Ariane Sherine's Blog, page 6

The 14-Week Challenge: Because No One Wants to Fall Asleep In Crisps

Dear people of the internet,

Yesterday I ate two giant packs of chocolate biscuits and washed them down with a family-sized packet of crisps. Then I fell asleep, and when I woke up, there were crisps in my hair. This is not cool. This must stop.

I don’t want to be obese. I know this is a contentious issue, but I promise that if you asked all the obese people in the world if they wanted you to wave a magic wand and make them slim, 99% would say yes.

Because no one wants cancer, heart disease or diabetes. Hell, no one wants to be unable to touch their toes, or have trouble tying their shoelaces, or be short of breath when walking to the postbox - and that's before you throw in fat-shaming and people offering you their seat on the train because they think you're pregnant. 

So today I am starting - ta da! - the 14-week challenge. (This isn't a thing. I made it up.) There are 14 weeks before my book gets published, and I have a closet full of gorgeous size 8 dresses which I want to be able to wear to promote it. Right now I can barely fit an arm into them, and I would look silly wearing dresses on my arms. So I want to lose three stone in the next 14 weeks.

Today I weigh 73.3kg, which is 11st 8lbs if you're in the UK and 162lbs if you're in America. I started the year at 12 stone 7lbs, so have lost almost a stone. (Yes, my scales do need a clean.) My waist is 33.5" and my bust is 40". I am only 5'2", so all of the above is way too much.




Today I didn't have time to make vegetables, so I am eating:

Three Diet Now chocolate shakes: 426 calories
Two Diet Now cottage pies: 280 calories
One Florida red grapefruit: 120 calories
TOTAL: 826 calories

Dieting and depriving yourself of delicious foods is extremely joyless, but IT IS ONLY FOR 14 WEEKS. It is not forever. It will just feel that way.

See you tomorrow!

1 Hiatus While I Get Well

I've got an exotic strain of Portuguese flu which my colleague's husband brought back from Lisbon. So I'm lying in bed making ill noises with some leggings tied round my neck, because I couldn't find a scarf. (That sounds slightly Fifty Shades, but I assure you it isn't!)

Thanks for reading. I'll be back blogging again soon, I hope.

4 Reasons to Feel Happy About Your Looks

In this digital age of Photoshop and Instagram - both of which I love to use, but which give us endless pictures of glossily ‘perfect’ models and influencers - it’s easy to feel inadequate about the way you look. Here are 4 reasons why you shouldn’t.
1. Your Body Is Amazing
Your body is an incredible thing. Your heart works ridiculously hard to keep pumping blood and keep you alive, your cells are constantly being repaired and malignant cells weeded out, your legs and feet carry you everywhere without a word of thanks... Next time you berate yourself for having a big gut, moobs or floppy boobs, acne, unwanted hair, cellulite or stretch marks, and generally not looking like an Instagram model, remember everything your amazing body does for you, and feel better.
2. Even Models Don’t Look Like Models
Instagram influencers typically take hundreds of shots to get one ‘perfect’ photo, and then use filters and Photoshop. Female models use a tonne of make-up, fake tan and contouring. They also have access to the best photographers, stylists, make-up artists, designer clothes, beauty products, hair extensions… there’s a whole industry going on around them. Don’t compare yourself to them when you’re checking Instagram on the Tube home, sweaty after a long day at work, with eyelashes clinging to your nose and crisps between your teeth. Actually, don’t compare yourself to them ever.
3. Being a Professional Model Is Dull
Between the ages of 22 and 24, I was the petite model for the UK high street clothes chains TopShop, Debenhams and Wallis. It sounds like every girl’s dream, trying on clothes for a living - but it made my heart sink when I walked into work to see a heaving rail of clothes that I had to parade around in, because it was so boring. When I gave it up aged 24, it was a huge relief. Seriously, there are few things more stultifying than having to walk up and down in different outfits. Be thankful that isn’t your job.
4. You Are More Than Your Looks
You do not exist to adorn the world, and anyone who thinks you do shouldn’t be in your life. So think of your imperfections as superficiality filters, weeding out shallow people. Why would you want people around you who wouldn’t be there if you weren’t pretty or slim? You are not a decoration. You are a complex, multifaceted and awesome human being - and the fact that you have less control over your appearance than you might like doesn't detract from this. Anyone who doesn’t recognise your inherent worth doesn’t deserve to be part of your world.

9 Strategies for Enjoying Work More

Work, hey? We spend most of our waking hours either getting ready for it, travelling to it, doing it, thinking about it or recovering from it - so here are 9 strategies for getting pleasure out of it. They help me enjoy my workday, and I hope they'll help with yours too.

1. Write a Work 'To Do' List

I used to muddle through my workdays, until I learned that writing a list of objectives for every day cleared my head and helped me focus on what I wanted to achieve. Of course, there will always be obstacles - for instance, my daily objective might be to pitch great stories and write every piece of content available, but then a huge batch of videos might arrive and need transcoding. If you're waylaid, you may need to bump some of the items from your schedule to the next day, but you'll still know where you're going and how to get there.

2. Schedule in Treats

I get up at 7am and don't return until 7.15pm - that's a huge chunk of time, so having stuff to look forward to is essential. Now that it's summer, I enjoy a refreshing iced coffee every morning, buying it on the way to work, and also generally buy the sunshine granola bowl, super fruit salad and artichoke baguette from Pret, along with their delicious bar of salted dark chocolate. If it's sunny, I'll go out for a walk at lunchtime and enjoy the feel of the sun on my skin. Maybe I'll do something fun in the evening, or call a friend at lunchtime, but I always make sure there are little pleasurable moments scattered throughout the day - and it helps that I enjoy my work, too.

3. Socialise with Your Colleagues

I'm lucky to work with great people. Your colleagues might not be your favourite cup of hot beverage, but there are many reasons to build a rapport with them: you'll feel happier, and so will they; conversation will break up the workday; you'll find out more about their job and understand more about how your company operates; they might make a joke you find funny; you might need a favour from them someday, and getting on with them will help. Plus you'll learn who's joining and who's leaving the company much more quickly, along with any changes in strategy, if you're friendly and sociable. But the main reason is just to be nice, giving without expecting. And if they're not nice back - well, that's more to do with them than you.

4. Work, Don't Shirk...

It doesn't matter if your boss is on holiday, the department's deserted or it's Friday: you work for your own self-respect, no one else's. If you're not working, you'll know and will feel guilty and ashamed. Sometimes I have to work months ahead in the schedule because I write so fast, otherwise I'd have nothing to do; sometimes no one knows what I'm doing. I don't get plaudits for my job or many compliments, but working hard makes me feel better about myself, because I know I'm doing my absolute best for my career, for my company, and for my and my daughter's future - and that's the best reward of all.

5. ... But Plan Breaks, Too

My Apple Watch prompts me to get up and walk around every hour. I reckon five minutes out of an hour to go and get a coffee, go to the toilet and stretch your legs is essential. It's not healthy to sit still for too long, and small breaks are very welcome. I always take a lunch break too, ideally going out, because getting outside for a few minutes, especially in the sunshine, can make all the difference to the way you feel. You'll return to your work feeling refreshed and relaxed, and you'll probably work more effectively for it.

6. Be Thankful

I'm lucky enough to love writing for a living - but even if you don't love what you do, be thankful that you have a job. I was unemployed for a few years when my daughter was little, and have never forgotten how bleak it was. Having somewhere to go and something to do gives your life purpose and structure - and that's before we get to the security of a regular pay cheque. (Incidentally, if you don't love what you do, it might be time to think about a career change. You only have one life, and spending the majority of it doing something you don't enjoy doesn't make sense.)

7. Set Yourself Challenges

I don't have KPIs in my role, so I set myself little challenges every day, for instance, 'write the copy to go alongside the rest of our Refinery29 content by 2pm'. Along with my work To Do list, it makes me feel as though I've achieved something when I can tick the items off - and hopefully it could do the same for you. It also gives you bullet points to put on your LinkedIn profile when you look back over the challenges and To Do list - as they jog your memory as to what you've done in the past year! And challenges give you structure and focus. 

8. Get Inspired

Instagram is full of the best inspirational quotes. Whatever your feelings about them, it's worth getting past any cynicism, as there's a lot of very useful information contained in them - however cheesy you might think they are! One of my favourite things to do is browse Instagram for work-based wisdom, then collate it into Collections. I find they motivate me greatly and propel me through my workdays. I keep a browser tab open with my inspirational quotes Collection, and glance at it throughout the day whenever I'm flagging or feeling tired. It's like a series of virtual cheerleaders, cheering me on.

9. Make Your Desk Beautiful

You spend at least eight hours a day sitting at your desk, so making sure it's clean, tidy and beautiful is essential. A cluttered desk can often mean a cluttered mind, and tidying it can improve your outlook. On my desk, I have: a much-treasured picture of me and my daughter with our arms around each other, in a rose gold frame; two pretty white orchids in bloom; a green chamaedorea plant in a copper pot, which I water often; a tiny silver watering can; and a gorgeous notebook and rose gold pen. I also work on a lovely gold MacBook. You'll have different tastes from me, but seriously, channelling your mum: tidy your desk!

3 Ways to Stop Worrying About Likes, Comments, Followers and Shares

Ah, social media. There are so many lovely things about it - connecting with like-minded people, making new friends, feeling plugged into the world, sharing your thoughts and emotions. But when no one responds to your posts, you can feel like you’re the last person to be picked for games at school - lonely, unpopular and as though nobody cares about you. 
Here are 3 strategies/things to remember so you can stop worrying about likes, comments, followers and shares.
1. Remember That Your Self-Worth Shouldn’t Be Tied to Them
15 years ago, this wouldn’t have been an issue. Before social media, we worried about real-life interactions with friends and family; now, we value ourselves according to how much people engage with our posts. But your gravestone won’t read ‘Here Lies Someone Who Went Viral a Lot’. People will remember you for your kindness, your thoughtfulness and your courage, not for how many people clicked a button under your posts.
2. Don’t Read Too Much Into the Lack of Response
There might be a very good reason why your friends and followers haven’t responded to your post. Maybe you’ve posted at a time when most people aren’t online - say, when they’re travelling home from work - or maybe Facebook’s algorithms just haven’t shown your post to many people. At the very worst, your post just won’t have resonated with your followers or friends - but that’s not a disaster. Maybe the next one will, or the one after that.
3. Don’t Compare Yourself to People with More Followers
There have been so many times when I’ve seen someone tweet something amazing, but because they only had 50 followers, the tweet didn’t do anything. If that tweet had been posted by someone with a million followers, it would have set Twitter on fire. Don’t compare yourself to people who have many more followers, and remember that if your tweet doesn’t receive a response, the reason isn’t usually that it’s not worth responding to.

3 Strategies to Stop Worrying About Likes, Comments, Followers and Shares

Ah, social media. There are so many lovely things about it - connecting with like-minded people, making new friends, feeling plugged into the world, sharing your thoughts and emotions. But when no one responds to your posts, you can feel like you’re the last person to be picked for games at school - lonely, unpopular and as though nobody cares about you. 
Here are 3 strategies/things to remember so you can stop worrying about likes, comments, followers and shares.
1. Remember That Your Self-Worth Shouldn’t Be Tied to Them
15 years ago, this wouldn’t have been an issue. Before social media, we worried about real-life interactions with friends and family; now, we value ourselves according to how much people engage with our posts. But your gravestone won’t read ‘Here Lies Someone Who Went Viral a Lot’. People will remember you for your kindness, your thoughtfulness and your courage, not for how many people clicked a button under your posts.
2. Don’t Read Too Much Into the Lack of Response
There might be a very good reason why your friends and followers haven’t responded to your post. Maybe you’ve posted at a time when most people aren’t online - say, when they’re travelling home from work - or maybe Facebook’s algorithms just haven’t shown your post to many people. At the very worst, your post just won’t have resonated with your followers or friends - but that’s not a disaster. Maybe the next one will, or the one after that.
3. Don’t Compare Yourself to People with More Followers
There have been so many times when I’ve seen someone tweet something amazing, but because they only had 50 followers, the tweet didn’t do anything. If that tweet had been posted by someone with a million followers, it would have set Twitter on fire. Don’t compare yourself to people who have many more followers, and remember that if your tweet doesn’t receive a response, the reason isn’t usually that it’s not worth responding to.

5 Ways to Survive Father's Day When You Don't Have a Dad

This will be my second Father's Day since my dad died. We'd been estranged for over two years when he had a stroke and brain haemorrhage, meaning that it's actually five years since I last celebrated Father's Day with him. Along with his birthday and the day he died, tomorrow is one of the days when I'll think about him most - which is a very mixed-up feeling, as you'll understand if you read this Guardian article I wrote.

If you're dreading tomorrow, here are five ways to survive Father's Day when you don't have a dad.

1. Stay Off Social Media (and Media in General)

Social media will feature endless streams of moving, emotive posts about how much your friends love their dads - and newspapers and magazines will run features about Father's Day. If this is likely to make you feel melancholy, close your laptop, turn off your phone and go offline instead. Use the quiet time to meditate, practise yoga, go swimming or do another activity that doesn't involve being online.

2. Treat Yourself to a Lovely Day

Be kind to yourself and schedule a day full of treats. Maybe that means pancakes with maple syrup and a chocolate milkshake at your favourite cafe, or shopping for something you've wanted for ages. Perhaps you could get a haircut, have a massage, visit a part of town you've been meaning to explore, or even take a day trip to the seaside and walk along the beach.

3. Hang Out with Friends Who Are in the Same Situation

About half of my friends have no dad either, and sometimes it helps to socialise with people who are in the same predicament. Kick back with a few beers (or lemonades, my fellow non-drinkers) and have a catch-up. Maybe play a game of table tennis, or tennis, or pool. The weather's meant to be nice, so you probably won't get rained on.

4. Immerse Yourself in Escapism

One way I like to handle life's difficult days is by writing fiction. It allows me to escape to a more imaginative part of my brain, and enter a world where things are completely different. Or perhaps you'd rather tune into other people's creativity instead, and relax with a great novel, film or Netflix series. Even better, take yourself to the movies and enjoy a more immersive experience.

5. Remember That It's Just One Day

Tomorrow won't last forever. Remember that it's just one day out of life, and it's yours - a unit of time to use however you choose. It's an arbitrary date that only has the meaning you give it. That doesn't mean your feelings about it aren't valid - but it's comforting to know that they'll probably be gone the day after, and that people will stop talking about Father's Day.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a day full of peace.

20 Cheery Songs for a Summer Playlist

There's nothing like a bright, melodic, happy song to lift your spirits and make you feel better about everything. Most of my Spotify playlists are full of cheery, upbeat tracks. Of course, there are millions of brilliant sad songs out there too - everything from Nothing Compares 2U to Ain't No Sunshine - but I find that they make me feel melancholy.

So here are 20 of my favourite cheery songs, in no particular order. Don't listen to them if you want to feel miserable. Listen to Morrissey, The The or post-1985 Depeche Mode instead.
1. Best Day of My Life - American Authors
The clue is in the title. I absolutely defy you to feel anything but blissfully happy when you listen to this, even if you've just been cut up in traffic. The lyrics - "All the possibilities, no limits, just epiphanies" - coupled with the jaunty guitar and driving beat are just glorious.

2. Beautiful Day - Joshua Radin
A mellow, chilled-out acoustic guitar track with lovely lyrics, this is perfect for lying on the grass looking up at a canopy of trees. "Let's not forget we're alive," he sings - aptly, as the wonder of life is something we all do forget.
3. Friday I'm In Love - The Cure
This is one of my favourite songs, because Friday is the day I get my seven-year-old daughter back each week, and it encapsulates the sheer happiness I feel at the prospect of having her in my arms again. But if you're not a weekend parent, you could equally apply the lyrics to the weekend.
4. Classic - MKTO
The perfect song to listen to in a sports car in summer with the top down, wearing sunnies as the wind blows your hair about. I don't actually own a sports car (or any car, come to that) but the track's funk guitar makes me feel cheery even when I'm listening to it squashed in on a crowded Tube train.
5. Tiny Little Bows - Carly Rae Jepsen

Carly Rae does a great line in upbeat pop songs (see also: Cut to the Feeling and Call Me Maybe). I've chosen this one because my daughter likes to dance to it, flinging her arms around unselfconsciously to its catchy melody.

6. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!

"You put the boom-boom into my heart/You send my soul sky-high when your loving starts," sings George in his beautiful voice. If you could bottle sunshine and breathe it in, that's what listening to this song is like.

7. Time to Be Awesome - Captain Celaeno (Zoe Saldana)

Full disclosure: this is a track from the My Little Pony movie soundtrack. It's also one of the most life-affirming and philosophical songs about breaking free of the doubts, fears and general psychological shackles that our minds can create for us.

8. Rainbow - Sia

This has a sweet and soaring melodic chorus and a reggaeton beat that's perfect for summer. OK, I confess that this is also the theme song from the My Little Pony movie, but THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S BAD, DOES IT?! No. No it doesn't.

9. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars

If your foot doesn't tap to this, it's probably been anaesthetised. As well as being a great dance track, this is also the ideal tempo for taking one of those brisk 30-minute walks doctors are so fond of recommending.

10. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves

Featuring a driving beat, an infectiously catchy horn section riff and an organ, plus the cheeriest lyrics about being in love, this song actually feels like being infatuated. It would be perfect, except that people don't really 'go for the mailbox' any more. It's more like 'go for the inbox'.

11. Sense - The Lightning Seeds

The Lightning Seeds are one of the most underrated British bands, and this is my favourite song of theirs. "I'm flying high on something beautiful and aimless/It's got a name, but I prefer to call it nameless." Glorious.

12. Lullaby - Melanie B

One of the sweetest songs I've ever heard, Lullaby was written by Mel B for her baby daughter. Tinkly synths, acoustic guitar and layered vocal harmonies work brilliantly with the lyrics, which are just so full of love.

13. Replay - Iyaz

Featuring one of the best chord progressions for a pop song, this melody has - as the lyric says - been replaying in my head (and on my iPhone) since it was released. That makes it possibly the most appropriately-named pop song ever.

14. Hummingbird - Cheryl

This is one of the prettiest tracks on this playlist (and possibly the history of music, too), featuring piano, strings, hip-hop beats and a twinkly xylophone backing. I'm not in love right now, but it almost makes me want to fall in love.

15. Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake

The theme song from the movie Trolls, it's a 70s disco floor-stomper with finger snaps, a funky bassline and the highest falsetto ever from Justin. If it doesn't get you running to the dancefloor, you're probably dead.

16. Happy - Pharrell Williams

Well, it had to feature - not just because of its title, but also because it's on the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, which is such a great film. No spoilers, but if you know the scene featuring this song, it'll bring a smile to your face.

17. Don't Stop - Madonna

An upbeat, laid back groove about dancing (or sex - this is Madonna, after all), it's all about disco guitar, a hip-hop beat and layers of synths. One of my favourite Madonna tracks, and there are plenty to choose from.

18. Last Chance on the Stairway

A sweet, summery album track from my favourite band in the world, off Rio, their second album. It reminds me of falling in love with my daughter's father on a sunny day a decade or so ago, so it's very special to me.

19. A Good Heart - Feargal Sharkey

Even though the lyrics are fearful, this is still a song that makes me feel happy, because of its huge melody and its major chords. Plus he's still hopeful of finding love, even if he's worried about being alone.

20. Heaven Is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle

This playlist has suddenly gone very 80s, which can only be a very good thing. As well as this being a lovely nostalgic track with gorgeous lyrics, it's also the theme from the brilliant Black Mirror episode San Junipero.

If you want to listen to all the songs on this list, I've put a playlist together especially for you here.

7 Things That Are Scientifically Proven to Make You Happier

Life is complex. It's an odd paradox that the things people think will make them happy - such as attaining that ideal weight, having kids, or retiring - actually don't. Then there are some weird things that might not have occurred to you which scientific studies have found boost happiness levels. Here are 7 of them:

1. Eating More Fruit and Veg
Yes, it sounds ridiculous, and like something your mum might have made up to make you eat your greens - but apparently it's true. LiveScience.com says: 
"Researchers found that people who switched from eating almost no fruit and vegetables in their daily diets to eating eight portions of fruit and vegetables a day experienced an increase in life satisfaction equivalent to what an unemployed person feels after finding a job."
Scientists also discovered that the fruits and vegetables that are most likely to improve mental health are: carrots, bananas, apples, dark leafy greens, grapefruit, lettuce, citrus fruits, fresh berries, cucumber and kiwi fruit. 

I'm glad broccoli and broad beans didn't make the list.
2. Giving Away Your Money
From New Scientist (and you can't get more scientific than that):
"[Researchers] asked 46 people to rate their happiness and then gave each $5-$20, with directions on how the money should be spent. Those told to spend it on themselves were found to be slightly less happy when interviewed later the same day, but subjects who gave the money away reported increased happiness."
OK, so it might have been different had it been a million dollars, but that experiment will never happen.
3. Nature Walks
The British weather isn't always conducive to embracing the great outdoors, but taking a walk in a park or forest could make you feel better. A study from the University of Michigan focusing on nearly 2,000 people found that those who took part in nature walks were much less likely to feel depressed, experience stress or see a downturn in their wellbeing.
(I can attest to this, after a week in Elveden Forest, Suffolk. I felt incredibly calm and happy in a way I rarely do in London.)
4. Buying Experiences, Not Possessions
Research from San Francisco State University found that study participants who splashed out on experiences reported greater satisfaction than those who bought material things. However, if they were buying material things to allow them to have experiences (such as boots for walking or a book to read) this also made them happy.

5. Keeping a Journal
Apparently writing about your innermost personal thoughts can make you feel happier and calmer. As Nicola Davis writes in the Guardian: "a meta-analysis of 146 expressive writing studies, carried out by Joanne Zinger (nee Frattaroli) of the University of California, Irvine, found benefits across psychological health, physical health and even specific disease-related symptoms." Plus you get to buy a pretty notebook, which can help with point 4.

6. Having Plants on Your Desk

A study of 51 offices carried out by the Agricultural University in Oslo found that employees in workspaces which contained plants were healthier and happier, with their wellbeing increasing by 84% (the employees', not the plants'). Other studies also had similar results. I keep orchids on my desk, and even though one died due to my lack of gardening skills and I had to bin it, they brighten my workday.

7. Having Frequent Sex

I guess this one isn't so surprising. Scientists found that, within a relationship, having sex once a week instead of once a month makes couples as happy as having an extra $50,000 a year. However, sex more than once a week had no effect on happiness, so perhaps you can have too much of a good thing?

6 Ways to Feel Better Instantly

The last time I felt clinically depressed was after my dad died in 2016. We had been estranged for over two years, and I never got a chance to say goodbye. I was already feeling incredibly low because of this, when an ex shoved me hard in the chest during an argument in the street five days later. 

After that, I didn't want to be awake, so I took an extra pill each night that blurred out everything but the heaviness and numbness. I lay in bed for two weeks feeling sad and listless and empty. Life made no sense. Everything seemed too difficult.

But I was lucky enough to have a bright and beautiful five-year-old daughter (who is now seven), and that meant I had everything to live for, everything to fight for. So I picked myself up, with a great effort, and I haven't looked back since.

If you're feeling really low, you probably need medication and therapy. I was lucky enough to already be on some amazing meds. But here are some other things that helped and still help me - and hopefully they might help you too. 

When you feel down, it helps to:

1. Remember How Amazing Life Is

Whatever happened with my dad, he got to live for 78 years, and because of him, I get to be alive. That's incredible. Just read the first chapter of Richard Dawkins' brilliant Unweaving the Rainbow, The Anaesthetic of Familiarity (To Live at All is Miracle Enough): 

"We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Arabia." 

As the chapter and this Business Insider article about a swimming turtle explain, the odds against us existing are absolutely staggering. We owe it to ourselves and to humanity to make the most of our lives.

2. Forgive Yourself

If you're feeling guilty about something - and with depression, we often turn on ourselves - then you've suffered enough. Suffering for longer won't make anything better, so it's time to start healing and forgiving yourself now. Sure, I hurt my dad, and I'm sad we didn't get to say goodbye - and as I'm an atheist, I believe we never will. But I know that he loved me, and he knew I loved him. Life is tough, people do and say stuff they regret. Learning from that and moving on from it is the only healthy way forward. That doesn't mean you don't feel sad and regretful at times - it just means that you don't build your life around that sadness.

3. Get Inspired By Others

I have a secret Instagram account where I follow life coaches, motivational speakers and happiness and wellness teachers who inspire me. I don't agree with everything they say by any means - some of it is bunkum - but their posts make me think. I save all the best stuff and look at it when I feel tired or lazy, and it gives me a kick up the arse. It encourages me to throw myself into life, to take action and work hard and be awesome. There are people in this world who have been through worse than I have, and they have still come out fighting. That gives me hope.

4. Make a List of Ways to Improve Your Life

I love lists. Making a list, even a healthy shopping list, is creating a blueprint for making life better. Every day, I make a To Do list of things that will move life forward for me. Items on this week's list include: contact people to send a proof copy of my new book on therapy to; do X things for work; fill three bags to take to charity shop; write blogs (of course); write a chapter of my work-in-progress YA novel each day. I even write an itemised schedule of what I'm going to eat when, which you might think is crazy, but it helps with my compulsive binging. 

And you know what? I don't always succeed in sticking to the list. But making it helps keep you on track with what you want to achieve - I promise.

5. Surround Yourself with Happy People

Everyone has met at least one person who is relentlessly sunny and upbeat. Mine is my friend John, who I call John Bon Jovial because he's so cheery. I call him whenever I feel down, and he makes very silly jokes about everything, and then I feel better. Make it a policy to hang out with happy people when you feel down, and let them lift you up.

6. Get Up and Take Action

I absolutely can't stress this enough: the busier you are and the fuller your life is, the better you feel. Fill your life with lovely, positive things to do: new experiences, different forms of exercise, work tasks, meet-ups with great people, ways to make your home more stylish and your body healthier. Life is short and it can and should be full of beauty. You have the power to make your life better - and I bet that if you ask yourself how, you'll find the answers.