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SAD and the winter blues: How better sleep can boost your mental health
There are so many truly wonderful things about winter. I adore the festive period, and the cosy feeling of contentment that only comes from wrapping presents for loved ones, and spending evenings snuggled up by a twinkling Christmas tree. I love the way the world looks, all warmth and glittering lights. I love the smells – cinnamon, the fresh scent of real Christmas trees, and crisp evening air laced with bonfire smoke. There’s something really special about getting up in the morning and padding downstairs, while the world is still dark and so, so quiet. There’s a stillness in the air that only exists in winter, I feel. Ho ho…
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How gardening could improve your mental health this winter
Haskins Garden Centres are encouraging gardeners to get out into their garden to combat any undue stress over the festive season. Haskins recommends the following gardening activities for mindfulness and enhanced wellbeing: Plant potted bulbs for spring colour as the perfect antidote to winter. Tulips are ideal to plant in November and can often boast a rainbow of colours. Plant Daffodils in preparation for their sunny yellow to grace the garden in spring. Simple, manual tasks such as deadheading and weeding can help calm the mind and lift the spirit. Scent is a powerful sensory that can help connect the individual with nature. Roses and Lavender are soothing and have been proven…
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A festive evening at Lush, Bournemouth
I adore Lush products and I love Christmas, so naturally I was super excited to spend an evening in their Bournemouth store, checking out their seasonal range – and even having a go at making some myself! I struggle a bit at events with a lot of people I don’t know, and I found this one, in particular, quite difficult. There were a lot of people packed into a fairly small space, and it was – as Lush stores often are – quite overwhelming, with the combination of strong smells and relentlessly cheery staff (as lovely as they are!). We began the evening with an icebreaker, which was getting into…
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Cycle Around the Globe for World Suicide Prevention Day
Spot the Signs along with partnership organisations are commemorating the 16th World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September by requesting people in Hertfordshire to dedicate their cycle ride miles between 1st -17th September to suicide prevention. How does the campaign work? People are encouraged to Sign up, Cycle and Send the miles that they have ridden into Spot the Signs to see how far Hertfordshire can cycle using the hashtag #HertsWSPD. These will all be added up and sent to the international Cycle Around the Globe page. This awareness raising campaign is free to enter and aims to prevent suicides by inviting people to talk about the importance of mental…
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Author update: What’s going on with my book?
I just wanted to give you a little update, as there have been some developments on the book front. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, my publication date has been pushed back to late November/early December. Everything is fine on my end (despite the odd occasional Twitter meltdown and moment of self-doubt), and in a way it’s kind of a relief that I’ve got a bit more time. I’m certain that this will be for the best. So, this means that 1) I’ve had to move my book launch party to January, and 2) I’m no longer going to have a stand at the Wellness and Beauty Expo. Because, well, without…
