Easter – it’s another one of those times where we are expected to play happy families, oh and if yours isn’t, don’t make other people feel uncomfortable about the fact that this is not consensus reality.

So, what do you do if the reality for you is that being around family is tricky, or you have chosen to put some distance between you, or for any other reason whatsoever you do not have family to be with at this time.

Here’s a few tips to help you look after yourself at a time which can be quite triggering:

    • First tip – don’t buy into the stories that suggest if you don’t have a happy family, there is something wrong with you. Your reality is different and for some people they cannot imagine what that might be like – that’s a them problem, not a you problem. These are probably not the best people to be seeking support from on this matter.

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January rolls around every year and we see a barrage of year end reflections and new year, new me proclamations appearing in our social media feeds.

We all know the drill, make a new year’s resolution or an intention for the year, give it the best you’ve got in January (which is often very little, because we are mammals, in the depths of winter and we tend to not have a lot of energy going spare at this time of year), and fizzle out by the time that February rolls around.

It’s a bit depressing really when you think about it, and yet so many people go through this process every single year.

So, what can you do about it?  Read more

Sing it with me now…

It’s the most wonderless time of the year!

Please tell me you sung that in your head to the tune of that really famous Christmas ditty?!?

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Rachel, where is your festive spirit?”

I’m going to own it, I’m not a fan!

Christmas can actually be really stressful and, to be quite frank, a little bit sh*te for many different reasons. And I have found over the years that this is not often a popular point of view with the mass British public.

I want to share a little bit of my experience with you though, just in case you are one of the people who struggles with this particular festival for whatever reason. Because do you know what? – I think there needs to be space for people who have a difference in experience or a different opinion without them being labelled a scrooge and being shamed for not getting on board with the popular narrative.

So, if you’re someone who finds this time of year tough, read on… Read more

It’s that time of year again!

Image of winter tree silhouetted against a sunrise with fields in the backgroundAre you feeling it already?  I know I am!  It is already so much harder for me to get out of bed in a morning now that I have to do it in the dark every day.

Autumn inevitably brings with it shortening daylight hours and for some people (myself included) this can have a heavy impact on our energy, mood and motivation.

And do you know what? – The world would have us believe that there is something wrong with us for being impacted.

We are sold the story of needing to be in some kind perpetual summer state by our society.  We always need to be switched on, and we always need to be sociable, and we always need to be producing blah, blah, blah.

The fact of the matter is though, that this is just a story.  And, when we take a look at the rest of nature (which, in case you hadn’t heard, we are a part of), no other living beings on the planet spend their lives in a perpetual state of switched on, high energy production! Read more

I sat down one day with my friend at the kitchen table. It had been a long few days and I was tired, sad and fed-up. “You must be hungry,” she said “you haven’t eaten today. What you need right now is a bacon sandwich!” she declared.

I heard my friend’s words and could feel the care that she was trying to express to me but she had no idea how I was really feeling at that moment in time.

I was at once appreciative of her care, irritated by her assumption that she knew how I would be feeling and what I might need (I mean, what if I was vegan), and all at the same time feeling rude because I wanted to reject her kind offer and that may cause her to feel hurt Read more