Health and Well Being

I recently lost my mum and I am so sad. Some days I can’t shake off my sadness and other days I can thankfully make it through the day. In the weeks leading up to her passing when she was first diagnosed as terminal and then in the many weeks after she passed. I have been shown so much kindness and it has left me feeling really humbled. It has also made me stop and think about why kindness is important. This period in my life is really making me re-evaluate and question myself and my actions towards others. How kind am I? What can I do to show kindness to others? How can I ever express how truly grateful I am to my many friends and family who have showered me with kindness. How?? I guess the only answer I can come up with is…..”Do unto others” “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets”  Matthew 7:12 There Are Many Benefits To Being Kind Indeed there are many benefits to being kind. Some of these are You will develop more friendships Being kind may have many important health benefits such as lowering inflammation, boosting your immune system, and may reduce blood pressure. Showing kindness can be good for your mental health as acts of kindness can reduce anxiety. Being kind may even mean you live longer It’s great that showing kindness towards others can have many important benefits. BUT I think that real kindness needs to come from a selfless attitude. I think we all need to be kind just because it’s important to be kind. Full stop. Kindness should come naturally and it should be our first instinct. It’s so easy to be kind to the sweet but not so easy to be kind to the sours of this world. You know the ones I mean. The people who cut you off when you’re driving. The ones who push in front of you at the supermarket. The grumpy, rude, mean-spirited people we come across in our everyday life. Yep, it’s not easy to be kind to them, sigh! Why Are People So Unkind? I have a really sweet friend who has an amazing ability to see things from the point of view of others. I have learnt a lot from her. She has this gift of understanding why people behave the way they do. On many occasions, I have expressed my irritation to her about certain people’s behaviour and she has gently explained that maybe they are going through a rough time. Sometimes people are unkind because… They Are Afraid Of Change Sometimes people who are afraid of change can feel threatened and not in control. And this can cause them to behave in a mean way. They Have Poor Self Esteem When people are brought up to believe that they are not good enough, they can often behave rudely as a way of trying to prove to others that they deserve to be seen and respected. They Feel Vulnerable If people have been abused in their lives. They may feel the need to act tough and aggressive in order to squash any feelings of vulnerability. They May Have Personal Problems Sometimes people may have personal problems that are causing them to feel incredibly anxious and overwhelmed. Anxiety can make people lash out in anger or cause them to behave rudely or in a  controlling manner. How Can We Be Kinder There are many ways we can all be kinder. All it takes is a conscious decision and a change of mindset. We can CHOOSE to be kind no matter what. Here are some suggestions for ways we can be kinder. Kinder to others, kinder to ourselves, and even kinder to our world. 1. Smile! This is an easy starting point on your journey to be kinder. Just give someone a friendly smile next time you are at the shops, going for a walk, or running an errand. Years ago I was at the supermarket and I had just been to the doctor who had given me some very welcomed news. I was pregnant! And I was so happy that I couldn’t stop smiling. I smiled at an elderly gentleman in the Dairy aisle and he said to me words I will never forget. He said,” Thank you so much for smiling at me, you have no idea how much that meant to me”. I was taken aback, firstly I was glad that he appreciated my smile but then I felt almost felt guilty because my smile came from my own good news. Would I have smiled at him if I hadn’t received this news? I hope so. 2. Surprise someone with a visit or phone call Don’t assume that people are too busy, go ahead and visit or make that phone call. Just to be sure you’re not interrupting or catching someone at a bad time you could always send them a quick text beforehand. Then they will be able to let you know if it’s a good time or not. They will also be happy to know that you are thinking of them and you might even be able to reschedule for another time. 3. Use a kind voice Always try and use a kind voice, even if sometimes you might have to fake it because that person is irritating you. At least you know that you tried and I have found that on many occasions a kind word can turn away anger. 4. Drop off a care package During COVID lockdown I had some friends drop me off care packages. I thanked them profusely but I don’t know if they will ever fully know how much I appreciated this and how truly grateful I am for their kind gesture. 5. Drop off a meal When my mum was dying in hospital, the last thing I felt like doing was cooking

I’m really excited to be linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s Let’s Look. Today’s topic is “What you eat in a week” How fun! I’m always down to talk about food! So let’s jump right in and let me share with you what my week looks like when it comes to what I eat. Breakfast Ok, confession time. Monday to Friday I am not a breakfast eater at all. My husband and son do eat breakfast but not me. In fact, I feel sick even thinking about food early in the morning. This always stressed my mum when I was growing up and so she would make me smoothies just so that I wouldn’t go to school on an empty stomach. I remember gulping them down fast just to get them over and done with. They were really delicious too! Silly teenage me, how I wish for those years back. Anyway, not much has changed and I still don’t like to eat anything in the morning before I go to work. Instead, I have a coffee at around 9 and then eat a piece of fruit at around 10.30. This is the time when I sit down with the kids at preschool for our morning “Fruit Break”. Morning coffee at preschool in a glittery pink cup On The Weekends Now when it comes to the weekends it is a completely different story. I am more than happy to eat a big breakfast at around 10 am which is usually the time when I start to feel hungry. We like to have what my son calls “A Full English Breakfast”. We have scrambled eggs, hash browns (not sure these are English), bacon, sausages, mushrooms, toast, and tomatoes. Now we don’t have this every weekend but we do have it often. Ha, I remember telling my friend about my weekend breakfast and she started turning green just thinking about it. I guess it’s not for everyone! If we don’t have a “Full English Breakfast” we sometimes have pancakes with fruit and maple syrup or my delicious apple and berry gluten-free loaf with more berries, or Greek yogurt and a nice drizzle of honey. So good!! Lunches I try to keep things pretty healthy during the week so all I will usually take to work is a salad and a small can of tuna. Sometimes if we have leftovers, then I will pack a small portion of whatever it is to go with my salad. Other times I will have toast with vegemite and avocado. Or just plain avocado on toast. Dinner I have started meal planning again this year and this is what I always do at the beginning of every year. However, I have been known to slacken off and then I find that I’m scrambling to think of what to cook for dinner. Sometimes I even ask my little preschoolers what they think I should cook. I do it more as a joke because they think this is hilarious. Teachers don’t cook dinner they say!! Usually, they will suggest chicken nuggets or pizza. Ha! not very healthy, but yummy though!! So now that I am super determined to stick to my meal plan. Working out what to cook every night is so much easier and this is what we have eaten over the last few days Teriyaki Salmon with rice and coleslaw Fall apart roasted pork Pan-fried Barramundi, chips and salad Chicken Schnitzel with vegetables and gravy Lasagna Eating Out We don’t eat out weekly but on the first Monday of every month, we get together with a group of friends and have dinner at our local RSL club. I love these nights, such a great way to start the working week. Mondays don’t feel so bad when I know it’s our monthly get-together. It just so happens that we had our Monday night dinner just two nights ago. We usually eat out for special occasions like birthdays or date nights with my husband. My birthday is coming up soon and I’ve requested that we go out to my favourite Italian restaurant, Cappano Trattoria Bar and Grill. They have the most delicious fettucine marinara with lots of seafood. Huge tomahawk steaks are on the menu too! I’m really looking forward to this!! Snacks I love chips!! but I leave these for the weekend. The same goes for chocolate, soft drinks, and donuts. I mean I don’t eat all of this every weekend. But if I do eat snacks, it will usually be on the weekends. Friday after work I sometimes stop off at the shops to pick up a sweet treat for the family. It’s just a nice way to end the working week and a fun Friday afternoon tradition. I Love salt and vinegar chips!! Snack-size Kit Kats are safer. Stops me from eating a whole block Bundaberg ginger beer is a Friday night must!! Cheese!!! Usually, every Tuesday night when my husband is off work, we will enjoy some cheese, crackers, and maybe dip with a glass of wine. I just love cheese and I could eat it all day long. I think Havarti and Brie are probably my favourites. The only cheese I can’t do is blue cheese.     I guess that probably wraps up what I eat in a week and now my stomach is growling and I’m feeling hungry! Thanks so much for stopping by and I really do hope that you have the best Wednesday!    

We all want to live a more relaxed life, however, this is not always easy. Life can be very fast-paced, hectic, and generally very stressful. It is very important for our well-being that we try to aim to adjust things in our lives that may be causing us unnecessary anxiety or pressure. This will not only benefit us but also those who live with us. It is extraordinarily hard to live with someone who is constantly stressed and wound up. Nobody can relax when this is the case. So consider some of the following points so that you can live a more relaxed life. Declutter Decluttering your environment is a great step in reducing your levels of stress. When you do away with clutter you will feel much calmer and in control of your life. Living in a tidy and organised space will allow your mind to relax and you will feel overall much happier. Excercise Exercise helps your brain to produce the “feel good” neurotransmitter known as Endorphines. Certainly, there is a real sense of well-being and elation after a good challenging workout. Therefore people who engage in regular exercise will generally feel calmer and more relaxed. Exercise is good for your physical well-being as it improves blood flow and oxygen to your body. Additionally, it is also very beneficial for your mind as it can distract you from your troubles. As a result, when you are exercising you are concentrating on your body and not focusing on what is going through your mind. Hang Out With Kind Supportive Friends Surround yourself with supportive friends who understand and appreciate you. Find those friends who want to see you happily living your best life and stick with them! Get Adequate Sleep Try to get to bed at a decent time so that you sleep enough hours to rejuvenate your mind and body. Sleep is vital for our health as it is during sleep when the body repairs itself. Treat Yourself with Simple Pleasures Think of simple things that you really enjoy doing and that make you feel joyful and relaxed. Perhaps it might be taking a nice long undisturbed shower, reading a good book, watching a favourite movie, or listening to music. Whatever it may be try and make sure you sprinkle some of these pleasures into your everyday life. Smile And Laugh More Being able to enjoy moments of laughter especially when you are going through very anxious and stressful times works like a release. Eat Healthily Eating a healthy diet will increase your energy levels and general well-being. Stay away from junk food and eat a healthy well-balanced diet from a variety of food groups. Make sure you are getting enough vitamin D as this can impact your mood. If your vitamin D levels are low your body may feel achy, tired, and stressed. Try and get out in the sunshine and eat foods that are rich in Vitamin D such as salmon, egg yolk, and sardines. Decline The Drama We all know people who just love to create and promote drama. Unfortunately, when you are around these kinds of people on a daily basis it can be easy to get caught up in it. Drama is not healthy so be more inclined to resist joining in for a more relaxed life. Practice Gratitude Being grateful for what we have daily is the best way to stop focusing on whatever is making us stressed and anxious. Try and be grateful even for the tiniest blessings and resist the attitude of taking things for granted. Perhaps begin each morning by being grateful for something and end the day in the same way. Live In The Present Try not to worry about the future, this is probably one of the hardest things to do especially if you are prone to catastrophizing! We need to remember that the future is completely out of our control. So try and bring your mind into the present when it starts to wander into the scary future. There is a direct correlation between living in the present and living a more relaxed life. Visualise Your Troubles Away When you begin to feel your anxiety rising about a certain situation. Picture yourself getting as far away as possible from the trouble that is unsettling you. Forgive It is almost impossible to live a relaxed life if you harbor a grudge or choose to not forgive someone. Unfortunately, you are only hurting yourself when you don’t forgive and move on. Take A Day Off From Complaining Pick a day and make a big effort to resist the urge to whinge and complain. This is certainly no easy task. However, if you catch yourself every time you are about to complain and turn it around to focus on a positive thought. You will be on your way to training your mind to dwell on the positives rather than the negatives. Practice Self Care Practicing self-care is also very beneficial for living a more relaxed life. Self-care is important for our health, happiness, and general well-being.      

Self-care is extremely important so that we can function daily as the best version of ourselves. We all live extremely busy lives working, studying, looking after children, partners, elderly parents, doing housework and chores, etc. Therefore it’s vital that we remember to practice self-care and not put ourselves at the bottom of our long list of those we care for. Self-Care What is Self-Care? Before we start I thought we should look at what self-care is exactly. I used to think it meant hour-long bubble baths and all-day spa visits. Whenever someone mentioned self-care I would instantly find myself thinking “Who on earth has any time for that?”. But no I was totally wrong, self-care isn’t that at all. The definition of self-care is “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress” Oxford Dictionary Simply put, it just means we need to do beneficial things for our minds and bodies which will help us be healthier and happier. I’m definitely all for that. So let’s have a look at some simple self-care tips that we can all practice- Go For A Walk Walking is a time when you can be completely by yourself. It doesn’t have to be a long walk, it can be 10 minutes or it can be 30 minutes. This is a perfect time to clear your head and also get a bit of exercise. Journal Spend some time writing down your thoughts and feelings. It can be extremely liberating to write these emotions down on paper. It’s also great for our mental health to practice gratitude so you could take the opportunity to include in your journal a list of things you are thankful for each day. I love using pretty coloured gel pens and stickers to decorate my journal. I find this super motivating and a fun little creative outlet that doesn’t take much time at all. Listen To Your Favourite Music Play some music that you find uplifting. Maybe a song with powerful motivating words. I like Whitney Houston’s “One Moment In Time”. This is such a booster of a song and one that inspires faith and courage. I love belting out the lyrics (sorry neighbours). You could also listen to music from your high school years and have your own dance party. Release those endorphins and you will find yourself feeling instantly happier. Enjoy Your Favourite Drink Sip on your favourite relaxing tea, cosy hot chocolate, or refreshing juice. Whatever it is just make sure you sit down and take your time to enjoy it. No chugging! Have A Nap Listen to your body when it’s telling you it’s tired. Don’t keep pushing on, put any guilt aside and lie down for a nap. You will wake up feeling refreshed and it will do wonders for your health. Naps can boost memory, lift your mood and make you feel less stressed and irritable. Catch Up With A Friend Make time to engage with friends as often as you can. You can sit in a park and chat, go to a coffee shop, or enjoy some retail therapy. It can be an all-day activity or just a catch-up for an hour or so. Having friends you can share life with is so important for your well-being and health. Good friends bring you comfort and joy, they can help relieve stress and have huge benefits for your mental health and general happiness. Breathe You can take a few minutes to practice breathing exercises anywhere. Take some deep breaths inhaling slowly and deeply through your nose then exhaling through the mouth. Relaxing your shoulders and jaw. This is one of the best ways to lower your stress levels. It’s amazing how important it is to be aware of how you are breathing. Unfortunately, it’s incredibly easy to forget the importance of breathing and slip into bad habits like holding your breath when you are stressed or anxious. I know that this is what I tend to do. Recently I invested in a smartwatch and discovered that it has a super helpful feature. It actually leads me through short simple breathing exercises throughout the day. Eat Well Have you ever found yourself just slapping together something to eat on the run that may not contain many health benefits? Consider taking the time to make sure you eat nutritious food that will fuel your body. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and don’t forget to drink water. Don’t Try To Be Perfect This is a hard one especially now with social media. We have to be a bit more realistic and realise that what we see on Instagram etc is just a snapshot. It’s a tiny minuscule fraction of someone’s life that may or may not be staged. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to anyone neither in real life nor from what we see on social media.   We are all doing the best we can and we have to give ourselves grace and remember that some days are going to be better than others. Perfect people don’t exist. Do Your Nails You can splurge on a manicure and pedicure or do your nails yourself. Find a time when you can enjoy doing this without any interruptions. There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time on your nails and then have to attend to something that ruins all your careful work. Choose a fun coloured nail polish that will put a smile on your face. Alternatively, if you don’t feel like wearing nail polish you can just trim and buff your nails. It’s always satisfying to see nice healthy nails when you look at your hands. Go Somewhere Quiet and Peaceful Visit a place that you find relaxing like the beach or a park. You could also visit an art gallery, museum or library. Find somewhere that makes you happy and make a date to go there with yourself, your partner, or a friend. Stretch This will make