Zoe Loves the Second Act

  1.     Wake up early Waking up early gives you increased productiveness & better time management, increased focus & concentration and increases your overall mental health & well-being.   2.     Move gently as soon as you get up Moving gently as soon as you get up is optimal as it helps you wake up and loosen tight muscles for the coming day. It also produces an endorphin rush that can lift your mood for the day.   3.     Set intentions for the day Setting daily intentions improves mental health and encourages mindfulness to focus on the present moment. It can also strengthen your sense of purpose and boosts motivation.   4.     Speak kindly to yourself We talk to ourselves more than anyone else so talking kindly to yourself and practicing self-compassion can calm your heart rate, helps you build resilience and takes you out of fight-or-flight mode.   5.   ...

  Whatever life you lead, we all have tricky days where we just need to take stock & take the deepest of breaths. I’m not saying really hard days that require something else, but just one of those days when things haven’t been the best or quite gone to plan. I find on days like these my ‘Bounce Back List’ is a vital tool to bring some joy back into a difficult day. A ’Bounce Back List’ is a very personal list of simple things & pleasures that make YOU happy, but this is my list for inspiration.   1.     Watch an episode of a favourite TV show – for me   ‘Friends’, ‘Downton’, ‘Only Fools’ or ‘Bridgerton’ always cheer me up 2.     Have a glass of your favourite tipple - my favourite is a good Pino Blush! 3.     Take a luxurious bubble bath with a glass of wine and a favourite Youtube video. 4.     Buy yourself some flowers 5.     Get out for a walk in the fresh air. My daily dog...

  As Mid-life approaches, we realise how important it is to make the most of every moment & I’ve always been a big believer that you should burn the best candle, use your best crockery & wear your best underwear on a daily basis and not wait for that special occasion – today is a special occasion. You are the protagonist in your life so why not romanticize it every day by implementing some lovely touches. By doing so, you befriend and appreciate   yourself more and it shifts your mindset to make you realise you deserve to make   your life just that little bit more special every day. These are some that I love and that help me romanticize and elevate my life.   1.       Always have fresh flowers in the house. 2.       Take yourself out for lunch. It’s lovely to go with friends or a partner but why not treat yourself now and again if you fancy lunch out. One of the fabulous things mid-life brings is th...

  I’ve recently been quite ill with bronchitis and it’s really knocked me sideways. I’ve never been a sickly person but, the last few months have been extremely busy with very little time off & time to myself which has left me extremely tired and close to burn-out so an illness was inevitable really. I’m also approaching 50 and I need to realise I can’t push myself quite as much as I always have in the past. It has however made me take stock & look at my lifestyle as I urgently need to inject much more self-care & 'down time' into my life. If you are experiencing feelings of burn-out and exhaustion it’s usually time to take a step back and look at how you can improve things. I’ve started implementing a few things into my life on a daily basis to help me look after my health, mind, body & soul. 1.      Give yourself enough time in a morning to set yourself up for the day rather than rushing & feeling stressed before you even leave the ...

  Being organised every day can feel dull & some days you just don’t have the energy for it, but by being organised & on top of things & by planning ahead it really does take less energy in the long run. I try to stay organised every day & by doing chores little & often it stops them building up into huge tasks. Obviously none of us are perfect every day so I try to have a reset day every Sunday but, by keeping on top of things daily, it enables my mind to feel more organised and create less stress.   Here are a few things I swear by daily 1.      Getting my clothes ready the night before 2.      Always making my bed 3.      Easy to follow but productive morning & evening routines 4.      Use my diary daily – planning ahead is vital 5.      A mini clean & tidy daily to make the weekly big clean easier and it also keeps order in the hou...

  Chapter 6 Summer Solstice, vegetables sprouting, rose wine, Summer holidays are close, BBQ season begins, lawnmowers rumble, woodland walks, summer dresses, bare legs, blue skies, sandals, sunglasses, aeroplane trails in the sky, buttercups in the green fields, glorious dog walks, sunshine, windows wide open. Happy days, smiling faces, Summer is here at last!!     FABULOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH 1. Some gorgeous treatments at Alura beauty spa – Kirkburton,   Huddersfield 2. A gorgeous meal out at Da Sandro - Huddersfield 3. Max is working very hard on his exams 4. A fantastic weekend Adjudicating at a huge dance festival in Sherburn in Elmet - Leeds 5. We got Max’s prom suit! 6. 2 lovely Bank Holidays   LIFESTYLE, LEISURE, PLACES & HOME The Importance of my daily walk  For me, getting our dog 6 years ago was the best decision we’ve ever made as a family, and I really can’t imagine life without a dog in my life ...