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Giving back

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“Everyone can experience the joy and blessing of generosity; because everyone has something to give.”
Jan Grace, Author.

Over the past 18 months we’ve seen some of the amazing things people have given. Whether it’s their time, effort, energy or expertise to help others, the compassion shown has been inspiring. As well as this, lots of us have donated to causes we care deeply about, from the NHS to animal shelters, environmental causes or charities tackling social issues – giving back or trying to help those less fortunate is something we should all strive to do.

What‘s in it for me?
Volunteering is often, rightly, viewed as a way to give back, be it to a community, group of people or a cause. But not only are there benefits for the people and causes receiving help, lots of volunteers talk about the positive effects volunteering has for them.

Volunteers from Volunteer Scotland talk about the feeling of pride, achievement, gratitude and sense of wellbeing they get from volunteering. And not only that, volunteering can give you the opportunity to learn new skills, make you feel part of a community and build new friendships – getting out the house to socialise while doing some good is definitely something many of us want to do after the year we’ve had. All of these things can also help improve your mental health – it really is win-win!

What can I do?
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Do It, and the Government website are great places to start your search for voluntary work. You can also keep an eye on local Facebook groups and community noticeboards for opportunities. If you want to volunteer regularly it’s important to find something that interests you, as it’s more likely to keep you invested. Maybe you want to donate some money to charity? It’s worth exploring whether your employer offers give as you earn donations or payroll giving, as this way donations are made directly from your salary, in a tax efficient way, to your chosen charity.

It doesn’t just need to be your time or money you volunteer either. You could have a wardrobe clear out and donate your pre-loved clothes to charity, or how about combining a workout with doing some good? GoodGym bring together physical exercise with helping out in local communities by organising local runs to volunteer at food banks, shift earth for community groups, plant trees in local parks, and loads of other amazing projects.

There are loads of great causes to get involved with, so let us know if you volunteer for anything.

Two people talking

The Big Listen

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As restrictions begin to lift across the UK and we edge back towards normality, it’s tempting to try to do everything all at once. We might feel the need to make up for lost time. We might even feel pressured into throwing ourselves back into socialising, shopping (in actual shops), mixing with other people we don’t know, just because everyone else seems to be embracing our newly regained freedom… It might make some of us feel completely overwhelmed where others are just a bit anxious about the thought of getting back to ‘normal’… whatever that is.

However we feel, it’s good to remind ourselves that we’re not alone.

There’s loads of support available if you find these feelings start to impact your mental health. From blogs and advice from the Mental Health Foundation, to podcasts and support with stress from Headspace.

On Saturday 24 July Samaritans are running their annual Big Listen campaign to remind us they’re here for all of us. Whenever we need them. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can follow all their activity on Big Listen day across their social media feeds – @samaritanscharity on Instagram and Facebook, and @samaritans on Twitter. Or you can check out their website for details of events taking place in your local area.

Opening up to talk about how we’re feeling can be daunting, but it can have amazing benefits too. Samaritans believe in the life-saving power of conversation – take a look at their Small Talk Saves Lives video.

If you’d like to volunteer for Samaritans checkout their website. And if you need support you can call Samaritans on 116 123 – calls are free and lines are always open.

Normalising and using gender pronouns correctly

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Article written by BLUP50 talent Charlie Greening.

This June is pride month for the LGBTQIA+ community. During this month it is more important than ever that everyone within that community and ally’s of it show their respect, support and understanding of the difficult issues those in the community face.

I am a pansexual and gender-neutral person myself. I have been in relationships with beautiful people of all genders and sexual preferences. So, I thought I’d give you a little insight as to what is important for the LGBTQIA+ community right now and what you can do to show support. I am going to be covering the topic of gender pronouns. You might read this and already be tensing your muscles in a confused panic, especially if you are a heterosexual cis-gendered person. Not to worry, I understand that there is some doubt around this topic as people commonly fear causing offence or think that it is too complex of a topic to get their head around. I am here to explain to you what it means to be non-binary or gender-neutral, how to be respectful and supportive, and why it is important that you state your preferred pronouns, especially if you are cis-gendered!

WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
Non-binary / gender queer people use gender neutral pronouns. Some people don’t fit into categories of ‘male’ or ‘female’. Some people have a gender that blends elements of being a man, a woman or have a gender that is different than either ‘male’ or ‘female’. Some people don’t identify with any gender and some people’s gender changes over time. Some society’s, like ours in the UK, tend to recognise just two genders. The idea that there is only two genders is sometimes called a ‘gender binary’ because the word binary means ‘having two parts’. Therefore, ‘non-binary’ is a term people use to describe a gender that doesn’t fall into one of these two.

SOME THINGS IMPORTANT TO KNOW
Non-binary is nothing new! Non-binary people are not confused about gender or ‘following a fad’. Non-binary identities have been recognised for a millennia by cultures and societies all around the world. In some cultures, gods have been depicted as genderless or gender-fluid for thousands of years. Not all people undergo medical procedures, but for some it is critical and even life saving! Most transgendered people are not non-binary. These people often identify as either ‘male’ or ‘female’ and want to be treated like any other cis-gendered person, so should be! Being non-binary is not the same as being intersex. Intersex people have different anatomy or genes that don’t fall into typical ‘male’ or ‘female’ biology.

HOW TO BE RESPECTFUL
You don’t have to completely understand in order to be respectful. However, it is important to educate yourself as much as you can. Always use the preferred name a person asks you to use. Try not to make any assumptions about a persons gender, If you are unsure you should ask. Advocate for policies that are inclusive to non-binary or gender-neutral people in public spaces. Something as simple as going to the bathroom can be very difficult for a these people due to fear of being verbally or physically assaulted.

WHY YOU SHOULD STATE YOUR PRONOUNS
You can now add your preferred pronouns to Instagram, and I highly encourage you to do so! Even if you feel as though you don’t really need to. The more people that do, the more we can normalise this behaviour and make the process of sharing and accepting pronouns better for all of us. The University of North Carolina wrote: “Normalising and using correct pronouns leads to acceptance and de-stigmatisation of individuals who ‘deviate’ from traditionally used pronouns or pronouns that do not align with their physical appearance or gender-based name. By stating one’s pronouns the need for explanation is eliminated”. Including pronouns on your social media profiles, in email sign offs and when you introduce yourself to someone is a small step that cis-gender people can – and should – be making.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT
The Trevor Project’s 2020 National Survey on LGBTQIA+ Youth’s Mental Health found that a heart-breaking fifty two per cent of trans and non-binary youth have seriously considered death by suicide. Those who reported having their personal pronouns respected by all or most people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who didn’t have their pronouns respected. It is evident there is more to be done in normalising pronouns and it is vital that it comes from cis-gendered people! This is because cis-gendered people have a privilege that allows the opportunity to work to normalise without the risks that trans, non-binary and gender-neutral people face. It is essential that they use this privilege to cultivate an environment where trans and non-binary people don’t feel alienated!

Article written by BLUP50 talent Charlie Greening (She / They) (@chazzabel)

Conversion therapy – when will it end?

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conversion therapy
/kənˈvəːʃ(ə)n/ /ˈθɛrəpi/

  1. the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity

You’d be forgiven for thinking anything labelled as ‘therapy’ is a positive experience resulting in long-term benefits to your mental and physical wellbeing. But when that therapy involves trying to persuade a person to live as something they’re not, there’s really nothing therapeutic, medically endorsed, beneficial or healing about it. It is, in fact, the antithesis of all these things, often causing serious mental and physical harm to those who undergo it.

What does conversion therapy involve?
Sometimes also called ‘gay cure therapy’, the practice can involve talking therapies, prayer, physical harm, exorcism, being deprived of food and ‘corrective’ rape (mercifully already illegal). Essentially, it means trying to stop a person from being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, persuade them to suppress their sexuality or change their mind about living as a different gender to the one they were assigned at birth.

NHS England and other organisations have made their stance clear on these ‘unethical and potentially harmful’ therapies and with mounting pressure on the government to address the issue, some small steps in the right direction have been made this year.

Sounds horrendous, so when will it be banned?
Back in 2018, Penny Mordaunt (Minister for Women and Equalities) published her LGBT Action Plan 2018: Improving the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people under Theresa May’s government. Along with taking more action on hate crime and appointing a LGBT health adviser the promise was to ‘bring forward proposals to end the practice of conversion therapy in the UK’.

Fast forward to summer 2020 and Boris Johnson also promised to progress plans banning conversion therapy. Adamant the practice is “absolutely abhorrent and has no place in a civilised society, and has no place in this country”, he went on to say the government would conduct a study to find out how, where and how frequently it’s happening before implementing legislative change to outlaw it.

Skip forward again to the Queen’s speech in May this year and yet another public pledge to progress a ban… but the law still won’t be changed until a public consultation goes ahead first.

How long will the consultation take before real change is made?
Well, looking at the pattern of delay over the past few years, it might be easier to ask how long the proverbial piece of string is… On a more positive note though, the very fact that government has conversion therapy on their agenda and has pledged to eradicate it is progress and for now, gives the LGBTQ+ community a glimmer of hope.

What can you do?
There’s lot more information out there so take some time to read up – Stonewall and Gay Times always cover issues impacting the queer community. You can also add your voice to the calls for a complete ban by petitioning your local MP – head to the Ban Conversion Therapy website and use the search function to get started.

Why pride isn’t just for Pride month

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I remember camping with my family when I was about eleven or twelve, waking up one morning in our tent, and admitting to myself that I was gay. Blood rushed to my head, and in a mortified panic, I promised myself that I would never tell anyone this secret for the rest of my life.

At twenty-two, pride feels like a second birthday, and my queerness feels like a gift. I have nurtured, fought for and protected this gift more than anything else I have ever received in my life.

I’ve heard people say that you shouldn’t let one part of your identity consume your whole existence. However, it’s hard to ignore the one facet of your life that other people solely define you by, whether you like it or not.

I’ve been told I was too gay in school and that I talked too much about being gay at university. In embracing my queerness, I still find I’m having to justify, dilute or amplify this part of my identity to please others. It’s hard to digest that the same people telling you that you’re too gay or not gay enough are the ones at pride parades drinking Malibu and coke, taking pictures with their friends and having a good time.

The reality is, being queer has become my whole life – and not just for one month or one parade a year.

Queer people stand in the face of adversity daily. Being queer transcends clothing. It’s in the way we talk, hold ourselves and communicate. So let’s get one thing straight (excuse the pun) – regardless of our clothing, haircuts and outward expression, queer people are still being marginalised and discriminated against.

Many of the queer people I know, including myself, moved to London in hopes of finding themselves at the epicentre of creativity, acceptance and opportunity. Whilst London doesn’t fall short of its promises, homophobia, transphobia and racism run rampant in North, East, South and West.

Many turn a blind eye to day to day stories of hate crime, because we’ve fought for and been awarded our rights, right?

Time and time again this mentality is disrupted by major horror stories making the news, bringing back into sharp focus the reality that many queer folk face. In October, the BBC reported a 20% increase in homophobic hate crimes during the year and even more alarmingly that reports had tripled in five years. And, while it’s true homophobic attacks have been woefully underreported in the past, it doesn’t account for the magnitude in increases.

Tragically, it doesn’t always make the news either. We’re still marching for our BAME trans brothers and sisters in central London because they’re losing their lives and it remains unreported by any major news outlets.

On the surface, your queer/BAME friends may seem fine, but each has probably experienced some form of discrimination within the last month.

On the surface, your queer/BAME friends, the drag queens you see performing at Heaven and the trendy gay guy that made you your oat latte in Gail’s may seem fine, but each has probably experienced some form of discrimination, homophobia or racism within the last month.

When I got back to work after the world went into lockdown, I was called a faggot by four young teenagers at my part-time retail job. Not only is this personally humiliating, but it’s also worrying.

The boys were maybe sixteen or seventeen and I’m twenty-two. I naively hoped (and hope) the younger generations would be more socially aware than my own generation, and that their queer peers would be more comfortable than I was growing up. It goes to show that visibility and education are still essential for queer people to be accepted in society, not only in London but across the world.

But should we, the queer community, be the ones doing the educating?

No.

Why should it still be our responsibility in 2021?

That’s what we’d like to say of course, and that’s what we should encourage. The reality is, we’re still our biggest supporters and to see the change we must be the ones to actively make it. And to our allies, we can spot the Malibu and Coke drinking parade-goers from the genuine activists and change-makers. We see and appreciate you.

Pride is a great opportunity to be visible, online and in person. Although every day is an opportunity to be visible, we’re not always comfortable doing so and that’s fine. Everyone has their own individual way of contributing to the community, big or small, and each is valid. Ultimately, we all have a responsibility to make our voices louder and to defend EVERYONE in our community. Report instances of homophobia, share stories with your work colleagues and friends, let people know it’s not all rainbows and RuPaul’s drag race.

Pride isn’t just for pride month, pride is every day for us.

All things being equal

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#choosetochallenge

Our world today looks very different to the one we were happily running roughshod over up until a year ago. While this time has been devastating for millions of us personally – whether losing people precious to us, suffering financially or becoming ill ourselves – it’s also forced us to step off the not-so-merry-go-round and strip our lives, habits and tendencies back to basics.

Many of us have had a lengthy hiatus to challenge the plethora of things we blindly accepted as the norm just twelve months ago. We all know the planet desperately needed a chance to clear its lungs, but as a race we too needed to take a breath and really consider what it means to be a human in the 21st century.

As I took time to breathe, the enforced isolation prompted me to think about how I interact with people – how I should interact with them and the unconscious way I treat the people around me. What are my core values as a person and what type of person do I want to be?

After some considerable soul-searching I realised at the most fundamental level I believe in all things being equal – simple really!

And to quote the first article of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

That means whoever you are, wherever you were born – your ethnicity, religion, beliefs, ability, sexuality and gender shouldn’t in any way prevent you from access to the same opportunities, rights, status, fairness or justice as anyone else.

You should not be discriminated against. Period.

So, on International Women’s Day and as part of their campaign #choosetochallenge, I want to share a few ideas about how we can all start to recognise and challenge the unconscious biases so deeply entrenched in ourselves and our culture. And although we’re focusing on women today, it’s worth bearing in mind the learned behaviours that unconsciously influence our actions and decision-making at every point of every day don’t just apply to gender.

Self-awareness
Take a step back and check your conversations, language and immediate responses. We all have learned ideas about gender and instinctively try to categorise everyone we meet – is this necessary or even appropriate? You might also have deep-rooted assumptions about ‘pink and blue jobs’ inherited from your parents for example, or unconsciously favour men for roles in authority and women for roles where emotional support is important. Ask yourself – am I reinforcing those biases just because I haven’t actively questioned whether they’re true?

There’s room for everyone
To some degree we’re all attracted to people most like us (sometimes called affinity bias), so without meaning to, we can end up excluding people who are different to us. Try not to discriminate for ANY reason and then bravely, respectfully call out stereotyping and intolerance whenever it raises its ugly head.

Celebrate success
And, on this day dedicated to ‘celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women’, I want to highlight how important it is to add your voice to the choir singing women’s praises. I urge you to try and weave recognition of the women you know and their successes, both personal and professional, into your own daily narrative.

Be the person who raises women up, challenges inequity and moves us collectively towards a future where equality for everyone is the new normal.

And finally… an opportunity to check your unconscious bias in favour of male authors right here!

Read more (by these amazing women) and get involved
Invisible woman: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
Difficult women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights by Helen Lewis
https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
https://www.equalitynow.org/

Listen
Women unlocked – Audible original

21 wins for 2021

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New Year’s resolutions, make them? Hate them? Break them?

According to YouGov, 28% of people who made New Year’s resolutions this time last year failed to stick to any of them. While this isn’t surprising, it’s safe to say 2020 has been a year like no other and many of us can’t wait for it to be over. While I’m hoping for a brighter and better 2021, I’m making a resolution NOT to make New Year’s resolutions this year.

Instead, in 2021 I’m going to focus on 21 that are likely to increase my wellbeing and give my mental health a boost:

  1. Go on a short daily walk, being mindful of my surroundings.
  2. Read a book that I loved in my childhood.
  3. Show my unfinished craft projects some love.
  4. Take time for myself as often as possible.
  5. Watch films that make me happy.
  6. Take part in the 1p savings challenge.
  7. Build myself a self-care routine.
  8. Organise my at-home workspace.
  9. Go for regular runs.
  10. Have daily time away from screens and technology.
  11. Write down the things I’m grateful for.
  12. Check in with friends and family regularly.
  13. Borrow a friend’s dog and go for regular walks.
  14. Try a new sport.
  15. Create an at-home spa day.
  16. Have a picnic lunch.
  17. Try out new recipes and create my own takeaway.
  18. Send a written letter to a loved one.
  19. Prioritise my sleep.
  20. Focus on the things that bring me joy.
  21. Spend more time outside.

These 21 small wins will remind me to focus on my wellbeing and encourage me to be kind to myself. 2020 has been hard enough for us all, so remember to take time for those little things in your life that spark joy and try not to sweat about goal setting for 2021.

What things are you celebrating this year? Let us know in the comments below.

 

The case for staycations

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With everything that’s happened over the last few months many of us have seen our original holiday plans postponed or cancelled altogether. And with loads of flights cancelled and some hotels remaining shut or operating at reduced capacity, our traditional idea of the summer getaway has all but disappeared.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t get away. Far from it. Step forward the staycation.

We usually look to holidays to give us a break from routine, time off work and the chance to relax or explore somewhere new. These are things that can all be done with a staycation. And if the weather’s anything like it has been in parts of the UK recently then it could feel like you’re abroad too.

What are the benefits of a staycation?
Our home nations across the UK are often some of the most desirable to visit by tourists and they regularly score highly in travel guides of must-visit destinations. As well as giving you the opportunity to be a tourist and explore your own town, city, or country with fresh eyes, there are loads of other benefits staycations have over traditional foreign holidays.

Flexibility
Staycations are traditionally a bit closer to home than your usual long-haul trips abroad. This means as well as being able to speak the language, you also have a bit more flexibility in terms of when you come and go. Travelling by public transport will give you more options than flying, and the majority of bus and train tickets can be bought on the day. Although cheap deals can usually be found if you plan ahead and book in advance.

If you’re travelling by car you’ll have even more flexibility to come and go as you please. No rushing to the airport for delayed flights, you can take your time and even stop off for lunch wherever you want. There are no luggage limits either, so you can pack that extra pair of jeans or shoes. And depending on where you’re staying, you can even take your pets with you too.

For those of you who love the great outdoors and don’t mind a bit of adventure, then camping gives you even more freedom. And that’s not to mention the health benefits spending time in nature provides too. But if you are wild camping make sure you take all your rubbish with you and leave only footprints.

Reduces your carbon footprint
Air travel is a huge contributor to global emissions, with a one-way flight from London to New York emitting one ton of carbon dioxide per passenger! Travelling locally, or even cross-country, by public transport can be much better for the environment, and in turn your health with less air pollution being produced.

Staycations also give us the opportunity to rediscover the joy of the journey. When flying over countries by plane we miss out on the experiences we can have when travelling through quiet towns, peaceful villages and vibrant cities. It also gives you the opportunity to connect with a place and the people, and there’s no substitute for local knowledge, so you might just end up discovering another hidden gem.

The rise of this slow travel and responsible backpacking in recent years is primarily in response to rising carbon emissions and over-tourism. By opting for staycations and travelling through places you might find you have even more great experiences.

And for the cycling enthusiasts among you, why not give bikepacking a go – packing your bike with everything you need and pedalling to a new place or to explore some beautiful scenery.

Supports the local economy
Depending on how you travel and where you stay, staycations can offer a cheaper alternative to going abroad. The rise of bikepacking and wild camping can drastically reduce your travel and accommodation costs. But the money you do spend in the local economy stays there. Research shows that £10 spent with a local independent shop can result in up to an additional £50 going back into the local economy through circulation and re-spending in the local community.

We’ve embraced the staycation in our team with people holidaying a little closer to home in the Northwest Highlands in Scotland, Malham Cove in the Lake District, Truro in Cornwall, and Woolacombe in Devon. Let us know if you’ve been on a staycation and share your hints and tips in the comments.

5 ways to boost your mood during lockdown

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I think it’s fair to say that life’s a bit of a rollercoaster for many of us at the moment. Full of ups and downs and the accompanying highs and lows in our mood that come with navigating our way through the uncertainty of a global pandemic.

Many of us are spending most of our time at home now, without the usual social interactions that come with our normal workplace (and even if we can go to work, it’s with huge restrictions and socially distanced), or going about our daily routines of school drop-offs, shopping and visits to the gym / coffee shop / pub / parks etc. And with all of this isolation and separation can come a knock to our mood.

So here are a few simple ideas to help lift your mood if you’re feeling a little low:

  • Turn up those tunes! Music is a well-known mood-booster, so find a favourite upbeat song to listen to, crank up the volume and just take some time to let those feel-good vibes nourish your soul! Music has always been a main go-to for me to lift my spirits and it really does work!
  • Have a laugh – there’s a lot of research to back this one up and apparently, laughter really is the best medicine for when we’re feeling low. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals and promote an overall sense of wellbeing. So why not put on your favourite comedy show and let those endorphins work their magic.
  • Get moving! A favourite for me and my family is to get dancing! If I can see we need a little pick-me-up, I’ll turn the radio on and we’ll just dance around the kitchen together – it works wonders! Another idea is to find a short video online, I’ve found some great dance HIIT and Zumba workouts on YouTube that I can easily fit in when I have 20 minutes to myself. Without doubt I come away feeling so much better than when I started.
  • It’s good to talk – communication is so important in getting through these strange times and a phone call / video call with your best mate or a loved one can really help you to feel connected. If you need to, vent your frustrations and get them off your chest, or talk through how you’re feeling and get some support from family and friends – we really are all in this together!
  • Look at old photos – whether that’s looking through photos on your phone or laptop, or flicking through an old photo album from years ago that’s gathering dust in the back of a cupboard, take a few minutes out to look back at happy times you’ve had. Focus on those good times and happy memories and feel gratitude for those times for a dose of feel-good vibes.

Let us know if you’ve got any other mood-boosting ideas to share with us! Look after yourselves.

Your mind matters – free resources to help look after your mental health

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Even for the bravest among us, the world feels pretty scary at the moment. There are so many things we have no control over, and for an anxious person it’s something I’m finding very hard to deal with right now. I know I’m not alone; even friends who haven’t previously struggled with anxiety have commented on how difficult they are finding these uncertain times.

When intrusive thoughts become too much, I rely on meditation and the act of mindfulness, which I mostly access through a couple of really good apps. Calm and Headspace, two well-known meditation and mindfulness apps usually charge for some of their services, but have decided to offer free sessions to help anyone struggling during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Headspace

Headspace are currently offering three free meditation sessions:

Relieving Stress

Panicking

Walking at home

The relieving stress and panicking sessions follow a traditional meditation format and are designed to help you when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Walking at home is a little different – it’s a 10 minute mediation that encourages you to get active by completing a walking meditation inside your home. I found this session perfect when I started to feel too cooped-up in the house.

To try out any of the meditations visit: https://www.headspace.com/covid-19.

Calm

Calm has something for everyone. If you’re having trouble sleeping, or getting back to sleep you could try a sleep story or a guided meditation to help you drift off. Maybe you’re struggling to focus while working from home. Calm has a range of relaxing soundscapes available for free and also includes a link to their YouTube channel if you want to listen to longer soundscapes.

If you’ve got children who are feeling worried or anxious at the moment, Calm also provides meditations and sleep stories to help children whatever their age:

Age 3-4: Blowing candles

Age 7-10: Meditation for falling asleep

Age 7-13: That safe happy place

Age 11-17: Falling asleep meditation

To see the full range of resources available visit: https://www.calm.com/blog/take-a-deep-breath.

Every Mind Matters

Every Mind Matters was launched by Public Health England in conjunction with the NHS and the charity Heads Up in light of the Coronavirus pandemic and the impact on people’s mental health. It’s a website designed to give you the tools you need to deal with stress, anxiety and keeping physically as well as mentally healthy in this challenging time.

You start your journey by answering five simple questions about how you’re currently feeling. This generates your own personal mind plan which includes five steps to help with your wellbeing.

If you’re struggling with lack of sleep, anxiety, low mood or stress the Every Mind Matters website has dedicated sections offering different resources to help manage how you’re feeling. 

Exercise the mind

During these unprecedented times, keeping a healthy mind is more important than ever before. Calm, Headspace and Every Mind Matters are paving the way to reach everyone who needs support with their mental health.

If you need urgent support, Samaritans can support you 24/7. Get in touch with them on 116 123 or visit their website.

An Easter to remember! Some fun ideas for a lockdown family Easter

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For many of us, Easter is usually a time to unwind with family, catch up with loved ones and enjoy some quality time together. But Easter 2020 is no ordinary Easter. We’ve been in ‘lockdown’ for three weeks and for some, holiday plans won’t be as hoped and the kids (and for that matter, parents too!) are ready for a break!

But Easter gives us a great opportunity to focus on something a little different, with loads of resources out there to help us entertain the kids and make this time together special and memorable. Here’s a few suggestions for things to do this Easter:

Get baking! Don the aprons and raid the cupboards – there’s so many things you can make together no matter what your level of culinary expertise is (pretty low here!), from colourful Easter biscuits and chocolate nests to hot cross buns and Easter simnel cake if you’re feeling adventurous! There are lots of great recipes available at www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/easter-baking to suit everybody’s needs.

No Easter would be complete without an Easter egg hunt! Without doubt my daughters’ favourite Easter tradition (I wonder why!) and it’s easy to set up – but you can make it as easy or as complicated as you like depending on the age of your kids (or how much energy you want to put into it!), what space you have available give current restrictions (and the weather!), and how much chocolate you want them to consume! There are some great options to help you which are available in the supermarkets and also online at www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/blog/10-easter-egg-hunt-ideas-free-easter-egg-hunt-kit, www.madeformums.com/school-and-family/easter-egg-hunt-clues/ and www.thepurplepumpkinblog.co.uk/easter-egg-hunt-kit-free-printables/

Feeling creative? There’s so many ways to get crafty and creative at Easter and it’s one of my favourite times of the year for this because there’s so much inspiration around – whether you want to make an Easter bonnet, create colourful Easter pictures or get interactive online, you’ll be able to keep the kids happy for hours! Some of our favourites are www.thepurplepumpkinblog.co.uk/free-easter-printables/ and www.wiseoceans.com/dive-into-the-classroom/eggcellent-easter-activities/ for something a bit different.

Games for all the family – why not play some games, especially if the weather’s nice and we can get outside in the garden! You could have a family egg and spoon race (with real, decorated eggs, if you dare!), create an obstacle course or head back indoors and play some family board games.

Whatever you’re doing this Easter, we hope you have a relaxing and fun time together (even if some of it is via video call!) – and stay safe. We’d love to see your pictures – share what you got up to in the comments.

It’s me time

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Life is busy. Whether it’s juggling a job and family or just trying to fit in some sort of social life around everything else you have on – things can get hectic.

And at this time of year when many of us have set ourselves resolutions along with a whole host of other goals and ambitions to strive for, it can sometimes feel like any time we’re not doing something is time wasted.

But this 100 miles-per-hour lifestyle could actually be detrimental to achieving those targets we set ourselves. Research suggests doing too much and not taking time for yourself can lead to burnout and being less productive than you’d like.

Why should I take some time for myself?
A number of experts recommend slowing down and setting aside some quiet time on your own. It can help you switch off and even improve your social skills, as you’re less likely to be tired, strained or stretched.

Taking some time for yourself can also help you reset and focus on what you want. Amy Morin, author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, believes time spent alone can improve your concentration, productivity, as well as sparking creativity. And studies have shown the ability to spend time in your own company is linked to increased happiness and improved stress management.

So what can I do?
The idea of putting some time aside purely for yourself can seem daunting and maybe even a bit selfish. But self-care really isn’t something to feel guilty about!

There are loads of things you can do to take some time for yourself, but what’s most important is that it’s something you feel happy doing in an environment you’re comfortable in. Some of our favourite activities to help switch off include:

  • reading
  • practicing mindfulness
  • going for a walk
  • yoga
  • self-care and pampering yourself

So next time you have a spare few minutes, why not use them to focus on you. It might just help you in more ways than you think.