Category Archives: Personal Development

Life Coaching Blog: Being Good At What You Do

29 Friday May 2026

Posted by in career building, Celebrating, health and wellbeing, life coaching blog, Living, Personal Development, Planning 2026, Summer Project, Weekly posts

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I have been watching many people rebuild or their hobby become a business. I think of this guy on Youtube Leonel Maxlhaisie and who started baking and selling sour dough bread and pastries from the boot of his car and now has an industrial kitchen and has a hut that he sales goods from and so inspiring. Watching Freddy Mercury was a baggage handler before becoming a super star and the vocalist for Queen. He also wrote music, but is up there with Elvis, Barbra Streisand and I often think what do they possess that I don’t?

Commitment, hard working and they stand out. They have a talent that is a gift.

In this picture I watching the Book Diaries by the sea and she started as a librarian and collecting books and now has her own book shop.

Visiting Wimbledon Park to play tennis the guy working in the café was miserable and had no Customer Service skills, yet visiting a garden centre the staff were really nice and made me feel welcome because they were good at their job and I worked in Customer Service and I was good at my job. Yes I still made mistakes but at the end of the day I knew what I was doing no matter who thought I weren’t.

I have carried those skills and love working on my blogs, books and radio show. I worked in Catering. Not for me. I worked in Housekeeping, not for me, but I am glad that I tried and that is what you’ve got to do. Try. See what it is like to then find out if it is for you and make the effort. I know Steven Bartlett worked in a call centre and he didn’t follow the rules and wasn’t for him but went on to create a podcast, wrote a book and now invests in other peoples businesses.

I am good at planning, I have a good knowledge of books and music. I love sport but my first love was music and reading. I love music and I love books. I was good at dance and no longer dance which I often wished I had, but I am glad of the direction I took because of building a life of my own and because of being a mum. I am good at choosing good music. I would know a lot of lyrics of songs and names. With books I love to write and I am glad I possess those skills. I am still learning and I read books to learn and every afternoon I will play some music and love listening to radio. It helps inspire me to do my show and come up with themes and song ideas to play.

You don’t need to be earning million dollars to be good at your job. Its putting in the hours, still showing up and I when was in fulltime employment would give it my all and it helped with my confidence to workout what I want to do.

Being a mum is a full time job and yeah, I don’t always get it right but again I am learning and with each day getting better and learning about my son and make sure he what he needs and that he is washed, got clean clothes and things that occupy his mind and is a social, happy social boy.

I believe you have to learn the craft and I do read different types of books. The only way to find out what your good at is to research and try them out.

If you are looking for a hobby or change of job, career or skill then do it. You only know by trying and the best way to learn is to just try.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Life Coaching Blog: Own the Stage

22 Friday May 2026

Posted by in Celebrating, Creating a vision, Goal setting, health and wellbeing, life coaching blog, Living, Personal Development, Summer Project

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Watching Live Aid, Queen the band, for the 100th time. They owned the stage and Freddy was out there and one of the best performers and every time I watch it, it still feels like it is the first time watching it and it was 40 years ago and if you want to change, own the stage. You are part of this world so you deserve to have the things you want, unless it is hurting people.

OWN THE STAGE!

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It is good to say “You want to be the best” OWN THE STAGE in whatever field or area you are interested in. Watching Robbie Williams film Robbie was treated like a pain in the arse but once he started to see that he was good enough to be a star and create fantastic music he shone and he OWNED THE STAGE and made people see, by getting help and facing his demons, a superstar and he is a up there with the best.

Your going to have setbacks, but it is how you manage them is the key. I wanted to win the trophy for the highest marks when I did dance and I got it and it was because I OWNED THE STAGE and athletes OWN THE STAGE. They do the work, they eat what their body needs and many have had struggles leading up to success but they see they are part of this world and so they have taken over the world by their determination and working on your strengths and their weaknesses.

So set some goals. Change a habit and write down what has worked out for you in your life and why and making the things that haven’t worked out smaller. I want to make you see your part of this world. You are important and you can achieve goals and change. I never felt good than I do now because I write thar blog, I write that book, I go for a morning walk, I worked in a coffee shop and I have made a good dinner. So OWN THE STAGE and yes their are hurdles but it can work out and when it does it feels fantastic.

Please check out my Pinterest where I post my blogs and on X too.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Cheat Sheet: Cutting Down On Scrolling

18 Monday May 2026

Posted by in Cheat sheet, Everyday living, health and wellbeing, Personal Development, Positive Habits, Printables, Weekly posts

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I was addicted to scrolling when I would be in a comfortable social situation would scroll and not paying attention. So in this weeks Cheat Sheet is tips on Cutting down on scrolling.

Cutting Down On Scrolling On Your PhoneDownload

It something that I think we all do and I no longer scroll at night and in fact been staying up later to read watch a bit of Youtube or TV series on the TV. I am building my Pinterest at the moment but not doing this all day long and one of my favourite platforms but I not checking Instagram, Facebook or X all the time or Tik Tok continuously as I would at one time pick my phone up every five seconds and was doing subconsciously.

These cheat sheets are free to download and print.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Does It Pay to be a Perfectionist

17 Sunday May 2026

Posted by in career building, Celebrating, Everyday living, having bad days, health and wellbeing, Inspirational TV, journal, life coaching blog, Living, Personal Development, Summer Project, Weekly posts

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Listening to a podcast and documentaries of Queen and Live Aid it made me realise that Queen were perfectionists and to Freddy he had a good attention to detail. A song had to make you feel excited and their Live Aid performance was out of this world and one that will always been remembered and when I spent time in a Mental Health Hospital it would be played and Bob Geldoff too putting it together and changed the music scene that not only can you write music but could create a master piece to be used and fame to make a difference. I have said “I am not perfect” but like my books and blogs to be perfect and have felt such an amateur when their have been a typo that I missed and reading my books and J.K Rowling her books had to be seen that this could be real, the same with the Hunger Games and The Lord Of The Rings.

Myself set up in Radio Studio that I’d like to perfect.

Yes mistakes do happen and can improve our focus and attention to detail as I can see that perhaps I need to do more of an outline on a book and not be in such a rush in publishing it but that my blogs and my message is put across. Its taking pride in what you do and I like my days now that I have had attention in making sure I have slept well, that my clothes are not super creased and that the home is tidy and that there are no crumbs all over the place, that the sink is shining and I am a perfectionist and I think now in observing people, we all are. We all want to have a home to give you comfort so spending time on the look of a home, like furniture, the perfect bed that we like to help have a good nights sleep.

It means you care. Yes you can get things wrong that is part of life but when you keep building and growing being a singer, dancer, writer or a Housewife you it perfect for you and for others you live with. Then there are things that you think are going to be bad, turn out to be a masterpiece. Boy George didn’t like his song “Do you really want to hurt me” and didn’t want it on their album and yet it changed his life and Culture Club, but again it is perfectionism. It can work against you like the example of the Boy George and Culture Club sometimes it can cause confliction.

You only know when something is good when you get feedback both good and bad. I have had criticism, but people will. It doesn’t mean you have to stop but may need to make changes and feedback is a must.

A chef will always want feedback. They need to know if people like their dishes to learn how to make a meal better and it depends who it is for. A child may not go for a steak that is within the specials. I do not like Liver because of school dinners but then I didn’t eat Tuna but had Tuna Steak, which made me realise it could be tasty. So it was perfection for me. It was cooked well, it was flavour and that is where it pays off and so when you do something check it, taste it and makes us succeed by being consistent and attention to detail, which is the key and what you like. What puts you off? What could you make that you can master that will help build a website and what outcome using the Worksheet I created in first blog: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2026/04/29/introduction-to-my-yearly-programme-summer-project-2026/

I like to see things develop and watched how they put together Bohemian Rhapsody. It was really clever and every bit of was important in the making of it. Seeing Strictly Come Dancing live. Being there was such an thrill, because how much work goes into to making it. It was different the clips that they had to do and film and so much goes into it and it is perfectionism because if the presenters can’t talk, the cameras not working it could all have been a disaster so again it is attention to detail and consistency.

So what do you want to focus on?

Focus on what result you want. Who could help you perfect a skill or if its your weekly routine you have been working on?

Dig deep and be honest. It was journaling that helped me put this is blog together and by journaling each day has really been a great. It has helped me to slow down and keep going. Writing a book is a hard process, because how I see it the readers will see it differently and its making it understandable, engaging and that they will read more books I write. All to down with perfectionism and tip you toe in the water to start and learn the craft that you want to perfect.

I do a radio show for the local hospital and its not just pressing buttons, but choosing songs that the patients or family of patients may be listening to and like. Making sure the last song fits in with the news and not cut half the song and playing the Promos and not playing the same songs, it is a whole process and you have to enjoy it and music that may be personal to people. I have made mistakes, but the more I do it the more I will perfect it and try different themes and what a song makes me feel when I hear it.

So having good attention to detail and consistency means you are a perfectionists and now as I become aware of the world as I grow in age, it is okay because its about using to build your skills and abilities and let work for you not against you.

You can Follow me on Pinterest aswell and X.

https://x.com/typical86285

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Life Coaching Blog: Lets get started with having a System

01 Friday May 2026

Posted by in Everyday living, having bad days, health and wellbeing, journal, life coaching blog, Living, Personal Development, Planning 2026, Positive Habits, Printables, Reflecting

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Hello! So it is the beginning of my Life Coaching programme Summer Project 2026 check out previous blog: Summer Project Introduction to My Yearly Programme Summer Project 2026 I included a worksheet which is free to download and print.

So to get started I suggest to create a plan. So I journal every morning and it helps me with my creativity and whilst I listen to an audiobook or music. Develop a playlist. I have one for podcasts, videos about writing as I have books out, for my different books and Parenting videos and so it is good for getting the mood to change and learn.

I train my brain everyday. I like to educate my mind and the first thing in the morning once my son has gone off to school.

So to make a change by going through the worksheet:

Good Systems:

Plan, Plan Plan = Have a good set up and create one that will help you focused on and inspire you to make a change. If there are particular things that you are interested in. #so start with developing a plan and do a list, but concentrate on one area or item at a time.

Ask for help, who can help you or what will help you So my husband always cleans the kitchen and the bathroom, so I will do the areas such as the windowsills, put m sons clothes away and my mum has helped with gardening.

Do you have a quiet time of the day or space you can plan? I love to use the sofa or my desk and in the garden.

Drink? Water, tea and Coffee. I am having a glass of juice each day for Vitamin C and especially in the summer life a fizzy drink but only have one and Zero Sugar.

Is there a time where you feel more energized? I like to work in the mornings and then chill in the afternoon and have time off such as the weekend.

I find spending time planning helps to reset, asking for help as we are not built to do everything and my husband loves to clean and only he is allowed to use the vacuum and the iron. This has helped me to function concentrate on other area so I can then move to onto others.

So sit down with a drink and lets make those changes.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Introduction to My Yearly Programme Summer Project 2026

29 Wednesday Apr 2026

Posted by in Celebrating, Everyday living, having bad days, health and wellbeing, Joural, life coaching blog, Living, Personal Development, Planning 2026, Summer Project

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Hello! It’s that time of year when I start sharing blogs about things I’ve done to feel good about myself and my life.

This is all about focusing on abundance and recognizing what’s working in your life.

Make one change at a time and concentrate on what’s important to you.

I have a free worksheet for you to download and print. If you want to stay updated on my posts for this program, please subscribe.

As you work through the worksheet, take time to reflect. I suggest journaling every day, like I do. You can get a smart journal or use an app to track your progress. Begin by focusing on one thing and keep using the worksheet. See Below.

This isn’t a test; it’s an opportunity to face your fears and improve your relationships with yourself and others.

The program will run from May 1, 2026, to August 14, 2026.

I invite you to join me in making positive changes to feel better about yourself and your life. Please share your thoughts in the comments on my blog. I’ll also create a board on Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/carriechallonerholmes/ and update my X account: https://x.com/typical86285.

Thank you for reading,

Carrie X

Worksheet:

Summer Project 2026Download

I Got the wrong train

15 Wednesday Apr 2026

Posted by in Everyday living, having bad days, health and wellbeing, Living, People, Personal Development, Positive Habits, Reflecting, Weekly posts

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Writing in my Journal I realised that okay I got on the wrong train, but in the end it was good timing, because if I had got on the right train to Epsom from Wimbledon I would have been waiting a long time to meet my mum and step dad, so it worked out well.

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I thought I’d got lucky getting on the train and realising it was going to Surbiton and not the route to Epsom. I do believe in God and so thought, great thanks god only to realise I should have waited but no, I thought smugly only to be taught a valuable lesson, not everything is about me being lucky as he has to look after others and who am I to be the one that gets lucky all the time?

I had felt that I’d make this mistake, so it was okay “So it was today” and shows that I wasn’t paying attention which when I say to Henry to pay attention, that I need to do so too and that I needed to have a taste of my own medicine.

I feel I have learned some real home truths this month (April 2026) that I can be the person that I dislike. Holding up my guard to much. A guy getting on the train and two boys today, I gave them a dirty look. Yet today I moved over when walking to the train station and the girl gave me a dirty look. So what you put out there you will receive back to see that I prejudged these people not knowing who they are and the images of what they could in some way harmful was just me being irrational and need to get a grip.

My laptop broke trying to download some random software to be able to post a vlog on Youtube. It gave me focus on enjoying my Easter Holidays and not be tied to my laptop. I was rude to someone in Tesco’s, I need to manage my anger and annoyance and today, stop being in a rush. Rushing causes mistakes and the true me is having patience and take my time.

I am polite and hate it when like today, I thought my coffee was ready when it was for someone else and the person who was the one that made the order, didn’t look happy but I didn’t take it and I made a mistake. I think we expect too much and people get things wrong. This is how we learn and I know the difference between a real annoyance to a minor, not on purpose, but a general mistake.

We are human and we should be more acceptable of each other and the mistakes we have made.

No one is perfect and I know I am not alone in getting on the wrong train and now will not worry if I miss a train. I had plenty of time so I needn’t have rushed.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

You Are Always Going To Have Hurdles

10 Friday Apr 2026

Posted by in Celebrating, Everyday living, having bad days, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal Development, Positive Habits, Weekly posts, Youtube videos

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So during the Easter holidays my laptop cut out and so I am using my husbands and I knew I was going to have a problem and I did. I was getting frustrated with a Youtube video Youtube video I had edited crashing using Clipchamp and its causes me so much trouble and so I downloaded some new software and I managed to get the video saved but it went dead and now I may have lostall my work, as I was working on a books and wished I could have undo, but no.

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However it has been a good Easter. One of the best and it made me take a break and focus on taking my son out, going on bus and train rides, played tennis and went to the Cinema twice and saw my niece in a show and its been really so much fun. So I didn’t allow it to ruin the fun and it has felt good not being online for a bit. I have posted on my Instagram which is under carriechalloner.

Life is not always a bundles of laughs, but humour can help. When I have felt low put something funny on. It can take the wind out of you but as you get older you can become resilient and still have fun. It made sure I wasn’t on my laptop all day and love going for walks and having a coffee out and my son loves the Cinema and I had not been feeling well but that didn’t stop me from having fun either.

I am going to take a break from vlogging and may not continue, I just feel that it is not working for me, but will still do videos but work on building my two Educational Youtube channels instead as I like doing sit down videos rather than vlogs.

It has made me revaluate and I have had to make changes. I’d rather work on my blogs, books and radio. I do a radio show for Epsom Hospital Radio.

That hasn’t been easy doing radio. I have to change the day I did my show because I was doing Sundays but it is now Fridays but they are so understanding and I was told about commitment when I was temping and I found a better job, nearer home and I went to talk to him and wasn’t going to allow the manager to make me feel rubbish and I had not done that before but I was no, your not going to talk to me like that and sometimes you do have to let people down.

I left him to get on with it and I am committed, but I got a better deal and it was a good move. I went to work for the International Tennis Federation and so, changing jobs, changing where you leave and marriage it is all challenging, but its often the universe telling you what is meant to be and what is not.

Hurdles teaches you, check out this blog the perfect day and they are a test to see how we react. I yesterday overacted and told my son “That how I reacted was wrong and so please listen, mummy shouldn’t have overreacted like that”. All that happened is a young guy put his roll on my till and slammed it onto the right one and felt so bad afterwards. I do have to be careful of my actions as I would be shocked and disappointed if Henry did that and if that had been Henry making that mistake and someone reacting like, I would have told that person off. People will make mistakes and so need to look at my own reflection sometimes and if you can recognise your negative behaviour can help you learn well the say “sorry that is the wrong till” and left it at that. He did say sorry but I could see the shock on the young guys face.

Any not the end of Easter just yet. So I hope you have had a good Easter so far and soon my Life Coaching programme Summer Project 2026 will be starting. More to be confirmed.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Can You Have the Perfect Day?

26 Thursday Mar 2026

Posted by in Everyday living, having bad days, Living, Personal Development, Planning 2026, Weekly posts

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It is good when everything works out, your home, your work and you feel good inside and on the outside, but there are days where everything just crashes down. Example: I dropped some stuffing granules on the floor, my son, me and his dad have not been well and you wish you could turn the clock back.

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Now though I feel that it has been good to just chill and just spend time looking after my sons health and mine and that everything else can wait and it was good to not to have to set an alarm and today I was booking things for the Easter Holidays and had shopping being delivered and had a coffee, a drive and took a shower before my son was due to come home from school, so now I do feel resilient now when unexpected happens, with us being unwell and still not 100% but just taking it one day at time.

I love spending time brainstorming ideas for my content and having nice dinners to suit how we feel. I love pub grub and so we had pie, mash and mixed vegetables and it was so nice. It’s like a big hug on a plate and then had a Dairy Milk Yogurt. Not something we have all the time but now and again and it is good to just set my mind on today, but coming up with ideas to grow my blogs and books and I took some time to format my book so it is ready to be published and so if it doesn’t go up this week it will be next week.

I feel now that no matter how much you try, your always going to have “One Of Those Days” so is it worth chucking the toys out the pram? It is good to have a cry. It does not mean your weak but I just find letting it all out can do wonders. I like to write in my journal, get some fresh air and be with nature.

You may find meditation helps, reading and listening to music. There are times I don’t want to cook but then I put on some Youtube and that gives me a push and it was such a nice dinner and so meals can be comforting. I love a good dinner and I like to have enjoyable and healthy dinners and make them fun.

Having a things in place that helps feel like, life is okay still, does wonders and distract the mood that we feel when we have a day that goes wrong and having a chat, popping round to a friends house and having a coffee. It’s simple things and doesn’t have to be anything that is strenuous, like listening to your mind and body and I love having a tidy up. When my son doesn’t want to go to school I find if I make him a breakfast he likes changes his mind and get ready without rushing and I like to take my time.

It is okay to say no. I loved it when I went clubbing but now I am and always been, a home body. No matter the day I will have a good evening and that is closing my laptop and watching the traitors at the moment and yesterday spent some time catching up on TV and it was good to just have that time away from the schedule.

So just have fun. It can make the day better and life is about experiences so why not go to the park now the days are getting lighter. Check out his blog: different experiences

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

It is Good to have different experiences

24 Tuesday Mar 2026

Posted by in Everyday living, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal Development, Planning 2026, Positive Habits, Weekly posts

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It can be a great to explore and it doesn’t have to be during the school holidays or your lifestyle. I watch the Traitors and in the programme there are a mixture of people and so never allow anything to hold you back.

Yet we do have the Easter Holidays and is a great time to hop on a bus which my son and I have done and we go to London, around Epsom and other places in surrey and last year we went to East Grinstead and stayed in a lodge on a farm and it was a nice trip. It was very hot though but just so good to get away.

This was a walk I did from Kingston to Richmond and love this type of walk and a great experience is going on different walks and good to do during the Spring and Summer or wrap up and still can do during Autumn and winter.

So it doesn’t even have to be far away. I have booked to take Henry to his second music festival as he loves the Proclaimers and experiences like that is a must. As a kid we would go camping near Newbury. The first time was turbulent as I wasn’t well, but then realised how much fun it was and we’d be with other families. They were people we would go to Menorca with and Chertsey in the Summer, on some Sunday’s and swim in the river there and was so much fun.

It is good to be away from the normal routine and have fun.

Get a group of you and do an assort course. It is so much fun. I was a bit of scaredy cat but I did some of it and we had a gathering afterwards and doing a running events. I did Race For Life, The Great North run,, London 10K and when word got around I was doing running and walking events I had people wanting to join me.

Following a sports team can be great fun. I followed the London Broncos from the age 14 and it was was a huge part of my life and was with. great people and great days out. I would travel home and away to matches and can be so much fun. Myself, my husband and Henry have gone to watch Leatherhead, Fulham and AFC Wimbledon play and even Chelsea and my mum and I were Members and I was a season ticket holder for a season and can be a great place to go for new friendships and its something different and I love when we go up to the Epsom Downs and visiting garden centres that often have things going on.

It is good to have something to look forward to. It good to have that time to just hang out and we would travel, by coach, train and even plane. I flew to France to watch a rugby match and took the ferry to Paris to see the London Broncos play. It is good to travel along the English Thames. I love going on the UberBoat to North Greenwich or there is a boat you can take from Richmond, Kingston to Hampton court. We are off to see the Red Roses again this year at Twickenham. They are the ladies England Rugby Union Team and even gone to watch American Football when we there was the London Monarchs and going to the races.

As a child I was a bit of a cry baby and was bullied and not saying that is an excuse to be bullied but I would cry a lot. I remember staying at one of my friends houses and I would cry because I needed the toilet. It was because I was scared of the dark but it nearly stopped me from staying at somebody else’s house because that would have driven me mad. I was a scaredy cat and frustrated my friend. Being terribly shy when at a birthday party and my son has been scared and cried when I took him to the library but this would be at 10 years old and yet when I went to Florida for the first time did a lot of rollercoasters and so I had to change because I didn’t want to be scared all of the time and enjoy different experiences.

Having different experiences helped. I love dancing school and was super shy and it built up my confidence. I was glad that I began to play football at school and have a hobby. Doing my radio show is an experience. A friend I know went to Vietnam on her own and my step sister did the walk along the Great Wall of China and a lady I worked with at an Advertising Agency left her well paid job to travel around the world. Going to work at a holiday camp was a great experience and after I got over my home sickness I stayed down there for about 5 years and met my husband and it is amazing what will come your way by doing different experiences and life is about building memories and just take on different opportunities.

I hope you find this blog helpful. I post all my blogs, vlogs and books on my Pinterest, X and Facebook:

Link for my Pinterest:

Social media:

https://www.facebook.com/typicallondongal/

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie