Become Gracious & Grateful with a Gratitude Journal
Being grateful for what we have in life is certainly not always an easy task. We know deep down that we are all lucky in some way. We may be grateful for our kids or that we are not living in poverty. What we find hard though, is bringing that gratitude into our daily lives. It’s all very well knowing we are better off than most, but when we are having a tough time, that sometimes doesn’t seem to mean that much. We battle through our day, making sure all our jobs are done, looking after other people, perhaps fighting whatever inner demons are ours, and by the end of…
The Creative Type? Unleash Your Inner Artist with an Art Journal
I came across a really intriguing new type of journaling recently; art journaling. I love words and I could chat and write all day long! But, speaking to friends and family about their lives and difficulties, it came to me that it is not so easy for everybody to express what they are feeling using words, whether that is to someone else or to themselves. We are all so different, and have such varied means of self-expression, which is what makes us so interesting. Whereas for one person writing about their feelings can be cathartic, for someone else, painting or playing the piano might help to reduce stress. For all…
Are You An Emotional Eater?
So many of us have a complicated relationship with the food we eat. Body-image issues are incredibly common and many of us have been on the diet merry-go-round for much of our lives. Even if we are happy with our bodies, what we eat often seems to be tied in with our emotions. I would say that the majority of my girlfriends (and some of the guys too!) would admit to reaching for a huge bar of chocolate or a tub of ice-cream if they are upset or stressed out every now and again to make themselves feel better, and I’m certainly no exception! And, surely, there’s no harm in…
Meditation, Mindfulness & Journaling
Mindfulness is big news right now. But what exactly is it? How can it help us and how can we use it as part of the journaling process? Well, mindfulness as a concept actually fits in really well with journaling as it is about stopping, being present in the moment and taking time to allow ourselves to just be. How often do we do that? The most common answer among most of us would be occasionally or never! What with jobs, family, bills to pay, shopping to do, not to mention keeping ourselves physically fit, we so often neglect our minds. What I have noticed since I became interested in…
Could Journaling Help Me with My Anxiety?
Anxiety is so common in the hectic, pressurized world we live in today. I don’t know about you, but I find that any time I open up about my struggles with anxiety to a friend or colleague, they will tell me a story about their own struggles with anxiety, whether they are related to their jobs, family, issues with self-esteem or just keeping going with the daily grind. Not to mention the impact of hormonal imbalances on our anxiety levels; the theme which I chose for the focus my last series of blog posts as I know how many of us are affected in this way. My teenage daughter, as…
Why Do You Need to Create New Habits?
While you are busy creating goals for yourself, there is one thing you need to remember – habits are more important than goals. Why? Because it is hard to complete tasks required to achieve a goal if you have not formed a good habit first. You need habits to gain focus and momentum, improve your daily life, and get the willpower you need to accomplish more in your life. Start with One Small Habit When you create new habits, there are two important things to remember: 1. You should start with just one habit at a time. 2. You want to start small. You may have a vision of these…
Perimenopause Skin Issues
I didn’t have acne or skin issues when I was a teen. I didn’t have skin issues during pregnancy either. So, the last few months of looking at myself in the mirror have been a tough visual pill to swallow at 44 years old. I’m sure it’s my hormones causing my perimenopause skin issues. Acne – Having breakouts like pimples or widespread acne is common in young adults. However, one of the signs that your hormones are out of balance is that once clear skin suddenly seems to revert to a teenager’s worst nightmare. But that’s not the only issue that unbalanced hormones can cause for your skin! Wrinkles…
Why Balanced Estrogen Levels Are Important For Women
Do you know what estrogen is? Not every woman knows what estrogen is and the role that it plays in her life. Estrogen is the hormone that ebbs and flows depending on a woman’s stage of life. It rises as a result of puberty but falls when it reaches the beginning stages of menopause. You might think that estrogen production is like a smooth road from one point of life to the next, right? Nope! Unfortunately, this hormone has been known to create a rollercoaster in a woman’s life. When it gets off balance, it can cause some upsetting side effects as well as carry significant health risks. For…
Why Am I So Tired? Hormone Imbalance And Extreme Fatigue
Over the last few years, I’ve experienced extreme fatigue. It’s the kind of tired that causes me to lay down in the middle of whatever I’m doing and practically pass out. It doesn’t matter how much I want to finish what I’m doing. It doesn’t matter where I’m at or if I’m sitting or driving or at work. It wipes me out! It also seems to coincide with my monthly cycle. So, knowing I have PMDD I figured It was associated with that, and it might well be. But, I also know it could easily be related to perimenopause. Here’s what I discovered. Fatigue is a health concern in which you…
Am I Having Perimenopause Symptoms?
Everything seems to happen early to the women in our family. We start our menstrual cycles early and it appears that our menopause comes earlier than average too. However, now days, it seems to be confusing to figure out if you are really having Perimenopause symptoms or just other health issues. As you get older, changes begin to occur within your reproductive system – especially in what happens with your hormones. Perimenopause is a state that happens before menopause kicks in. Here are just some of the common symptoms associated with perimenopause. Skipped menstrual cycles or changes in flow. Hot flashes Night Sweats Vaginal pain during sex Weight gain in…
