Elevenses: a cuppa, a pause, and an 11‑thing read to take you away from everyday stresses and responsibilities for a while. You deserve a break.
It was a cold and stormy night lol. Good writers aren’t meant to write that sentence but rules are made to be broken. Autumn appears to have given us a blast just to remind us she is here. Did you remember about the clocks falling backwards? I am so grateful to whoever told me the…
Are you feeling a bit off? Can you not quite put your finger on why you feel odd?The truth is that our moods are influenced by all sorts of things, many of which we don’t even notice. If you’ve been feeling a little different lately, here are 11 reasons why you might feel in a…
Half term can bring a mix of emotions. On one hand, it’s lovely having the children home. On the other, it can mean disrupted routines, higher food bills, more mess, and the pressure to keep everyone entertained while somehow still getting everything else done. The good news? Half term doesn’t have to be perfect to…
Just over halfway through October feels like a natural pause point. The month is far enough along that patterns are emerging, but there is still plenty of time left to make positive changes and build momentum. This week has reminded me that progress is rarely a straight line. Sometimes it arrives in encouraging statistics. Sometimes…
Over the past few years, many of us have discovered that work does not have to happen in a traditional office from 9 to 5. Home working, hybrid roles and community-based jobs all offer different benefits, but how do you know which is right for you? The answer is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution….
When we apply for support from a government agency, we often do so because we genuinely need help. Whether it’s a benefits claim, housing issue, tax matter, or another public service, delays and mistakes can leave us feeling frustrated, powerless, and forgotten. Here are my 11 tips when a Government agency has let you down….
I have experienced hip pain on and off for coming up to 18 months I think. As someone who has never had pain outside childbirth, this came as a sudden shock. I would suddenly get extreme pain particularly in my right hip. I thought it must be part of my multiple sclerosis so checked with…
Most people don’t expect a gold star every time they complete a task. They don’t need constant praise or grand gestures. What they do need is to feel that their contribution matters. When employees feel valued, they are often more engaged, more motivated and more likely to stay with an organisation. On the other hand,…
Becoming a mum is one of life’s biggest adventures. While there is no perfect time, no perfect situation and certainly no perfect parent, there are things you can do to prepare yourself emotionally, practically and financially for the journey ahead. The truth is that motherhood is about much more than nappies, school runs and sleepless…
Welcome to my Fall Sunday reflections. Life moves so quickly that it’s easy to rush from one week to the next without stopping to notice what we’ve learned, achieved, worried about, enjoyed or simply survived. So each week, I’ll be sharing 11 Sunday reflections from my week. Some will be light-hearted, some thought-provoking, and some…
If you’re reading this on World Mental Health Day while feeling stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted, or just a bit fed up, you’re not alone. Life can be wonderful, but it can also be messy, complicated and tiring. Most of us are carrying more than other people realise. Sometimes we’re juggling work, family, money worries, health concerns,…
Some days tiredness makes sense. You’ve had a late night, a busy week, or too much on your plate. But what about when you’re tired all the time? Not just physically tired. The sort of tired that follows you around. The kind that makes simple tasks feel harder than they should. The tiredness that a…
If you have a job interview tomorrow and your stomach is already doing somersaults, take a deep breath. You do not need to be perfect to get the job. You do not need to know every answer. You simply need to show up as the capable, thoughtful woman you already are. Too many women spend…
“Not in Education, Employment or Training.” It’s a term that appears regularly in policy papers, reports, funding bids and media headlines. It’s used so often that many people barely notice it anymore. But I do. The more I think about it, the more uncomfortable I become with the label “NEET”. In fact, so much so…
Whether it’s due to rising living costs, a relationship breakdown, returning from university, or simply needing a fresh start, having an adult child move back home can be both rewarding and challenging. While it’s natural to want to help, it’s also important to protect your own wellbeing and household harmony. One of my sons came…