Our bodies follow a natural circadian rhythm where there is an optimal time for resting,sleeping etc.Sleep Rituals before going to bed help our minds and bodies to unwind and get into relaxation mode.If you have problems with insomnia,you may wish to consider a change to your sleep routine.One change I had to make was ban the phone from the room where I sleep,I could be on social media long after bed time! What Sleep Rituals work best?Apart from going off the phone,you need to choose a routine which works best for you in the hour before bedtime.Some ideas include reading,taking a bath,listenin ..read more

Ingredients(For 8 Scones) 250g Porridge Oats 250g Greek or Natural Yoghurt O% Fat One Egg Half a teaspoon of Bread Soda Method Preheat oven to 180C,Fan oven at 160C Mix all ingredients well Use an Ice Cream Scoop to place mixture onto pregreased oven tray in 8 equal portions Cook in Oven for 15-20 minutes until Golden Brown Leave to cool ..read more

There is no legal definition of natural makeup with the FDA.But natural makeup contains more ingredients from natural origins like plants and minerals.The ingredients would generally be from nontoxic sources which are better for our health.They also have a minimal amount of synthetic ingredients and you will be less likely to find artificial colourants,synthetic preservatives and heavy metals on the list of ingredients.We may scrutinise the quality and ingredients of food we buy in the supermarket,but it is also important to scrutinise the ingredients label on makeup as it is going on our skin ..read more

Building self discipline is not just about improving self control , it is also about building inner strength , resilience and not being super hard on yourself.If you are determined to reach a certain milestone, you need to align your thoughts, values and goals.Self discipline is a skill you can develop,it will also help to keep working on your motivation.To build self discipline,start by setting out small goals at the start of each day eg planning what you will eat at each meal,when you will exercise,your work goals etc.Even if you are not in the mood to exercise ,you can talk yourself into ..read more

This book is essentially a book on Japanese culture and tradition and it explains the concept of ikigai from this context. Ken Mogi the author is a neuroscientist.He explains the 5 pillars of Ikigai as 1) starting small 2)releasing yourself 3)harmony and sustainability 4) the joy of little things 5)Being here and now. He describes ikigai as residing in the joy of little things eg your morning coffee,a ray of sunshine or morning air and it can be different things to different people.He gives an example of a 102 year old karate master who’s ikigai was caring for his martial arts and an elderly f ..read more

Self care is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own wellbeing and happiness”.You will often hear people say they don’t have time for self care because they are so busy with work , parenting or taking care of elderly relatives.Self care is not only about meditation or going to the gym ,it also icludes examining your priorities,setting boundaries and having a healthy sleep rituals eg going to bed earlier.Dr Groppel co-author of “The Corporate Athlete:How to Achieve Maximal Performance in Business and Life” says self care “can be exercis ..read more

Thibaut Meurisse is the French Author of over 20 great Self Help books including this one and the bestseller” Master Your Emotions”. There is an accompanying workbook to the book.He gives a seven step process to overcoming limiting beliefs and validating a new empowering mindset.He says it is important to condition our minds daily and emphasises the importance of daily, morning and evening rituals.He advises stacking a morning ritual of meditation,gratitude,affirmations and daily goal setting for maximum success and an evening ritual eg an earlier bedtime .He details the essentials of a master ..read more

If you know anyone moving away to college or work this Autumn “The Hungry Student Vegetarian” would make a good going away gift.It is suitable not only for students but for anyone who wants to cook on a budget.It has everything including breakfasts,main meals,packed lunches to desserts.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hungry-Student-Vegetarian-Cookbook-Cookbooks/dp/1846014972 If you want to cook with a simple list of ingredients “The Five Ingredient Vegan” is an accessible and handy guide for budget weekday meals.The illustrations are great and there is no list of obscure ingredients,just some simple ..read more

This book by Vex King is a must have if you want to change your mindset.In Part One on ‘The Law of Vibration’ the author says you must be in energetic harmony with what you desire.He says that self love and raising the level of your vibration go hand in hand.Part Two is Positive Lifestyle habits including meditation(after a year of meditating everyday the author found incredible changes,)high vibration food and studying our emotions to transform and raise your Vibration.Part Three is Making Yourself a Priority which includes reviewing our relationships.Part four is Accepting Yourself.He says ..read more

If you want an overview of the teachings of Buddhism,then this is the book for you.Written by Dr Walpola Sri Rahula,a Buddhist monk,it discusses the fundamental teachings of the Buddha .These are the doctrines of the Four Noble truths,the Noble Eightfold Path,Karma,Rebirth,Conditioned Genesis,the Five Aggregates and Satipatthana(the setting up of Mindfulness).Chapters Two to Four deal with the Four Noble Truths.The First Noble Truth is Dukkha discussed in Chapter Two, this is generally translated as The Noble Truth of Suffering.In this chapter it says Dukkha has a deeper philosophical meaning ..read more