The struggle is real for some. While some are taking advantage of these uncertain times.

So, how can we make it manageable or make a smooth transition into the unknown?

If you are struggling in general with this whole idea of Lockdown and the pandemic, here are my Top 5 Survival Tips.

1. FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIAL 

Yeah, that’s right! While some are seeing advantages in this, it’s a difficult time for many. Talk of finances, the virus itself, domestic issues etc etc. So if you’re OK, if you’re just getting by, or you’re taking each day as it comes, you are doing well. If you don’t know where to start – focus on the essential.

While it can be easy to keep thinking about our fears, sometimes it’s good to take a step back and focus on the basics, the vital!

2. EAT HEALTHY 

Best advice one of my friends gave me before our first lockdown.

“EAT HEALTHY!” I thought to myself, “I know. I always do!”

When her reason followed, it got through to me, “Because if you get it, your body will need everything in it to fight it”. Righto!

While it was the reason she gave, we know that healthy eating helps reduce the crankiness, right! And we don’t really wanna add more stress to a stressful situation already. So go for it, start with good food.

Yes we still have “not so good” food (we can’t avoid it), but eating more healthy, or at least starting the day with healthy eating means healthy action. We don’t desire bad food as much too. And that helps immensely in these times.

3. LAUGH … SMILE

Hahahaha! Lol! Kkkkk! … Yes, that!

Never forget to smile and laugh! Laughing, even when things are tough can lighten the mood!

I know kids can make us all lose it. They can refuse to cooperate at the most inconvenient times (most of us have been victims). But sometimes, we just need to cheer up. Even if everything is pointing us to tears land.

Get in touch with that friend who makes you laugh hard! Or watch that TV show and stretch those facial muscles with a laugh and a smile.

4. WHO IS THY NEIGHBOUR? 

Ever considered who is in your camp? Who is your boo?? Do know your neighbour? Depending on where you live or how you live, it may not be as easy to know your actual neighbours but you know who to call on when the going gets tough! Your boo! That’s neighbour number 1.

What about your neighbour in your neighbourhood? This is as important and helpful particularly during these times. Social media has made it possible for people to connect from a distance. You can know your neighbours/neighbourhood without actually being on their face (or vice versa). I don’t mean snooping, but connecting. So how about making the effort to connect and stay in the know! You never know what you might find out or who might help you (or vice versa).

5. BE KIND

Yes, I said it! The struggle is real for many. While you may be justified in actions – “can’t be bothered’, “don’t care”, “I’m angry”, etc etc. Whatever it is, consider other people too! You never know, for someone an interaction with you may be the only thing to pull them out of darkness. Kindness goes a long way.

Would love to know how you are doing. How are you managing or have managed in this situation? What are the challenges you’re facing and how are you winning over them?

IF you are feeling lonely and struggling, please reach out. Find help! If you have noone to reach out to or noone has reached out to you, I’m no pro but chat. Reach out. Promise I won’t say no! 

#covideffects #selfawareness #selfdevelopment #mentalhealth #gratitude

Either way, Valentine’s Day is around the corner and many in relationships are thinking of gifts for their spouses / partners. Some are thinking of ways (instead of things) to show their love. Some even wondering if they should buy something at all!

Well, every relationship involves some form of gift exchange, whether it’s random / unexpected gifts or mandatory like birthday, Christmas, anniversary, or any other event.

While all this is cool and exciting, sometimes the best gifts are those intended to make the other person know how much you appreciate them. Thank God for Valentine’s Day, ey! But also “random gifts” that are given without any ulterior motives or expectations to return the favour.  These work well especially when chosen with a great deal of thought, but without anticipating anything in return.

So how can you make sure you buy great gifts for your spouse or partner this Valentine, or going forward? Here’re my top 6 things to consider:

1. Where you shop

Sometimes we think we can just walk into the shops we usually go to and find perfect gifts for our loved one. But that’s not always the case! In fact, most of the time it doesn’t work that way. You can find all sorts of nifty treasures in a variety of shops. Think about it, gift shops are there for a reason!

Next time you want to buy a gift for your loved one, or anyone for that matter, try browsing shops you don’t normally visit for ideas and you’ll be surprised at the rare finds.

Depending on the type of person you’re buying for, you can find great gifts in antique stores, bookshops / cardshops, 2^nd hand or hospice shops, etc.

Surprise yourself and your recipient next time and try other shops for unusual gifts.

2. Let the gift find you!

How many times have you gone out there to buy a present with an idea, and ended up spending lots of time on it because you’re looking for a particular something?
This is all good if your recipient has indicated they want that something. But when it’s simply your idea to buy that particular something, sometimes it’s best to go without any preconceived ideas.

“Huh?”, you say!

Yep. Don’t find the gift, but rather let the gift find you!

Use your intuition and you’ll surprise your spouse (in a good way)!

Another way of letting the gift find you is if you know your spouse/recipient’s favourite store, perhaps get to know the staff in there and when it’s time to buy a gift, ask if there’ve been items they’ve shown particular interest in. If yes, then there you go, the gift has found you!

3. Gifts fund?

Do you sometimes come across items you know your loved one would like but you don’t have the money at that time so you can’t buy it? BUT you later regret not buying it coz it’d have been perfect?? Yeah – it happens a lot!

It’s always a good idea to be ready to buy something should you find it at any given time! Something like a ‘gift buying’ fund tucked away somewhere so that you are never without funds.  If you have joint accounts with your spouse and you know she’ll be able to track or see the purchase before you give the gift, perhaps use/keep cash coz you don’t really want them finding out what/where you spent through credit card statements.

4. Don’t overdo it

“He got you a present? Who has he cheated with?”

You’ve probably heard this being said, either in real life on TV. And yeah, there’re those who rarely buy presents so when they do, … people suspect something is up. And then there’re those who buy gifts regularly. When they stop doing so, the other half can start to suspect the attention is elsewhere.

While you may not be either one of these, it’s important to note like with any romantic gesture, be careful not to overdo it! If your spouse receives gifts all the time, it stops being special. Yeah! It becomes the norm!

Put thought into your gestures and thinking how your other half will feel before you take the action is always a great idea. If you know they’ll be surprised and pleased, then go for it. But if they start to think you’re spending too much, or you’re doing it too often, then it means you’re overdoing it!

5. Shop regularly

A great idea to buy great gifts is purchasing all the time. This ain’t necessarily loading your shopping basket when you’re out, but more keeping an eye for things your other half might like especially when they’re not there with you. Or when you’re window shopping or pass by some items, pay attention to what your spouse likes. If they mention specific items they’re looking for, or they take an interest in specific items, then easy for you!  Either purchase it when they aren’t close by or come back later and buy for them. They’ll really appreciate it and will thank you for it.

6. Try DIY 

Before you say, “DIY what? DIY who? Me?”, hear me out! Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that show one’s creativity. If you’re a parent, you’ll agree with me – there’re times when your little one makes something and no matter how ugly it may look, to you look it’s the coolest thing, right? Coz of the creativity behind it. Or merely, the thought.

Perhaps next time you feel like giving something, you can come up with your own creation and see how well (or not so well) it will be received.

SO, do you struggle buying gifts for your loved one? Do you enjoy buying or receiving gifts? Do you think the above will help? Keen to hear your feedback / thoughts / comments.

Check out my other posts

Unique Gifts for Valentine! No breaking the bank 

With each new year usually comes new beginnings, new year’s resolutions etc. All these are things we introduce to improve ourselves or the quality of life we live. As we can’t change the past, or the way the previous year unfolded, we always try and find ways to control the future.

However, I don’t particularly believe change or resolutions only have to be made at the beginning of the year. To make a change, you only need a new mindset, direction, day, etc.

Either way, if you’re thinking of ways to adjust a few things in your life, or wanting to start on a clean slate, particularly since it’s the beginning of the year, below are my top 5 suggested things to consider:

1. Take some serious time for introspection. Honest self-examination can help one go a long way in life. I say honest because sometimes we lie to ourselves, other times we’re too hard on ourselves, sometimes simply biased. But if we’re honest, we’ll get somewhere!

How about looking at yourself honestly this year?

• Write down what has been positive and what has been negative in your eyes.
• Address those negatives. Consider ways to change them to positives that you can embrace. E.g: If you think your bum looks big in those pants, perhaps find pants that conceal that bum, or maybe wear skirts? Lol.

2. Discover who you’re and what excites you.

What do you like to do and what don’t you like to do? If you find yourself doing things that you don’t particularly enjoy, how about learning to say “no” to those? Just because something sounds cool or would be acceptable doesn’t mean it should be done by you!

3. Explore your creative side.

Have you ever tried something new at a party or something and really enjoyed it that you considered doing it in future? Yeah! Just because you’ve never done something doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. As long as it’s acceptable/legal of course.

Find out if you have any creative tendencies by trying new things especially in a relaxed environment. You’ll be surprised by the stimulation in your brain and qualities you may discover and didn’t know you had.

4. Consider the status quo?

Is there something about your life that you don’t like? Yeah!

Before you grab that pen to list what you don’t like, what about things you particularly like about your life?… Sometimes we desire what we don’t have and we end up spending most of our time working towards what we don’t have instead of appreciating what we have. Allow yourself to be human, flawed and free by embracing your (perhaps) “imperfect” life.

5. Have fun / Laugh more

The best way to start a new thing/year is to take time out – “Oh, I already have/had time off during the holidays”, you say!

Yeah, perhaps you took some rest. But, what about time to recalibrate, have some good fun? It’s important to have some real good fun – it’s restorative and it promotes good health.

So, you may want to think twice before you say no to catching up with friends. Take time out to have fun in your way, and take a rest. OR dress up and go nowhere. Apparently the fun starts in your head while getting ready for it.

Have you set your self some goals/resolutions for the new year? Are you thinking about making some adjustments in your life? Do you have some tips to share? Keen to hear your thoughts/feedback. 

Check out my other posts:

New Year, New Habits

6 Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic

If you have a toddler, or have been around them a long time, you will know they are very busy and have short attention spans. When you work from home that can be stressful – especially if you are trying to get work done. Creating an environment where you can be your most productive while keeping an eye on your little one(s) is key. Although they still need the attention of an adult, they can start to learn to play independently for a short while. There are several ways I can make my day productive while I have my busy toddler at home.

1. Toys

Having a special place / space at home where there are toys, books, and puzzles to keep little one busy is always a great idea. It could be in their room but also in the common area like lounge or dedicated playroom. They’ll naturally want to spend time where their bunch of stuff (toys) is. Because it’s not advisable to leave our kids alone for hours, this is a short-term fix so one can manage to get some work done.

I can sometimes sit with my laptop near the toy area so I can keep a watchful eye on my little one while I work.

TIP: Puzzles tend to keep them busy for longer and they can learn the value of independent play while using their imagination.

2. Play Dates

Kids love playing with other people especially if they think they’re interesting. The last time I was travelling with my toddler, I got to take a good nap while she played games with the teenager sitting next to us on the flight. This reminded me how older kids / cousins can be helpful when it comes to keeping toddlers entertained. So if you don’t have older kids like me, then you don’t have other children who can help keep younger ones / toddlers busy. So improvising is the way to go – lucky us!

Which is why someone came up with the idea of play dates. While they’re often considered a backwards idea, they work. Having other children over to play can take the focus off of parents / caregivers temporarily so you can do some work.

Depending on the creativity of the other too, they can go to town with ideas really. From playing dress-ups, watching movies, artwork etc. And you don’t have to leave them to it, you can even work while they get on with it. OR take them somewhere they can be busy.

3. Art Work

I’ll admit that I hate the mess artwork can leave but it’s such a great child-minder. My toddler, like most toddlers I know, loves finger painting, coloring with crayons, and making art works to put on the fridge or hang up on the wall. I can sometimes help without much concentration but that buys me time as my toddler thinks “mummy is involved” even though I’m only helping when it’s time for a break from my work.

It’s easy to set up a special wee “art” studio for them with a big sheet on the floor (to avoid a huge mess) and crayons, poster board, stickers and other safe art supplies so they can go crazy!

4. Online Educational Games

Gone are the days when we waited until we get to school to learn things like computers. Nowadays kids start early, and even toddlers can learn simple online games.

There’re several wonderful online sites where kids can learn and play educational games.  This is both fun and provides distraction while I do other things.

My toddler is on her second iPad – not sure how we got drawn into buying them in the first place. It’s not that she spends a lot of time playing with the iPad or watching TV, but when she does, we try and make it educational. From time-to-time she’ll surprise with unusual words like escavator when she sees one.

5. Little Helpers

Any busy parent will know sometimes you can forget simple things especially when you’ve been with a little one the whole day. The number of times I’ve driven to a petrol station and parked for a bit while wondering what I wanted to do? Nowadays, thanks to my toddler, she’ll call out “mummy, BpMe”. This is the App we use to fill our fuel tank. So I’m reminded I need to search for the App, and get going. Cool, huh?

While some may call it child labour, I call it/them little helpers. Little ones like to be involved and help when they can. From vacuuming to fetching things, handing pegs while hanging the washing, the list goes on and on. The more we let them help, the busier they keep and they learn life skills in the process.

It’s so rewarding to see them follow instructions and start to become involved in their own care.

6. Water / Bath

This is the most popular in our household. As kids love water, I find being creative without wasting water can buy me lots of time. Bubble bath with toys she fills up etc provides endless interest and fun. And it’s so relaxing.

Of course you should ensure the kids are safe in the bath before you leave them should you decide to. However, always important to stay close.

7. Park / Common Play area

I don’t know how many times I’ve found myself planning or writing blogs at a park while my toddler was playing. When you take your toddler to a common play area or park, you can find them drawn to the equipment there and can easily join in on play with other kids. While it’s easy to try and control or direct or stop them, sometimes it’s a great idea for them to learn interactive skills without your involvement. Which is why having something like a notebook or iPad can be handy for you to do something else while they play.

Now, I’m aware that not all of these suggestions will work for every child but I’m pretty sure from this list you’ll find a few that will work. We don’t want to spend all the time working that we don’t make time for our precious ones, but we can incorporate these around their daily routines.

Don’t we all love toddlers’ energy? They keep us going!

Does your toddler stop you from doing work around the house or other professional work? Do you find it hard to do anything with them around the house? Would the above tips work? Keen to hear your thoughts/comments. 

Check out my other posts:

Organizing Tips for Work-At-Home Moms

Potty Training: How We Did It In Days

Travelling With A Toddler: Top 8 Tips

Top 14 Essential Items For Every New Mom

Yeah! Words alone aren’t enough to show appreciation to any mother. Right??

But yet I know, any mother would love her child regardless of what they do for them. Because that’s what mothers are like.

Mothers are selfless

Mothers are graceful

Mothers are loving

Mothers are strong

Mothers are irreplaceable.

Motherhood isn’t a hobby. It’s not something you do when you can squeeze time in BUT something you prioritise.

Also, motherhood isn’t just birthing a child. BUT raising one. And being there for one – whether or not they’re your birth child.

SO, to every woman who has MOTHERED, RAISED, BEEN THERE FOR a child,

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.

Hope you are spoilt rotten today, coz you deserve it.

For me, this is the best Mother’s Day so far, and my daughter is not even 3 yet… Can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with once daddy stops helping.  hehe.

xx

Did you have fun this Mother’s Day? Or did you spoil your mum this Mother’s Day? Keen to hear what everyone has been up to.

Check out my other posts:

6 Things I Learnt This Mother’s Day

Top 14 Essential Items For Every New Mom

If you know me well, you’ll know I also have a deep love for gifts. I’m one of those people who gets excited when it’s time for gift exchange – whatever the occasion!

Some say “it’s the thought that counts”. For me, especially when I’m the giver, the actual gift counts too. That’s why I’m always looking for places to buy nice gifts.

So recently, I came across this site Uncommongoods. Talk of fun, unusual, and nifty gifts, they’ve got them all! Honestly! That is why the site got my attention!

Not only do they sell gifts but for those who’re environmentally conscious, you’ll be pleased to know they sell recycled, handmade and organic products. AND if you love donating to charity like me, (I can hear you cheerful givers!), they have a programme that allows you to select a not-for-profit organization of your choice at check-out and they’ll receive a $1 donation from them. Kewl, right?!

Anyway, I realised I could set the bar with my gifts from this site. The price range is pocket friendly too so you can guarantee the gift is not only appreciated but it goes without pinching your pocket.

If you want to join me in making your loved one’s day go from drab to fab, check out their selection of gifts for Valentine’s.

As a way of helping you shop smarter, here are a few items to check out:

1. Safe or Same old

One can never go wrong with the gift of jewelry, right! Uncommongoods have a great collection that includes both handmade and inspirational. These can also be personalized – how cool is that!

2. Slightly unusual

Perhaps you’ve been with your loved one for a while and are starting to run out of options. OR he/she’s on the, umm, … demanding side and you never know exactly what to buy. Well, think something for the home instead of a personal item. A gift of home decoration items could be appreciated especially by those who “have it all”.

Some are starting to say it’s not just about lovers, it’s about expressing love to those you love – could be best friend, parents, kids, basically anyone you love.

Items for the home would also work if you’re buying for that loved one who isn’t necessarily a spouse or partner.

3. Simply Unique

Sometimes it’s those unique, unusual, or uncommon items that melt our hearts! See their wonderful collection of some uncommon items.

Cool stuff, right?!

Wait there’s more! If you’re not even sure what to buy or don’t really have the time to browse through, BUT you know your recipient’s likes, they’ve even created a gift guide expert. Yep!

Give Sunny a try !

Here’s to wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day gift shopping!!!

Have you ever purchased from Uncommongoods? If so, which ones did you purchase/like? And if not, would you consider buying from them? I’d love to know in the comments below xoxo

NB: Uncommongoods have sent me some of their products (thank you Uncommongoods!). However, readers please note that all statements, opinions and thoughts on everything that is featured on this blog is entirely of my own. Check out my full disclosure policy here

I honestly sometimes wish we could save some degrees for those cold winter months, lol!

Speaking of the sun, I think just about everyone loves a good day out in the sun. But sometimes that has its own implications. We know that doctors encourage us to get Vitamin D direct from the sun, but even that has to be managed as you could potentially get sunburn in the process.

While sunburn is serious in and of itself, skin cancer resulting from lack of care in the sun could be deadly.

That is why it is so very important to make certain that you and your loved ones are always protecting your skin against damage from either the sun or very cold weather. Protecting your face is only part of the regime, summer sun protection for your body and even your eyes is essential.

There are many ways to protect yourself all year around.

SKIN CARE IN SUMMER

1. PROTECT YOUR FACE from the Sun

There’re a number of ways you can protect your face from the sun.

• Using sunscreen – an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 or higher is recommended as it provides the best protection for the skin on your face. In fact, the higher the SPF, the more protection you get. Check out this one from Nivea with a high SPF.

• Put on a hat / cap. I personally love hats so I don’t have problems there, but I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. Whether you like it or not, a good hat will protect your face from the sun.

AVOID tanning oils on your facial skin. Tanning oils work by drawing the sun to the skin so if you apply it to your face, it’ll be drawn to the face and not protect it.

Tanning oils are also known for causing acne breakouts. You don’t want that at all costs, do you?

IF you want to tan your face, look for safer options. There’re some cosmetic lines that provide moisturizer along with sun protection, and these range from moderate in price to more expensive. You may want to look into these – perhaps see if you can obtain samples first before you spend money on them.

2. PROTECT YOUR WHOLE BODY from the Sun

• Cover up – While it’s appealing to wear less clothes in summer, the more skin you cover up from the sun, the better off you are. We know that skin cancer is found on many areas of the body, not just the face. So protecting your skin (you whole body) from those ultraviolet rays of the sun is the best thing to do. In fact, you’ll be glad you did it later in life…

I can hear some saying, “but I love my bikini, I feel sexier when I’m in a bathing suit!”. That may be true but the end result could be serious. Trust me on this, you’ll thank me when you’re older! Lol.

Covering up is just one way to deter the serious damage of the sun.

• Take breaks from the sun is also another great way to avoid sunburn or skin cancer. Taking a little time to sun is okay if you are well protected with sunscreen with a high value SPF and covering up. However, taking breaks under an umbrella is just as important.

• Choose your times wisely: While we sometimes have to be out in the sun when it’s really hot, IF you don’t have to be outside, you can choose when to go out. Mornings and late afternoons are recommended if you’re gonna do some activities in the sun. Because this is when it’s not too hot.

Around midday is usually too hot in summer, and it’s best to go out only if you have to.

• WATER and SUNSCREEN: If you’re gonna play in the water, please ensure you wear waterproof sunscreen. The sun is attracted to the water and it’s easy to burn your skin without realising it.

3. PROTECT YOUR EYES

Do not forget to protect your eyes!

Sunglasses are imperative. This could be in summer when it’s hot or when it’s windy.

• Hat / cap – again do not be shy to try on a hat or cap. Besides protecting your face and eyes, you could actually like how it looks.

4. STAY HYDRATED: While we may be tired of hearing, “Drink lots of water”, it’s actually true. This is one of the best summer routines, i.e drinking lots of water. Water cleanses our body, it helps rid it of toxins. Some of which causes dullness on our skin.

As we lose fluids in summer, through sweating and all, it’s important to replace those fluids always.

5. TAKE CARE OF IT! Having a good skin care routine is always a good idea. Skip things like Saunas and steam rooms, and be gentle on your skin. Exfoliate, Cleanse, Moisturize, and enjoy the benefits of good skin.

SKIN CARE IN WINTER

6. MOISTURISE: I don’t know how many times I’ve heard it said, and the number of times I’ve seen people abandon their skin in the cold weather.  If you’ve ever noticed, skin dries up quickly in winter so find a moisturiser that works well for your and apply it properly to avoid starving your skin of moisture.

7. LOTS OF FLUIDS: While it’s hard to drink plain water in winter, there’re many other ways you can keep yourself hydrated. Hot drinks can help keep you warm while also keeping you hydrated.

Not so hard, ey! With a little common sense, you can have fun in the sun while protecting yourself at the same time. And you can enjoy those winter months with good skin!

Do you pay attention to your skin (how it looks, what goes on it, etc)? OR are you blessed with good skin you don’t think twice about it? Keen to hear your experiences and/or thoughts on the above. 

Other posts

Is *this* stopping you from making lifestyle changes?

Say no to fear with these 10 tips

5 Reasons you should stay active

Either way, most people claim to have at least one wish or desire to change something in their life. I am one of them!

But let’s be honest, how many of us desire to change some things but don’t make any effort to do so? Apparently, many! And the number one reason for not doing so is often put down to lack of motivation. Some claim it’s just because change is hard!

Some people would say they just don’t make the effort but they could be motivated.

So why would people desire change but not do anything about it? Here are 5 reasons I personally think cause people not to put the effort into making lifestyle changes.

1. No set GOALS!

OR not having a valid reason to make a change.

In order to make any type of change in your life, you need to have a good reason to do so right? But some people like the idea of just having a goal. This is OK but you have to remember what’s probably more important is the reason you have to reach that goal.

Example: If you want to change your job then you need to have a reason for doing so otherwise you’ll look for a job but you won’t be as motivated as you could be if there was a driver behind it. Reasons could include: wanting more money, to move a step up, change locations, OR for more/greater opportunities.

2. Setting goals that aren’t SMART!

Remember this – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely goals?

Sometimes people set goals but they’re not specific. E.g This year I’m gonna stress less.

OK…. How? Why? When?

Sometime goals are too large (not Achievable or Realistic). Weight loss is a perfect example here. Say if you need to lose 30kg, the trick is not to focus on the whole 30kg. Instead, if you set smaller goals of say 5kg per month you will find that you can stay on track better as compared to just thinking the 30kg as a whole.

3. Not having a clear VISION or plan!

Having a clear vision of what you want is a great way to stay motivated. This is why many people recommend  a proper plan and thereafter, keeping track of your goals so you can see how you’re going with time. This can be done in various ways depending on your goal. If your goal is to lose weight then keep photos and images of your progress. If it is another type of goal then keep a journal or blog of your journey. This way you can see what you are struggling with and what you are accomplishing.

4. Lack of SUPPORT network

No support network is another reason why many people don’t make the effort to change their lives. Getting the support from family and friends can really make a world of difference to many people’s goals. We all need someone to hold our hand from time-to-time, and on various matters.

5. Lack of ACCOUNTABILITY

A lot of people will set goals which they keep to themselves and not share with anyone. While this may be a good thing especially if you feel the goal is too personal, sometimes having someone to hold you accountable will help you reach your goal. Sometimes people can struggle or lose hope, but with someone say an accountability partner, they can encourage you when the going gets tough. Instead of giving up, a lot of people say after checking in with their accountability partners or discussing with someone who encourages or helps, they find themselves refocusing instead of losing hope.

While there’re many other reasons for not wanting or making the effort to make changes, I think correcting the above 5 mistakes will find many having both the drive and commitment to finally make those lifestyle changes.

Have you ever tried to make some changes in your life but failed to do so? Or maybe you didn’t even try but wanted to? Keen to hear your experiences/views/thoughts.

Read other posts here:

Is your social life negatively affecting your health?

Too Hard on Yourself? 6 Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic

10 Easy Tips to Help You Lose Weight

After months of ignoring all posts about, Potty Training in 3 days or something alike, I finally decided it was to toilet train. I didn’t want to give it a timeframe as I didn’t want it to be a stressful process for both of us. Quite honestly, in my mind I thought 3 days was just too short a time to train a little person to do something they’ll have to master for the rest of their lives. However, I was in for a (pleasant) surprise!

For months, I had noticed lil’ T was ready to use the potty/toilet but hadn’t really paid much attention to it. But, one Saturday I finally decided I’d start by showing her the potty wasn’t only a footstool for her washing hands BUT she could use it to do business in there. With daddy at home, it meant her and I could play and trial etc without worrying about other stuff like household chores. Not such a big job I know, but I thought what better day to start than when you not so busy. Honestly, within a few days I had gotten a surprise of my life and that’s why I’m ready to share a few tips:

1. Timing is of importance

When people say, “is he/she showing signs of readiness?”, they’re warning you – it can only be easy if they’re ready!

Little one has to be ready otherwise it’ll be a long and frustrating process for everyone involved. Things like showing an interest in the bathroom, wanting to be changed just after pooping etc are all tell-tale signs they’re ready!

2. Train before you start training

If possible, start by getting little one used to the idea of sitting on the potty/toilet with or without pants. This is a good way of getting them familiar with it. If you’re lucky, they may actually do something in there while playing but don’t take this as serious coz it may be an unconscious thing. The goal here is to get them comfortable on the seat so when you start training they’re not rushing to get off it.

3. Go cold turkey

Yep, that’s right – remove diapers or training pants and let them wear normal underwear or just their ordinary trousers.

With a diaper on, little ones know they’re safe. So even if they notify you, they may do so after or while doing something in there. BUT without them pants/diapers, they’ll see & feel their urine/poop flowing so it will register that something needs to be done. And with time they’ll hold it off while they get to the toilet/potty or wait for you to get it ready till they release. Which means, they’ll train faster.

This was a big one for us. Lil’ T changed a few times the 1^st day, and a few less the following day. THEN voila, she had gotten the hang of it!

4. Patience

Like most things with kids, patience is vital. When we initially started training lil’ T, the few times she messed her pants I actually wondered how long the whole process was gonna take. But with patience and encouragement, we got there in no time.  Quite honestly, we only had a few accidents and setbacks.

5. Praise / Encourage

I don’t think I’m the only one with a child who loves praise??! Anybody else?…

Anyway, positive reinforcement is the way to go. We went with lots of “well done”, “good girl”, “yeah” etc. This helped motivate her. Some use stickers/stars to encourage – anything that works really!

6. Tailor it to you

The beauty of raising your own child is doing things your way depending on your beliefs. Anyone who knows me well knows I’m big on tailoring things to myself and doing what works best for me or my circumstances. If you give me a recipe, I’m most likely going to change ingredients or something and do it my way…

SO with potty training, it was a household thing NOT a process thing. Working around us and our routine made it an easy and stress-free process.

I suppose after all this you’re curious to know how many days we took?? Well, wait for it….

3 days! Yep! We didn’t aim for 3 days but we actually did it in 3 days. By 1 week she was sleeping without diapers or pants on and no accidents during the night! That’s my girl!

If you haven’t done it before, it’s totally doable! If you have done it, I’m sure you’ve had your own experiences! Keen to hear your thoughts! 

Check out my other posts 

Top 14 Essential Items For Every New Mom

Travelling With A Toddler: Top 8 Tips 

6 Must Do Workouts For Pregnant Women

I know we sometimes get funny about studies, but they show that there are numerous benefits to exercising while pregnant. A few of them being improving energy levels, getting your blood pumping to your legs thus improving your circulation, and improving chances for a speedy recovery. In fact, most moms who worked out during pregnancy generally had shorter and easier labours. I can personally testify.

SO, what sort of exercise is safe and beneficial during pregnancy? Here are some generally good and safe exercises that are recommended:

#1 Walking

Walking is low impact but still gets one’s heart rate up and blood pumping. That’s what makes it the best overall exercise for pregnant mothers. It’s usually safe throughout the entire pregnancy.

#2 Swimming

When it comes to pregnancy, swimming is the number one exercise. It’s also the safest!

Swimming alleviates the heaviness you feel from weight gain associated with pregnancy. It also provides you with optimal cardiovascular benefits and helps you feel light and refreshed.

#3 Yoga

Yoga can help you maintain your muscle tone and stretch out tight ligaments during pregnancy. Be sure you investigate a pre-natal yoga class if at all possible.

#4 Jogging

Jogging can be done safely if you are an experienced jogger. However, further along your pregnancy you should reduce your jogging regimen. They say if you are not able to have a conversation when jogging, then you are overdoing it.

#5 Weight Training

Weight training is a great way to maintain and build muscle during your pregnancy. Just as long as you avoid heavy weights and weight bearing exercises that require you to lie on your back

#6 Swiss ball

The Swiss ball was my life saver during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. It strengthens the legs, back and core muscles. Apparently it also induces labour so great for exercise especially in the third trimester.

All this said, it’s advisable to consult with your doctor or physician before you start any exercise program. Most pregnant women are fine to work out particularly if they’ve been active before. However, if you’re just starting a new program, be sure to take it easy initially.

A few tips:

• commit to exercising regularly. Generally 30 minutes of exercise 4-7 days per week is recommended.
• Try and stay hydrated.
• STOP any exercise if you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded.

AVOID

• embarking on any stringent exercise program you are unfamiliar with
• getting your heart rate much over 140
• overheating – it can be dangerous for your and your baby
• running and other jarring activities unless you are a very experienced runner. Even then you should consult with your physician.

Also don’t forget the importance of warming up before any and all activity. Warm up reduces the likelihood of injury and it helps your heart rate return to normal.

If you’re pregnant, CONGRATULATIONS, and good luck. Have fun with exercise too!

Are you pregnant? Have you been pregnant OR Do you know someone who’s pregnant? Do the above sound correct? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Other posts to read:

5 reasons you should stay active

Health Benefits of Walking