Hey there people and Happy Tuesday to you! Today I wanted to share a snippet of my latest EBook with you -Never Let Anyone Dull Your Sparkle. Just to give you a little insight into the book itself, and maybe even to give you a boost. Enjoy!
And I’m Feeling Good……
Now we have dealt with how best to look good we can now focus on how to feel good too. The two things definitely go hand in hand. And the one always compliments the other. But there are times when we all look a bit dodgy. Go on, admit it – it’s happened to you right? It might be that time of the month or our washing machine has broken down or it could just be ONE OF THOSE DAYS. Does that mean we’re doomed to feel rubbish? No-siree! We still get to feel fantastical and laugh in the face of life’s little irritations. And I don’t mean laugh maniacally whilst crying inside.
Here are some of my favourite tips and tricks for feeling good.
1. Bake something yummy. Here are two recipes (links embedded) that you almost definitely will have the ingredients for lurking in your cupboard. Little sweet treats to make you feel better the instant they start cooking and the smells fill your home.
2. Have a TV Marathon. Love Ghost Whisperer? Watch a few back to back episodes and revel in Melinda’s gorgeous hair and lovely vintage clothes. Sigh. If you have a super active imagination (like I do) you can even imagine you’re her. Just sayin’
3. Change your routine. If you always come home and have the TV on straight away then don’t. Put on some music quietly for a while, light some candles and put on the heating if it’s cold. Such a nice inviting feeling when you are home from a long day at work.
4. Paint your nails. This may not work for everyone (as some people bite theirs). It works for me though Alternatively you could put your hair into a crazy pineapple up-do or back comb it til you look totally silly. Remember, the goal here is to feel good – not to necessarily look good. Sometimes feeling good can be on account of looking purposefully and wilfully silly.
5. Laugh. Go to Pinterest. Search for funny pins. Laugh. Lots.
6. Use your imagination. Seriously – daydreaming is the best way to feel good and pick yourself up. Imagine you have won the lottery. What specifically would you spend it on? Write it down with scribbles and doodles and sparkly pens. This is, without a doubt, my favourite fantasy indulgence of all time ;)
7. Sing and dance. OK. This is a little embarrassing really. But, when I am feeling fed up (and even sometimes when I am feeling really happy and energetic) I put on my MP3 player and sing and dance along to my favourite tunes. You know, the tunes you have on there that you wouldn’t want anyone else to know you like to listen to. You know the ones I mean. Sing along and dance around to your heart’s content. Mime along if your house needs to be a quiet one. Pretend you’re on stage in front of hundreds of people. Act your heart out!
8. Hugs. Hug someone or something. It feels nice for you and them – win win! I have a teddy bear named Seamus who I hug if I don’t have access to MHI. Works a treat. Or my kitties (although they don’t always want to co-operate with the process).
9. Solve something. I have a whole bunch of games and brain training stuff on my android. Partly because I use it at school with the kids I work with but also because I like to play with those games too! Challenging yourself to beat a high score can be satisfying and at the very least distracting. It’ll help get you out of your head.
10. Go stand outside for a while. Go to a local park if you can, or even just into your back garden. Or yard. Look up to the sky and just breathe in the air. I find it especially lovely (if a little cold) to go out at night time and look at the stars. Just for a few minutes. Revel in the smallness of you and your tiny little place on this earth.
11. Make something. I try to do this every single day. Even if all I end up making is in fact a mess. Just the process is enough to get you out of your head and into your imagination. It’s very hard to procrastinate or worry when you’re gluing stuff together ;)
12. Look at cute things. Again, Pinterest can help here. I love to while away some time looking up cute babies (animal and human) and pinning away to my heart’s content. You can check out my Curiously Cute Board if that helps
13. Have a little nap. Just ten minutes can rejuvenate me for the day and make everything feel a little better.
14. Have some herbal tea. Camomile and Honey is my favourite. I just feel so smug for resisting the usual coffee urge and reaching for the pure herbal stuff instead. Virtuousness in less than a minute ;)
15. Light some candles. I’m aware that I mentioned this already in tip number 3, but I feel it deserves it’s own little point. It really makes my house feel like a home when I have some candles lit and it’s all cosy.
16. Affirmations. Now, stay with me here. I’ve not gone totally hippie-dippy on you. I think this could help. I have a set of affirmations (which I saved as a picture) which I have with me at all times. Mine are “I am a writer, I am an artist, I am a rich woman.” Believe and you will receive right? If that sounds a little strange to you, then try keeping an inspiring card, quote or photo somewhere in your diary or in your bag. When you start to feel a little down or a little rubbish then just take a look at it. It needs to be something that will resonate with you.
17. Music. I use music in a variety of ways (as I already mentioned) as I feel it can be such a mood changer for me. A different piece of music takes me to a different place and time. I love that about it. It can make me laugh, dance and cry. Sometimes that might be what you need. To have a good cry.
18. Cry if you need to. Let it out so that you have a chance to move on.
19. Rant, vent and get it off your chest. May I suggest not doing this online though as those rants will possibly still be available once your anger or whatever emotion is bugging you has cooled down. This can be like an awful digital hangover that is hard to shake. It’s also a very public place the internet. Try as you might you can’t always control who sees what. Set yourself a time limit though. 20 minutes of ranting might well be enough – any more and you risk turning your whole evening into just that and nothing else. Which is potentially exhausting.
20. Cocoon yourself. Blankets, warmth, music/quiet (depending on how you feel), loved ones, a film, some guilt free comfort snacks (homemade popcorn with a sprinkling of salt is perfect for this). Settle in, snuggle down and switch off.
21. Lose yourself. In a book, in some web surfing, in a film or a project. Get yourself out of your own mind and your own problems.
22. Move a little. I often forget that this is useful myself, but moving a bit (just doing a few simple stretches) can help you to feel so much better. I’m not necessarily talking about doing a full on exercise routine but just move yourself a little. You’ll feel the benefits almost immediately.
23. Eat some fruit. I don’t totally understand why this helps – maybe it’s the fact that I know I am feeding my body with the good stuff. If I am feeling bad a plate of fruit always helps to pick me up. Or a big plate of salad in the summer time. Yum!
24. People watch. I love this. This is something I always do at some point when I am on holiday, but often forget about at home. Go into your local town or shopping centre, find a seat somewhere and just watch the world go by. Make up little stories about the people you see, try to imagine how their lives fit together and work, work out what job they do. It’s fun to work your brain this way – creating back stories for people you don’t really know. And, it’s a victimless crime.
25. Go to an art gallery. I am spoiled where I live really. My local art gallery is free to visit. I love to go there and just wander around, losing myself in the quiet and the serenity of the place.
What things do you like to do that make you feel good? There might be some you need to write down as a reminder for when times are a little tougher:
If that little excerpt has whet your appetite, here are some more details on my EBook and what it contains (plus an extra value bundle offer):
This wonderful new EBook is 41 pages of inspiration written for you to live a creative and happy and sparkly life!
I have filled this book with ideas, tips and worksheets to help you aim towards a more curious life. Here are the chapter headings, to give you more of an idea:
1. Looking and Feeling GOOD!
2. If all else fails – FAKE IT!
3. Dealing with life’s lemons.
4. Creativity can help to heal your soul.
5. Living Curiously.
6. BONUS: My story – shining a light.
My artwork also features throughout it's pages. It truly is an uplifting and inspiring read and would make a wonderful tool for planning a more creative and fulfilled life.
Here is a round up of all of my EBooks available in one simple high value package. You will save $5 on the cost of buying each book separately.
Have a great day people!!
