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mindfulness

The Simplest of Pleasures

Those everyday fabulous moments are what make life worth living. Sometimes carving out a little time to appreciate the simplest of pleasures can feel like a gargantuan task amidst the busyness of work, keeping a home and all the other things that chip away at our waking day.

For each of us the simplest of pleasures may vary. For you it could be writing in your journal, trying a new recipe or watering your plants. Stop for a moment to think about one or two of those simple pleasures that bring you joy. When you’re conscious and appreciative of the small everyday fabulous moments, the universe has a way of bringing you even more moments of pleasure.The Simplest of PleasuresRead More…

Taking a moment for mindfulness

Taking a moment for mindfulness: The term ‘mindfulness’ is bandied around a lot these days. The actual definition for mindfulness is:

‘a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique’

Actually being present and gently acknowledging your own feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations can be a struggle given the fast pace world in which we live. Over-stimulation from the media, technology and the pressures of the modern world can easily leave us feeling chewed up, burnt out and invariably ill. Now, more so than ever- it is paramount that we take a moment for mindfulness each day, to avoid burn out. Mindfulness is a great self care practice, if you struggle with your mental health as well as adopting the following mindfulness habits, seeking BetterHelp is also a great resource. Here are a few simple ways to introduce a little mindfulness moment into your daily routine…Taking a moment for mindfulness

Practice gratitude:

I interviewed Health and Happiness Coach Angela Simson from the Gratitude Project some time ago and her words are as true now as they were then. ‘Life isn’t made up of just the big moments, it’s all the little seconds and minutes that pass us by without a second thought.  They come together to beautifully create your life and if you aren’t trying to get the most joy and bliss from the your everyday life then you’re not fully living.  So smell flowers, stare at the sky, stop and breathe for a moment and really feel everything in your life as deep as you possibly can.

‘Gratitude will come naturally when you slow down and really notice what’s happening, inside and out.’

Also if you’re interested in practising a little more gratitude, I recently read The Magic by Rhonda Byrne, which is a lovely book teaching simple techniques to practice daily gratitude.

Mindful morning routine:

Waking up in the morning and practising a mindful routine will make such a difference to your day. I started waking up a little bit earlier in the mornings around two years ago now. Previously I used to race around getting ready and rushing out of the door. My mindful morning routine has transformed my state of mind and is something I really look forward to everyday. Read more on my mindful morning routine HERE.

Practice yoga:

Adriene Mishler is an actress, writer, international yoga teacher and entrepreneur from Austin, Texas. On a mission to get the tools of yoga into schools and homes, Adriene hosts the YouTube channel Yoga With Adriene, an online community of over 4 million subscribers, of which I am one! Adriene offers free yoga videos on YouTube with everything from ten minute relaxations routines to much more challenging stretches. If you haven’t already do take a look at Adriene’s work.

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it”― Thich Nhat Hanh

Stay fabulous

Christine

Setting goals for 2019

Well well, here we are looking out onto a new year. There’s a whole world of possibility lying before us. I’ve been busy jotting down and setting goals for 2019. I thought I’d adopt a slightly different way of mapping out my goals this year, dividing up my goals into the various elements that make up life- with the aim to create a little more balance and harmony.

My new approach to writing my annual list of goals inspired loosely by New York Times Bestseller Harmonic Wealth by James Arthur Ray. I divided my list of goals into physical, intellectual, creative, home, financial, social and spiritual. Some areas were much easier for me to write out, mostly the ‘home’ and also the ‘physical’ as Mr T and I are both transforming the way we approach food and also renovating our home. The area I struggled with most is ‘social’ as I’m a natural introvert, so this area invariably requires a little more effort.

Dividing up my goals this way has given me a broader more holistic overview and helped me to look at the bigger picture. I hope my list of goals inspires you and maybe sparks a few ideas to add to your own list for 2019!..Setting goals for 2019

Physical:

  1. Sleep more
  2. Laugh more
  3. Nourish my body using food
  4. Skin brush daily
  5. Practice having a better posture
  6. Relax as much as possible
  7. Try a caster oil pack
  8. Run a 5k with Terry
  9. Stay hydrated
  10. Find a Nutritional Therapist in Manchester
  11. Try new yoga class (mix it up)
  12. Practice deep breathing
  13. Swim once a week
  14. Introduce more superfoods into my diet
  15. Try meal planning
  16. Do infrared sauna
  17. Get Indian head massage
  18. Eat a low carb diet (ideally reach a state of ketosis)
  19. Continue to reduce refined sugar intake
  20. Stop eating food that comes in a packet
  21. Take a decent Probiotic
  22. Try acupuncture
  23. Introduce more CBD products into beauty regime/ cooking

Intellectual/ Cultural:

  1. Complete my Nutritional Healing Foundation course second year
  2. Pass my exams
  3. Read one non-fiction book per month (starting with The Magic)
  4. Discover new inspiring podcasts (suggestions welcome)
  5. Use phone less/ improve attention span
  6. Visit the Google hub to learn more about SEO and Google/ Ads & Analytics
  7. Get a library card
  8. Visit Yorkshire Sculpture Park
  9. Go and see a ballet
  10. Visit Florence
  11. Enjoy a short break away with Helena and Hazel

Home:

  1. Renovate the hallway
  2. Add radiators to entrance & stairwell
  3. Sand and varnish the living room floor
  4. Continue to declutter
  5. Organise and get a new wardrobe and drawers
  6. Buy a new toaster
  7. Tile the entrance floor
  8. Get a new sofa
  9. Organise the office space
  10. Get spotlights throughout the house
  11. Strip horrible textured wallpaper off ceiling
  12. Improve the feeling of light through the house (making progress, but there’s still lots to be done)
  13. Redecorate the master bedroom
  14. Revisit the Marie Kondo book, currently obsessed with her Netflix series
  15. Insulate & board out the loft space
  16. Organise Mr T’s walk in wardrobe
  17. Get a new shower rail
  18. Invest in a decent full length mirror
  19. SELL THE CLUTTER!
  20. Get a new headboard
  21. Reduce waste/ cut down on packaging (try as much as possible to be zero waste!)
  22. Label all jars
  23. Organise kitchen cupboards
  24. Print & frame a photo of Pickle
  25. Lay carpet upstairs
  26. Appreciate our lovely home everyday
  27. Get festoon lights for the balcony
  28. Grow a Rosemary plant in the new kitchen

Creative:

  1. Paint some abstract pictures
  2. Do some screen printing with Helena
  3. Try a pottery class
  4. Create capsule wardrobe modules inspired by Christie Ressel on YouTube
  5. Create some greetings cards
  6. Reupholster the dining room chairs
  7. Press wild flowers
  8. Print out photos and make physical albums!
  9. Create little scented drawer bags of lavender for the cupboards
  10. Write a love letter to every season (similar to my Ode to Autumn)
  11. Make sauerkraut and kimchi
  12. Try out and share more healthy food recipes
  13. Experiment with low carb/ natural desert recipes

Financial:

  1. Follow Dave Ramsey baby steps! (made a good start last year)
  2. Continue to be sensible (this is an ongoing challenge!)
  3. Save up
  4. Buy less “stuff”
  5. Reduce outgoings as much as possible

Social/ Family:

  1. Host brunches more regularly
  2. Be a better friend
  3. Help Terry organise Frances’ naming ceremony
  4. Invite friends over for dinner more often
  5. Meet more like-minded people/ inspiring individuals
  6. Say yes to more event invitations
  7. Interview inspiring individuals for The Fabulous Times

Spiritual/ Nature:

  1. Practice smudging ceremonies on each new moon
  2. Be more aware of the moon cycles (FYI- full moon this Monday)
  3. Get out in nature at least once a week
  4. Grow herbs from seed
  5. Grow more tomatoes, spinach and veg on the balcony
  6. Climb a mountain
  7. Switch to renewable energy
  8. Embrace my inner hippie
  9. Use only natural beauty products
  10. Be more Frankie Bergstein

I might add a few more goals throughout the rest of January. I’m still very much in the gentle ‘combobulation phase’ of the year, scribbling down ideas, dumping illegible notes into my journal, suffering with a cold and hibernating. Keep your eyes peeled for more goals and or any progress being made!

How is your list looking?

Stay fabulous

Christine