Finding time for creativity will give you respite from worries

Drawing, singing, writing, knitting… lose yourself in something creative to find inner calm. You might also come up with solutions to problems. Upon reading this article, it is something that I was able to relate to. So I had to share…. ‘When the first lockdown began in March, my son developed a persistent cough. I…

Blog: A time to reflect

Happy New Year! I hope 2021 brings good health and happiness to you all. Over the Christmas break, I was watching the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special from 2019 with my wife. It triggered a conversation as to how different “our world” was just 12 months ago when we had watched it previously. My initial…

How To Boost Your Mental Health If You’re Feeling Done With 2020

There are ways to look after yourself even if things don’t feel like they are getting any easier. Stress is surging as life during Covid-19 stretches on. During the first lockdown back in April, almost three quarters of people said they were coping well with the stress of the pandemic. Flash forward to November this…

Why celebrating Christmas is good for your mental health

From birthdays to weddings and graduations, this year has seen many personal celebrations cancelled, while communal festivities such as Bonfire Night, Eid and Diwali either haven’t been celebrated or have been more subdued. So it might feel tempting to downplay Christmas too, especially with concerns that people mixing more freely could lead to a third…

How To Embrace Alone Time (And Even Start Enjoying It)

Do you enjoy your own company? It’s a simple enough question, but before 2020, those of us who usually packed our calendars to their limits may have been stumped on the answer. But this year, we’ve had to confront head on our relationship with time spent alone. For some, the solitude this year has been…

Make your home a haven of wellbeing in 2021

Home is where the heart is, and we have 12 ways to turn yours into a haven of positive health and wellbeing for 2021. Whether you live alone or share your living space with family or friends, home is an important part of our identity, says Eleanor Ratcliffe, environmental psychologist and lecturer at the University…

Feeling The December Dread? Therapists Have These Tips For You

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Except when it isn’t. It’s not uncommon to feel dread come December. Sure, some people will look forward to the festive pile-up of cooking, eating, entertaining, socialising and decorating that’s part and parcel of the season. “But, very often Christmas can be a very tricky time of…

Sleeping on the job: how a quick nap makes us more efficient

While working from home have you had a cheeky nap? Don’t feel guilty. Research shows a brief kip boosts productivity. But will it catch on in the office? Naps need to hire a publicist. Not in China, where desk-side snoozes are a constitutional right; Japan, where inemuri (“sleeping while present”) is a sign you’ve been…