Guest Post by Dr. Chisato Hotta, DSW, LMFT, LPCC | Therapist Mama Bear and 2 Ausome Cubs | @Therapistmamabear
Lets chat about loving yourself when things are hard
Read moreLets chat about loving yourself when things are hard
Read moreFiled Under: HEALTH + WELLBEING, HOME, SELF CARE //
The power of social media! Whilst many of us are accustomed to popping a few sprigs of rosemary into our roast dinner, what about rosemary oil & your hair? Searches for rosemary oil have skyrocketed 135% in the UK after TikTok stars share benefits and results on their hair after 6 weeks.
Read moreFiled Under: HOME, MENTAL HEALTH, SELF CARE //
Let’s talk about self care…
Self care is treating yourself like a friend.
Read moreAs a parent, it can be easy to forget to take care of ourselves. As our days are filled with taking care of others: our kids, possibly our parents, friends, significant other, etc., we tend to put ourselves on the back burner.
Read moreThere is an old Japanese tradition called Shinrin-Yoku, which literally translates to ‘forest bathing’. It is a practice in which one simply spends time in Nature to feel well. When asked why we don’t practice self-care, the number one reason is that we don’t have time. Shinrin-Yoku reminds us that self-care is inside us; it is a method of stepping away from our screens, letting go of our restraints and simply being outside. It is a preventative step and a cure for many ailments prescribed by Doctors in Japan.
Read moreFiled Under: BOOKS, HOME, SELF CARE, THAT MAMA BOOK CLUB //
For many people (including us), life is stressful! With society, work and family-related pressures, it can be very easy to become overwhelmed with everything that life has to throw at us.
SEAMS is a London founded company, launched by Karen J after many years of working in the fashion & beauty industry. Karen was looking for a hand cream that could be used quickly throughout the day and wouldn’t transfer any grease onto fabrics, she struggled to find one so set out to create SEAMS Hand Cream. A special Biomimetic Lipid Complex ensures the formula instantly melts in the skin and locks in moisture! Karen’s strong sense of smell lead her to create our signature Amber Cocoon scent, a clean fresh cotton fragrance that doesn’t linger on the skin.
Filed Under: BIRTH, BREASTFEEDING FRIENDLY, HOME, MOTHERHOOD, POST BABY, POSTPARTUM, SELF CARE //
While everyone loves to support you with what you’ll need (and potentially don’t need) when you’re pregnant, quite often us poor old mums get left by the wayside once we’ve popped out our cute little nugget. We’re left to fend for ourselves amongst leaking boobs, saggy skin and stinging bumholes and quite frankly, the postnatal fuss that we deserve is lacking! Here is our guide of Top 10 Postpartum Essentials that you need to make that time after birth just a little bit easier.
Filed Under: HOME, LIFESTYLE, MENTAL HEALTH, MOTHERHOOD, SELF CARE //
It’s January, it’s 2022 and it’s time to make some time for YOU! We’re all run ragged after the hustle and bustle of the Christmas period, so what better time to slow down and take care of yourself. Here’s a few self care ideas to make time for just you, whether you take a day to yourself of just ten minutes of your day, there’s something you can do that is solely to make you feel good.
Filed Under: GUEST POST, LIFE, MENTAL HEALTH, SELF CARE //
Chloe is here to share her top tips on on health, wellbeing and the power of setting goals!
More than ever, the importance of looking after our well-being and supporting each other is crucial. The pandemic has eroded many of the things that protect our mental health, including family support, social connections, and financial security. In particular, this lockdown is proving to be extra challenging due to the added pressure of home-schooling, cold weather, and shorter days. As we are no longer strangers to lockdown protocol, many people have coping tactics in place, but this hasn’t come easy for some. In times like this, it is essential to have kindness and compassion – not only to others but to yourself.
The low days
It is normal to feel low at some stage in our lives. Feeling sad, disheartened, frustrated, or worried are emotions we have all experienced, but this low mood often passes after a few days. It’s important to let yourselves feel these emotions but be careful not to stay in this place for too long. Today’s mood does not belong to tomorrow – tomorrow is always a fresh start.
I experience feelings of sorrow from time to time because it is part of being human. As much as we would all hope, it just isn’t feasible to live in a state of blissful happiness all day, every day. So, surrender to the low days, reflect on your feelings and let your mind refresh through sleep. This may sound easier said than done, and the current lockdown restrictions have been a real test of character for all of us, but with a bit of self-care, those bleak feelings can and will be overcome.
A healthy body and mind
What I have come to learn is that good health is about the mind and the body. Feeling good about ourselves and having adequate fitness levels will help us achieve more of the things we want to do in life. Unfortunately, even with my best efforts, stress always seems to lurk around the corner, making it difficult to avoid. It is important to seek new and innovative ways to escape this feeling.
More often than not, we feel isolated to deal with our problems when our connections are out of reach. Inspirational quotes and motivational writers are great at lifting spirits. After all, words have a powerful influence on our emotions. They can be used constructively with words of wisdom or destructively with words of despair. When the going gets tough, words have the energy to help, support, and heal us. A fantastic account that provides me with a burst of wisdom and focuses my mind is Kimberley Jane. Her posts offer me encouragement and motivate me to focus on my passions and ambitions.
She also provides a range of natural self-care remedies and products to keep you feeling uplifted and in a strong state of mind – she is well worth a follow! Another favourite of mine is the Scummy Mummies Podcast. With guest hosts, they discuss the reality of parenthood with a comedic touch. They always boost my morale and help me see the funny side of life. Boos are also a great way to understand certain emotions and can help you see clarity. A few I would recommend are: The Power of Positive Thinking, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and Reasons to Stay Alive.
Positive habits
Having a healthy body and mind involves creating positive habits. These include sleeping well, being active, eating well, having healthy relationships, and feeling comfortable in our skin. Another way to focus on our mental health is by setting goals. We often lose motivation and willpower in stressful moments, making it harder to plan or be excited about activities. However, it is through these difficult times that planning and structure are most important.
Setting goals is a tool that helps us focus on the critical aspects of our lives. I think it is safe to say that everyone realises the importance of goal setting but adapting them as we move through life is overlooked. I often have to work towards deadlines and goals in my work life, but I’ve never truly set myself a goal that is special to me. I decided that to improve my health and well-being, it was time to focus my attention on setting and achieving my lifelong goals. I needed something that focused my mind and inspired me to get the best out of my life.
Setting goals
Deciding on an appropriate and specific goal is a difficult task in itself. How many times have you set yourself a new year’s resolution and then actually achieved it? The truth is, some goals are achieved while others are not. This is because they seem so out of our reach, and the prospect of actually achieving them seems impossible. We tend to value things we have in the present far more than we value things we are aspiring for in the future.
More often than not, people set goals that are too vague, frame them with negative language, and rarely reflect people’s genuine aspirations. It is time to take an approach rooted in reality and constructed for you and your passions. Even if we don’t realise it, we all have a plan for our life; we dream about where we would like to be and imagine our futures. Without goals, we are just aimlessly stumbling through life.
Achieving your goals
Now the hard part – not just finding the power in setting goals but actually achieving these goals. Long-term goals may take years to complete and may seem like a distant dream in the present moment. However, by breaking this down into a series of smaller short-term goals, you will find yourself more focused and motivated. It may feel overwhelming at first, but once you’ve set out a structured and manageable plan, your long-term goal will become more transparent and plainer insight.
Seeing progress may take time, but growth will emerge as you journey through and cross off those smaller short-term goals. Like me, you may prefer writing everything down and crossing it off as you achieve them. To accomplish this, it may help to organise your goals into a monthly schedule and then break these down further into daily tasks. At first, it may seem daunting and difficult to achieve something every day, but in no time at all, this will become a habit, and you will learn how to manage and maximise your time efficiently. I have created a workbook for those needing a little inspiration on getting started; you can download it for free here.
Setting new goals helps trigger new positive behaviours, enables you to measure your progress, and sustains that momentum in life. The road to achieving your goals is never straight, and there will always be detours and bumps along the way – embrace these as they are all part of the journey.
We hope you enjoyed Chloe’s tips on wellbeing, health & the power of setting goals! Do you believe their is power in setting goals?
Filed Under: GUEST POST, SELF CARE //
Hi it’s Sioned! Let me introduce myself a little before I start. I’m a first time mummy to a little lady who’s 2 and a half going on 12!
I’m Welsh, my husband is Italian and my daughter was born in Scotland, what a beautiful mix right? I am going to be sharing my top skincare tip with you all, that will get your day off to the best start.
Filed Under: HOME, LIFE, LIFESTYLE, MENTAL HEALTH, SELF CARE //
I don’t think i’m alone in admitting that I have been feeling really overwhelmed recently. I have definitely found this lockdown the hardest & most isolating. I think the crappy weather is the main cause of that but also trying to juggle two young children, housework, running TMC & being a good partner, it can be a LOT. There are a couple things I have been doing whenever I feel overwhelmed or unmotivated & they have definitely helped! So we thought we would share ways to handle feeling overwhelmed, and hopefully they’ll help you too.
It is totally normal, especially at the minute, to feel overwhelmed. Whether you are trying to juggle working from home whilst home schooling children or just generally keep your head above water! Acknowledging and accepting feeling overwhelmed is a form of self acceptance. From here, you will be able to understand it and begin managing it.
Whether it is family & friends, or in your online space. Surrounding yourself with positive & supportive people is SO important! I am incredibly lucky to have such a supportive partner and immediate family. I am also lucky enough to work with the best people behind the scenes on TMC, we are always there with a supportive meme or to simply ask “how can I help you?” when someone is struggling.
When you feel that surge of overwhelm rising; stop, take a minute & breathe. Go for a walk, read a chapter of your book… whatever it is that distracts and makes you happy. Taking some time to yourself can really help you gain perspective on your life.
Whether it is watching an episode of your favourite tv show, listening to a podcast, taking a bath, ringing a family member.. doing at least one thing a day that makes you happy can be the perfect distraction.
I know it is easy to forget but we are already absolutely SMASHING life just by getting through the day. I think it is so important that we all celebrate every single win, no matter how small and really acknowledge & appreciate everything you have achieved.
Acknowledge exactly what you are in control of; the housework, sure. That is all down to you & your household (unless you have a cleaner – lucky bugger LOL), but if you’re feeling overwhelmed watching live news updates every day – REMOVE IT FROM YOUR LIFE. That’s not to say to remove it completely but maybe start to only tune in once a week. Don’t actively go searching on social media for false news & rumours. Especially at the minute when everything is a waiting game. It is crucial to know EXACTLY what you have control over.
We really hope you enjoyed our post on ways to handle feeling overwhelmed. Do you have any tips?
Filed Under: HOME, LIFE, MENTAL HEALTH, SELF CARE //
So many people think you have to make HUGE change in your life for you to feel the benefits or like you have achieved something. Where as really, lots of small five minute habits will have just as big impact. If not more so. These habits will make your life that little bit easier, more manageable & benefit your overall life.
A really easy one. Whether it is taking five minutes first thing in the morning to make your bed, take your empty glass from last nights drink downstairs and empty the dishwasher for example, or it can be setting a timer for five minutes and quickly decluttering things that don’t belong in a room. This will keep your space much tidier & prevent clutter from building up.
I am a bugger for writing a list of things I need to do in a day, and there being 20 things on it. Which, with two young children & a partner out at work every day – it sometimes just isn’t doable. So giving yourself ONE task to do and once that is done, IF you can, write a different task down and get that done. You’ll feel so much better seeing one thing written down & crossed off, than a whole list with only a couple of things managed.
My favourite thing to do. Taking just 10 or 15 minutes to sit and read a chapter of a book can really help you. It is the perfect distraction and it is relaxing for your mind. It keeps your mind engaged but not on 20 thousand things at once. As soon as the boys are in bed, that is my time to read. It’s the perfect thing to do before you go to sleep.
Whether it is a quick text or a good old face time catch up. Reach out to a friend & check in, they’ll appreciate it!
Whether it is watching a favourite tv show, listening to a podcast or exercising!
Who doesn’t love receiving a compliment? & it’s also nice knowing you gave a compliment that brightened somebody’s day.
Especially at the minute I think it is so easy for us to get lost in the bad things that are occurring and how different life is so just take five minutes each day to appreciate what we DO have. I appreciate having my family, I appreciate the roof over my head, I appreciate that my partner has been able to work all through the pandemic (as scary as it has been). It’s the little things in life.
I think a lot of us have this idea that if we put ourselves first, it makes us selfish, but it doesn’t. It’s okay to take time out of your day to do the thing YOU want to do, to take five minutes for yourself.
This is something I definitely need to implement more because I always feel so much better when I do. Delete your social media apps or put them all in one folder and move it off your front screen. Even if it’s just half a day. It is is so refreshing & does wonders for not only my mental health, but also my productivity.
Every day. 3 things, they can be physical features & personality traits.
There is always time to educate yourself on certain topics. I think the past 12 months, more than ever, have taught us that we should be constantly learning about what is happening in the world. There is no time for ignorance.
We hope these five minute habit ideas help, let us know a habit you implement into your daily life.
Filed Under: HOME, LIFE, MENTAL HEALTH, SELF CARE //
I think it’s safe to say that 2021 hasn’t been off to the best start, and (possibly quite naively) the start I imagined. 2020 was such a crazy year for me personally as I had a second baby, we went into lockdown & my partner continued to work as a key worker so I found my life consumed by a new baby & a toddler, it took me a while to find my feet. However I am determined to make 2021 the year that I focus a little bit more time on me. I am not going to be making any huge changes but I thought I would share 40 personal developmental goals that are super simple & easy to incorporate into your day.
What are your personal developmental goals? Will you try and incorporate any of these into your daily life?
When it came to my pregnancy with Teddy, I made it no secret that I really struggled with losing my identity and it took me a good year or so to feel more like myself. I think that was definitely the biggest shock when it came to motherhood was how much of yourself, your time & your sanity you give to being a parent. You feel like if you don’t dedicate your full attention, all of the time to your child, that you aren’t a good mum and i’m here to tell you that it’s absolute bullshit. I thought I would share the things that make me feel more myself post-baby.
Filed Under: LIFE, MENTAL HEALTH, MOTHERHOOD, SELF CARE //
Being a mum is tough work, I think that’s something we can all agree on. We all need some self-care activities. Some days feel like a breeze, whereas others feel painful and never ending. None of us is perfect in this role of motherhood, most of us aren’t even close, and the reason for that is because we’re only human.
Every day we are met with constant demand-demand-demand from these miniature versions of ourselves we created and most days we seem to struggle to find time to pee let alone do anything else for ourselves!
Filed Under: LIFESTYLE, MENTAL HEALTH, SELF CARE //
We all get stressed. We can’t deny it. Little (or very big) things dig at us in our everyday lives. Finding ways to mange these stresses changes from person to person, situation to situation. We decided we would write our own little de-stress list for you all to relish in. Whether it’s lockdown, home schooling, moving house.. whatever your circumstances, we hope you’ll find something here to help.