When was the last time you gave yourself permission to not be perfect? Mummy guilt. Competitiveness. Superwoman syndrome. I think most women have experienced one or all of the above whether we’ve really thought about it or not. Having experienced them first-hand myself, I believe they can also contribute to depression, stress, isolation, burnout and …
Now that the weather has been on/off improving with spring in full swing, I’ve been getting out in the garden a lot more. During my pregnancy and throughout Miss E’s first year, the garden went downhill pretty quickly as it essentially became abandoned. But that didn’t stop me looking wistfully at it every time I …
Christmas is a time of celebration with family and friends but the silly season can also create feelings of immense stress and loneliness for some. Occupational therapist Shelley Southgate works for mental wellbeing service Support Stream, helping Aucklanders combat loneliness and stress during the holidays. She recommends a good starting point is to identify what …
Worrying is a normal feeling to experience, as it helps us to assess and make choices about our environment that can help keep us protected. But what about when we worry too much? Spending too much time worrying can reduce your ability to concentrate, cause sleep issues and prevent you from being able to fully …
Short days, freezing temperature drops, rainy weather, the dreaded lurgey constantly hanging around the corner waiting to give you colds, coughs and the flu… Yep – even the most optimistic people may catch a bout of the winter blues, but now’s the time to fight the urge to curl into a ball on the couch …