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mummyconqueringanxiety
I am mummy to one feisty toddler and wife to a wonderful man, living in the North of England, UK and making it a priority to enjoy life every second we get to spend together as a family.
You will usually find me writing, anything from lists to blog posts, and excited by stationery - show me your post-its!
Following my recent breakdown, I believe talking about our struggles is the key to recovery. I started the blog because I felt compelled to share my story & my main goal is to help other people.
Learning the tools for managing stress is easier than ever these days. There are so many resources out there, but those who are obsessed with finding wellness tools to combat their anxiety may inadvertently be suffering from a different type of anxiety. Overthinking is a mental loop that can be paralysing and affects many different aspects of life. When we overthink our decisions, it will impact our well-being. So, if you are a chronic overthinker, let’s explore some invaluable resources that can help you dial it down.
Limiting Stimulants
Some people can benefit from slowing down. Changing your state sends a signal to your brain that you need to be calmer. It’s not as easy as telling yourself that you need to slow down but about sending those signals on a regular basis. Sometimes we need to ease ourselves into a slower pace by limiting our stimulant intake. Alcohol and caffeine can kick our overthinking into high gear. Reducing the consumption of stimulants can help calm the mind and alleviate the mental loop of overthinking. Understand your caffeine limits, but also look at products such as medical cannabis and CBD oil. Learning to change our state is key because when we make that conscious decision to slow down, our body and mind will eventually come to match it.
Journaling
For many, writing down thoughts and worries is very cathartic. When we start to make regular notes about times when we’re overthinking, we will come to recognise certain patterns. When we see our overthinking stems from conflict with a certain person or a certain situation, we can then look at this on paper and take an objective view of the situation because it was not part of our consciousness at the time. This is particularly effective if you find yourself overwhelmed at home. If you find yourself in conflicting situations or a disagreement with a spouse makes you very stressed, taking the steps to write down your thoughts on the situation and having a pragmatic approach to your thinking can help you stop yourself from overthinking in the future when you encounter the same type of situation.
Regular Relaxation Practices
The importance of learning how to relax cannot be overstated. If you have an overactive mind, understanding the triggers is one thing, but as we’ve already touched upon, changing your state will also give you better control over how you feel. We have to remember that overthinking is linked with stress and anxiety. This, in turn, is the body’s reaction to a situation, even if it’s not particularly stressful. We all have that inbuilt fight-or-flight response, so having those moments throughout the day where you can focus on your breathing, even if for a couple of minutes, or engage in progressive muscle relaxation, as well as techniques to stimulate the vagus nerve, can be vital.
If you find yourself overthinking, you may need to go for a combination of these tools and tactics. If you are a chronic overthinker, you are not alone. It could be a persistent challenge, but with the right tools, you can break the cycle and recognise that overthinking is detrimental because it stops you from being present. When you are present in the moment, you won’t stress, and you will get so much more out of life.
Halloween is one of the most magical times for many of us. Whether you have fond memories of trick-or-treating as a child. Enjoy donning your fancy dress outfits for a night out on the town or prefer to stay inside sipping a PSL, it’s always guaranteed to be lots of fun.
However, the holidays seem to become more heavily commercialised with every year that passes. New trends are always popping up around this season. Which tend to be bigger, better and usually, more expensive.
Enjoy a low buy Halloween and autumnal season without the pressure to spend excessively by using these three tips…
Here comes your Low Spend Guide to Halloween
Opt for activities instead of items
The supermarket aisles are filled to the brim with seasonal items during October. If you’re trying to reduce the overwhelm, steer clear of the temptation to buy, and focus on planning activities instead.
Some low-spend ideas to get you in the mood for the change of seasons could include:
Rotating your wardrobe, bringing out your comfiest jumpers and cosy socks, and storing your summer items away until next year
Taking a long woodland walk through the crunchy leaves
Binge-watching an autumnal TV series (If you haven’t seen Only Murders in the Building, this could be the perfect choice to watch it, whilst snuggled on the sofa!)
Get recipe testing
One of the best ways to embrace the colder evenings is to spend time perfecting a few tasty meals. Look out for new recipes to try which use seasonal ingredients. Such as butternut squash, mushrooms, pumpkin, apples or figs.
If you want some money-saving offers, check out this page
Warming vegetable soups with crusty bread are always a huge hit at this time of year, or try something a little different, like a butternut squash risotto.
If you’ve got experience in the kitchen, you could even try a Halloween-themed dish, such as pumpkin gnocchi or ravioli. Another option is to create mini pizzas or pies in spooky shapes.
For the cosiest family dessert, try making mini smores using tea lights, or perhaps a chocolate fondue!
Another tip, coming up in the Low Spend Guide to Halloween
DIY your decor
Instead of purchasing lots of Halloween-themed decor that is likely to be stored away for the majority of the year, only to see the light of day for one month of the year. How about making your own decorations instead?
Paper decorations are super cheap to make. And can either be folded flat and stored for next year, or recycled.
If you have small children, try heading outside with a bag and collecting dried leaves to make your own leaf crafts and projects. This could include garlands, collages or even puppets!
Another thrifty option is to collect any old glass jars and decorate them to make colourful tea light holders. This is a simple upcycle that the whole family can enjoy, and it’s free too.
Avoid adding to the clutter, and get your craft on this season!
Author bio
Taryn runs a money and lifestyle blog called ‘Saving in London City’ and is on a mission to share the best money-saving tips, tricks and hacks. Taryn discusses the best ways to have fun on a budget today, whilst also saving towards long-term money goals for your future, such as a house deposit or dream holiday.
Being a parent is challenging, especially when it comes to raising kids. As the world evolves, you want your kids to be ready for the outside world when they become adults. You want them to be strong, enough to adapt to the complex landscape, technological advancement, and unforeseen challenges. As parents, you want the next generation to have the skills, mindset, and resilience to thrive in an uncertain future. If they can grow up feeling brave no matter their situation, you have done your job.
Let’s dive into Parenting: Preparing Your Kids for a Brighter Future
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Here are some things you should look out for when Preparing Your Kids for a Brighter Future
FROM THE MCA BLOG – Shall we have some discount codes before we begin…
How to Secure Your Kids’ Future
Effective Communication
Communication is a difficult skill to master since adults struggle to master it, too. Without communication, you can’t understand the other person’s thoughts or wants. Kids are always curious more than adults, so you want to teach them how to express themselves clearly, actively listen, and collaborate with others. Without communication, how can your kids have good relationships with others? The reason why relationships are difficult to handle is because of poor communication skills. Raise your kids to express their thoughts confidently.
Embrace Challenges
Life isn’t perfect. There are many challenges and obstacles in life. As parents, you need to prepare your kids for the unknown future. You want your kids to be strong and face those challenges head-on. Help them see that a challenge is an exciting opportunity rather than something daunting. Even if they fail, you should cheer them on or encourage them that there will be a next time as the parent. By doing so, your kids can tackle a new and unfamiliar task in the future. This will help them to have a positive mindset and be problem solvers.
FROM THE MCA BLOG – If you want to get started with selling on Vinted – you can find tips & standard promo wording to use, in this blog post
Independence and Responsibility
Part of Preparing Your Kids for a Brighter Future is nurturing learning and growing, so you want to give them simple tasks to learn from. You can give them simple chores like making the bed, wiping the table, or folding clothes. Giving them age-appropriate chores will instil a sense of responsibility and independence. Slowly, you can give them difficult tasks to do so they can have strong work ethic and the ability to manage tasks effectively. If you spoil them all the time, they will never know what independence and responsibility is when they are adult.
Lifelong Learning
Most kids grow up thinking they don’t need to learn anymore after school. However, life is a journey full of the unknown. Your kids won’t know everything all the time. You want your kids always to be curious and keep questioning things about the world. Learning is not just confined to the classroom but a lifelong pursuit. Encourage your kids to explore various subjects so they can develop a habit of seeking information. Whether it’s dancing, singing, arts and crafts, or filming, your kids want to learn, encourage them to try and learn.
FROM THE MCA BLOG – Parenting books to help you on your journey
Financial Literacy
Not many kids grow up knowing anything about money. You don’t have to teach them the complex things but the basics so they understand how money works. The earlier they learn, the better off they will be. Don’t spoil them by giving them money for free because they will never want to do anything. Life isn’t free, so they should know how hard it is to get money. Let them understand what hard work is and being paid to do a service.
FROM THE MCA BLOG – Want more money-saving tips – you can check out my money-saving hacks page:
Kids don’t know what being grateful is. When kids see what other kids have, they want it, too. Teaching your kids to be grateful is essential because it is the foundation of their emotional well-being. If you teach your kids to appreciate things, they will treasure what they have, not get entangled in materialism, and focus on contentment and personal growth.
Implement Healthy Habits
Teach your kids that health is a priority over anything else. Healthy habits are vital for kids and adults. Kids should get plenty of sleep, eat healthily, and stay active. With technology these days, kids don’t know what outside is. Don’t let them sit in the house, play video games, and watch YouTube all day. Create a schedule for them where they can stick to it. Kids should learn that health is an important factor in life and should not be ignored. By teaching them to make good choices, they will have a healthier lifestyle.
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-self-care tips, affirmations, positive quotes, how to thrive in life (I need to remind myself of these daily tips too)
Build Relationships
Having strong relationships with others is good for your children’s growth and well-being. In life, you can’t do everything by yourself. Teaching your kids to build healthy relationships by communicating effectively, resolving conflicts, and cooperating with others will lay the foundation for successful collaboration in the future. The world doesn’t revolve around just you but multiple people in the universe.
If you set an example, your kids will follow. You are the leader that should lead your kids with pride. Kids look up to their parents the most, so whatever you do, you will greatly influence them. Kids often learn through observation, so whenever they observe an adult’s behaviour, they will follow. Whatever morals, values, behaviours, and skills you want your kids to have, you must teach them when they are young. Slowly, they will develop and become the person you want them to be. If you become a role model for them, they will become role models for others.
Creativity and Innovation
Kids can be so creative sometimes. They think about things that not even adults know. As parents, you want to encourage your kids to follow their passions, think beyond conventional boundaries, and develop problem-solving abilities. By encouraging them, you empower them to be confident, independent thinkers better equipped to tackle the complexities and uncertainties of the future.
In Summary
Parenting: Preparing Your Kids for a Brighter Future – Think About Your Kids!
No matter how hard life can be, your teachings are important to your kids. As parents, caregivers, and educators, you play a huge part in your kids’ lives, so lead them by example. They are the next generation, so you want them to prepare for the unknown. Every parent wants what’s best for their kids. If you want your kids to live happier, more fulfilling lives and become well-rounded, you must impart these valuable lessons.
Author Bio
Cindy is the blogger behind Ordinary Asian Girl. She is your average Asian girl who wants to share relatable experiences that adults navigate daily. Whether it’s financial matters, thrilling adventures, or life’s intricate puzzles, she wants to share her experience and knowledge with all.
OK, where do I start? The Great British Seaside Holiday. Going on a UK Staycation. I am aware some of my readers may not know what it is. Do not fear, I will explain below. As kids, we visited many places in Britain. Mainly because of lack of money and well, traveling abroad with two kids ain’t fun.
I’m calling it the “British” holiday because that’s mainly where we visited as kids. Since being an adult, we have visited Wales quite a lot and I will talk all about this in future blog posts.
I wanted to discuss this subject because my younger sibling has grown up not valuing this type of holiday as much as I do. My reaction is totally different. These holidays make me really excited and I absolutely love everything about it. Based on our family experience, I suspect other people out there either love or hate it.
If after reading this article, you feel inspired to book your next UK Staycation, I have included all the links you need…
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
History of the Great British Seaside Staycation
Butlins is a household name in the UK. My Grandma had the same pictures of my Mum on the beach as us when we were little. The only way you could tell the difference was one set of pictures was black and white, and one was in colour.
I’ve also stayed in a few Pontins holiday parks, for party weekends. Back when I was young and full of energy.
The fascination with this type of holiday began in the 1950s and this article explains the history in more detail.
We have a Haven holiday coming up and also regularly visit Parkdean. With our little one becoming more aware of the world around her, these types of holidays will soon become the norm. I pack up the car with everything we need and the drive is generally about two hours away. Perfect when you have a toddler!
What attracts me to these holiday parks, over a different type of holiday?
1. Bingo
Who doesn’t love bingo?
Quite often these parks will offer linked bingo, where you can win a large prize, and it’s fun, sitting in the entertainment room with the kids zooming around.
It reminds me of a bit more upmarket Working Men’s Club. When we were young teens, everyone had their parties here and it was right across the street from us. It is now a housing estate. This Guardian article explains how some have remained and adapted to the current times.
2. The entertainment
I must say the quality of entertainment has improved over the years and I am very impressed with the activities we have been able to pre-book for our upcoming Haven holiday.
The joy of getting ready to go out and knowing there will be something to entertain the kids. Family fun for everyone involved and I just love it.
3. Cheap drinks & lovely food
Parking the car up, throwing the bags on the bed, walking to the pub. Can’t wait. We already have a table booking just after our check-in time, haha!
It’s great for us because we know the setting will be child-friendly and we don’t have to worry about disturbing other people who are also trying to have a nice meal. Our little one can make friends, play in the arcades, we can eat and drink, safe in the knowledge she is entertained and looked after.
This is a huge bonus for families with young children!
Pre-children, we also visited as a couple and absolutely loved it. We rented a caravan for a weekend and enjoyed the bar, minus the kid’s entertainment (there is usually a separate entertainment room and the bar is a bit quieter). I did insist on playing bingo though and hubby wasn’t that impressed.
These days we book the top brand of caravan, this allows us to have more bedrooms, bathrooms and overall comfort. As we stay with the in-laws it gives everyone a bit of personal space. Having decking is also a must. Our little one can play outside, but she’s safe in an enclosed space, and it’s also nice to sit there in the morning with a coffee, or a drink at night.
4. Play area for kids
Now I have a child, it’s also beneficial to have a play area and this is usually right outside the bar, making it convenient for everyone to have a good time.
Whilst I love our local park, the play area tends to be far away from the cafe, which I totally get. However, when you’re on holiday it’s a different vibe. It’s accepted there will be children around and everyone has fun together.
It reminds me of the vibe I get in Spain, where families go out more and do things together. Children are welcome everywhere. I am not saying in the UK they aren’t, there is just still this stigma of child-friendly and non-child-friendly places to eat and drink. I totally understand. If we had a date night, I wouldn’t want a screaming child next to me.
Maybe we are all just a bit more relaxed when we’re on holiday, and it’s a great thing.
If you don’t have a holiday planned, you can check out my blog post, which includes 20 ideas for fun activities adults and children can do together…
I’ve made use of the list this year, as this is the first holiday we’ve been on over the summer.
As we usually have a week of school activities to keep the little one entertained, she will need something similar when we go on holiday.
In the past, I’ve booked a bug hunt, nature trail, and slime-making class. This is quality family time spent together and uses up some of her energy.
6. The accommodation
When planning a Great British seaside holiday, there is something that always attracts me to stay in a caravan.
Staying in a caravan isn’t the most luxurious accommodation I’ve ever stayed in, but it’s nostalgic and fun. There is just something about it I love.
These days we book the top brand of caravan. This allows us to have more bedrooms, bathrooms, and overall comfort. As we stay with the in-laws it gives everyone a bit of personal space. Having decking is also a must. Our little one can play outside, but she’s safe in an enclosed space, and it’s also nice to sit there in the morning with a coffee, or a drink at night.
I can picture myself now! Having a sneaky look on Twitter and a lovely coffee, hopefully, before anyone else gets up, breathing in the sea air. I need it after the year I’ve had.
Check out my other blog posts in the holiday section:
We also want a dog to join our family, eventually. When the time is right. This year we have family members joining us with a new puppy and we were struggling to find accommodation to house us all, along with the dog. This caravan site is the perfect solution.
It’s great that some of the parks we visit are dog-friendly. Another bonus of staying in the UK for a holiday is for those who don’t want to leave pets behind.
8. Amusement arcade
When the hubby & I got together, one of our shared passions was travelling to the seaside and spending hours on the 2p machines. We did this even before having a child. It’s something we both did as kids, we’ve grown up loving caravan holidays, and we want our little one to experience the same joy.
But he draws the line at loving the bingo and entertainment as much as I do. That’s why I bring my mum along. Eyes down…
9. Near the seaside
These caravan parks are perfect to use as a base camp to explore other nearby areas.
During our stay, we usually split our time between park activities and going out for the day to the nearest seaside.
Other holiday parks, booking sites & hotels I want to mention
As I am usually the event planner in the family, I’ve spent many hours researching holidays and know quite a bit about when prices spike and what facilities are available in which parks.
The Great British seaside holiday, happens to be my area of expertise, simply because it’s where we visit the most as a family. When you go abroad, the work is taken care of for you, but these types of holidays need someone organised at the helm.
I frequently use Hoseasons, as their website has a large range of bookings at other caravan parks. You can also filter by holiday type, whether it be adult-only with hot tub, child-friendly, activity parks, cottages, or large houses. They also have a range of special collections you can search by. If you sign up for their email list, you also get sent regular offers.
I’m also a huge fan of Booking.com. The biggest selling point of Booking.com is free cancellation. With what’s going on in the world recently, this is a huge benefit. It gives you peace of mind if for any reason you’re unable to travel.
We have a Village hotel near us and it’s where we go if we want some child-free time to relax. What I love about their hotels is the layout. Everything you need is onsite. You just park the car up and get ready to relax and indulge.
They have a Starbucks, a pub, a restaurant, and leisure facilities including a swimming pool, gym, and classes. A spa. Room service, rooms you can upgrade to with a coffee machine and sky package.
What more could you possibly want?
The pandemic & its impact on UK holidays
The pandemic caused a whole different take on the British holiday. All of a sudden, people couldn’t travel outside the UK and therefore had no choice but to book a holiday in this country.
This article provides some practical guidance on how to ensure you are covered when booking a holiday.
Due to the high demand for UK holidays, we struggled to find suitable accommodation for this break, at a reasonable price. We had to compromise on the location and duration of the stay, but I am looking forward to a break and that’s what matters.
Hopefully next year we can get back to our usual routine, of going abroad, with some holiday parks scattered throughout the year, so I can get my bingo fix!
Before I pack up my car & get going…
Do you have any holidays coming up? Tell me about them below or add me on social media – for updates on mine.
I can’t wait to hear from you.
Feel like booking a stay at Village Hotels?? Click below…
I also love supporting small businesses and other creatives. Etsy allows me to shop for what I love, whilst also supporting other people.
Sam – Founder of Mummy Conquering Anxiety blog
Yesterday was the first day I remembered how gloomy October can be in the UK. But it’s also my favourite time of year. Autumn, Halloween and the lead-up to Christmas have always excited me more than the summer months.
I have storage boxes full of Halloween and Christmas decor. But it’s old & tired. We are in need of a fall refresh.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Images courtesy of individual sellers on Etsy.
With only two paydays until the main event, it’s time for us all to start thinking about our Christmas Shopping. And narrowing down what we want to buy our loved ones. Personally, I love a unique and quirky gift. I am always on the lookout for something nobody else would buy.
Sam – Founder of Mummy Conquering Anxiety blog
I also love supporting small businesses and other creatives. Etsy allows me to shop for what I love, whilst also supporting other people.
Hello, My name is Princess Joe-Igbuzor. I’m a Nigerian Law student who is passionate about mental health and women’s rights.
I am indeed thrilled to be writing this guest post for your blog, I hope you enjoy the read and have a great day.
About My Blog
Write_rspace is a mental health blog which focuses on saying big things in small ways. Predominantly writing about mental health, my focus is to de-stigmatize the mystic aura behind mental health and reduce it into concepts that people can understand in everyday life.
Different things spring to mind depending on how deep you are in your personal development journey. For some, Affirmations are like a list of mantras that you recite to yourself every morning. Others see it as some form of ritual in which you chant a string of words.
Putting it plain and simple, Affirmations in this context are sentences you say to yourself to profess the opposite of your surrounding situation.
It’s speaking positively even in the negative.
No one who is truly happy stands in front of a mirror and tells themselves they’re happy.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Lets dive in
Over time, a lot of individuals including myself have begun to see Affirmations as a form of ritualistic activity. It almost seems like affirmations are delusions we tell ourselves because as said by Mark Manson in his book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F**k, ‘No one who is truly happy stands in front of a mirror and tells themselves they’re happy.’
Ever since I had jumped off the bandwagon and stopped using affirmations in total or so I thought. I, like most people, thought affirmations were sentences you told yourself in front of a mirror every morning and that was all there was to it.
So then I would ask myself and I’m sure you’ve asked yourself this too,
‘Why should I say I’m happy every morning even when I don’t feel happy?’
Like I said earlier, it makes one feel delusional especially when those words don’t instantly make things perfect and we still go about our day feeling down.
But what we have failed to realize is that Affirmations are never one size fits all. It’s not some ritual or only an activity that some people partake in. We all use affirmations day in and day out.
Let me show you 7 ways you unconsciously use affirmations
7 ways you unconsciously use affirmations
An ‘I’ll be fine’ on a bad/rough day.
Remember the last time you were having a really bad day, your self-esteem felt like it was non-existence and you just wanted to disappear literally.
When you find yourself in this situation and after having a meltdown session, you clean your tears and you say, ‘I’ll be fine.’ or ‘I will get through this’.
Do you want to know a secret? That ‘I’ll be fine’ or ‘I will get through this’ or their variations are affirmations.
But we say it so often that we don’t realize they are affirmations.
How?
Because everything in that moment is telling you that things won’t be fine and yet you profess the positive even in that state.
I recall, last month I was going through a really bad few weeks and I had been trying to keep it all inside but this particular day every emotion I was feeling felt heightened and I wanted to drop everything and just go home but I couldn’t. In the midst of all that, I remember saying, ‘I will be fine, I have gone through so much and this will not overcome me.’
I didn’t instantly feel better but I was calmer in that moment so it was easier to face the task at hand. I know I was aware at that moment that I had used an affirmation.
The ‘I look good’ on a bad hair/outfit day.
We have all had our fair share of bad hair/outfit days, it’s a common occurrence in life.
But telling yourself you look good in an outfit that you know you don’t or you could better is a form of affirmation. You just don’t pay close attention to it. The outfit doesn’t make the person, The person makes the outfit.
So even when you are putting on an outfit that you know you look mid in, you square your shoulders and readjust your posture and tell yourself, ‘I look good.’
On days when you have a sudden wardrobe malfunction and there is no alternative so you make a spare outfit, you still tell yourself you look great despite knowing you could look better.
Some books to help you on your affirmation journey
The ‘I can do anything I set my mind to’ when goal setting.
Whether you write it down or have a vision in your head, we all have goals.
Some parameters of what we hope to achieve. However, some days come and we are down in the dumps wondering if we will ever achieve the goals we had in mind. An experience I’m sure we all relate to is that of setting resolutions.
At the beginning of the month or year, we set resolutions of the things we hope to achieve before the specific timeline runs out. But almost always by the middle of the month or a few months into the year, we lose our momentum, that drive that we had the day we were setting the goal is almost non-existence.
Setbacks with goal-setting
Or perhaps we have been trying to achieve the goals but we have encountered some setbacks.
Naturally, we begin to reevaluate our goals and attempt to make some changes but then suddenly we get this deep resilience that we can do anything we set our minds to.
Sometimes we say this out loud. Oftentimes we just feel it and rather than change course, we tread down the same path with renewed energy and motivation.
The ‘I’m great’ when doubt sets in.
For every athlete and artist out there, you can resonate with a moment in your career when you were doubtful of your capabilities even when you have proved yourself before.
The mind is a tricky place and although you know you can achieve this feat, doubt and fear have come to nestle you just right before the race, game or performance.
You tell yourself to just breathe and calm down but your palms become shaky and sweaty. You certainly can’t perform at your best like this so you try to give yourself a confidence boost but that doesn’t seem to help.
And then you start to take deep breaths and tell yourself ‘I’ll do great.’, ‘I’m great, I have done this before, I can do it again.’
I’m a university student and last semester was tough. I had done well in previous semesters but this last semester, doubt started to sink in. I would read for hours and not remember a single thing, I knew I was in over my head and I needed to get out of there fast or my grades would fall.
So every time, right before I started reading or writing any form of test or exam, I would tell myself that ‘I’m great and I can do this. I have done it before and this time will be no different.’ I didn’t know it but It was affirmations that helped me get through that doubt.
Tools to help you on your self-development journey
The ‘It’s not that bad’ when things are really bad.
Affirmations don’t always have to be in the form of all positive and go skippy, they can sometimes hide in semi-positive statements especially when we subconsciously don’t want to admit that we use affirmations.
You have been in a situation that was very bad like stage 10 bad and yet you told yourself that, ‘it’s not that bad.’
Like a hall, you rented for an event getting flooded before the event or you got a bad score on a test you worked hard for.
In the midst of all this, you tell yourself, ‘It’s not that bad.’ and you move on. It doesn’t make things better but it begins to hurt less.
The ‘Tomorrow will be better’ after a long day.
Some days are never-ending, they seem to have 36 hours instead of the usual 24 hours. The night can’t come any faster so when you do eventually get to crawl into bed. You are already exhausted and just want to be over with the day so you tell yourself, Tomorrow will be better. Because it has to be.
That’s affirmation at its best. You are speaking into a new day and declaring what you want from it even before the day is here.
Some days you don’t even realize that you are saying this or speaking it into existence. It just seems natural and far from mystical.
Lastly, we have the ‘It’s a phase, It will pass’ after a series of bad weeks/months.
This we use when we have yet another bad week after a string of bad weeks or another bad month after a few bad months.
We tell ourselves that we know things may be not great now but no situation is permanent and it will all pass soon despite no inclination that things are getting better.
One of the instant benefits of these unconscious affirmations is the sense of calmness and assurance that you feel after speaking these positive words into existence.
Closing Remarks
Affirmations don’t have to be in front of a mirror or said at a particular time of the day. That’s the hidden magic to it.
You can make use of affirmations daily without even realizing that you are. In the same way, we have positive affirmations, there exist negative affirmations.
But now that you know the benefits of positive affirmations, you can imagine what effects negative affirmations will have.
In what ways have you used affirmations unconsciously in your daily life?
Worth Valley Railway is a fun day out for the kids. And definitely worth the price tag, if you make a day of it. Not only can you get a wonderful train ride on a steam train, but there are two museums and fun activities for the kids.
We last took my little one to Worth Valley Railway when she was a bit smaller. There was a craft train for the children, where she made some bookmarks and did some drawing. She absolutely loved the museum, sitting in the train carriages and looking at all the memorabilia.
The staff in the smaller museum, with a gift shop, were also really friendly and great with kids. We all had a wonderful day out and we really want to book one of their exprience days.
Let’s dive into the practical information you need when visiting for the day
Fares
TICKET
ON THE DAY
ONLINE 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE
Adult
£21.00
£18.90
Concessions
£17.85
£16.07
Children (5-15)
£10.50
£9.45
Children under 5
Free
Free
Small Family (1 adult & 1 child)
£26.25
£23.63
Large Family (2 adults & 3 children)
£52.50
£47.25
Local Resident Card Holder & Members
£10.50
N/A
You can see all the other options for travelling here.
Timetable
As the railway has a lot of special events, they run certain timetables on certain days. It is always best to check before planning your visit.
Places to eat & drink
It’s important to know where you can rest for a pit stop. Especially when you have a little one in tow. There are some wonderful pubs and cafes along the train lines and you won’t be disappointed.
The stations
There are some lovely stations you can visit, each area has its own special charm.
Accessibility
Accessibility is such an important aspect for some people. And it can be vital to planning your day out.
All the details you need about accessibility are here.
Private hire & birthday parties
Yes, you heard it right, why not book your special occasion at such a wonderful venue?
Shop
The best thing about visiting places like this is the gift shop. As a family, we love to buy a souvenir because this helps inspire great memories we’ve made.
Benefits of Membership of the KWVR
If you plan on visiting regularly, you can consider a membership. And you will be giving something back to such a well-preserved museum and community activity.
Everything you get when signing up for a membership:
THREE free Day Rover tickets per year,
Half-price travel on standard operating days
Discounts on tickets for selected special events
Copy of our prize-winning quarterly magazine “Push and Pull”
The opportunity to volunteer on the Railway.
The satisfaction of belonging to one of the foremost Railway Preservation Societies in the world
TYPE
PRICE
Adult
For Ages 16 – 64
£35.00
Senior
65 or over
£30.00
Joint
For any 2 Adults or Seniors living at the same address
£60.00
Junior
Age 5 – 15
£17.50
Family
2 Adults & up to 3 Children (aged 5-15) living at the same address
£70.00
Overseas Individual
Anyone resident outside the British Isles
£60.00
Overseas Family
Anyone resident outside the British Isles 2 Adults & up to 3 Children (aged 5-15) living at the same address
£105.00
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading all about our experience at Worth Valley Railway.
Have you visited before? Will you be planning a visit?
It’s been four years since I had a mental breakdown and I’m now glad I can spot the signs of stressful period when things become too much. And, more importantly, actually do something about it before it spirals out of control too much. I never want to return to the position I was in when I had a mental breakdown. As such, it is now about damage control.
It’s no secret that I took a break from social media recently. But running this blog in my spare time is just one small part of my life. As with all working parents, we have a lot of other stress factors to deal with. And sometimes something tips the balance and it just becomes too much for us to handle.
When this happens, I face constant anxiety for a week or two. Get very run down, and become mentally and physically unwell. This then leads to depression and feelings of inadequacy.
It’s been four years since I had a mental breakdown and I’m now glad I can spot the signs of the stressful period when things become too much. And, more importantly, actually do something about it before it spirals out of control too much. I never want to return to the position I was in when I had a mental breakdown. As such, it is now about damage control.
The stress bucket
We all have a stress bucket and sometimes it can overflow. We live in a world which induces anxiety in the calmest of people. Therefore we have to be careful and look after our well-being. Hypnotherapy was one of the main therapies which helped me and I use it when my mental health takes a hit.
The mind needs maintenance – just like you would physically rest after a long walk or injury to your body. I also want to make it clear to everyone reading this post that dips in our mental well-being will occur. Life throws curveballs our way and sometimes, even just one factor of our lives, can cause all the other plates spinning to topple over. And it’s okay to feel that way. It’s okay, to be honest about how you’re feeling. And take the time you need to feel mentally well again.
Taking control of the situation can be difficult
When I am in the midst of anxiety, even the decision to do something about the way I am feeling whirls around in my mind constantly. Will people think I’m inadequate? Will they question me about the way I am feeling? Should I just sort myself out?
Some of this critical thinking comes from me being quite harsh on myself. Some of it is from traumatic past experiences.
Stress factors which can impact anyone
Stress in daily life
Childcare challenges
Money problems
Not allocating time for myself
Being too busy to relax
Communication problems in home life
Symptoms Of Anxiety taking over
Critical thinking
Thinking the past will repeat itself
Frantic thinking
Losing control of emotions
Lacking in motivation
Not wanting to put makeup on
Detached
Worn out emotionally
In desperate need of self-care
Remedies for becoming mentally well again
I know firsthand just how much strength it takes to motivate yourself when you feel unwell mentally. However, because I have a toddler, normal everyday life has to resume. I thrive on a routine and using my brain. As such, I don’t do well when I have to stop and rest.
My mental wellbeing routine also forms a structure and it takes me time to feel like myself again.
Honesty
I dealt with things differently this time. One of the main differences when things started to feel out of control, was my honesty with everyone around me. Once it was clear to me that things were getting worse and I couldn’t control it. It was time, to be fully honest. With myself, initially. But also everyone around me. Given my mental health history, my family are in tune with when I am not quite feeling myself.
I am proud of myself for finally being honest with everyone around me. Feeling comfortable talking about how I really feel, made the world of difference.
A lot of people struggle to open up about their mental health difficulties, for fear of being judged. Now I’ve created the work-life balance I need and I have supportive people around me, it was easier to open up.
Final thoughts
The mind needs maintenance – just like you would physically rest after a long walk or injury to your body. I also want to make it clear to everyone reading this post that dips in our mental well-being will occur. Life throws curveballs our way and sometimes, even just one factor of our lives, can cause all the other plates spinning to topple over. And it’s okay to feel that way. It’s okay, to be honest about how you’re feeling. And take the time you need to feel mentally well again.
While no one expects to go through a divorce when marrying their partner, it unfortunately does happen. At the end of the day, things can change and your relationship may also deteriorate over time, sometimes through no fault of either party.
Whatever the reason for the separation, there are tips to help ensure the separation is handled with as little pain as possible. Here are some helpful tips to handle your separation, should you be going through one right now.
Acknowledge you’ll have different feelings about the separation
It’s important to remember that there are two people involved in the separation and when it comes to handling that separation, it’s important to remember that you will both handle it differently.
Depending on the reasoning for the separation, you may find that you or your partner are feeling things differently from the other and that’s okay. It’s beneficial to acknowledge and process these feelings individually and to remember that everyone will react differently to a separation.
Provide yourself with time to grieve the separation
It’s highly important to find the time to grieve for the separation. After all, a separation is often a form of loss that can be hard to process. It’s useful to give yourself the time to grieve the separation and to mourn all the months or years you’ve experienced with your significant other. Not to mention all of the married years you might have had or will no longer have.
Grief is a real part of separation and it’s something to acknowledge and go through.
Don’t go through it alone
When it comes to a divorce, it’s important that you’ve got yourself a support network. These individuals are going to help guide you through the process and offer that shoulder to lean on or cry on, should you need it.
Don’t go through it alone and when you feel like you need the help, ask for it. It’s of course, hard to speak to anyone but your ex-partner about the situation and how you’re feeling. However, it’s something that you want to give yourself plenty of support with. While a divorce lawyer is good to have, they’re not going to be the person you call late a night for a chit-chat.
Try to communicate calmly with your ex-partner
Communicating with your ex-partner will often be needed, especially if children are involved. With that being said, try to communicate calmly with your ex-partner. Avoid speaking if things have gotten heated recently or you’ve come to a point where every conversation is resulting in an argument.
Give the time needed to cool down or for your ex-partner to cool down before attempting to talk again.
Take care of yourself throughout the process
Finally, take the time to look after yourself. A divorce or separation of any kind can be tough on your mental and physical well-being. Be kind to yourself and take the time to take care of yourself throughout the ordeal that is playing out.
A divorce or separation is never a happy process, so make sure you’re looking after yourself and using these tips for your benefit.
East Riddlesden Hall is a Historic house with intimate gardens. Described on the website as a hidden oasis on the edge of a West Yorkshire town. A National Trust site, which is maintained for the benefit of the local community.
Read on for all the information you need to Visit East Riddlesden Hall.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Let’s take a look at 5 great reasons you should Visit East Riddlesden Hall
With an English Heritage Membership or a National Trust membership, you can benefit from discounts across all sites
Because several of the sites are co-owned by the two organisations, we gained a lot of National Trust benefits, by only paying for an English Heritage yearly membership. We visited Tintagel and the membership paid for itself within a week’s holiday in Devon. When you sign up for a membership, you are provided with an English Heritage booklet, which contains details on the sites National Trust you can enter for free, or at a discounted rate.
East Riddlesden Hall is our local National Trust Site and when we purchased an English Heritage membership, it was one of the main places we visited. We still visit to this day. And the beauty of the site is you can pick and choose how much money you spend. On certain days you can enter the gardens for free. The cafe is free to all, or you can pay to tour the house. Look out for free event days! Which are usually advertised on social media.
A Local Treasure
It’s nostalgic for me because when I lived alone, the site was near to my house. If I ever felt mentally unwell or stressed out, I would Visit East Riddlesden Hall to have a walk around the grounds. The lake, the wonderful trees and the grounds, all made me feel much better!
Free specialised events
We once visited an English Heritage site and were pleased to find out there was a performance for all members to attend. If you check out the website of your local attraction, there will be something wonderful and unique for you to attend. The kind of experiences you just wouldn’t get elsewhere. The latest event at East Riddlesden Hall is dancing in the gardens during the school holidays.
Our history is important
In the UK there is a lot of history we need to preserve. People travel from all around the world to visit our world heritage sites, such as Saltaire and Howarth. But English Heritage takes you back in time as far as you can go,
From small beginnings towards the end of the 19th century, the collection of historic places now managed by English Heritage has grown to over 400, inspired by a determination to put England’s heritage ahead of private interest.
With any of the National Trust or English Heritage memberships, there is free entry for children accompanied by an adult member (under 18 years and within the family group). Please check the relevant terms of each website for the criteria.
Let’s dive into the all-important information you need if you’re planning a trip to East Riddlesden Hall
Opening times
The opening times are subject to change, due to events, weather and the fact that the hall also hosts events. The best thing to do before planning your visit is to check the opening times. Either on the website or on social media.
Here are the current opening times:
House
10:00 – 16:00
Garden
10:00 – 16:00
Great Barn
10:00 – 16:00
Shop
10:00 – 16:00
Tearoom
10:00 – 16:00
Highlights of East Riddlesden Hall
The House
When we last visited, we were given a guided tour around the house. We had to take a ticket for a specified time. And do the other bits of the site, before the tour time.
Original 17th-century features – what to look out for on your visit
Inside the house, you can still see some of the original 17th-century details introduced by Murgatroyd. Look for the 17th-century panelling, which is a theme throughout the house. As well as the decorative plaster ceilings and intricate wood carvings.
Garden
Access to the gardens is usually free, providing the site is open and there isn’t an event on.
They are beautifully maintained, even including a bug house and other little treasures for children.
Eating and shopping
When we had a membership, the thing we loved most about sites, was the gift shop and unique items you could buy.
The cafe At East Riddlesden Hall is beautiful. Serving lovely food and accessible even if you don’t pay entry to the site.
The Great Barn
The agricultural story of East Riddlesden Hall doesn’t end in the house. The Great Barn is one of the finest barns in the north of England. With huge gabled entrances and large mullioned windows.
Family fun
During the school holidays, you will find an array of great activities for the kids.
Second-hand bookshop
There is a second-hand bookshop located in the kitchen chamber. Children’s books are in the Discovery Room.
Conservation work
A team of volunteers is responsible for maintaining the house. You can read all about it here.
Maintaining such an old building isn’t an easy task. I remember once visiting an English Heritage Site where the windows were cloaked in blackout curtains and you had to carefully enter through the main door, to avoid dust & dirt damaging the site.
History of the hall
You can read more about the history of the hall here.
In 1934 the Briggs brothers donated the property to the National Trust. It was bequeathed on the understanding that it would be conserved and that the land surrounding it would be used for recreation by the local communities. Their passion for East Riddlesden Hall ultimately ensured that it would be saved for everyone, for ever.
East Riddlesden Hall has a range of wedding options available. This article will help you decide on whether it would be the perfect venue for your special day.
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