October is Mental Health Awareness month and here are a few things we can do to support mental health.
Category: Self Care
Book Therapy – Care: The Radical Art Of Taking Time
One of my all-time favorite people to recommend is Brooke McAlary and her new book, Care, helps us work out what to do when the world’s problems feel too big and we are burnt out from trying, and we need to restore ourselves so that we can continue to care for things.
When The Days All Start To Feel The Same
What do we do when the days all start to feel the same? How do we get ourselves out of a funk?
Convalescing At The Coast
The best decision I have made for my health in years.
The Lightkeeper’s List – Volume 1
Today I am starting a new series called The Lightkeeper’s List!
Book Therapy – Growing Up Disabled In Australia
Growing Up Disabled in Australia is a diverse anthology of the very best kind!
Things I Learnt In My First Year of Blogging
There have been a few things that I predicted, a few surprises along the way and a whole lot of learning.
Take Control Of What You Can – Your Environment
In the second instalment of Take Control Of What You Can Series, I’m talking about regaining control of an environment to make you feel happier, healthier and safer.
Musings & Meditations – May 6 2021
… and am free.
Musings & Meditations – April 8 2021
What remains? Nature.
Book Therapy – There Is No Good Card For This
We have all been in that place where something awful happens to someone and we are petrified of saying the wrong thing or not sure how to help. This is where the book ‘There Is No Good Card For This: What to Say and Do When Life is Scary, Awful and Unfair to People You Love’ by Emily McDowell and Kelsey Crowe comes in to save us!
Just Because You Are Strong Enough To Carry It, Doesn’t Mean You Always Should
I hope you have people and places where you don’t have to be strong too.
A Word on Timing, Comfort and Change
There is something to be said for timing and usually we only see that something happens at the perfect time if it involves an obvious change or lesson, but even the things that we seek comfort from can come to us at the right time.
Musings & Meditations – March 18 2021
It may just help.
Who Is On Your Team?
As soon as things get tough, you know you are going to need a few people to lean on. Who is on your team?
Musings & Meditations – March 11 2021
Guard well your spare moments…
Simple Practical Ways To Help Someone With A Chronic Condition
So you might not be much of a talker or know much about the medical world, but you want to help someone close to you? Here are a few practical ways to help someone with a chronic condition!
Have You Considered Mental Health First Aid Training?
We are all aware of the mental health campaigns urging us to check in with each other, to start the conversation about someone’s mental health… but do you know how to support and guide them to resources if they say “No, I’m not ok”?. What are the next steps to take? Do you feel confident to have that discussion? Read more about my experience completing the Mental Health First Aid course.
Take Control Of What You Can – The Online World
When chronic conditions start to infiltrate every part of your life, you can feel like you are losing control or have others make all the choices for you. This series is about regaining a bit of control in areas that are manageable and make a huge difference – starting with the online world! Read about how I changed my online experience from taking me for a ride to taking the wheel!
Musings & Meditations – February 11 2021
Not the flower.
How To Use Breathing Meditations For Pain
Most of the time we don’t even realise that we are holding our breath when we are in pain. So when we are in the moment of pain and waiting for it to pass or ease, here are some neat little breathing meditation practices to try to relax our bodies.
My Favourite Meditation Resources
Following on from my meditation journey post, I thought I would share some of my favorite meditation apps, teachers and people!
My Meditation Journey
My journey with meditation had a lot of false starts and it was definitely a skill that once I started with the right intentions and reasons, I haven’t stopped and it has become the most valuable practice in my life. Read more about my meditation journey here:
Find Your Anchors
We all need our little anchors to keep up grounded and uplifted when the seas and skies are stormy.
A Healthier Way to Review The Year
It’s pretty hard to look back on a disappointing year, when nothing went your way and felt like a struggle to get through. From my experience from many tough years, here are a few things to keep in mind when reviewing the year.
The Days Are Long But The Years Are Short
2020 has been a strange year and a lot of us have struggled with the notion that our perception of time has changed. This is a very similar experience to when you have a chronic medical condition. Read more here!
Present Ideas for People with Medical Conditions
Buying presents for people with chronic conditions can sometimes be a little tricky. Here are some suggestions that are fail-safe to bring your loved ones some joy and comfort this festive season!
Book Therapy – Notes On A Nervous Planet
Matt Haig is a brilliant writer and human being who is constantly investigating and questioning the effect of modern life on our mental health. He is a huge advocate for mental health wellness, and has shared his experiences through his multiple fiction works and his non-fiction books.
Musings & Meditations – December 3 2020
When I am among the trees
Places To Go At Your Own Pace
Today’s post is all about inspiration for places to explore which let us go at our own pace and don’t drain our energy.
Musings & Meditations – November 26 2020
This is the power of gathering:
Managing Celebrations With Chronic Condition
Anyone with a chronic condition can tell you that going to celebrations or large events can be quite challenging and exhausting. With some careful planning and sensible self care, we can make the event much more enjoyable and last longer than Cinderella before the carriage turns into a pumpkin!
Musings & Meditations – November 19 2020
Look on each day that comes as a challenge, as a test of courage.
Maybe She’s Born With It
So often we can fall into the trap of assuming that someone is naturally gifted with skills, habits and traits. But what if they weren’t born like that and worked hard to be that person?
Reading Gives Us Someplace To Go When We Have To Stay Where We Are
When life gets too much we can retreat into familiar places and stories that give us comfort, and which feel better than the place that we are currently living in. Escaping into a book is the perfect balm for a tired soul in need of rest from yourself, your life and the world.
Musings & Meditations – October 29 2020
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” ― James Baldwin
Musings & Meditations – October 22 2020
You can not prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. – Chinese Proverb
Managing Both A Chronic Condition & An External Crisis
Being in pain or managing a chronic condition while also having an external crisis play out in front of you, can really add to the stress and therefore the symptoms that you manage. From my own experiences, here are my suggestions for managing both a chronic condition and an external crisis.
The Chronic Condition Emergency Plan
We never know when something could go wrong or we need additional help, and the best way to manage this is to be prepared and have a plan. Here are my tips to cover all bases!
Musings & Meditations – October 8, 2020
In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you. – Andrea Dykstra
Book Therapy – The Poetry Pharmacy + The Poetry Pharmacy Returns
I would love to introduce you to The Poetry Pharmacy. If you are a poetry beginner, or a literary lover, I am certain that you will find joy and comfort within these pages.
Meditations & Musings – October 1, 2020
The secret is to never lose sight of the simple, everyday miracles in life;good food, literature, laughter, music, compelling conversation, nature, and art. Look for them in every day,and even when it feelslike your whole world is unravelling,you will never be too farfrom a needle and thread. – Beau Taplin • N e e d…
The Survival Kit
Nurturing ourselves with familiar and enriching activities that restore our energy is what keeps us afloat when everything around us is uncertain, rough and stormy.
Musings & Meditations – September 24, 2020
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us…
Sharing Your Story With The Right People At The Right Time
Knowing who and when to share your story with takes skill and awareness, and can be incredibly supportive and rewarding.
Activities For Slow & Quiet Days
Some days you just need something to do that is quiet and not too taxing on your energy levels.
How to Handle Motion Sickness Like a Pro
Finally getting out of your house only to suffer from motion sickness? Here are my tried and true tips to manage it.
Become A Regular At Your Local Chemist
The pharmacist is probably going to be a frequent person you’ll see when managing a medical condition, so it is reassuring to get to know them and their services.
How To Master The Afternoon Nap & Get Quality Rest
With a little experimenting, rituals and preparation, you can master quality rest time.
