Jennifer Gilmour's Blog, page 7

How to Reduce Stress as a Parent

Being a parent is far from being an easy task. It’s a job that you’re constantly doing around the clock without any breaks. Even after your children are off on their own, you’re still going to have to be there for them to help. Once you’re a parent, the job technically never ends. However, just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean that you should immediately put other things in your life on the backburner.

This includes your relationships, friendships,  your career, health, personal goals, interests, and so much more. As a parent, you need to know that you’re not a superhuman. No matter what is pushed into your brain or what society tells you, just know that you can’t do everything. Honestly, having all of these roles and expectations placed on you can get exhausting very quickly.

I have learned the hard way on this one and it’s only after almost 12 years that I have started to find myself as a person, aside from being a mum. I know factors of my abusive relationship have a part to play in this. My children are now almost 12, almost 10 and 6. I have managed to do everything I do around them but it hasn’t come easy at all. Reflecting on it, I wish I hadn’t forgotten me. 

Being a parent can be downright stressful to the point where you feel like you may just snap at any moment. It’s understandable, and there are some days more than others where it feels impossible to just keep your cool. Fortunately, there are ways to manage and reduce stress as a parent, even on your worst days. This collaborative blog post will tell you all about how to do that.

Separate your work life from your private life

If you had a major hard day at work, try your absolute best to keep that separate from home. While you shouldn’t need to bottle up the feelings or thoughts that you had during your time at work. You should also think about your home as a little sanctuary where you can go to make your troubles melt away. Just think about how happy you are whenever you’re home. Just try and redirect your energy into being thankful you’re home. Put it towards spending time with your loved ones rather than letting the thoughts of work crowd your brain.

Know that it’s okay to get help

No matter what situation you’re in, you should know that it’s okay to get help. If you had to deal with getting injured somewhere such as work for example, then you should know that you can get maximum compensation for your injuries with the help of a good lawyer. No matter what situation you’re in, whether you need help physically, mentally, or even financially, just know that you’re not weak and help is out there for a reason.

Speaking of help, you should also know that it’s okay to get help when parenting your kids. Parents need to get a break every once in a while, even if it’s for a couple of hours. You can always look into hiring a babysitter. Getting help doesn’t make you weak, it reminds you that you’re important, that you matter, and you understand that everyone is entitled to getting a break.

Relax

As stated above, you should be open to getting breaks every once in a while and maybe even hire a babysitter. Getting to relax, whether it be at home or even on vacation is good for the mind and soul. It gives you the chance to destress and have some “me” time. 

 

 

The post How to Reduce Stress as a Parent appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

Life on Pause

Whilst I was in an abusive relationship I felt my life took a giant step back but it wasn’t until after I left that I recognised the damage that had been done. It was more than life been on pause, I would say I was stuck like life was on repeat each day. I didn’t grow, I became an empty shell and my career was certainly on pause. I had no idea what was going to happen with my life and I thought I was going to be left to suffer for the rest of my life. 

The trouble with this is that I had a lot of time to think. I wondered about the friends I had and lost, old connections, old boyfriends and old work colleagues. Not only was life on pause but I couldn’t move past my headspace to life as it was in the relationship, I wanted to go back in time. I didn’t realise what an impact this would have on me going forward in life after abuse. 

Grief and loss needs more conversation because not only is this present in losing someone we love but it happens through situations like being in an abusive relationship or separation. 

I’m several years out of the relationship and I still think about those I used to have a connection with. I wish I hadn’t lost contact, wish I hadn’t pushed them away, wished I had the closure I now want. I pine for those I had in my life and the old life I could have had. 

I have tried reconnecting and there have been different responses to this but I can safely say that I have held onto thoughts more than them and for many years. I wondered what happened to them, what they were doing now and if they ever thought about me (even if it was just a fleeting thought). 

Expectations make this difficult because I have played out the scenarios of reuniting with them over in my head, but it’s not reality or perhaps what they want. It means that I am feeling that loss all over again. 

 

You might be thinking, why are you doing this then? 

Well, I think I still need closure and I don’t want to be in this middle void of not knowing if there could be a chance of friendship or simply taking up some of my headspace. 

It’s not an easy process, it’s painful and it’s challenging but ultimately this is growth for myself so I can move forward and not trap myself in the past any longer. It’s not a good place to be and it can take over my mindset. 

I remember when I made my first re-connection, I was invited to an event in Leeds as a farewell for an old colleague. I think I had been out of the abusive relationship for one or two years and I didn’t think about the implications on my expectations or how I would feel. I endured the meal and got to see how everyone was happy, when I left, I sat in the car for an hour crying and feeling distraught. 

A few months ago I found out that my ex-fiancé’s mum had passed away and it was a few years ago, I had no idea. I was with him for 5 years and he was my fiancé before I met my ex-abuser, she was like a mum to me and I had always wanted to reach out to her, now I don’t get that chance and I shouldn’t have left it so long. It opened the door to attempt to get through a long list of reunions. 

 

How can I manage my expectations with all this in mind? 

This is an incredibly difficult task in itself but ideally I need to be realistic and not have any expectations at all. 

 

What am I going to do to move forward? 

I’m sad to say that I am taking you on a 360 journey because I have decided in this moment that I need to officially say bye to reconnecting with those people. I need to accept the loss and stop the pretence I have created in my mind. It makes me angry again about what my ex did to me, how much he stole from me, what I lost and how he forever has changed me. I am also not the person everyone knew before and they could have their own expectations. 

Queue the song “Happily Ever After” by Billie Eilish on repeat and away I go.

It’s OK because I am going to make new friends and be surrounded by those that accept me for who I am today. It sounds simple doesn’t it? But, it isn’t for me. However I have discovered that I have been through so much in my life that I can say “what will be will be” and nothing can surprise me, upset me or damage me. You can’t break something that is now unbreakable. 

Saying this, I have made friends who do understand me and I didn’t realise that I would be so close to them. Kelly Smith is one that stands out to me, we recently met in London after four years of tweeting, Kelly flew all the way over from Texas. 

This whole life on pause realisation has led me down a whole new path of self-discovery and I am now finding out who I am in a completely different light. 

 

Are you an old friend of mine? 

Please don’t reach out to me in pity or because you’ve read this because I understand that time has passed and you may have witnessed my disturbing and uncomfortable journey. Just know that you have a place in my mind and I thank you for the time that you spent in my life. I miss those days and I will never forget them 

If you have a friend who has experienced domestic abuse they may be feeling the way I am. I know I am not the only one feeling this loss over and over again. Perhaps reaching out may be helpful to them, what’s there to lose when so much has been lost already? 

 

Are you a new friend of mine? 

You are a friend of mine for a reason, I don’t trust easily anymore and so you hold an important place in my life. Thank you for accepting me for who I am and creating new memories. 

When you think you are almost there with recovery and a remix happens. This has been incredibly difficult to swallow. 

 

 

The post Life on Pause appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

Helping children understand healthy vs unhealthy friendships

If you haven’t seen all over my social platforms, I’ve launched a Kickstarter for my upcoming children’s book.

I want to help our younger generation better understand the difference between healthy friendships and unhealthy friendships with the vision of it being a prevention.

The first relationships we have outside of our family usually start with the friends we make in school and that’s why I am going this far back when it comes to equipping children with the signs. The aim is that they will carry this forward in not only friendships but into their future romantic relationships.

Backers will be mentioned in the acknowledgments of the book, this can be your own name or a business name. ⁣

It’s an all-or-nothing campaign with just 24 days to go!

About The Funky Frecks

The Funky Frecks is a children’s book for KS2 children and follows the same ethos as my debut novel, educating through a form of entertainment. This book will look at friendships and allow children to follow a story as well as engage in discussions and/or access downloadable resources which will work alongside the book. The aim is that they will carry this forward in not only friendships but into their future romantic relationships. 

The story follows Jess who is unique in her own right with beautiful white hair, different coloured eyes and freckles. Jess has been to many different schools and we join her as she starts another new school and feeling rather vulnerable. The school has a buddy-up system and a fellow classmate volunteers to help Jess in her first week, her name is Sam and is very welcoming on the offset. We see them getting on well and enjoying each others company but things don’t feel right when Sam gives Jess a nickname that she doesn’t like, Jess musters up the courage to tell her she doesn’t like to be called Frecks but Sam ignores it. As the story unfolds we see Sam become demanding over school activities at lunchtime, getting jealous of Jess making other friends and everything comes to a head.

 

I have used the Duluth wheel to guide me in creating the elements of power and control but within child-like friendships. It is managed gently but will create insightful conversations in classrooms and at home with parents.

The book is due out Jan 2022 in partnership with the Kaleidoscopic UK‘s Educate2Eradicate programme that will be delivered to children of primary and secondary age and for those that support them.

Kickstarter

There are just 17 days left to go of the Kickstarter campaign. 

Take advantage of pledging now and receiving a signed copy of the book along with your name in the supporters’ list within the acknowledgments, a digital copy of one of my other publications and a USB stick with downloadable resources. 

Partnerships

Want to partner with the book and be included in the resources? Drop me an email: contact@jennifergilmour.com. 

Partnerships close at the end of November. 

 

Sign up to my newsletter

Follow my work, the campaigns I get involved in, organisations I support and my journey.

Success!

First Name

Last Name

Email

SIGN UP NOW

google-site-verification: google6c4674c9160c1750.html

The post Helping children understand healthy vs unhealthy friendships appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

Running from my past

I decided to delve into the Couch25K programme and it’s taken me more than 9 weeks to complete it. The reason why I started was that I wanted to challenge myself to achieve a goal with exercise without focusing on just the weight loss. 

When I was in High School I used to be the person that came second in all the sprints and cross country, there was a girl I could never beat. Naturally, when I left school all of my active side of life came to a slow halt. 

2021 has been about putting myself first, putting my oxygen mask on to be able to be the best I can be for my work and my family. It’s the first time I’ve ever put myself first without feeling guilty and it’s easier to do because I know this is an investment that will pay off. 

I started the programme feeling like weeks 1,  2 and 3 were a breeze. I didn’t feel challenged at all, I was enjoying it thoroughly and wanted to do more.  I started week 4 feeling ready to go but toward the end of the week I felt I had hit a wall, I ended up having to repeat this week. Week 5 was very similar but there was a significance to this week and I needed to move past it. If you haven’t done the programme before, the last run of week 5 is the biggest step up and you’ve just got to put your head into gear and get through it. 

I wasn’t going to give in, I had started sharing my journey on social media. I was lucky enough to have a couple of people motivating me to push through this area and reassuring me it was normal, it would become easier after this big leap. 

The day arrived for me to get this run done so I could move onto week 6, I set off as usual and around halfway through I was suddenly transported back in time. I was in the early parts of my relationship with my ex and he was chasing me down the road, this had followed an argument over something minor and it was the middle of the night. I remember feeling scared, my heart rushing and not having enough breath. I did suffer from exercise-induced asthma and I could feel that chest tightening. I slipped through a cut-through, thinking I was clear of him and sat against the wall trying to gasp for oxygen. 

That was it, it wasn’t my capability at all, it was the panic of starting to run and for a long period of time. I recognised that before I was meant to start running I would build myself up and start panting, it was subtle enough for me not to think on it. 

That day I failed at that particular run but I knew I needed to go away and work out what was going to help me for the next time. I didn’t want him to win, in fact, it made it even more desirable for me to complete this run. 

Weeks later and I am on week 9, I tell the world that I am going to smash it on a set day and guess what… I DIDN’T! 

It took me three attempts to complete the last run and officially graduate from the programme. 

I wondered why I couldn’t do it for that final run

was it because I hadn’t resolved the memories in my headwas it because I knew that I would accomplish somethingwas it a potential trauma bondwas it because I was simply making excuses

 

Whatever it is, I know one thing was certain, it felt like I was running from my past physically. 

This is a new part of my journey and I look forward to sharing it with you. 

Want to know about my story? Isolation Junction is based on true events of my own and other women. 

 

Sign up to my newsletter

Follow my work, the campaigns I get involved in, organisations I support and my journey.

Success!

First Name

Last Name

Email

SIGN UP NOW

The post Running from my past appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

Essential Characteristics Your Website Should Have

As a writer I hadn’t originally considered the importance of my own website and I struggled along with learning and creating my own for years. In fact, it wasn’t until this year that I was able to take the plunge and have one made for me. I wish I had done it sooner as I have had many compliments about it and it’s given me more confidence.

I hope this collaborative post helps you in your own writing or blogging journey. 

A website is a business’s online storefront. It is a place where the company can interact with its customers and potential customers in a way that was never possible before the advent of the internet. Today, it is nearly impossible to have any sort of successful business without having an internet presence in some form or another. For many businesses, that means creating a website with all sorts of information about what they offer and how people can find them on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. In this blog post, we’re going to talk about four things your website should be if you want to have success in today’s ever-changing marketplace!

Informative

No matter what industry you’re in, any website you create should provide your customers with as much information about your company and products as possible. Even if it’s just a website that provides contact information such as phone number or email address only – the more information you can give to people will be better off than giving them less!

If you own an e-commerce site, then providing product descriptions and pictures is important so that potential buyers know exactly what they are getting when purchasing from your business. If you like, you can even learn how to record screen on iphone to have video tutorials on there. For informational sites where there isn’t any sort of transaction taking place between yourself and those who visit your pages (i.e., non-profit websites), creating articles on topics related to whatever cause or issue that organization represents gives visitors something interesting to read while also sharing valuable information.

Responsive

Nowadays, there are more ways to access the internet than ever before. With mobile devices becoming smaller but more powerful over time, it’s important that your website looks good on all of these different platforms! Furthermore, people don’t always use their desktop computers when browsing for products or services online anymore. Instead, they might be using a tablet while sitting on the couch at home or even looking something up while waiting in line at the grocery store with only their phone available to them.

If you have a business where people can purchase things directly through your site (like an e-commerce store), then making sure customers can easily make purchases no matter what device they’re using is extremely important. If someone has trouble accessing certain parts of your page and completing transactions – they are unlikely to want to do business with you.

Responsive design, which is a technique that allows for your site’s content and layout to shift depending on whatever platform it’s being viewed from, is the best way of ensuring this isn’t an issue. Those who use desktop computers will have no problem seeing everything, while those using mobile devices won’t be bothered by buttons or sections they cannot interact with properly!

Attractive

Attracting people to your website is the first step towards making them interested in what you have to offer. If they aren’t able to find out information about you or can’t easily read and interact with everything on your page, then no one will want anything to do with your business! The best way of ensuring this doesn’t happen is by keeping a consistent aesthetic throughout all sections of your site so that it looks like something worth visiting whenever someone lands on any part of it!

This does not mean trying too hard, though – as sometimes those who try harder end up actually putting others off instead. Keep things simple but always make sure there’s enough going on visually for potential customers (and search engines if you’re running an informational site) to pick up on and understand what’s going on.

A great way to do this is by using high-quality images that people will want to click through and make sure your text (like titles, descriptions, and articles) are written in a clear enough manner to be easily understood when someone reads them!

Easy to navigate

As we mentioned before, it’s important that your website is as simple and easy to use for those who want to visit it! If someone sees a button they can click on or some text they need more information about – you want them to know exactly how to do so without having any problems.

It might be tempting (especially if you don’t already have experience with coding) to just copy and paste the design of another site onto yours, but this will never look right once people start visiting it. It’s best not only for SEO purposes but also because making sure everything looks good alongside one another really helps keep visitors interested in what you’ve got going on throughout all areas of your site! Making things consistent across every page, even while using different images and content, will help customers understand where to look next without having any issues!

 

 

Sign up to my newsletter

Follow my work, the campaigns I get involved in, organisations I support and my journey.

Success!

First Name

Last Name

Email

SIGN UP NOW

google-site-verification: google6c4674c9160c1750.html

The post Essential Characteristics Your Website Should Have appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

Mum’s the Word

It has been a while since I have been a part of a blog tour but when I was informed of this book, I couldn’t refuse. 

Blurb

When Ann-Marie Ross murders her abusive husband and feeds him to the pigs, she thinks she’s got away with murder and secured the future of her Scottish cider farm. But she soon finds herself having to keep more than one deadly secret to protect those closest to her.

As four women embrace their new-found independence, Ann-Marie is tormented by the threat of discovery.

A darkly comic tale of murder, friendship and Love.

My thoughts 

I have to give a warning here because I was gripped to the edge of my seat in the first chapter. I couldn’t believe what was unfolding, it does say murder in the bio but it still had my jaw to the floor. 

Even though I was gifted this book to read I wanted to see how Lorraine was going to bring comedy into such serious situations.

As someone who has experienced domestic abuse, I can feel all of the bitter emotions but I think that’s because I read between the lines and let my own thoughts become a part of it. If I was looking at this as a strong element I would have liked to have had more context. 

Taking the seriousness of the subject aside readers will be drawn into such a direct but fun plot. I enjoyed the fast-paced energy and especially the added cider. I enjoyed changing what I was reading for this book and I completed it in just two sittings. 

Author Bio

Lorraine Turnbull was born in Glasgow where she lived until 2005 when she and her family moved to Cornwall to run a smallholding. She relocated to France in 2017 where she continues to make cider, writes books and learns French.

 

Read it now Who’s next on the tour?

 For those of you who are not familiar with them, blog tours are a virtual tour that stops on different bloggers websites with reviews, Q&A’s, interviews and more. Follow along with Lorraine’s tour at the other virtual stops, the best way to find them is to go to @LorraineAuthor or @rararesources. 

 

Sign up to my newsletter

Follow my work, the campaigns I get involved in, organisations I support and my journey.

Success!

First Name

Last Name

Email

SIGN UP NOW

google-site-verification: google6c4674c9160c1750.html

The post Mum’s the Word appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

Signs You Are In A Healthy Relationship

Of course, your partner makes you feel happy. You know you want to be with them for as long as you can. You know you don’t want to lose them. You love spending quality time together and have created memories worth cherishing for a long time. But when it comes to a healthy relationship, it always goes beyond just the smiles and memories, as there are other things to consider. So, what exactly makes a healthy relationship? Here are some signs worth keeping in mind.

1. You are not afraid to open up

Almost everyone can mention some things or behaviours they don’t like about their partners. No partner is perfect, but as long as you feel comfortable expressing what you don’t like, that is a sign that you are in a healthy relationship. It is important to note that your ability to express yourself freely does not always mean that you will choose to. Some people choose not to speak for one reason or another. But as long as your silence isn’t the result of fear, you should have no reason to be alarmed.

On the contrary, that should be a red flag if you find it difficult to speak up and inform your partner about the things you don’t like or feel secure enough to be open.

2. You trust each other

Trust should go both ways in a relationship. And while some people believe that it is impossible to trust another human being 100%, trust is still an essential ingredient in any healthy relationship. You should trust each other in various aspects of your relationship like your finances, parenting style, faithfulness, etc. Multiple studies have shown that partners or couples who trust each other tend to feel more satisfied with and in their relationships. 

3. You are free to display your affection or speak each other’s love language

You should feel free to show your affection in a healthy relationship, whether in words or action. Just like the freedom you have to communicate what bothers you, you can also express your joys. Gifts tend to be one of the best ways to ‘speak’ where words fail. For example, you can invest in a Claddagh ring white gold variant as a gift to display your loyalty and the true love you have for your partner. Also, in a healthy relationship, you know each other’s love language. Whether through gifts or physical touch, you know just the right love buttons to push. 

4. You feel independent from your partner

You’ll often hear some love birds express how they cannot live without their partners. As romantic as that may sound if you cannot feel independent from your partner, that isn’t a sign of a healthy relationship. You are still two different people in a relationship, and each person needs to have and maintain their own identity independent from the other. That means you can have and enjoy your hobbies, separate friendships, and different interests while having some in common.

 

Sign up to my newsletter

Follow my work, the campaigns I get involved in, organisations I support and my journey.

Success!

First Name

Last Name

Email

SIGN UP NOW

The post Signs You Are In A Healthy Relationship appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

How to Maintain Your Exercise Regime Long-Term

A collaborative post today but I wanted to offer my insight and motivation. As some of you know I have been going on a journey and it’s a year and a day since I wrote “The truth about my weight“, my goal was to lose 3 stone 7lbs but in a healthy and maintainable way. 

I can tell you that I am on my way there, I have lost 1 stone 7lbs and have 2 stone to go. Remember I am doing this for a long-lasting life change so I need to enjoy the odd dessert and not feel guilty as well as committing to exercise. I’m sure I am not the only one who is fed up of quick-fix diets that go completely wrong because you lose the initial weight and then it comes piling back on. 

Perhaps you want to join me on my journey… 

Have you decided that you want to try and exercise more? Want to make it a regular thing in your life? If this is true for you, you will want to try and find ways to maintain your new routine and benefit from exercising as long-term as possible. 

The trouble is that life can happen, and this means that your exercise plans fall by the way-side despite your good intentions.  

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to try and maintain your exercise plans, and here are some of them.  

Start small 

Many people are tempted to go full whack into their exercise regime whilst they are fresh-faced. However, this is the worst thing that you can do. It is a much better idea to start as small as possible; this means that you can pace yourself, learn more about how your body will react to the exercise of your choice and stop yourself from burning out altogether.  

Have them on your schedule 

Some people may think it is better to exercise “when you feel like it”, but ask yourself, when are you going to feel like it? It is a much better idea to schedule in your exercise time. Not only will this allow you to plan it around your life, but it also means you have it set in stone, so you have to do it!  

The image on the left is August 2020. The image on the right was taken in July 2021.

Have fun with it 

When you make exercise fun and social, you are much more likely to want to stick to it. So, find a way to make it both of these things. One great approach that you can take is to invite your friends or family members to team up and make it a game. You can do this by treating everyone to GBU gel blasters, water pistols, or frisbees which they can then use during a game, by throwing your own dance party, by running challenges against your friends, and… well you get the idea. 

I go Geocaching with the family and it gets us walking miles without realising it because it is so much fun. If you haven’t heard of it, there’s an app that shows all the Goecaches around you as pins and you need to find what is hidden and sign the log inside the container. It is like a world wide treasure hunt but we have found some amazing locations and learnt a lot since joining four years ago. 

Celebrate  

Even the smallest of victories is something that you should celebrate when you are trying to stick with exercise for the good of your health. Managed 5k running? Have you exercised every other day for two weeks? Whatever your aim is, make sure that you find a way to celebrate it. Not only will it feel great, but it will give you the motivation to keep going and to work towards your next reward.  

I am on week 5 of the couch to 5k programme and have suprised myself for getting this far. I have one more run and I know it’s going to be one of the most challenging runs I do in the programme, I am certainly going to be celebrating once I complete it in the next few days. 

Rest 

Even the very best athletes and sportspeople have to rest when their body needs it, which means you also need to. Pencil in rest days and make sure that you take them. Your body will thank you for it, and the rest will help you feel ready to face the next day when you need to exercise.  

Want to make sure that your exercise habits stick? If you do, then why not try out some of these top tips? They will help you to find a way to make exercise a part of your everyday routine and life and then, in turn, allow you to feel the benefits of being active in your physical and mental wellbeing.

I hope this inspires you to think of long-term health and I will keep you updated with my weight loss journey. 

Sign up to my newsletter

Follow my work, the campaigns I get involved in, organisations I support and my journey.

Success!

First Name

Last Name

Email

SIGN UP NOW

The post How to Maintain Your Exercise Regime Long-Term appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

Happy Publication Day to me

With no mention of this day coming except to patrons I am excited to be celebrating a publication day. It has been a while since I have published a paperback and this one is something very different from my usual work. 

I have always loved reading and when it comes to the summer I divulge more into the depths of fiction. Sometimes I try to reference a quote from a book I have read and can no longer find it, I have an urge to write notes and offer my thoughts along the way. But I have never had a place to keep a log of it all, until now!

Announcing the…

Book Review Log Book

Keep a track of your reading progress and your book reviews in one place:

Reading GoalsTo Be Read ListBook Release DatesWord CloudYour ReviewsYour NotesIt still raises awareness of domestic abuse

At this point you are probably wondering how or why this is possible in this type of book because it’s a journal type publication that is to be filled in by the reader. Well… right at the back is a nod to my domestic abuse publications and advocacy. It’s small but it’s still there, sometimes we don’t need to be blunt about it but subtle. In terms of awareness, it could reach more readers so you never know how one book can roll onto reading another.

It’s available to buy now on Amazon for £7.99. 

Buy now Spread the word

If you know an avid reader this could be perfect for them, share the news with them. 

Share it online and tag me along the way so I can thank you, I am @JenLGilmour on socials. If you buy it I would love to see photo’s of you using it as well. 

If you buy it, please review it, reviews on Amazon help authors to gain more exposure on that platform. 

 

Once again thank you for your support and for joining me on my creative journey to raise awareness of domestic abuse. 

 

 

Sign up to my newsletter

Follow my work, the campaigns I get involved in, organisations I support and my journey.

Success!

First Name

Last Name

Email

SIGN UP NOW

The post Happy Publication Day to me appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.

8 Simple Things You Can Do Right Now To Improve Your Health

Do you find yourself stuck in a rut and not feeling fine? Every time you feel so low, you should consider checking your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Yes, you need to look at the whole picture and figure out what is not working for your health. So, where do you start? There are super hacks that will improve your health and your entire sense of well-being. If you are ready to give your health a boost, keep reading this collaborative post. 

Practice daily meditation

Meditation is found to ease anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Accordingly, mindfulness helps you focus away from the habits that can be detrimental to your health. If you want to improve your overall well-being through mindfulness, you may want to consider meditated breathing and yoga exercises. 

Get hydrated 

Dehydration may lead to many health issues. Accordingly, the lack of enough water may drain your mental focus and may also have a negative effect on your metabolism. You should always drink more water and stay hydrated throughout the day. The trick is to have a litre of drinking water with you all the time. This will help you monitor your daily water consumption. 

Exercise

Working out is an excellent way to stay fit and healthy. Accordingly, physical exercise has the advantage of turning your mood around and fighting some illnesses. In other words, an excellent workout routine should help you stay on top of your shape and also improve your overall health. 

The best way to make sure your exercise remains consistent is to schedule it on our calendar. Create time for daily sessions in the morning of gym time after work. You may also want to sign up for fitness coaching and programs that run for 30 days. This is an excellent way to ensure you get the best workout techniques. Accordingly, a personal fitness trainer may also help you manage your diet.

Exercise has really helped me this year, I have started running three times a week at the gym. I have struggled with my weight due to my past experiences and I wrote a blog post The truth about my weight last year. Since then I have lost a stone and I have two more to go. 

Cook your meals

The most straightforward way to improve your health is to ensure you make your meals and eat at home. Eateries often have foods with unwanted additives that may not be good for your health. Additionally, cooking your own meals helps you regulate what you eat and the kind of ingredients you use. For better results, you may want to cook more farm-fresh food, such as vegetables. 

Eat more fruits and vegetables

If there is one thing you should do differently this year, it should be focusing more on fruits and vegetables. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables helps you reduce the risk of many illnesses. Accordingly, this diet improves your skin in a way that only a moisturiser can. Therefore, if you want glowing skin, add more fruits and veggies to your servings every day. 

Reduce the amount of salt and sugar

Did you know that having a saltshaker on your dinner table increases the chances of over-consuming salt? This can lead to high blood pressure and many other diseases. Therefore, it is always a good idea to keep your saltshaker in the kitchen cabinet. 

Accordingly, make a habit of cooking your food with a pinch of salt. You can also use other natural spices in the place of salt. Lemon juice, garlic, and pepper flakes are the best alternatives to salt. Similarly, added sugars are harmful to your health. Avoid soda and other processed foods with additives, such as salt and added sugars. Accordingly, you may want to regulate your salt and sugar intake by focusing on farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.

Get to bed earlier

When was the last time you had seven or more hours of sleep? Depriving yourself of enough and quality sleep at night can raise the risk of stroke, regardless of your age. This means that a quality night’s sleep is very vital to your overall health. If you have a problem going to bed early, make sure you find ways to improve your sleep pattern. The best way is to go to bed 15 minutes earlier every night. Accordingly, you should set a sleep and wake schedule to help you regulate how you sleep. 

Wake Up Earlier

As much as sleep is essential, waking up earlier also has its benefits. If you wake up early, you kick off your day on a positive note. This habit alone can change your mood for the best and improve your well-being. 

The Bottom Line

Do not burden yourself with unrealistic health goals. The secret is to start small by setting realistic goals. If you want to maintain a healthy body, you need to be consistent in everything you do. Pick these life hacks and improve your overall well-being today.

 

 

Sign up to my newsletter

Follow my work, the campaigns I get involved in, organisations I support and my journey.

Success!

First Name

Last Name

Email

SIGN UP NOW

The post 8 Simple Things You Can Do Right Now To Improve Your Health appeared first on Jennifer Gilmour.