Life and Laughter Coach

Following my posts this week, you’ll be aware that I am taking some time away from my business and from social media.

This means that Coaching appointment bookings are closed for 2 months, from 1st October to 1st December (Coaching appointments will be available to book from 25th November).

As mentioned previously, I do this because I need to give myself extra special care and provide myself with the best conditions for healing (walking my own talk!).

Take care and see you again soon!

Following on from yesterday’s post, here’s part two of my self-care plan for the coming months:

• Having no expectations of myself or others – just allowing things to be

• Being OK with not being OK – things are going to be challenging, physically, emotionally and practically. That’s just how it will be at times I will need to accept it is OK not to be OK

• If things don’t get done that’s OK - most things are not that important (There is a book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff - I plan to hold this in mind)

• As a Do-er, resting can feel like a challenge - I plan to accept the challenge (sitting, sleeping, reading, being still)

• Drink water

• Eat good nutrient-rich food

• Practicing gratitude

• Breathwork – gentle, soothing and appropriate for my phase of healing (BBM breath work)

• 1 month pause in social media activities

• A gradual 6 month phased return to activities, then a further 6 moth gradual return to full fitness

(this means that Coaching appointment bookings will be closed for 2 months, from today until 1st December. Coaching appointments will be available again to book from 25th November)

We often behave like a “human doing” rather than being a “human being”, but soon I will need to give myself extra special self-care because I will be in recovery from surgery.

This means I need to walk my talk and make sure I provide myself with the best conditions for healing. And it is for this reason I have been thinking about self-care this month.

Here’s part one of my self-care plan. (I could probably write an article on any one of these points and maybe I will but not now because for now I will allow myself to be, not do):

• 2 months off work – because when I work, I want to be able to give my clients 100% and until I am fully recovered can’t be sure I will be able to do that*

• Accepting help - I know this one can be difficult for many of us. Me included. I love being the one who offers support and help to others but it is equally important to receive with grace. So, this is something I will need to do but will also choose to relax into. With a gracious gratitude

• Asking for help - even with the little everyday tasks. Accepting help is one challenge but another similar but different challenge is being able to ask for help (especially if you are the person who normally gets asked)

• Saying No! - I am a bit of a people pleaser by nature but I’m also aware that I must look after my own needs before I can meet the needs of others. So over the next couple of months, I will need to become comfortable saying no to things. Things that other ask of me but also saying no to myself and things I ask myself to do.

(*this means that Coaching appointment bookings will be closed for 2 months, from today until 1st December. Coaching appointments will be available again to book from 25th November)

As a human being, I am super interested in the “Being” aspect of our humanity.

With this in mind, when you think about the future version of you that has achieved all that is important to you, how is that version of you BEING (i.e. not doing, but being)?

Then ask yourself how can you begin being that way now?

We don’t have to wait to begin being that person and of course, by being that person now we bring the energy of that into the now too.

Down time is essential being able to relax. It enables us to renew.

In this culture of do, do, do…we sometimes forget we are human 'beings' not human doings.

Taking time to BE is almost becoming a lost art.

Being with yourself – taking time for quiet contemplation and reflection, allows your mind to process and make sense of your experiences.

Give your mind space.

Come off screens for a while, turn your phone off for an afternoon.

Walk bare foot on the grass.

Sit in the woods or by the sea, hug a tree, watch a feather dance in the wind.

Listen to the birds singing.

Lay on the ground and look at the sky.

Meditate, breathe, stretch…

• What do you do to connect with the world around you?

• How do you give yourself down time?

• How do you sooth your busy mind?

Give your mind space.

Come off screens for a while, turn your phone off for an afternoon.

Walk bare foot on the grass.

Sit in the woods or by the sea, hug a tree, watch a feather dance in the wind.

Listen to the birds singing.

Lay on the ground and look at the sky.

Meditate, breathe, stretch…

• What do you do to connect with the world around you?

• How do you give yourself down time?

• How do you sooth your busy mind?

We mistakenly assume that it is by doing, inputting more and more, that we achieve.

Though this may have some truth in it, it will only be effective if balanced with down-time.

An athlete gets stronger because they rest and it is during the rest time that the body repairs and rejuvenates, becoming stronger and more resilient.

The mind is the same. The input is useful but only if the mind is allowed time to pause and process it all so the information can be absorbed and integrated.

Interestingly, many of the things that make us feel better are freely available and yet we don’t use them.

Things like water, air, nature, trees, the ground, sea, sun, plants, sleep, rest.

For most of us some or all of these things are available for free, yet so often we prefer to reach for a paid or manufactured to help boost us.

I can highly recommend a local health store as a potential resource, because they are extremely professional, knowledgeable and kind.

They are

Take a look at their website and if you’re in the area, they also offer a free 15 minute consultation that you can book online: https://buff.ly/4elt8ev

Physical health and emotional health are linked, and one does impact the other.

Sometimes it can be worth having a health check with your GP or other professional.

Our bodies often need a little boost at times to rebalance the internal chemistry and this can have a really positive impact on how you feel (physically and emotionally).