time of year and love trying different varieties (interesting known as winter squashes not autumn!). However, I’m not a fan of the popular PSL (AKA pumpkin spiced latte) or other sweet pumpkin flavoured treats that become available. Also, I don’t want any of the sickly sweet pumpkin scented candles that can be found in abundance at TKMaxx already. I don’t mind the spice element, but I’d rather go for a nice warming cinnamon. What about you? Do you fully embrace pumpkin in sweet stuff or are you glad when they run out of pumpkin spiced stuff at your local Starbucks? Luckily, cinnamon flavoured items can be purchased alongside the popular gingerbread bits and pieces which come out closer to Christmas time so their warmth can be enjoyed in winter too.

Digital screens

Each season, I change the wallpaper on my laptop and my mobile phone. Last year, I remember having a photograph of a squirrel collecting nuts, surrounded by autumn leaves which I’m sure was digitally created but used to make me smile each time I logged into my computer. I’ve seen lots of background images on Canva Pro which I must choose from before my free trial ends. For the phone wallpaper, I usually just Google ‘autumn aesthetic phone screens for android’.

Enjoying the outdoors

As the weather becomes slightly chillier, there’s no need to stay inside with the heating on and complain about how cold it’s becoming. Going for walks in the autumn is, in my opinion, an absolute must, especially when the leaves begin to change to beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow and brown and then start to lace the ground. As long as you remember to layer up so you stay warm and cosy whilst enjoying the stunning scenes, there’s so much that nature has to offer. And if you struggle with cold and pain in your hands when the temperature steadily drops, my husband can recommend the rechargeable hand warmers that you can pick up on Amazon for a small (and very worth it) charge.

As you enjoy the outdoors, why not collect some nature elements to display at home or make art with such as pine cones, jewel-coloured leaves, branches and stems. Google autumn nature crafts and don’t be put off from doing something arty just because it says it for kids!

Final words…

The more preparation you put in prior to the autumn commencing, the more joy you’ll feel and the more exciting opportunities you’ll create. Each season has so much to offer us and rather than engaging in that popular British pastime of complaining about the weather, why not spend your time fully embracing autumn doing activities that you love or have always wanted to try?

Wishing you an amazing autumn,

I left formal education a long time ago now, but I still enjoy learning new things and thrive on deepening my knowledge of subjects which interest me. In today’s post, I plan to discuss some of the many reasons why being a lifelong learner is good for you. Then, in a second blog post, I’ll consider different ways in which you can become a lifelong learner or continue your learning journey long after you finish your formal schooling.

What is a lifelong learner?

A lifelong learner is an individual who continues to seek out opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills beyond their formal education and throughout life. The learning may be formal such as taking a CPD (Continued Professional Development) course for work, attending an accredited night class which follows a set curriculum e.g. photography for beginners, or working towards a further or higher education qualification in person or via an online platform. On the other hand, it could involve informal learning such as reading a book on a topic you are interested in, watching online videos to improve your DIY skills or chatting with people in a Facebook group focused on a particular hobby or interest e.g. bullet journalling or Syrian hamsters.

The character traits of a person who is a lifelong learner include:

showing a curious mind
having a thirst for knowledge
always seeking new opportunities to grow
being an avid reader
a tendency to be open-minded about things
having the motivation for self study and continued personal development
believing it’s never too late to learn something new (you can teach an old dog new tricks!)
being a goal setter / goal getter
saying yes to new opportunities and things which push them out of their comfort zone
recognising that change is an inevitable part of life and often leads to opportunities for personal and professional growth
developing daily habits that encourage them to learn such as setting goals each month and writing a plan of action, dedicating twenty minutes each morning to reading a book on a particular topic of interest or scheduling half an hour each evening to learn macrame.

What are some of the benefits of being a lifelong learner?

Being a lifelong learner can bring so many benefits to both your personal and professional life. In fact, research shows that overall, individuals who continually seek out new learning opportunities lead a happier and more fulfilled life so after you’ve read today’s blog post, make sure you look out for part 2 which considers different ways in which you can improve and expand your knowledge and skills.

Seven main advantages of being a lifelong learner:

Sharpens your mind – learning new things stimulates the brain and enhances our cognitive abilities. The benefits of this include improved memory retention, enhanced problem solving skills, longer attention span, better reasoning skills and more effective communication skills. Continued learning also reduces the risk of cognitive decline and age related cognitive disorders such as dementia.

Gives you better job prospects or career opportunities – keeping up-to-date in matters relating to your field and developing useful employment skills (such as communication, teamwork, time management, active listening etc) can increase employability, work efficiency and likelihood of promotion. Also, knowing your stuff can make you feel much more confident in job interviews or one-to-one meetings with your boss.

Can help you stay connected – lifelong learning offers many opportunities to connect with others. For example, you might join an art or craft class where you get to meet and chat to other creatives, become a member of an online community which enables sharing of ideas, experiences and knowledge on a particular topic, or attend a CPD event with others who work in the same professional field. Engaging in social learning can also be a wonderful way to get out there and find your tribe, in other words, people who share commonalities or possess traits you aspire to adopt.

Boosts your confidence and self-esteem – Learning a new skill, refining your existing ones or developing your knowledge in a particular subject area is guaranteed to make you feel good. In fact, research from The New Economic Foundation (NEF) concluded that there are five ways to wellbeing and that one of these, which can give you a sense of achievement and new confidence, is to keep learning.

Better management of physical and mental health conditions – If you visit a health professional and receive a diagnosis of a particular health condition, finding out more about it can really help to improve your understanding and self management. Keeping up-to-date with the latest research, for example, through reading health and wellbeing articles in magazines can also prove to be particularly useful too.

Helps you to keep up with a constantly changing world – Our world is constantly evolving and changing and sometimes it can be difficult to keep up. Being a lifelong learner is essential for keeping yourself informed and making sure you have a relevant skills for both your personal and professional life.

You can share your knowledge and skills with others – Sharing your expertise with others can be incredibly rewarding and also helps you to consolidate your learning. There are so many ways to do this in either a professional or personal capacity including teaching, mentoring, coaching, workshops and training sessions, starting or joining an online or in person group, creating a blog, vlog or podcast, volunteering, writing a book, talking to friends or family about your interests and answering any questions your children ask (or using your research skills to help them find out if you don’t know!). Also, don’t underestimate the power of children seeing you learning and reaping the benefits of your new knowledge and developing skills.

Final words…

The most common reason why people read or follow blogs is to learn something new, so the likelihood is, if you are reading this, you are already a lifelong learner. However, I think it’s important to think about the benefits of continued learning and explore the different options for furthering our knowledge and skills so we make time in our busy days for such activities.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s post and don’t forget to look out for Part 2 where I consider different ways of being a lifelong learner.

Category: personal development

Monday Matters: How I’m preparing for the Autumn season this year (2024 edition)

Monday Matters: 7 key benefits of being a lifelong learner (Part 1 of 2)