Do you ever wake up and just lack energy, motivation and start to sink under the burden of the day ahead, worrying about everything which may or may not happen, and looking at everything with dread?
Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s a virus – there are probably loads of labels or reasons you may add to justify it – but maybe, there is something far more positive you could do. Continue reading “4 ways to improve the view of your day”
It’s all too tempting to channel your children into a mini-me. Yes they look up to their parents as super heroes who can do marvellous things, and there is a likelihood, that what ever example you set as a parent, they will follow.
If you munch on pizza and burgers in front of the TV each night, that precedent is set for eating unhealthily (both in manner and content). If however you exercise, that too may rub off, and they will most likely follow our example to some degree, which in turn brings you great joy. The obvious exception to this, is when you work for months to refine a yoga pose, and your 4 year old daughter walks straight in, does it, and goes on her way as if nothing ever happened (the experience of a face-planted crow!).
Rather than forcing our children to follow in our footsteps, making them have ballet lessons, toughening up the son with a good dose of winter rugby in the wind and hail and so on, there are 4 clear stages in which we can help them build up ‘grit’ – a form of determination which will help them through life.
An Interest (and this needs to be encouraged rather than focusing on their weaknesses);
Deliberate and regular practise (to refine the skills);
A purpose (the long term reasoning about what it brings to others) and
Hope (that resilience that they will keep trying and moving forwards despite what comes their way).
You can read more in this article from Success magazine
Funnily enough, it is not just children who this applies to, it is us as well – especially when your 4 year old contortionist leaves the room with you in a twisted crumpled heap!
Together we can bring some Serenity to your life
It is so easy to pack children off to school, taking it all for granted. On the walk home, if you are lucky, you may find out what they had for lunch, maybe even the latest playground drama, but frequently very little (especially when the fancy dress reminder happens the next morning with 10 minutes notice).
So, what do they actually get up to? What is it they do? Once we understand this, maybe we can then be a little more forgiving when the classroom angel turns into a frenzied tornado once they get home.
Away from the confines and expectations of the classroom and need to conform, home is the safe haven, the place where they can feel at ease – even if that is somewhat different from how we perceive the ideal behaviour.
This article from the Huffington Post is a real eye opener as to what are children actually do each day – it’s impressive to say the very least !
Choose any and all from this list – a creator, a thought leader, a mathematician, an author, a reader, an orator, a proof-reader, a scientist, a navigator, a sportsman, an artist, a negotiator – the list goes on! It’s even tougher if your child has challenges with their reading such as dyslexia – those children have to so much harder all day.
You can see what perhaps the angelic behaviour doesn’t exactly hold out until bed time.
Turning to yourself, after a day of pressing the pause button between listening to co-workers apparent stupidity and responding in a far more professional manner, back at home, where it is unusual to be sacked, fired, or put on a warning, it is far easier to let fly with less than productive words.
Maybe both us and our children want the same thing after a day of controlling emotions – a snack, a snuggle, a story and an early bedtime.
Together we can bring some Serenity to your life.
2017, Business Insider produced this great article about financial advice for 20 year olds. There are 2 simple elements to a great foundation for young people – save and don’t spend. Continue reading “What’s the best financial advice for a young person?”
Back in the day (the 80s), if you came across a group of teenagers, the chances are that they were standing around, sharing their cigarettes, and engaging in some form of social interaction. It may not have been for everyone’s taste to walk through a tobacco smoke plume, but hey ho, those lads and girls were interacting – even it it was also causing early damage to their developing lungs. Continue reading “What’s more addictive – cigarettes or phones?”
It seems, there is at least some logic as to why a 2 year old wants to play with the box a toy comes in more than the toy itself – exploration! Continue reading “Experiences or gifts – which is the most appreciated?”
Quick answer – no! Continue reading “The Quick Way to Fix Your Finances”
Just when you thought you had it all sorted, one of the few people to still be in a final salary pension scheme, a good salary, and making additional pension contributions, suddenly, it all goes wrong.
Redundancy sends you on a very different journey indeed.
However, being the diligent person, paying additional amounts into your pension, perhaps maximising your annual allowance of £40,000, the future looks ok, especially with the large redundancy lump sum you are going to be paid in the present tax year.
Then the tax regime comes tripping merrily in your direction : Continue reading “How could redundancy affect your pension?”
There is some logic as underlined in this article, that the more fun we are having, the quicker things go, which may be why the 6 week school summer holidays seemed to fly by far quicker than the 6 week half term times. Continue reading “Why does time go quicker the older you are”
Whilst it sounds great to bend over, pick up your children and give them a hug, sometimes (especially at this rather demanding time of year) it is easier said than done. Continue reading “What is the best way to deal with an angry child?”
Escaping The Bucket 