STOP, PAUSE, CONTINUE......

Hi,

Can you believe it's nearly May?

Add to that the vaccination roll out is well under way; children are slowly returning to school; some universities are about to return to face to face teaching and shops and businesses are looking to re open their doors.

We don't know what the future holds and how easy the next phase of the pandemic will be - but assuming it all goes to plan and we continue to move forward, my question today is how do you feel about it?

Does the thought of returning to the new normal:

- Scare you?

- Fill you with anxiety?

- Make you feel overwhelmed?

- Make you sad?

- Confuse you?

- Stress you out?

- Concern you?

- Leave you feeling numb?

- Fill you with dread?

What do you think is driving this emotion?

- Have you comfortably settled into this new way of living?

- Do you prefer not having to fill every moment of every day with activities?

- Has the slowing down of your life made things quieter in your mind?

- Have you relished the opportunity to just connect with a handful of people making for more meaningful relationships?

So when we take the above answers and then overlap the new lifting of restrictions what is your internal dialogue saying..."Say yes" to everything and jump back into the old habits?

We seem to forget we have a choice, you have a choice, there's always a choice!

You can easily combine the two worlds. Do things but at a pace that works for you. Still be kind to yourself and don't over commit.

Here are some hints and tips to help you......

- Learn the power of pace and saying no.

- Use your calendar and map out what you want to do, leave space for recharging and reconnecting with yourself.

- Keep using your self care tools :

✔️Early nights ( Keep the energy levels up)

✔️ Pamper sessions ( Bubble baths, candles, face/ hair masks, creams, )

✔️Keep up with the walks and seeing, hearing, feeling nature.

✔️Meditation / Yoga / Deep Breathing (release anxiety that you carry with you daily)

✔️Reading / Podcasts / Audio Books (escape to another world, learn and stimulate the mind)

✔️ Music ( The power of music be it singing or dancing can release anxiety and stress)

✔️Keep the hobbies (Be Creative)

It's so easy for many of us to be people pleasers and want to say YES to everything we are asked.

You may have found this eased a bit during lockdown so find the strength in saying NO! Don't rekindle the behaviour.

If over the next month you find yourself saying yes when you want to say no ask yourself...

- Why am I saying yes?

- What will happen if I say no?

- Is validation my driver in this situation?

- Am I being my true self by saying yes?

- Do you have FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)?

As we progress into the next part of our journey remember I am here to support you in being the best version of yourself.

Reach out for some bespoke sessions that can really make this an exciting and liberating time.

joanna@journeylifecoaching.co.uk

www.journeylifecoaching.co.uk

Let your motto be...

STOP - Don't say yes to everything!

PAUSE - give yourself space to breath!

CONTINUE - with the self care!

Till next time,

Be safe, Be happy and Be kind