This weekend has seen some high temperatures across the UK, with South-East England reaching 36 degrees, the hottest August day in 17 years. What does that mean for our bodies? Anyone else noticed they are exhausted when they step inside from the garden? Have you lost your appetite? Can you just not stop sweating? When it heats up, our bodies have to work a lot harder to maintain a level of equilibrium – a neutral state (including a safe and comfortable temperature). This mea

This has been a week of not being able to get into a groove with anything. Now in the eleventh week of lockdown, or at least the next phase of it (Is that right? Is it week 11?) I have gone through so many waves of over productivity, positivity, optimism, denial, frustration, realism, proactivity. For the most part I have felt good, happy and content, but every now and again I have a big dip as the days and weeks feel monotonous. The last couple of weeks have added more to th

Throughout lockdown, I’ve not been great with my sugar consumption. In the past, I would have beaten myself up about it, felt guilty for having a ‘treat’, for eating ‘bad’ food. But the reality is, food is food. It is made to be enjoyed and in times like this, it is important to be kind to ourselves and eat what makes us feel good and happy in that moment, but importantly what isn’t going to aggravate a challenging situation later. The way I look at it right now is, I make go

Don’t do it. But really: It’s like any other big task in life. You need to break it down into manageable chunks, make a plan and then stick to it. I planned to break it into sets of 20 and score it off on my sheet of paper. I stopped after 40, then got confused and overwhelmed. Sound familiar? Like so many things, the start and the end are easy. At the start you’re fresh, motivated and full of hope. At the end, there is light at the end of the tunnel, you can see how far you’

Don’t do it. But really: It’s like any other big task in life. You need to break it down into manageable chunks, make a plan and then stick to it. I planned to break it into sets of 20 and score it off on my sheet of paper. I stopped after 40, then got confused and overwhelmed. Sound familiar? Like so many things, the start and the end are easy. At the start you’re fresh, motivated and full of hope. At the end, there is light at the end of the tunnel, you can see how far you’

I am a perpetual overthinker, overdoer. Even on days where I think I’ve been super chilled and not done much, I’ve done more than the average person. We’re in the midst of a lock down and I’m yet to watch anything on Netflix. I’ve watched one movie. I will be the first to admit I struggle to switch off. The last few days I’ve gone for morning walks and been struck by the conflicting internal dialogue of whether to run (to get it over with quicker to get onto the next thing) o

I am a perpetual overthinker, overdoer. Even on days where I think I’ve been super chilled and not done much, I’ve done more than the average person. We’re in the midst of a lock down and I’m yet to watch anything on Netflix. I’ve watched one movie. I will be the first to admit I struggle to switch off. The last few days I’ve gone for morning walks and been struck by the conflicting internal dialogue of whether to run (to get it over with quicker to get onto the next thing) o

I am a perpetual overthinker, overdoer. Even on days where I think I’ve been super chilled and not done much, I’ve done more than the average person. We’re in the midst of a lock down and I’m yet to watch anything on Netflix. I’ve watched one movie. I will be the first to admit I struggle to switch off. The last few days I’ve gone for morning walks and been struck by the conflicting internal dialogue of whether to run (to get it over with quicker to get onto the next thing) o

We generally perceive stress to be a bad thing, it is a sign we can’t cope with the stimulus around us, it’s negative and overwhelming. But is that true? In reality, it should be considered a state of arousal or stimulation. If we are bored then this will be low, if it is too low and we have no stimulus this can lead to depression (like, too much can lead to anxiety and depression). If we are angry, nervous, afraid or excited the level of stimulation or stress will be higher.

We generally perceive stress to be a bad thing, it is a sign we can’t cope with the stimulus around us, it’s negative and overwhelming. But is that true? In reality, it should be considered a state of arousal or stimulation. If we are bored then this will be low, if it is too low and we have no stimulus this can lead to depression (like, too much can lead to anxiety and depression). If we are angry, nervous, afraid or excited the level of stimulation or stress will be higher.

We generally perceive stress to be a bad thing, it is a sign we can’t cope with the stimulus around us, it’s negative and overwhelming. But is that true? In reality, it should be considered a state of arousal or stimulation. If we are bored then this will be low, if it is too low and we have no stimulus this can lead to depression (like, too much can lead to anxiety and depression). If we are angry, nervous, afraid or excited the level of stimulation or stress will be higher.

Sometimes we stay in, let’s say non ideal, situations for too long. Not because we want to, and not because we don’t want to get out, but because sometimes it is the only thing we really know and it can be hard to break out of that pattern until we find the right thing to go to. It can be easy to look at a situation objectively and tell someone else what to do. It’s really, really hard to look at your own life, acknowledge a problem and do something about it. I’ve been in a n

Sometimes we stay in, let’s say non ideal, situations for too long. Not because we want to, and not because we don’t want to get out, but because sometimes it is the only thing we really know and it can be hard to break out of that pattern until we find the right thing to go to. It can be easy to look at a situation objectively and tell someone else what to do. It’s really, really hard to look at your own life, acknowledge a problem and do something about it. I’ve been in a n

Sometimes we stay in, let’s say non ideal, situations for too long. Not because we want to, and not because we don’t want to get out, but because sometimes it is the only thing we really know and it can be hard to break out of that pattern until we find the right thing to go to. It can be easy to look at a situation objectively and tell someone else what to do. It’s really, really hard to look at your own life, acknowledge a problem and do something about it. I’ve been in a n

Today marks the start of Lent.. 40 days and nights where Catholics reflect and prepare for Easter. Typically making a sacrifice during that period to replicate Jesus’ sacrifice in the desert. 40 days without food or water. Most of the time we give up sweets, chocolate, alcohol, meat. Arguably, the things people give up for Lent are increasingly a religious obligation to diet. Rather than reflect, or connect. Giving up carbs to lose 10lbs for summer. This year I hadn’t given i

Today marks the start of Lent.. 40 days and nights where Catholics reflect and prepare for Easter. Typically making a sacrifice during that period to replicate Jesus’ sacrifice in the desert. 40 days without food or water. Most of the time we give up sweets, chocolate, alcohol, meat. Arguably, the things people give up for Lent are increasingly a religious obligation to diet. Rather than reflect, or connect. Giving up carbs to lose 10lbs for summer. This year I hadn’t given i

Today marks the start of Lent.. 40 days and nights where Catholics reflect and prepare for Easter. Typically making a sacrifice during that period to replicate Jesus’ sacrifice in the desert. 40 days without food or water. Most of the time we give up sweets, chocolate, alcohol, meat. Arguably, the things people give up for Lent are increasingly a religious obligation to diet. Rather than reflect, or connect. Giving up carbs to lose 10lbs for summer. This year I hadn’t given i

Today marks the start of Lent.. 40 days and nights where Catholics reflect and prepare for Easter. Typically making a sacrifice during that period to replicate Jesus’ sacrifice in the desert. 40 days without food or water. Most of the time we give up sweets, chocolate, alcohol, meat. Arguably, the things people give up for Lent are increasingly a religious obligation to diet. Rather than reflect, or connect. Giving up carbs to lose 10lbs for summer. This year I hadn’t given i