I post something like this every year at this time, when I am winding down for some time off and time away from 'normal' life. It’s a time when I can focus even more on my well-being, so here are a few ideas of things you can do over the holidays to boost yours.

1.      Catch up on sleep at night
2.      Gaze at a fire (a candle flame will do)
3.      Breathe in the smell of pine or cinnamon
4.      Have a day (or more) without alcohol
5.      Get outside during daylight hours and walk
6.      Take a screen break every day
7.      Enjoy a lie-down during the day
8.      Listen or watch something completely different to broaden your mind
9.      Keep hydrated with water
10.   Enjoy your food more by eating slowly
11.   Help someone else out
12.   Do what works best for you and do more of it

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

(PS There is no blog for the next two weeks as I'm taking a proper break. I’m back on 8th January 2020.)

My mum has been saying for years that the quickest way to unhappiness is to compare yourself to others. It’s so true: comparing yourself with others will leave you feeling one of three things – inferior, superior or impressed. All three of these states are tricky because they all disregard the underlying principle of our true connection with each other - mutual love and positive regard, based on independently-generated self-esteem.
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What to do? Be pleased for someone else and who they are/what they can do, and recognise all that you are/what you can do too. Being grateful for what you are and what you have is a great place to start. And if you must compare yourself to someone, try comparing yourself now to who you used to be – and see how far you have come!

After a particularly busy November, I’m now relishing a slightly less frenetic December, and with it comes the recognition of silence again. The modern world can feel loud: constant beeps, pings and other alerts, the chatter and the clatter, and the hum of electrical equipment. It’s why, for so many people, silence is the most sought-after experience. Even Jane Austen was said to have written: "Let us have the luxury of silence."

Here's a few ideas of how you might like to carve out some time to experience silence, every day.
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• Try immersing in the stillness of an early morning, or late at night, with no one else around
• Aim to still your attention for a few minutes in the middle of your day
• Process your day and quiet your mind before bed, to aid sleep.

Of course, some might say that you don’t need actual silence to experience peace and quiet, and if that works for you, it’s an added bonus. Focusing on a quiet mind and a still body can manifest the benefits of actual silence, wherever you are, whenever you like.
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