Ensuring Your Children are Prepared for their School Return.

(Collaborative Content) If you have had a wonderful Christmas break with your children then they may be dreading the return to school in the coming weeks. Being off school for a week or two can mean your child is out of routine and happy being at home with you and their siblings. It is wonderful spending quality time with your family, however, you should also be mindful of how they will cope with the return to school after the holidays. The article below will give you some tips and tricks on how to prepare for their return to school. 

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Uniform

One of the first things you need to do is sort out uniforms. They may still be in the washing pile waiting to be washed from the end of term. This is the case for many parents as they don’t want to wash uniforms while the kids aren’t at school. If this is the case then you will need to get it washed and dried in ample time ready for your treasures going back to school. If your children aren’t a fan of wearing uniforms then you may need to take some extra time to get them used to it again. 

Reminders

Children will need constant reminders about their upcoming school return. They get so engrossed in their daily activities that when the time comes to go back, you don’t want to just spring it on them. This will come as a huge shock and they won’t have prepared themselves for it. If you start reminding your children about a week before they are due to go back then this will give them the adjustment period they need. You may even like to create a countdown for your children if they need a visual aid to go by. They can tick off the days leading up to the school return or peel off days and put them in a basket. 

Routine

It is important that your children get back into their usual school routine a couple of days before they are due back. This will probably mean no more late nights or lay-ins in the morning. Some children won’t have ventured too far from their usual routine, so there may just need to be a few tweaks here and there. Get your children used to their alarm clocks again, as awful as they are. 

Arrange Trips

When children go back to school they may have some trips to look forward to. There are plenty of things that the school will do to welcome their children back. One such method that is commonly used is residential trips for schools. This is done as a way of getting children used to being back at school but still having fun and meeting their friends at the same time. If your child’s school has arranged something like this then talk to your child and see if they want to go. 

Meet Up

Sometimes it can seem like there isn’t much time during the Christmas holidays to do anything, go anywhere, or meet up with anyone. However, it can be great for both you and your children if you arrange some playdates with their school friends. This can also settle them before they go back to school and they won’t be apprehensive about seeing their friends again. If you are on a group chat with the school mums then you could arrange a get-together either at someone’s house or at a soft play centre somewhere. 

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Listen To Them

If your children come to you with worries or concerns about the return to school then make sure you listen to them. Stop whatever it is you are doing and give them your full attention. This could be a concern about a teacher they don’t like or a pupil that they have difficulty with. Whatever they tell you, make sure you are always reassuring them that you will help them with their difficulties. This will give them the confidence that you are always on their side when things aren’t going right. 

Carry On Learning

Finally, children need a break from their learning when they are on school holidays. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t do fun and educational things. You could set up a home cinema where they have to sell tickets and snacks to family members before they can watch the films. You could also get them to create the tickets. This gives them a chance to develop their creative and mathematical skills while also having a great time. 

We hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you some useful ideas on how to prepare your children for their return to school. 

How to get Passed what is holding you back from your fitness Goals.

{Collaborative Content} It's easy to get discouraged when trying to achieve fitness goals. You may have set your sights too high, or you might not be seeing the results you want fast enough. Maybe you're just not sure how to get started. Whatever the reason, it's important to understand what's holding you back so you can move past it and onto reaching your goals.

Understand What's Holding You Back

It's important to think about why you want to achieve your fitness goals. What is it that you hope to gain from reaching your goal weight or improving your fitness level? Is it for health reasons? To improve your appearance? To boost your self confidence ? Once you know your why, you'll be more likely to stick with your plan and reach your goals.

Set Attainable Goals

The first step to setting attainable fitness goals is to make sure that they are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. In other words, your goals should be something that you can realistically achieve within a set timeframe.

By making your goals realistic and achievable, you increase the likelihood of actually achieving them. So instead of setting an unrealistic goal opt for something more doable. This will not only help keep you motivated but also help you see results sooner.

Set Process-Oriented Goals

In addition to setting specific and achievable fitness goals as mentioned above, it is also important to set process-oriented goals. Process-oriented goals are those that focus on the steps or actions needed to reach your desired outcome rather than the outcome itself.

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Make a Plan

Find an Accountability Trainer

Having an accountability partner is key to staying on track with your fitness goals. This person can help you stay motivated and accountable for your actions. They can also provide support and encouragement when you need it most.

Set a Schedule

Another important part of making a plan is setting a schedule. This will help you make time for working out, meal prepping, and other healthy habits. When setting a schedule, be realistic about what you can commit to and make sure to leave some wiggle room for life's inevitable surprises.

Keep Your Health in Check

In order to reach your fitness goals, it's important to keep your health in check. This means making sure you're getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating a balanced diet. And if your health is holding you back in the form of an injury, be sure to address that with the help of an osteopath or whatever kind of medical assistance you need.

Getting enough sleep is important for both physical and mental health. When we're tired, our bodies are less able to repair muscle tissue and we have less energy for working out. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

Staying hydrated is also key to maintaining good health. Make sure you're drinking enough water throughout the day (aim for 8 cups per day). You can get hydration from foods like fruits and vegetables as well. Of course, your diet in general needs to be balanced too.

What to get those Easily Stressed Out for Christmas!

{collaborative content} We all have those people in our lives that let life get to them a little bit more than it should. Those stressed-out family members or friends often look as though they need a good night’s sleep and a week’s holiday somewhere in the sun.

Keeping stress levels down is important for their health, so with that in mind, a Christmas gift that can help keep their stress levels low, is essential.

With that being said, here are a few products to gift to those who get easily stressed this Christmas.

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Mercia Whisky Founding Member Club

For whisky enthusiasts in your life, membership to Mercia Whisky Founding Member Club could make the ideal present. The launch of Mercia Whisky Founding Member Club provides members with unrivalled access to some of the world's finest and rarest whiskies, from limited-edition releases to special tastings and events - giving members an immersive experience of whisky like never before. As part of a whisky club, becoming part of this community means joining other passionate whisky fans, giving you the chance to share experiences, notes, and participate in discussions surrounding production of whisky. A gift like this not only offers spirits in its bottle but is symbolic of shared passions and communities!

Bath and body gift sets

Nothing screams stress-relieving than a bath and body gifts set. There are plenty of gift sets that will be out and available during the festive period and they make for great stocking fillers.

A nourish and relax giftset can be perfect for those who are needing a little light relief to relax during the evenings. Who doesn’t love lighting a candle when they’re stepping into the bathroom for a warm, bubbly bath?

A stress ball

It might not be the most exciting gift to receive at Christmas but for an all-year-round gift that will get plenty of use, a stress ball is ideal for the family ‘stress-head’. 

Stress balls come in all shapes and sizes. From the standard ball shape to funny and rude options that will suit the various personalities of those who would benefit from them.

Vouchers for massage and spa treatments

For those that have caused a lot of stress and tension in their body, a good way to get rid of that is through massages. Spa treatments and spa days in general are a great way for those who need to chill out, to get the relaxation time they need.

Vouchers for massage and spa treatments are a worthwhile choice and there are plenty of places to get them from. Whether that’s going directly to a spa facility and buying treatments or getting vouchers that cover a variety of spa locations.

Body essential oils

Essential oils are great for the skin and some essential oils in particular are known for their relaxation-inducing qualities. These body oils come in all different types of packaging from roll-on body oils to hair oils that can be massaged into the scalp for a de-stress, at-home experience.

Take a look at the variety out there and create a little hamper of essential oils that they can get stuck into.

Wellness Journal

A wellness journal is a must for those who are keen on keeping their stress levels at bay. For some, managing life and work can be easy enough and for others, it’s a lot more difficult. 

While not everyone might benefit from a journal or use it, there are some of those who get stressed but are particularly organised. They may enjoy using a calendar or diary for work and life currently. A wellness journal, therefore, might be a good option for them.

Those who get easily stressed can definitely benefit from any of these stress-busting products. 

Top 3 Challenges of Long Term Disease Management.

{Collaborative Content} Being diagnosed with a difficult medical condition can be the start of many more challenges. Apart from the physical aspects, there are mental, emotional, and a long list of ripple effects. Statistics indicate that 15 million people in the country live with long-term health conditions. The numbers show the enormous pressure these individuals take on daily. Below are some challenges they experience when managing these long-term diseases.

1. Finding means to lower healthcare costs

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Long-term illnesses are expensive to treat. The contributing factors are usually medications, specialised care, regular medical appointments, and drastic lifestyle changes. What makes treatment even more expensive is the unavailability of generic medications. Generic medications are usually available and easy to purchase from the pharmacy with a signed prescription. In some situations, however, certain long-term medical conditions require specific medications that are still on trial.

This means agreeing to be part of the drug testing process to manage a long-term condition. Once again, these things often do not come cheap. The added pressure of footing these medical bills intensifies the already trying situation. It explains why many people with long-term illnesses resort to different means to lower healthcare costs. Some may opt for complementary and alternative medicines, which are usually cheaper. It is also not surprising that some people have health insurance that does not provide ample coverage for treatment. Indeed, these challenges can become difficult to manoeuvre without financial support. Thankfully, some treatment centres rely on public funding to alleviate patient pressure. Check here for more information on this.

2. Physical limitations

This is expected in the management of such diseases. These health conditions often take a toll on the body, limiting your daily activities. Sometimes also, the limitations are caused by the side effects of specific medications. These physical limitations can be categorised under minor and major restrictions. The former may last a few hours after consuming certain medications. On the contrary, major limitations may last for years, and the only solution is to learn to cope with the changes.

For example, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy is a chronic brain disorder that affects mobility and eye functions. However, certain treatment options can rapidly bring on lasting memory loss. Another challenge is the impact on daily life, which causes people to withdraw from society. The pressure of learning to live with these limitations and adopting coping mechanisms becomes challenging.

3. Emotional challenges

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Physical limitations in people with long-term diseases can give rise to doubts about their abilities. Questions and uncertainties about long-term diseases take a major toll on emotional health. If left unmanaged, it can quickly spiral into a mental health problem. This is why data has shown that those living with chronic illnesses have a 25% to 33% higher risk of sinking into a depressive state.

Feelings of fear, denial, anger, and giving up are common emotions they face at this stage. Unfortunately, many people don’t seek help and sink deeper into depression. The challenge can only be overcome with specialist mental health interventions. Thankfully, there is a wide range of support services in the UK for people with long-term health conditions.

3 Things to do after Getting a Difficult Diagnosis.

{Collaborative Content} Getting a difficult diagnosis is an emotional time you won’t be expecting. What makes this worse is trying to navigate life after getting a difficult diagnosis. It can seem like an overwhelming process, especially combined with the various emotions you could be experiencing.

While your medical professional will talk you through specific steps, there could be a few other things you should get done, such as practising self care. Three particular steps can be vital to getting yourself through the process and getting back to full health.

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It’s worth diving into what you should do.

What To Do After Getting A Difficult Diagnosis: 3 Top Options

1. Create A Support System

After getting a difficult diagnosis, it’s natural to want to talk to someone about it. You should create a support system for yourself to help get through the process. Your support system should be full of people who love and care about you, and who want to help.

You could be surprised by how many of these people are there. Lean on them as much as you need to help get through your diagnosis and treatment. They’ll be there to listen to you and support you whenever you need it.

Even on days when you’re feeling good, they’ll be there for you.

2. Educate Yourself

While your medical professional will explain your diagnosis to you as much as possible, you might want to learn more about your condition. The more informed you are about it, the better you can manage it and your symptoms.

There are multiple places online where you can find out more about medical issues. When you’re looking these up, make sure they’re medically vetted and backed by science to ensure they give appropriate tips and advice for you.

They’ll help put your mind at ease while letting you know what to expect with your treatment. With a bit of research, you’ll have a more well-rounded picture of your diagnosis.

3. Seek Appropriate Treatment

Getting treatment will naturally be one of the largest steps you’ll need to take after getting a difficult diagnosis. The medical professional working with you will talk you through the specific steps you need to take to get treated.

This could range from taking specific medication to going to a skin cancer clinic or similar medical centre. While this process may take some time, following your medical professional’s advice is key to managing and treating the condition.

Follow their advice and recommendations as closely as possible.

What To Do After Getting A Difficult Diagnosis: Wrapping Up

Figuring out what to do after getting a difficult diagnosis can be a complicated time. You’ll not only need to deal with the particular steps to treating your illness, but also managing your emotions and adapting your life.

It doesn’t need to be complicated to figure out, however. By getting appropriate treatment, educating yourself, and having a support system in place, you’re in a much better position to manage your condition and getting back to full health.

With some time and help, you won’t have a problem getting there.

3 Ways to Create a Calming Space in Your Home.

{Collaborative Content} Why is it so hard to create a calm space? While everyone knows that stress can lead to physical and mental health issues, it is also known that there are many ways in which it can prevent from happening in the first place. There are ways to mend this, such as going to a CBD shop, pursuing hobbies, or even trying to tune it all out. You also have the power to change your environment and your behavior in order to not be stressed out. A calm environment is so powerful; here are some ways to create it.

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Choose your favourite colour or hues for your interior

There is no doubt that colour has a huge impact on the mood and atmosphere of a room. It can also influence how you feel about the space. The colour of your living room can make you feel more relaxed or energised. You may want to consider:

- Use different hues in each room to keep it interesting and fun

- The light in the area

- Find out what colours go well with each other

The colour of your interior is a personal choice. However, you should consider the amount of light that enters your room and the mood you want to set for yourself. It should reflect your personality and tastes. For instance, if you’re a lover of green, then a mini indoor garden would be perfect!

Add calming natural elements

Have you ever considered what sort of elements helps people stay calm if they’re at a restaurant or even a hotel spa? A room can be more calming by adding natural elements such as plants or stones in the corners. Pots with plants, stones, and other natural elements can help to add calming natural elements to a room. They also make it easier for people to focus on their work and not get distracted by these objects. Being pulled into nature through natural elements is a surefire way to help stay calm.

Dampen noise

Noise can cause stress and anxiety, so it is important to find ways to reduce the noise levels in your home. It’s not only stress-inducing, but this can create a major distraction that could cause you to get less sleep. One of the most common ways to reduce noise in a room is by using thick curtains and heavy rugs. This is because these materials are able to dampen sound waves as they pass through them.

What provides harmony for you?

Why not decorate the walls or add some fresh flowers? Candles and sweet scents could also be great! In general, just think about what provides harmony for you. It’s going to vary for everyone on what they find harmonious. But in general, these sorts of elements will make you feel like you in the space that you belong, your safe haven.

Overall, it’s going to be up to you to decide what makes you happy and what can bring an essence of calmness into your space, but these are some options that you should definitely look into if you’re looking to upgrade your home, workspace, or anywhere else that feels stress-inducing.

A Quick Guide to Hosting the Perfect Gathering.

{Collaborative Post} Hosting a gathering at home or a party both inside and outside of the home can be a fun time. However, there is a lot of planning and forethought that needs to go into hosting the perfect get-together regardless of the situation. Be it spending a special day with family at home, or planning a surprise 40th birthday party. It pays to know exactly what you need to do before the day arrives to help you host the perfect gathering.

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Define your guest list

Before doing anything else, do you know who you are inviting? Who or what is the gathering for, and who do you want to be there? Particular get-togethers will dictate your guest list; for example, family parties will be family and significant others only, birthday parties can be anyone associated with the guest of honour and so on. Also, the size of your space will dictate your guest list or where you are hosting your party too - some venues are strictly over 18s only, and others will have guest safety limits and legal regulations.

 

Stock up the bar

You need a fully stocked bar with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. This way, you can cater for guests of all ages and drinking preferences. From beers and wines to spirits and a cocktail kit, you can find both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of all the most popular drinks so people can pick and choose what to drink and whether or not they want to consume alcohol. Have plenty of soft drinks and water to hand, and don't forget the ice and garnishes, too - lemons, limes, berries, mint etc. are all great additions to drinks and can set your "bar" apart.

 

Have plenty of snacks

A good gathering always has plenty of snacks, and you don't want to run out. This is as well as a meal if you are providing this. Keep things light and tasty with nibbles and finger foods people can dip in and out of. Chips and dips are a popular addition, as are nuts if no one has an allergy. Cheese, crackers, and canopies are all excellent choices. Tailor your snack choices to the theme of the party and your guests to ensure there is something for everyone.

 

Choose a theme

Certain times of the year are better for hosting events than others. If there is a specific reason for your gathering, like a birthday or holiday, it will make it easier to plan. Depending on the time of year, you may have specific limitations regarding weather, noise or hosting outside. This is where a theme can help you steer clear of these issues.

 

Get the guests mingling.

While it's essential to chat with all of your guests, getting them to interact with each other is even more critical. To help encourage mingling, you can plan a few party games or activities to get guests talking and interacting with each other. You can have guests play a trivia game, play a card or board game, or even host a mini-version of a talent show. Any of these activities will get the guests talking, laughing and interacting.

 

Conclusion

Hosting an event can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Now that you know what to do, you can host the perfect gathering at your home. Following these tips can help make your gathering a fun and memorable experience for you and your guests.

How to Create the Perfect Environment for Sleep.

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Many people experience difficulty sleeping. For some, their sleep issues are temporary and a result of a specific situation, such as stress at work or a personal problem that is worrying them. But, for other people, the struggle to get to sleep or to stay asleep once they finally nod off is a constant battle. Dealing with sleep issues almost every day can have a significant impact on your life. Getting out of bed feeling exhausted every morning and trying to make it through the day without falling asleep can be challenging. You may resort to caffeine and sugar to give you a boost throughout the day and provide you with the energy you need to keep functioning. But, by the time nighttime comes around once again, you may be back to feeling wide awake, and sleep continues to elude you. If this sounds like the situation you face every day, you may feel like you are the only one dealing with this issue. The nights can certainly feel very long and lonely when you cannot sleep. But, you can be assured that you are not alone, and many people are experiencing the same issue as you. Figures from The Sleep Charity show that 40 per cent of adults and children in the United Kingdom experience sleep issues.

Being unable to sleep can be frustrating, and if you are regularly getting less than the recommended amount of rest each day, your risk of developing certain diseases is elevated. There is no doubt that getting enough sleep is crucial to protect your health and keep some severe illnesses at bay, but overcoming sleep issues can feel impossible. If you are keen to finally get a whole night’s sleep and put your sleep issues behind you, there are a few different ways you can try to do this. Making changes to your sleep environment is one of the most effective ways to help ease sleep issues. With this in mind, here is how to create the perfect environment for sleep to help you enjoy more restful nights:

Tidy Up

When you are trying to create the perfect environment for sleep, you need to start by making your bedroom a tranquil space. This means that it is helpful to clear the bedroom of clutter and to ensure that any mess is tidied up. Trying to sleep in a room that is messy and filled with clutter can make it challenging for you to relax. Knowing that you have lots of stuff to sort through and tidy can add to your stress levels, making it harder to relax enough to fall asleep. So, taking your time and tidying up the room before bedtime is essential to help create a cosy environment which allows you to fall into a peaceful sleep.

Adjust the Temperature

Anyone who has struggled to get to sleep during a heatwave will confirm that trying to fall asleep when the temperature is too hot is almost impossible. The ideal temperature for sleeping is believed to be 18.3 degrees celsius. Any temperature that is much higher or lower than this can impact your ability to get to sleep or stay asleep. So, trying to control the temperature of your room to ensure that it hovers somewhere around this optimum temperature for sleeping is a good idea and should help to make it easier to get a great night’s sleep.

As well as adjusting the temperature of your room, it is also worth considering changing your bedding. The material that your bed sheets and duvet cover are made from can impact your comfort levels when trying to sleep. Fabric that feels thick and heavy can make you feel uncomfortably hot on a summer’s night and leave you more sweaty than sleepy. In the winter, bedding that is made from a thin material can prevent you from warming up and may not feel cosy enough to help you relax into a comfortable sleep. Choosing bamboo bedding is an excellent way to feel comfortable throughout the year and whatever the temperature, as it is soft to the touch, breathable, and helps to regulate your temperature while you sleep. 

Check Your Bed 

Changing your bedding to ensure that it keeps you comfortable while helping you to regulate your body temperature is an excellent way to help you improve your sleep. But, if your bed itself is uncomfortable, you will still struggle to get a good night’s rest. So, if you are having trouble sleeping, your bed could be the issue. Beds and mattresses are not designed to last forever, and over time they can begin to show signs of wear that impact the level of comfort they offer. There are some tell-tale signs that your mattress may need to be replaced. These signs include areas of the mattress that sag, you find that your back hurts when you wake each morning, or you struggle to find a comfortable sleeping position on the bed. Each of these signs indicates that it may be time to change your mattress. Don’t forget to do your research before you start shopping for your new mattress. A mattress is an investment, and picking the right one is essential, so finding out more about which one best suits your way of sleeping is a great idea.

Keep the Lights Out 

While outside noise at bedtime is an obvious issue that will create trouble sleeping, the impact of too much light in the room is often overlooked. Maybe you are trying to sleep during the daytime after a night shift. Or, your bedroom is being illuminated by outside lights; too much light in your room can prevent you from getting any rest. Buying a blackout blind or blackout curtains is a first step towards keeping the light out, but these are not always able to fully keep the light from shining in. Popping on an eye mask should help to keep the light out while you finally catch up on some sleep.