Tag Archives: healthy life

Jan31

Life Lessons

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Whatever plans we make, life has a habit of turning them on their heads. Sometimes we can adapt the original plan, while other times, we have to step back and start again. Personally, that’s why I have a problem with goal setting. Not meeting a goal feels like a failure, even though a change of direction might be the best thing to do.

Last year, on the 12th June, our plans were turned on their heads when our daughter asked if she could come and live in Wales with us. We spent every available moment and every penny we had to turn a barn into a bedroom.

It wasn’t part of our ‘plan’ for a couple of years, but having our girl with us, and giving her the opportunity to take her time deciding which way her future lies, has been a blessing.

My partner and I began to forge a new plan, thinking of building a growing room for our veg as we’re now vegan, and we got a concrete base laid.

But then water started coming up through our lounge floor We were forced to dig channels to persuade the water away from the house, begin a reroofing project, and lime mortar and white wash the whole of the back of the house. We worked on a wall inside too, ready for Yule.

Once Yule was over, my partner and I were back at work on Boxing Day. We had new plans…and then last week, we hit our biggest financial crisis since we arrived in Wales. We’ve had a rethink, spent three incredibly stressful days working out what we’re going to do, and now we’re back working again towards getting ourselves straight by this time next year.

The secret to long life and happiness isn’t about the hand life deals you, but the way you react to it. In the past, my depression and anxiety would have knocked my mind and body for weeks after a major crisis. This time, I listened to my body and was kind, allowing myself a chance to rest before I moved on. It was hard, but I kept up good, nutritional eating as well, knowing the vitamins and nutrients would help me feel better.

Whatever plans you have for 2020, never be afraid to be flexible. If something isn’t working, don’t keep bashing away. Give yourself time, talk to those you trust. Not meeting a goal doesn’t make you a failure, but rather a strong person of courage, who can take on a set back, deal with whatever it brings, and move forward in a positive way.

Follow me for more life blogs, plant based recipes, life begins at fifty posts, and my new, exciting project starting 20th March 2020. Bright blessings xx

 

Oct16

Life begins at fifty – Healthy Life #16 -Sleep is your super power

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Deep down, I’ve always known how important sleep is for happiness and health, but over the years, I’ve made a lot of excuses.

During my teenage years, I could stay up late and snooze anywhere, determined not to miss a thing.

As a mother, sleep was a luxury for a number of years, especially when child no3 decided to sleep no more than two hours, day or night, for the first two years of her life, bless her. And then there was the Christmas Eve I didn’t sleep at all when same child decided she was putting up a stocking for Big Ted and Magic Ted, so I sat up all night knitting them scarves!

When I was poorly, I grabbed as much sleep as I could, especially when I was recovering. At this time in my life, in my mid thirties, I discovered the beauty of a power nap, and used it whenever I could. I took a lot of hurtful banter in the school playground, where other mother’s were critical of my need to have a break in the middle of the day, but if I was up at 6.30am and often didn’t finish teaching dance until after 9pm, I needed 40 minutes rest to keep going.

My family grew up, and I needed my sleep to pack in as many things into my day as I could manage – dancing, cooking, writing and looking after elderly parents, to name a few

And then we moved to Wales, and embarked on a new adventure! I’ve never needed good sleep more in my whole life! But you don’t have to believe me – believe the science! Watch this video in your tea break (just 20 minutes) and you’ll soon realise why I do my utmost to get 8 hours of sleep EVERY night! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MuIMqhT8DM&t=1035s

Matthew Walker is an English scientist and professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on the impact of sleep on human health and disease.Enjoy….and good night!