This is a collaborative post in partnership with Cobra Garden For many of us, the last couple of years have taken their toll on wellbeing. As you’ve no doubt read in more than one news story, lots of us are experiencing challenges with mental health as a result. Perhaps you’re dealing with this yourself, trying to support a friend or relative who’s struggling, or seeing the effects in the workplace. Whatever your personal ...
“Tech Cleanse” Your Life: 3 Nature Practices for Digital Detox
AD Most of us spend our days with screens constantly tugging at our attention. If you’re old enough, you can probably remember spending hours finding shapes in clouds, or sitting with a sunset until the light shifted through every colour into night. Pursuits like this can feel pretty alien when we're caught up in today’s entertainment platforms, but it's exactly this type of slow-time which can help us regain focus, joy, relaxation, and ...
Using the iPhone 12 to support your wellness journey
This post is a collaboration with O2, but all thoughts and experiences are my own. We’re all aware of the importance and benefits of taking care of our physical and mental health. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, connecting with nature and a focus on managing stress are all well-documented ways to make sure we stay fit and healthy. However, we don’t necessarily look to our smartphones to help us, even though they’re on-hand pretty ...
Everyday tips for managing stress in a family home
Collaborative post Your home can be a real sanctuary for you and your family. Ideally it's somewhere where you can all escape from the stresses of busy family life, spend relaxing time together, and slow down the pace a little. Sometimes it's hard to keep things calm and stress-free though! Tips for managing stress in a family home A happy, low-stress family home starts with a strong emotional foundation, and the building blocks can ...
Playing outdoors: how to help kids benefit from outdoor time
Collaborative post There are lots of great reasons why outdoor time and nature play is really good for children. Research shows that children who spend time in nature tend to be more attentive, less anxious, and have better cognitive functioning and mood. Spending time outdoors is a simple way to boost wellbeing, and can provide many physical and mental health benefits. Please note if that if you have a mental health concern about you or a ...
How to create a calm home environment
Collaborative post Your home should be a place where you can wind down and relax - but busy family life can make that tricky. Juggling work, childcare, home maintenance, hobbies and family time can easily make our homes feel like a never-ending to do list, instead of a calming environment where we can take a break and recharge. How to create a calm home environment If your home isn’t as calm as you’d like it to be, check out these six ...
14 ways that crafting benefits mental health
Collaborative post Hands-on activities are an inspired way to strengthen your mental health. You don't need lots of money, fancy equipment, or a particular area of skill to tap into the many benefits of a creative hobby. Whether you'd like to lower stress levels, express creativity, ease symptoms of depression, or simply improve your mood, crafting can be an enjoyable way to promote positive thoughts, behaviours and emotions. If you ...
12 mental health benefits of gardening
Collaborative post A garden can provide a wide range of mental health benefits. From spending time in green space to enjoying the scent of flowers or harvesting herbs, gardening can be physically and emotionally rewarding. Last year's lockdown saw a big surge in the popularity of gardening, with many people spending more time in their outdoor spaces, and using gardening as a way to boost their mood. This, combined with the abundance of ...
4 ways gardening can improve your health
Collaborative post It’s probably not news to anyone that getting outside for some fresh air and sunshine can do you the world of good. But now more than ever, amidst a worldwide pandemic and plenty of anxiety-inducing news, people are rediscovering the merits of gardening. Not only is the simple act of growing something hugely rewarding, there’s the added benefit of enjoying a lovely harvest of fresh fruit and veg, or a stunning floral ...