Saturday 16 May 2015

The Feel-Good First Aid Kit

Hello, Sweetie!

We all have days when we feel down, low and generally a bit worse-for-wear. This may be a common occurrence for you, or it may simply be a one-off, every-blue-moon kind of deal.

Either way, there are things you can do.
If you are looking for some concrete ideas in a pinch, I've made a list. It's from me to you, to help lift your mood :)

Drink Tea

Or coffee. Or hot chocolate. Heck, make a cup of hot Vimto (now that IS magical Unicorn juice!).
The point is that whilst warm drinks tend to be soothing( and many contain helpful ingredients or even aid your system), the actual physical process of making a hot drink is  uplifting in itself. Whilst the kettle is boiling, practice some gratitude. List five things that mean the world to you and say thank you for each one. Say it out loud or in your head, it doesn't matter. The chances are that making a hot drink is second nature to you, so that means you have head space to just THINK.





De-clutter your virtual space

As someone who is terribly disorganised, I find a sense of relief when I clear the digital fog.
Delete old, useless emails and text messages. Clear out any old numbers from your phone and empty the call history (Don't forget to save any unsaved numbers!). Remove all those pointless shortcuts from your desktop and delete any apps you don't use on your tablet or phone. Run a disk cleanup, delete temporary files. Organise all of you photos and documents into set albums and folders. Make sure all of your anti-virus and general programs are up-to-date.

Delicious, tasty virtual bliss.





Make a big list of all the things you are grateful for

Sometimes this can be difficult when we feel down. It can be hard to sort through the shit and find something precious, but you can do it. I promise.  Obvious ones are friends, family, nice memories, favourite objects, favourite books, a pet...
If you get stuck, ask a friend. Their gratitude list might not be the same as yours, but they might give you ideas about your own (In a 'Ooh, why didn't I think of that?' kind of way). Fill the page, aim for 10, add more if you can. Put it somewhere you will see it often. On your mirror, in a journal, on a desk, on the fridge, even in your bag, or use it as a book mark.






 Make your space a sanctuary

It doesn't matter if it's a whole house or part of a shared room - every little space can be customised, even if it's just a little. Try moving some furniture around or placing a colourful throw over a shelf or bedside table. Add some candles or crystals. I often beat myself up for being messy, but cleaning a space with some upbeat music shaking the walls is a huge mood-booster!






Walk away from Social Media

If only for an hour. I notice that after long periods of time sat staring at Facebook, my mood starts to dip. I think part of it is because people sometimes share some heavy, painful stuff, and part of it is that we see how FANTASTICALLY AMAZEBALLS everyone else appears to be doing.
Fun fact - people only tend to post what they want you to see.
Nobody has a perfect life, so don't beat yourself up over the pictures others paint.






Spend some time with animals

Whether it's taking your own dog for a walk or playing chase-the-laser with a friend's cat, we all have access to animals. One of my favourite things to do is take a trip to a local pet shop. Just watching the rabbits and guinepigs shuffle around makes me smile. Even the fish are soothing to watch.





 Watch a feel-good film

Some films are amazing for when you feel down. My personal favourites are Kiki's Delivery Service, The Cat Returns, Chocolat, Practical Magic, Willow and basically any Disney or Pixar classic. Add your favourate snack and a duvet. Win = win.






Buy a pot of bubbles

Best. Thing. Ever. Keep them by your bed and use liberally as often as required.  Just watching all those beautiful, shiny bubbles float around and pop is flipping GLORIOUS. If I was a doctor, I'd give these out on free prescription to everyone.






Ask for help when you need it

Lastly and most importantly, always ask for the help you need. You are NEVER alone in this world. Seek out a friend of family member, reach for a trusted colleague. Search for local social groups or join an online sisterhood. I can't stress enough that if this is happening often, you need to be contacting a doctor. Do not suffer is silence, you shining star.




Remember poppets, you are strong, you are beautiful and damn it all, you've got this!

Monday 11 May 2015

Feed the Fire: Turning Anger into Action with 5 Steps

Hello poppet, let's talk about anger!

To begin with I really, really need to press the fact that anger is a normal, healthy human experience in moderation. You experience anger when you feel passionate, and passion is beautiful and creative.

There is a lot of general unrest in my personal social circles at the moment, and it has played havoc with my sleeping patterns, my diet and my mood. I know exactly where my friends and loved ones are coming from, and I have been feeling intense with a bubbling undercurrent of anger and worry.

I know I'm not alone.

So my darlings, I want to help you turn your anger into action. I want you to feed the flames of your passion and use that energy constructively.

  1. Find the Fuel

    What exactly is it sparking your wrath? I'm not suggesting you spend your days brooding over things that make you angry, because that is not productive. What I would suggest, however, is to remain in-touch with your catalyst. Remind yourself why it is that you do what you do on a semi-regular basis. This will help you keep up-to-date with the subject and spark you to encourage change.


  2. Feed the Fire

    Education is your kindling. Expand what you know – engage with your anger. Ask it questions and then find the answers. Build your ideas and solutions around the things that anger you by deciding what you need to know and what can be done. Seek out like-minded people as they will help to keep your fire burning, but draw a line at being consumed. Keep you mind open and think for yourself! Do not be led by others.

  3. Control the Flames

    There is a difference between a well-tended camp fire with a positive purpose and a wild forest fire that destroys all in its wake. The key is control. Pick your battles wisely and calculate the outcome. Decide what the line is between your passion inspiring others and it sending people running for the hills in fear. Do not lash out, keep your ideas and goals in mind and understand that alienating others with your fire creates resistance, not empathy.
     
  4. Resist the Damp

    I'm talking about apathy and depression. The quickest way to cave and give up is by not engaging with the fire in your belly whilst it is still hot. When anger cools, so does passion. This basically leads to you disengaging with you hopes for change, and a layer of damp will create a glass ceiling that becomes difficult to pass through. You need to keep moving – morning dew doesn't form on moving targets. Keep making steps towards your goals!

  5. Temper the Heat

    Passion is awesome. Live with it as much as you can, but never let yourself burn out. Don't use up all your fuel before you reach your goal. Turn the heat down once in a while. You should always have an ember burning, but listen to your body and mind, poppets. If you burn too loud for too long, you will start to find yourself running out of oxygen. Save some of your intensity for valuable moments, and let yourself breathe when you need to!



    So my darlings, don't be afraid of your fiery anger. Wield it! It is your most valuable asset to living a passionate life, and knowing how to use it can make a world of difference to your mental well-being.

    Burn Bright! xxx