Bad habits are an unfortunate fact of being human. As much as we may have good intentions, life sometimes has other ideas and no one is perfect. We can’t live like saints, but if you feel like your bad habits are starting to have a negative effect on your life then it's time to review what you can do to make a change. You might realise that you’ve become an emotional eater, that your spending habits are spiralling out of control, you need to start making exercise a part of your routine to boost your wellbeing or you need to quit smoking. Whatever behaviour you’re planning to change, it can be time with a little willpower. You can and will make the change you need to as long as you go about it the right way and give yourself the tools you need to succeed.
Take Baby Steps With A Substitute
Addressing the reason why your habits have formed in the first place is key to changing them. The reason we develop a habit is usually because it makes life easier or it gives us comfort. This is the reason that going completely cold turkey is usually extremely hard, and ultimately unsuccessful for most people. Our brains are hardwired to seek out the easy option or the reassurance. Instead of getting rid of it completely, it can be a better strategy to substitute the problematic behaviour - either with a harmless habit or with one which can help you to make the transition. Think about the situations that make you resort to the behaviour that you’d like to change. If you always eat when you’re stressed or anxious, then you could try chewing a piece of gum or making a hot drink instead. If you’re a social smoker, BuyV2Cigs supply a great range of products that can gradually replace that. Planning ahead for times of stress or trigger situations when you know you fall back on a bad habit is a really great idea. If you arm yourself with substitutes and coping strategies then you are less likely to revert to your old ways out of panic.
Get A Buddy
Making a positive lifestyle change is so much easier when you don’t feel alone. Behaviour change specialists suggest that accountability is a key aspect of success - so we need to share our progress and have someone to take us to task when we veer off track. This is the reason that peer support groups like Slimming World are so successful for many people. The camaraderie and the accountability they offer is a motivating combination. So find your tribe - join an online support forum, find a local group or make a public commitment - such as completing Couch25k and entering a charity run in support of a good cause.
Prepare To Succeed
When efforts seem to be going well, it's easy to get complacent and end up slipping back into old habits. Preparation is absolutely key, at least until your bad behaviour is no longer second nature. If you're aiming for a healthier diet, ensure that you do a bit of meal prep on a Sunday and have some healthy lunch options ready to go, and pack a few snack options in your bag so that you aren't caught short.
*This is a collaborative post*
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Depression and anxiety can really take it out of you and make your life a horrible place to be. There is often no escaping the feelings of worthlessness that go along with these complex mental health issues.
Unfortunately, mental health issues can affect anyone and at any point in their life. They are something that many people will suffer from to one extent or another. There are ways of treating your mental health issues which will involve looking after yourself and one of the biggest hurdles that you will have to face is admitting to yourself that you are suffering, and then allowing yourself to open up and admit it to those around you.
Talk About It
Talking through the complex emotions and burdens that surround your depression and anxiety can be tough, but it is necessary. Often, we tie ourselves in knots with worries and stresses in life and then when we try and process how we feel about a situation we do not understand ourselves. This can lead to being irritable or angry whilst also feeling down.
Find someone that you can confide in that you are struggling with. You may want to choose a friend or family member. Or, if you do not feel that you have anyone close enough that you can speak to, you should definitely raise the issue with your doctor. You may be able to get referred for some therapy, or there are private counselors that you make an appointment with.
Getting to the bottom of your problems can take a long time, and when you start to open up, you may find that you bring up feelings that you did not know you had. It can be emotionally draining to go through any form of therapy, but in the longterm, it can be hugely beneficial.
Medication
One option that may be open to you to treat your depression and anxiety is anti-depressants. These drugs are designed to alter the hormones in your brain in a way that allows you to function much better with less of the symptoms of depression and anxiety. There are a number of different medications on the market, and your doctor will recommend the right one for you.
Opinions are mixed on anti-depressants as there are many different types around, and they don’t all work for everyone in the same way.
Alternative Treatments
There are a number of herbal medications such as St John’s Wart that have long been used for the treatment of depression. Again, the success of this is varied, but it is something that can be bought without a prescription and taken as needed.
*This is a collaborative post*
This year I'm determined to make the most of the festive season so I've created a Christmas bucket list.
What's on your list to do this year?
You can pin my bucket list to Pinterest by clicking on the top corner of the image.
Being a parent is the greatest feeling in the world – that’s pretty much indisputable. Creating a little person is just about the only thing that we know we’re here for – everything else is just pure speculation. That said, completing the one and only task we know we need to complete feels wonderful! As soon as you hear the news that there will be a baby on the way, you feel this overwhelming sense of love, and a new-found duty of care flows through your entire body. These feelings become massively amplified during and after the arrival!
It’s amazing, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s also very, very difficult at times. Sure, some days parenting is a walk in the park, but the majority of days are pretty hard-hitting. Many people are able to shake off the tough times, but they can have a lasting effect on many other parents.
If you’re a parent that is struggling with the jobs you have ahead of you, then there are things you can do to combat the mental struggles of them all. The stress will always be with you – it comes with the territory – but there are ways to lower its intensity. With any mental health struggle, time is needed, it’s not exactly going to be a quick fix, but it’s something that can absolutely be conquered. Here are a few things you can do:
Talk About It With Your Partner
Simply opening up about what you’re going through would help out a lot. A lot of people are too afraid to talk about their problems because they feel it might burden the other person – it really wouldn’t though. If somebody you love is struggling with all kinds of issues, would you palm away their attempts to share and relieve stress? Of course, you wouldn’t. Open up completely about what your issues are – once they’re out in the open, you’re able to then approach them better.
Keep Active
Well, if you’ve got a child with you, then you’re going to be kept on your toes a lot, so you might not need to do anything else in order to keep fit. You should absolutely keep an eye on your physical fitness, however – you don’t want that thing dropping off because it’ll make your jobs so much harder. Keeping fit and exercising will also clear your mind for a little while, and make you feel a lot more positive and confident. You’ll be in a better headspace whenever you approach certain tasks.
Make Sure You Eat And Drink Enough
Not having enough energy is a big factor that leads to increasingly poor mental health issues. It sounds so simple, but it’s true. This can be amplified when you have a child to take care of. You need the energy to perform certain tasks, and you also need it to stop your mind from going crazy (or crazier!).
Be Grateful For The Situation You’re In
This sounds like a stupid idea – especially when you’re in a pretty torrid predicament – but perhaps you should take a step back and look at the position you’re currently in. It might not mean much to you when you’re not in a great headspace, but lots of people would love to be in your shoes. It might be a little difficult at times, but many people would swap lives with you in an instant.
This kind of thing might not be much of a booster, but it might be able to shine a light of positivity on your situation. It might make you feel as though you’re in a pretty nice position as it is.
Look For Alternative Medicinal Means
If it’s getting all too much for you, then you might want to head to a doctor, and let them figure out a few things. They’ll listen to your story and point you in the right direction. If it means taking a few tablets to calm you down a little, then so be it. It sounds taboo and crazy, but many parents (and people suffering from mental struggles in general) use cannabis in order to relax their minds a little and grab some perspective. It’s obviously still a stigmatized thing, but Cannabis in the UK is looking more and more likely – and that’s due to the positive effect it has on the health and wellbeing of so many people.
Hire A Childminder
If you’ve got the money, then this is a no-brainer. You should take a little break every now and again. You may feel a little too attached to your child, but letting go for a day or two could fix up your mind. You’ll have to chance to refresh and revitalize ahead of another bout of parenting!
*This is a collaborative post*
Last week we were invited to the opening of Cardiff's Winter Wonderland. It's one of our favourite places to visit during the festive season.
There have been a few changes this year. Our first impression was that it seemed smaller, however, it is simply because the layout has changed and there has been an exciting new addition.
There are plenty of rides and stalls to choose from for all ages. My girls are nearly 4 and 6 and they went on quite a few amusements. Their favourites were the fun house, the funny mirrors and some of the smaller rides.
The highlight of the night for all of us was the ice-skating with the new alpine ski trail. My youngest absolutely loved skating with her penguin. She had ice-skates which went over her shoes which I think she found quite comfortable.
My eldest started with a penguin but then bravely had a go at skating by herself.
The ski-trail is the first of its kind in the UK. It is attached to the ice-rink and takes you on a journey around the gardens and then back into the ice-rink. It's a lovely addition to the experience.
We also enjoyed the big wheel. It has had a makeover and it is now wheelchair accessible. Even in the dark we enjoyed sweeping views of Cardiff.
I will admit that we were disappointed with the food options. There was one large van serving hot food and drinks. It was reasonably priced but it was busy and we had to wait a while. I think on a very busy day at Winter Wonderland, one van will not be enough. There are other options such as donuts or crepes but for things such as burgers and chips, this is the only stall.
We ended the night in one of our favourite places at Winter Wonderland and that is the Sur la Piste bar. Hubby and I had a mulled wine whilst the girls enjoyed hot chocolates in a cosy booth under a heater.
We will definitely be returning over the Christmas period.
It is open until the 5th January. Booking for ice-skating is highly recommended.
** Disclosure - We were invited to the opening of Winter Wonderland in exchange for instagram posts. You can head over to my instagram profile and go to the Christmas highlight on my homepage to see what we got up to. Head over to my profile by clicking here, Instagram. We were not asked to write a blog post. I have written this one as we had such a good time that I wanted to share it with you. All photos and words are my own*
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