Bit of an intense week for me!

Hello once again,

This week I've been thinking a lot about the importance of giving myself a break and not being too hard on myself. I wrote last week about how I had been unwell and unfortunately that continued into this week with a second set of antibiotics and a horrible migraine. This then spiralled for me into a whole host of anxiety fuelled thoughts, what if it is something more serious? What if I need to go to hospital on my own? What if I catch Corona virus because my immune system is low? What if.. What if... What if...

I  appreciate that this isn't a particularly uplifting blog to be reading right now! I am sharing these feelings because 1) I believe that when we talk openly about mental health issues we take away the power that they have over us 2) I am sure that some of you have experienced similar feelings, I want to voice them and let you know that it IS NORMAL! 3) I want to be completely honest with you, I feel that sometimes it can be damaging to see just positivity quotes and pretend that well-being is JUST positive, happy, smiley #livingyourbestlife. Well-being isn't just about 'focussing on the good and ignoring the bad' I believe that real well-being is about accepting the full range of human experience and acknowledging what we are going through with compassion.

So this week, I have not given the children the most exciting experiences that home education can bring. I haven't cooked nutritious and healthy meals. I have napped. I have cried. I have been open about how I'm feeling. Most importantly, I have accepted that this is way it is at the moment and not given myself a hard time about letting people down. I have also tried really hard to not compare my suffering to others who have it worse.... That's a whole other spiral that doesn't achieve anything for anyone.

Here are some top tips for well-being that I didn't manage to do everyday this week, I plan to put into action next week (now that I am starting to feel stronger and more able). I hope you find them useful.

I hope that you are doing ok, but if you aren't; remember that it is ok to not be ok!

If you would like to join my free, supportive facebook group please go here

Warm wishes and stay safe

xxx Julia