Category: wellness

Posted in Analogue activities, intentional living, life hacks, lifestyle, Mindfulness, Setting goals and intentions, wellbeing, wellness

Monday Matters: Stop mindlessly scrolling and choose something that actually supports your wellbeing (40+ ideas)

Posted on by Laura

I think most of us will agree that we spend far too much time on our mobile phones, scrolling social media on apps such as Facebook and Instagram, watching endless YouTube or Tiktok videos and reading emotive ‘news’ content which has drawn us in through the usual click bait titles or pop ups. And, if we took the time to really think about what we want from life, reading random content and wasting hours on our phones does not feature on our mental or physical list of priorities for 2026. 

So, for today’s blog post, I’m sharing lots of ideas for alternative activities that will actually make you feel good and won’t waste precious minutes (or more likely hours) of your day. I’ve tried to include something for everyone and hopefully you’ll be able to pick out a few from each category which sound good and are easily actionable. Without further ado, let’s dive in:

Meditative and mindful activities

I’ve talked about the many benefits of engaging in mindfulness and flow state activities before but importantly they include a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression, plus improved concentration, attention and decision making, all of which support better wellbeing. Here’s some activities to turn to when you find yourself reaching for your phone a little too much.

  • Try a spot of journalling – e.g. stream of consciousness (i.e. whatever comes into your head and out on paper), gratitude, favourite things about the current season, intentions for your morning / evening / weekend, goals for the month
  • Do a short meditation or sit/lie doing nothing for 10 minutes, focusing on just your breath (and don’t worry if you get distracted or your mind bobs about)
  • Engage in mindful movement such as yoga or tai chi. Or, why not dance around your kitchen or the bedroom to an upbeat song or piece of classical music
  • Work on a jigsaw (my favourite are 1000 piece ones because they’re challenging enough to really get you ‘in the zone’)
  • Drawing, painting or colouring – or a combination of all 3
  • Find a cosy corner of your home (or make one using cushions and blankets) or a quite space in your garden and read a few chapters of a book
  • Grab a puzzle book and do a crossword, wordsearch, sudoku or other personal favourite to get your brain really working
  • Buy or borrow a glossy magazine and find a peaceful space to read / flick through
  • Pick a photography genre e.g. landscape, wildlife or nature, pet, street, macro, abstract and explore. You can use your phone for this but make sure you put it on ‘do not disturb’ first as you don’t want to get distracted.
  • Tend to your houseplants – check for signs of destress and evaluate care, wipe dust from leaves, remove decayed parts, check moisture levels of the soil, feed them, decide if any need repotting, rotate to ensure balanced growth, prune if required
  • Watch a cartoon you used to love as a child and really immerse yourself in it (phone in another room) – can you remember what you particularly loved?
  • Make a cup of tea or coffee and really take your time to appreciate it – use your senses to explore the sound of the kettle being boiled and the water filling the container, aroma, colour, warmth of the mug or cup, taste etc. Be grateful by thinking about the processes and effort involved in the production to ensure a quality product.
  • Declutter your handbag – empty it out and then decide what you want to put back in and what is fit for the bin or needs filing.
  • Check in with your vision board for the year or goals for the month or quarter. Have you forgotten about some of them? What are your next actions? Have your priorities changed? etc.

Outdoor fun

You can enjoy spending time outdoors at any time of year but as we’re having some lovely weather at the moment, here are some activities to engage in whilst it’s fine:

  • Make a paper aeroplane and see how well it flies in your garden, backyard or local park – there’s various instructions online if you need them (I did this as a Finch App challenge last week and had such a laugh!)
  • Try something else you enjoyed as a child – frisbee, hoola hoop, ball in a bucket, skipping, hopscotch, ring toss etc.
  • Fill a picnic bag with fresh summer fruits (e.g. strawberries, peach, watermelon, mango, raspberries or cherries) and some dainty sandwiches (cut into little triangles) and enjoy an impromptu picnic in your garden or yard or go a bit further a field and pop to a local park. Take a picnic rug or blanket and choose an area in the sunshine or under the shade of a tree depending on your preferences.
  • Take a short drive or walk to an area of your city or town that you’ve never visited before and explore. We did this a few nights ago and walked across a new bridge over the river and found some new bars and eateries, plus gorgeous park which is soon to open.
  • Go to a local nature area and engage in observation and exploration e.g. do bird or wildlife spotting, take a short hike to a water feature such as a pond, stream, river or waterfall, or go armed with a field guide or app (okay you’ll have to look at your phone for this one, but it’ll be more purposeful) and identify insects, trees, wildflowers, grasses, fungi or lichens.
  • Try out a new art or craft in the garden or at a picnic bench somewhere – I bought a cyanotype “sunography” kit from a National Trust shop and had great fun experimenting with it on a sunny afternoon in the garden. I also took my watercolours out and did a mini painting session.
  • Lie on a blanket on the grass during the day and do some cloud gazing or, find a clear night and do some star gazing. You could even print off a constellations map and see what you can spot.
  • Take a brisk, short walk round the block to get some fresh air (whatever the weather)
  • Grab a sketchbook and have a go at drawing something in nature e.g a wildflower, a leaf, a tree, a stream, mountains or hills in the distance etc.
  • Enjoy a short bike ride around your local area.

Sensory / hands on

Sensory activities have a great many benefits including stress and anxiety relief, better connection with emotions and ability to process difficult feelings, improved cognition, memory and attention and opportunities for much needed self care. They can also encourage a sense of curiosity, creativity and playfulness.

(N.B. Many of these ideas are mindful and meditative too)

  • Spend half an hour tending to your garden – weeding, pruning, setting seeds, mowing the lawn etc.
  • Make a refreshing mocktail or smoothie as a fun drink to enjoy supping.
  • Create a vision board using photographs from magazines.
  • Bake a tasty treat in the kitchen.
  • Try out origami or balloon modelling.
  • Buy a small chocolate bar then mindfully and slowly savour every single bite.
  • Do a sensory check in – notice 5 things you see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste.
  • Try out different teas or flavoured coffee syrups.
  • Visit your local library and spend time browsing the books.
  • Buy a packet of air dry clay (or make playdough) and use it to create animals, patterns or simple shapes.
  • Declutter or re-organise a drawer, cupboard or shelf in your home (okay, this might not be fun but you’ll feel so good afterwards).
  • Have an at home spa evening with soothing essential oils, scented candles, face or body masks, luxurious hand and foot creams or maybe a manicure or pedicure.
  • Grab a mirror, paper and pencils and doodle a quick self portrait (and if you draw faces and people like I do – laugh or smile at the results!)
  • Go to a local park or cafe and do some people watching.
  • Spend quality time with your pet – obviously what this looks like depends on the animal but it could include grooming, playing a game, giving treats, enjoying snuggles etc.
  • Fix something that is in need of repair – sew on a button, replace sealant, tighten up a handle somewhere, unclog a plug hole, touch up paint, fill in a hole in a wall etc.
  • Try out calligraphy or hand lettering -there’s lots of practice sheets available for free online.

Final words…

A lovely idea which I saw on YouTube a few weeks ago (yes, I was randomly watching videos that popped up at the time, you caught me!), was to create a hobby basket full of items to reach for when you’re in need of some me time. However, I think this could be adapted to an anti-scroll basket full of resources for some of the above ideas. You could add things like a small colouring book and pencils, a deck of yoga pose cards, a project you’re working on such as knitting, crochet, cross stitch or embroidery, a sketch pad and pencil, a poetry book you can dip into, a print out of some recipes you want to try, or even an anti-scroll menu or list (which could include pictures for inspo too.

Once you start reaching for analogue activities instead of your phone, you’ll begin to realise how long you actually wasted on scrolling and discover that you have plenty of time to try out new activities or engage in those which already bring you so much joy but that you never seem to fit into your busy schedule.

Posted in goal setting, intentional living, lifestyle, Mindfulness, nature, wellbeing, wellness

Easy and fun ways to make the most of your summer

Posted on by Laura

For the last week or so, it’s felt like summer has finally arrived in the North East of England with better weather, more sunshine, warm breezes and the chance to wear some of my new seasonal outfits whilst sitting out in the garden. Although I struggle when (if!) it gets really hot due to my very fair skin burning super easily, I love it when it gets up to around 22 degrees C (around 72 degrees Fahrenheit) especially on days when I can just sit and relax outdoors.

Every season, I create a personal bucket list full of activities, including things I always enjoy at that time of year, and new things I’d like to try (harnessing the power of firsts as advised by Meik Wiking in his book The Art of Making Memories). This year, I’m also taking part in the monthly bingo challenges being run by Kelseyleigh over at My Abiding Journal, which is currently providing even more ideas for making the most of my summer.

So, today, I thought I’d share this year’s summer bucket list and also some further suggestions to help you make the most of the summer months whether you want adventures, experiences, opportunities to relax and recharge or a combination of all three. I hope my post gives you some new ideas or provides helpful reminders about maximising your days throughout the season. I would love to hear about your plans for the summer in the comments and if you’re excited about trying something new in 2026 feel free to share so others can take inspiration from you.

Summer 2026 Bucket List

I like to start planning my summer towards the end of spring by creating a bucket list in my bullet journal. For me, the season begins on June 1st so you’ll see I have a few items ticked off already. The cupcakes I made were vegan strawberry ones and although I think I would slightly modify the recipe if I made them again, I had such fun with my afternoon of baking and the cupcakes tasted great too.

It’s not too late to create your own summer bucket list for 2026 and you don’t have to make it super decorative like I have. Just a plain piece of paper or a page in a journal will do. You don’t have to get everything on your list ticked off but it helps to have something to work towards and provide inspiration.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping it Creative

I’ve just signed my husband and I up for strawberry picking on Sunday and I’m excited to try this for the first time at a farm in Northumberland where we enjoyed visiting a pumpkin patch a few years ago. I’m going to take my DSLR camera with me to record our time there.

Bingo boards

There are loads of seasonal bingo boards available online which you could use, or you could have a go at making your own. I found this lovely example, which is good for spotting various signs of the season, and most of the items can be observed in the UK. It was created by Haley Post at MyMoonstoneKitchen, whose content I really enjoy on YouTube. Her printable can be found on Patreon as a free download if you sign up as a (free) member.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

The monthly bingo boards I’m having fun with are available if you become a paid member of My Abiding Journal on Patreon and you can see glimpses of them on Kelseyleigh’s Monthly Journalling livestreams too. I stick mine in my monthly highlights journal and add photos or a description to say how I’ve completed the items I have checked off. Although some of the activities are perhaps more aimed at people in the USA with the creator being based there, it still offers plenty of food for thought and you can always tweak a few of the ideas if they don’t suit.

Photo credit: Laura Jones for Keeping It Creative

A Summer Reading Challenge

This summer, I thought it would be fun to set myself a little reading challenge to help me try to diversify my reading and choose some books that I wouldn’t ordinarily pick. I generally go for psychological thrillers and police procedural crime novels, but I wanted to push myself to opt for something different during the summer months. So, having explored various 2026 summer reading bingo boards and reading challenges I found online for ideas, these are my chosen categories:

  • A book originally published in another country
  • A historical fiction book to be listened to on Audible
  • A children’s classic that I’ve never read before
  • A modern classic
  • A book published this year by an author whose work I’ve never read before
  • A memoir
  • A collection of poetry

I decided on 7 books for the challenge and I’m already on my second book which is Land by Maggie O’Farrell. Set in Ireland, it’s a historical novel which spans the years directly before and after the great hunger. I’m enjoying it so far and I’m glad I chose it as my audio book as the narrator is Irish actor Dane Whyte O’Hara which adds to the atmospheric and lyrical prose and enhances the reading experience wonderfully.

The first book was the children’s classic The Velveteen Rabbit and I found it available for free as an audio edition read by Richard Armitage. It was such a sweet little story and I listened to it to wind down after a busy day.

Seasonal eating

One of my favourite foods is in season in the UK in the summertime, and that’s strawberries which I like to enjoy in salads, with ice cream or yogurt, and, more recently in cupcakes! This year we’ve bought our own little plant, but, as it’s an alpine variety, we’ll only get mini fruits from it (as long as the flowers get pollinated!). I can see some tiny yellow fruits on the plant but I’m not sure if that guarantees they’ll turn into red strawberries or not. There’s also lots of flowers but I’m yet to spot a bee on any of them!

Other fruits we love to eat in the summer include watermelon, peaches, nectarines, cherries, pineapple, raspberries, plums and juicy tomatoes, most of which are grown in the UK. Eating locally grown produce (or at least from the UK) means that they retain their nutritional content, taste better and are better for the environment (less food miles). This recipe for watermelon, green bean, halloumi and mint salad is a favourite of ours and we even have own homegrown mint leaves to add this year.

In the summer, there are lots of vegetables that thrive here in the sunshine including peas, beans, courgettes, aubergines, peppers, lettuce and potatoes. When it’s a hot day, one of our favourite meals to create is a poke bowl (pronounced poh kay). This often includes layers of lettuce or spinach, cooled roasted veggies such as pepper, aubergine, butternut squash and broccoli, a protein source such as chickpeas and coucous, sweet potato chunks or cooled salad potatoes for the carbs. We then drizzle on salad dressing and enjoy our bowl al fresco at our outdoor table and chairs.

And, of course, as well as eating seasonal produce, you can also make some amazingly tasty fruity drinks too. Our current favourite is a refreshing ‘Cinderella’ mocktail which we found a recipe for last summer. It uses a combination of citrus flavours, sweetened with a small amount of grenadine syrups and, once shaken, is topped up with the spice of fizzy ginger ale. Here’s the ingredients to make two glasses full:

  • 150ml orange juice
  • 150ml pineapple juice
  • 60ml lemon juice
  • 3 teaspoons grenadine
  • 1/2 litre ginger ale (or soda water if you prefer)

Add the orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice and grenadine to a cocktail shaker (or give it a good stir in a glass) and shake until combined. Divide into two tall glasses and add some ice. Top up with ginger ale. Enjoy!

Embracing the outdoors

Summer is the perfect time to connect with nature and enjoy spending lots of time outdoors. Being in natural environments improves our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing and is known to reduce stress and enhance our mood. I’ve been trying to spend as much time as I can in the garden this year and my husband and I have treated ourselves to a mini tabletop firepit which is perfect for sitting out in the late evening.

  • Have fun playing an outdoor game – my husband and I purchased a bright orange frisbee last year and we took it to a large outdoor space at a National Trust place we go to regularly. We both had smiles on our faces for the entire time, even though the wind kept lifting it and sending it off in the wrong direction! And it was fantastic exercise too. Other lovely outdoor games include bowls, badminton, quoits, croquet, throw and catch or even trying to get a ball or beanbag in an empty bucket.
  • Tend to your garden – summer is not the time for digging, moving plants or completely overhauling the garden but a few gentle maintenance activities such as hoeing a few weeds, deadheading spent flowers, checking on the progress of home growing fruit or vegetables helps to keep things progressing and looking good. It’s also important to do some early morning or early evening watering which allows the water to penetrate the soil and get to deep roots. Established plants should be watered deeply every few days or so, whereas seedling or delicate plants may require daily watering, especially during spells of hot weather. And, don’t forget to take time to observe your achievements and appreciate your hard work.
  • Take a hike – There are so many beautiful places to explore in the UK including the lake district, the highlands of Scotland, Snowdonia in Wales, The Peak District in Derbyshire and surrounding areas, the South West coastal path. It’s best to avoid walking during the hottest part of the day (11am – 3pm) but an early morning or evening trek can be wonderful. Also, remember to take plenty of rest breaks to look at the stunning scenery and always carry plenty of water to take sips from throughout your walk.
  • Go somewhere new and take a self-guided walking trail (you can find lots of these online or at a tourist information place) – depending on your preferences, this could be a historic tour of a nearby town or village, a nature walk through woodland, forest or around a lake or you could even follow a path around a nature reserve spotting birds from various hides. Just remember to dress appropriately for the weather, wear comfortable shoes and use sun protection.

Relax, reset and recharge

Just because the days are longer in the summer, doesn’t mean you have to fill every waking moment with tasks and adventurous activities. It’s also important to find time to rest and just be, especially when temperatures are particularly high and the Sun is blazing. Here are some ways to recharge and build wellbeing related activities into your routine:

  • Enjoy an analogue hobby outdoors – do some reflective journalling, read a book, sketch some of the flowers in your garden or at a local park, grab your paints and have a go at watercolour painting
  • Sit or lie outside (either in the sun with SPF on, or in the shade of a parasol or tree) and simply be. Try doing a mini meditation or other mindful activity such as using your senses to appreciate the here and now (take off your shoes and feel the grass beneath your feet, close your eyes and notice the different sounds around you, look up and watch the clouds moving and changing shape). I lay back on one of our reclining chairs a few days ago and I set the timer on my Fitbit for 20 minutes. I closed my eyes and relaxed for the whole time and those 20 minutes felt like a really long time. It was so good to just do nothing for a while – even though there was someone getting noisy building work done further down the street!
  • Pack a picnic and head to a local park, the coast, a lake or riverside. Depending on your preference, you could take a picnic rug or research somewhere nearby which has picnic benches available.
  • Give forest bathing a go – this restful, nature based activity was first developed in Japan but is now really popular in other cultures. This article from The National Trust provides a good introduction and also explains the wellbeing benefits.

Final words…

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading today’s blog post and it’s help you to come up with some lovely ways to make the most of Summer 2026. Although some of the activities will incur at least a small cost, there are also free suggestions if you’re living on a tight budget.

As I write these last few sentences of today’s blog post, it’s gone really dark and there are rumbles of thunder in the distance. And rather than thinking how awful the weather has turned, I’m excited to tick off an item on the summer bingo board – summer thunderstorm!

Wishing you your best summer yet!

Posted in goal setting, Habit formation, intentional living, personal development, personal growth, Setting goals and intentions, wellbeing, wellness

Steps to Enhance Your Wellness with Easy Habits and Lasting Focus (A guest post from Linda Chase)

Posted on by Laura
Photo from a selection on Unsplash

Today, I bring you an interesting and informative blog post written by regular guest poster, Linda Chase. In her article, she shares tips, tricks and easy to implement habits for enhancing your wellbeing and developing consistency in doing so. I hope you enjoy reading and find the piece as beneficial and thought provoking as I have.

For adults seeking wellness improvement while balancing work, family, and a busy mind, the hardest part is rarely knowing what’s “healthy”; it’s staying consistent when life gets messy. Common wellness challenges like stress eating, skipped workouts, low energy, and a stalled creative spark can make wellness self-improvement strategies feel like one more project to manage. Beginner health habits work because they lower the pressure and build trust in small wins. With simple stress reduction techniques, wellness starts to feel calmer, clearer, and more doable.


Quick Wellness Takeaways

  • Start with small daily habits and build lasting motivation through simple, repeatable routines.
  • Choose practical wellness strategies that fit real life, so healthy changes feel achievable today.
  • Focus on actionable self-improvement tips that support both wellbeing and creativity in everyday living.
  • Use quick wellness insights to pick one clear step, then expand as your confidence grows.

Choose Your Starting Point: 10 Beginner-Friendly Upgrades

When wellness feels big, it helps to pick one “upgrade” that matches your energy today. Use this menu like your 60-second action map: chose one small move, make it easy, and repeat it often.

  1. Do a 2-minute “nervous system reset”: Try one stress management method you can do anywhere: inhale for 4, exhale for 6, for 10 breaths. Longer exhales nudge your body toward calm, which can make decisions and cravings easier to handle. Keep it “tiny on purpose”, this is about consistency, not intensity.
  2. Upgrade your sleep with 1–2 changes, not a whole routine: Pick one or two new sleep hygiene practices to test for a week, like a fixed “screens off” time or dimming lights 30 minutes before bed. Small shifts are easier to keep, and better sleep supports mood, appetite, and motivation. If you wake at night, avoid problem-solving, write a one-line note and return to rest.
  3. Build a “balanced plate” you can repeat: Aim for a simple formula most days: a protein + a colorful plant + a fiber-rich carb + a healthy fat. Example: eggs + spinach + whole-grain toast + olive oil, or beans + salsa + brown rice + avocado. Balanced nutrition habits reduce energy crashes, which makes other beginner wellness tips easier to follow.
  4. Add hydration with a visual cue: Put a full glass or bottle where you’ll see it during your first daily anchor (coffee/tea, morning meds, or sitting at your desk). Drink half before you do anything else, then refill once. This removes willpower from the equation and can reduce “mystery fatigue” that’s really just under-hydration.
  5. Try a 10-minute “minimum movement” session: Choose something gentle: a brisk walk, an easy mobility flow, or dancing to two songs. The goal is to create a repeatable win, not to “make up” for anything you ate. When motivation dips, the minimum keeps your identity intact: you’re someone who shows up.
  6. Start a creative hobby with a low-stakes prompt: Set a timer for 5 minutes and do one prompt: “Today I notice…,” “If my stress had a color…,” or a quick collage of words/images that match your mood. Starting creative hobbies gives your brain a safe place to process emotions without needing the “right” words. Keep supplies visible so it’s frictionless.
  7. Practice one mental health basic: name it, then choose one need: When you feel off, try: “I’m noticing , and I might need .” Needs can be simple, water, food, movement, rest, connection, or quiet. This turns overwhelm into a doable choice and supports healthier boundaries in daily life.

Micro-Habits That Keep Wellness Moving

These habits work because they rely on rhythms, not hype: they lower friction, protect your energy, and give you quick feedback. Use them to make simple wellness and creativity feel doable even when motivation dips.

Morning Anchor Check

  • What it is: Pair water with one fixed cue, like coffee, meds, or opening your laptop.
  • How often: Daily.
  • Why it helps: A stable cue turns wellness into autopilot instead of a decision.

Two-Song Movement Break

  • What it is: Move for two songs: walk, mobility, light strength, or kitchen dancing.
  • How often: Daily or 5 days weekly.
  • Why it helps: Small reps build daily fitness routines without needing a perfect workout.

Five-Breath Pause

  • What it is: Take five slow breaths before snacks, scrolling, or replying to a tense
  • message.
  • How often: Per trigger
  • Why it helps: A quick mindfulness exercise creates space for better choices.

One-Line Boundary Script

    • What it is: Write and use one sentence based on establishing your limits.
    • How often: Weekly practice, then as needed.
    • Why it helps: Clear boundaries protect time, sleep, and emotional bandwidth.

    Weekly Reset List

    • What it is: Make a short Sunday list: rest, meals, movement, connection, and one
    • creative hour.
    • How often: Weekly.
    • Why it helps: Planning reduces decision fatigue and supports practice consistency.


    Wellness Habit Questions, Answered Simply


    Q: What are some effective daily habits to reduce stress and improve overall wellness?
    A: Start with tiny, repeatable actions: a glass of water on a cue, a 2-minute stretch, and a five-breath reset before reacting. Keep one “minimum version” for hard days, like a 3-minute walk or one calming song. Consistency matters more than intensity, so make the habit easy enough to keep.
    Q: How can I start and maintain a fitness routine when I have a busy schedule?
    A: Choose a time you already have, like right after lunch or before your first meeting, and make it a non-negotiable 10 minutes. Research shows time management moderately related to wellbeing, so scheduling even a short slot can pay off. Track “days moved,” not perfect workouts.
    Q: What strategies help improve sleep quality naturally without medication?
    A: Pick one anchor: a consistent wake time, dimmer lights after dinner, or a 10-minute wind- down routine. Keep screens out of bed, and use a simple brain-dump note to stop mental looping. If you wake at night, focus on slow breathing instead of checking the clock.
    Q: How do I create a supportive environment by surrounding myself with positive influences?
    A: Curate what you see and hear daily: tidy one small surface, reduce doom-scrolling cues, and follow people who model realistic habits. Ask one friend to be your “check-in buddy” for weekly wins and gentle accountability. Positive influences should make your goals feel normal, not extreme.
    Q: What steps can I take to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes when using a wellness app or self-improvement program?
    A: Set one clear goal and one “minimum” action, then log it right after you do it. Evidence from a meta-analysis of over 19,000 participants suggests monitoring progress can improve goal attainment. If apps feel noisy, make a printable habit grid and check off just the basics; you can even print posters online to help you keep reminders visible.


    Build a Healthier Rhythm with One Simple Daily Habit

    When life is full and energy is uneven, wellness can feel like one more thing to manage, and missing a day can drain personal growth motivation fast. A supportive wellness mindset keeps the focus on small, repeatable choices and kind course-corrections, so the habits fit real schedules instead of fighting them. With that approach, emotional wellness encouragement becomes practical: you notice progress, recover quicker from setbacks, and strengthen your healthy lifestyle commitment through consistency. Small steps, repeated kindly, create lasting change. For the next seven days, you can choose one consistent self-improvement step, your minimum version of movement, hydration, or a short creative reset, and do it once daily. That steady follow-through builds resilience and trust in yourself, week after week.

    Final words…

    Thank you so much to Linda for her wonderful article. There are so many great ideas here for small, actionable steps which you can build in to your daily routine. I’ll certainly be giving some of them a go over the next few weeks with a view to creating helpful micro habits that last. As suggested, I’ll be starting small, with a view to implementing tiny changes which together, are sure to make a huge difference to my future health and wellbeing.

    Posted in Bipolar disorder, depression, health, intentional living, lifestyle, mental illness, wellbeing, wellness

    Currently… Life update February 2026

    Posted on by Laura

    Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. Those of you who regularly read my blog posts may have noticed that I’ve been AWOL for a long time and haven’t written anything since April 2025. The truth is that for over six months, I really struggled with my mental health, coping with (or not) a lengthy spell of depression and chronic anxiety. And, unfortunately, one of my symptoms of really low mood is that I’m barely able to string a sentence together let alone write a blog post.

    When I first started struggling, I was convinced it was due to something that had made me upset at work, but as time went on, I wondered why the event was still upsetting me. I’d been stable with my bipolar disorder for a fair few years, using both my medication and therapeutic strategies that I’d learnt in various therapy sessions to keep me well. However, the anxiety and depression continued and I became worried that I would never get better again (another symptom).

    After around 4 months of difficulties, I saw a mental health practitioner at my GP surgery and she suggested that it might be worth tweaking my medication by increasing my anti-depressant. She also suggested that I might get blood tests done to check my hormone levels in case I was perimenopausal and the community pharmacist she had contacted about me agreed. At 48 years old, I was convinced that I could have started the menopause but I was so wrong! My levels were incredibly low which, according to my online reading, suggested I was well into the menopause – this came as a huge shock. After what felt like a long and agonising wait, I was started on HRT (in the form of patches), which I was advised could take up to three months to work. I kept taking the higher dose of my antidepressant but knew that it would cause extreme agitation at first and would take weeks to kick in. I was given a short course of Diazepam for this but it persisted for weeks and I wasn’t allowed any more. I was then prescribed a beta blocker to deal with the physical anxiety symptoms but it was still a real struggle as the medication doesn’t help the psychological side of things at all.

    Whilst waiting for the antidepressant and HRT to kick in, I did lots of reading around bipolar disorder and menopause and discovered that fluctuating or low hormone levels can affect the efficacy of bipolar medication such as mood stabilisers and antidepressants (which I’m on both of), reducing the positive effects. I was upset that not one of the medical professionals I saw while unwell knew this and the various doctors I’d seen before the mental health practitioner had any idea about this.

    Christmas was hard as my mood was so low, but, just after new year, I noticed the depression and anxiety had gone and I finally had my old self back. As with all previous episodes, it was like a switch had been flipped and I felt so much better. Unfortunately, I had a few issues with my physical health as I slipped down the bottom half of the stairs at home in my socks and then slipped again on a very icy pavement, injuring my coccyx (which is still not totally better). However, despite being in a huge amount of pain when sitting, it didn’t get me down and I accepted it would take a while for me to get better.

    My writing mojo is totally back, as you can see from the above and this is the first of hopefully many posts and updates in 2026. I thought I’d ease myself back into blogging with a life update, including what I’m up to right now. I’m like a completely different person and so many friends have commented on how well I look. It’s such a relief for me and my family and, hopefully, I’ll be stable for a long while to come and as such, making the most of my life going forward. Here’s what I’m current finding joy doing:

    Currently reading…

    This month, I’ve been stepping out of my comfort zone and reading some books that are not the crime or psychological dramas I usually prefer. I’ve read and listened to on Audible, a historical fiction classic novel called I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith and despite it being completely different to what I usually read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, it was a book club read for a new online challenge created by Kelseyleigh at My Abiding Journal over on YouTube and it was nice to listen to her thoughts about it too. When I’d finished this book, I again opted for a different style, this time a Romcom called The Switch by Beth O’Leary. This light-hearted read isn’t as fast paced as my usual choices, but again, I’m enjoying the story, reading a few chapters in bed each night.

    Currently watching…

    There are so many fantastic dramas on at the moment and we’ve had to record some of them to watch over the next few months. We’ve just finished the BBC’s Wild Cherry and ITV’s Betrayal which were both fantastic and gripping. Right now, we’re loving the 29th series of Silent Witness and have also just begun watching The Lady which is based on the true story of Jane Andrews who was royal dresser for Sarah Ferguson in the late 80s to late 90s. We’ve only watched one episode so far but it looks promising.

    Currently preparing for…

    …spring arriving next month. There are lots of shoots popping up in the garden and we have a few miniature narcissus already out. There’s lots of tidying up to do out the back and as well as writing a list of gardening jobs, I intend to write a room by room list of spring cleaning jobs.

    I’m also looking forward to changing up our home decor for the new season. I have lots of items I’ve purchased over the years (many decorative bunnies) but I’ve also purchased some mini honeycomb eggs and some tiny ceramic bunnies for my twig tree. In addition, I’ve ordered a lovely handmade felt banner from Etsy featuring daffodils and felt balls in shades of yellow and orange which I can’t wait to display in my craft room.

    Currently working on…

    …my new memory keeping and creative journal which I started last month. In it, I’m recording the highlights from each month as well as a bingo challenge from My Abiding Journal that I’ve signed up for which encourages you to create new seasonal memories following a fun game format. So far, I’ve completed my January pages and have printed lots of photos and collected ephemera for my February entries. I like to combine small amounts of journalling with the images and I’m also trying to draw a small piece of art each month to represent something I want to remember. Last month, I drew and coloured in some snowdrops and this month, I plan to sketch a sanderling which is a small wading bird that we’ve enjoyed watching feeding in the shallows of the sea as the tide comes in.

    Currently enjoying…

    …doing much more work at my local university. Whilst I was unwell, I struggled to get out of bed as I was always tired. This meant I only made myself available for sessions on an afternoon. Now I’m well, I’m available mornings and afternoons and have had much more work. It’s lovely to be back on top form and I feel such a sense of accomplishment after each working day.

    Currently trying out…

    …a number of new recipes from a vegan cookbook that I bought my husband as a gift. It’s wonderful to be spending time together preparing home cooked meals again and we’ve even learned how to make our own stir fry sauces which are so tasty and flavoursome. We’re looking forward to trying out many more over the coming months.

    Final words…

    I’m currently doing so much that I would be able to carry on writing this for hours yet but I don’t want it to end up being a TLDR affair! So, for now, that’s the end of my update and I invite you to comment and let me know what’s going on for you at the moment. I’d also love to know what everyone has planned for the spring months and I hope you’ll join me in a little seasonal cleaning in the March to May period. I’m planning on writing a blog post about how I’m going to prepare my spring cleaning lists so that I can be sure that all of those once or twice yearly tasks get ticked off.

    Thanks for reading and have a wonderful springtime,

    Posted in mental health, relationships, wellbeing, wellness

    Monday Matters: 5 Great Ways To Expand Your Social Circle

    Posted on by Laura

    Social connection is a key part of good mental health and wellbeing, but, making new friends and acquaintances can often feel much more difficult as we get older. So, today, I’m sharing 5 ways in which you can widen your social circle so as to easily enjoy a diverse range of relationships and hopefully find some good friends along the way.

    Volunteer

    Volunteering for a cause that you are passionate about can be a great way to meet people with similar interests and core values. I used to volunteer for the RSPB and, although I worked alone in my particular role, our team used to meet up for regular social events where birds and wildlife were one of our many topics of conversation.

    There are tonnes of different ways to volunteer but here are some ideas to get you started:

    • work for a local food bank
    • help out at a local animal shelter
    • become a gardener at a nearby National Trust place
    • if you live by the coast, get involved in a beach clean up
    • support your local hospital trust
    • become a youth mentor
    • assist at a local charity shop
    • join The British Red Cross

    Get a pet dog

    Now, I haven’t tried this one myself as my husband is allergic to dogs, but I do know that taking your pet for a walk in your local park or just around the block is a guaranteed way of meeting others and potentially building friendships. Whilst your mutt says hello to other dogs he or she meets along the way, you’ll likely find yourself chit chatting with their owner, firstly about your dogs, but then, often widening the conversation to a topic of your choosing. And, in all likelihood, you’ll bump into each other again another time, and if you enjoyed chatting before, you’ll probably find yourself talking to one another again.

    Become part of an online community

    One of my favourite ways to connect with like-minded individuals is on a virtual basis through joining groups on Facebook. Wherever your interests lie, there’s likely to be a related group that you can try out. I’m a member of all kinds of groups including Ethical Hamster Care, Angry Birds 2 Gamers, Dolphin Spotting NE From your Facebook homepage, just click the fifth icon in the middle section of the upper bar and either peruse available groups using the discover button or search for topics of interest using key words.

    Attend a class or workshop

    Signing up for a class or workshop is a great way to meet new people with similar interests. I’ve done a number of different short courses over the years including two ceramics classes (beginners and intermediate), photography for beginners, Tai Chi, The Wheel of Wellness, Mindfulness and aromatherapy. I met people of all different ages and backgrounds and I’ve stayed in touch with some of them since finishing.

    Join the gym

    I’ve been a member of my local gym for a few years now and I’ve met so many people who share my interest in keeping fit and maintaining good wellbeing. I’ve found that in the gym itself, people don’t tend to make conversation but in the classes that I go to, there’s plenty of chatter before the activity starts and as we pack away our equipment. There’s also a cafe where I go and at least a handful of participants grab a coffee together afterwards.

    Final words…

    I hope you’ve found today’s post beneficial and it has given you some ideas about how you can grow your social circle. I would love to hear in the comments of any stories you would be happy to share about different ways in which you’ve made new friends and acquaintances as an adult.