Towards the end of 2019, I felt lost and, if I’m honest, depressed.  In the hope of regaining my purpose, direction and motivation,  I have set myself six goals for 2020. To some, these goals may seem very achievable, however, as I am sure you are aware, when you are not in the best place mentally,  we can find the smallest things too much of an effort to do. Therefore, I am not putting too much pressure on myself to reach all of these goals but I know that if I do, my mental health will only improve.  In no specific order...  Probiotics – More and more research is coming out on the link betw ..read more

Toni Jones, founder of Shelf Help, is one of the most inspiring people I have had the pleasure of meeting. I met Toni at Shelf Help’s 1st birthday event which I enjoyed so much that I now attend every Shelf Help event and also host the monthly Shelf Help book club in Essex. If you are a fan of self-help books, you need to check Shelf Help out, becoming a part of their community is one of the best things I have done. I am delighted that Toni has taken the time to share her nuggets of wisdom with us all. Read on to find out more about Toni and Shelf Help ..read more

What is a vision board?  A vision board, sometimes known as an inspiration board, is a tool that represents everything you aspire to, it is an effective method of focusing on your goals and create a life that reflects your desires. Research has shown that what we focus on expands and visualisation is scientifically proven.  There are several benefits to creating a vision board;  Identify your vision and goals,  To provide clarity,  To set out your daily affirmations,  To stay focused on your intentions,  It is a great visualisation tool,  It provides motivation,  It makes you more productive ..read more

What is self-care?  Self-care is defined in the Dictionary of Nursing as “the practice of activities that are necessary to sustain life and health, normally initiated and carried out by the individual for him or herself”.  To put it simply, self-care is about caring for yourself in ways that improve your mental and physical health whilst reducing stress. Self-care is an essential way of showing yourself some kindness, love and nourishment.   Self-care looks different to each individual, what may make one individual relaxed may make another individual anxious. Unfortunately, self-care is often ..read more

Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It determines how we handle stress and affects how we think, act and feel. The World Health Organisation (2014) defines mental health as “a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”. It is important to note that we all have mental health, whether it is good or poor.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness defines a mental health condition as a condition that “affects a person’s thinki ..read more

Looking back, I have struggled with my mental health for as long as I can remember.  I remember having dark thoughts since I was a little girl, in fact I still have my childhood diary which makes for a sad read. My family and those close to me thought that I was a difficult child with anger problems, I remember my parents taking me to see a medical herbalist around the age of 8 to see whether that would help me. Unfortunately, this did not help. As the years went by I became more frustrated with myself as I didn’t understand what was wrong with me. I believed that my family thought that I had ..read more