Keep Calm! And carry on...

So Boost has launched, and what a divebomb I feel I've made. Lets hope it makes a monumental splash! It was during the many hours of thinking, doodling, researching, googling, doubting, and 'to-do list' making, that I understood the true point of setting up this service. When I struggled with motivation, toiled in my dressing gown, drank more tea to cope with the 'blahs' and procrastinated on almost everything, I understood the real need for a motivating force! Trying to sleep with a knot in your stomach because you've worked yourself up into an anxious frenzy over how the hell you're ever going to manage keeping your own accounts is not fun. BUT I did get through it, and here are my TOP 5 ways to Keep Calm and Carry On!

1. Music

Prepare for your 'funk' days with the most uplifting, kick ass playlist you can imagine. When I feel low, and unmotivated, I know that listening to my 'in case of emergency' playlist will do wonders. I don't know about you, but the sweet sounds of 'mmmbop' never fails to get me in a far better mood.

2. Write

Writing down your feelings, thoughts, dramas, battles, lists, whatever, focuses your attention and helps you concentrate. It can help to read over your past bad days in order to give you a push to turn today around. It doesn't have to be much, but get a good notebook and get scribbling.

3.Breathe

I've learned and delivered many different types of breathing exercises in my career, but the one I like the most is the simplest. All you do is find somewhere calm, and focus on your breathing. Inhaling slowly and calmly for a count of 4, holding the breath for a count of 4, and exhaling the full breath for a count of 4. Try it now! Do this for a while and you should start to feel calmer.

4. Nourish

Getting repeated cases of the 'blahs'? Got no energy? Time to start looking after yourself and nourishing your body. Eating well and giving yourself some goodness is a great way to naturally manage stress better and energise. Grab an avocado and whip it up in a smoothie with some mango, mint (get a good sniff of the mint first!) and coconut milk! Or feast your chops on some homemade kale, tomato and basil soup. (More feel good recipes to come)

5. Be kind to yourself

Time to start boosting your ego! Not many people I know feel motivated to do anything if they feel crap about themselves. We're all our own toughest critics, and boy do those voices shout louder than the kind little ones that are in there somewhere. Time to start thinking about what you're good at, what you've achieved so far, why you're a good person, and what other people see in you! You may want to incorporate this with your breathing practice. I've got a great visualisation practice to help give those personal compliments centre stage, which I'll share at some point!

Time to switch off!

#selfimprovement #goals #wellbeing #Relaxation