Hello and thank you so much for your feedback of the blogs I shared for my Autumn Reset, and it really has helped me get tasks finished and plan to do another in 2023.
I have put together a free printable for you to help you have a reset this Autumn and other ones to come.
This was so enjoyable to do and I am glad many of you liked the posts I shared, and I did manage to sort some areas out like going through my emails and using any spare time to go through and unsubscribe from services I no longer need, but with half term and getting my next book finished it was a lot of work,but glad I was able to have a good sort through and lead me to new positive habits, like each Sunday I will plan what I want to wear in the week and getting the most out of my clothes. Clear my laptop and do have a printable to go up for the Autumn Reset, but been on a course and so couldn’t complete, but going to continue with it and upload, once ready and can still use it as I do a weekly reset, mainly on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays.
I want to do more projects and for Winter I am planning a Winter Wellness Project to give tips on Managing Your Life in the winter as I can often feel slumped because of the reduction of day light, and so this will be coming soon. I will say more next week.
It is all about looking at your mind, body and soul.
Making gradual steps is what works for me and will help me set up new goals for myself and getting ready for the festive season and going to do some gift guides, but minimising my spending and remember that is not able cost but being with family and creating happy memories, and I know we are all feeling worried because of the prices on things are increasing, but you don’t need to spend a fortune in celebrating Christmas and forget the worries for one day and have friends and family bring food over so it is a joint effort and enjoy the festive cheer, without having to organize on your own, and ease the anxiety on the cost of things and not have a Christmas.
Life is not all about money it is more to do with time. If you make a gift or make a card with scrap paper with nice message is still a thoughtful gift and use what items you have in your possession unused that someone else would like. Doing a reset helps to see what ways you can change things in your life, and giving gifts can be one of them. Do a reset on money, can really help reduce spending and now I keep note again and check my account throughout the week and seeing what I can reduce, to save and invest in my life, of items that really mean something to me, such as clothing I like to wear all through the year and not just for the colder or summer season, and on skincare because I like to try different products and like to treatment me to some gift sets that will last all year and will save my money on festive drinks I like to have, like Advocate and Lemonade, which is called a Snowball.
Have what you like but save for those special occasions and have a back up fund, for those days you need an extra bit of cash, and one thing you can do to do a reset is to set a financial plan to budget and save for those items we want each year and any amount you can save do it.
I have limited myself to not spend money on coffees out and use my instant coffee. I now have a discount card on travel because I travel a lot to look after my son when he returns home from school, and if you are on Universal credit you can get money off on travelling on buses and trams.
I have begun limiting my spending on clothes, and buy what I need. like I live in Leggins most of the time because of be active with walking a lot and playing sports with my son, and so I replace them but limit myself on pairs, but enough that I can work continuously and make sure they wash well, as some can lose their shape.
So I am not going to get ready for the week ahead, and will blog again in a few days.
Living in the city, it can be very noisy and you can get sucked in the city way of life. This is rushing and not taking anything in, but the noise of the city.
Today I edited a new Autumn Reset video and going to upload this tonight, this is now up: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDFIqjVKLy7NhtcR6Hy0Tg and sometimes you just need to take mini steps, which is part of having a reset as we often can’t take it easy with running errands.
If you can take yourself away from it, then do. I travel to and from Epsom, and walking along the common can be peaceful and sitting near a pond, even like the Serpentine in Hyde Park can make all the difference and when I am near water, I instantly feel so much better and helps stop the noise that can disrupt us and good to take some time away from the busy streets.
I like to read a book in the park and have a nice coffee whilst sitting by the river. I like listening to podcasts when waiting for my son to return home from school, and then listen to my music whilst on the bus and just helping my anxiousness that I get each day, and taking in what is around me rather than rushing around and not noticing anything.
Seeing it from my son’s eyes has made me look around me and watching planes flying over watching other parents with their kids and just chilling, whilst others are rushing around, I just need that peace and quiet. So I make sure I give myself that time, as it helps ease the mind and stop feeling overwhelmed.
I like to begin with Thank you all for reading and liking my blogs on this site and my others, and it really helps me to see that my blogs are reaching out to you, and getting the message, that we are all worth a life filled with possibility. Even when I am having a bad day I still can have a positive mindset , and today travelling on a bus there were school girls just being disruptive, and felt “No I am not going to allow them to effect my journey”, and yes I was imagining myself saying negative things to them, but know better not too as why should I be driven in by their negative behaviour and if we learn to help our emotions and feelings, can still be a help to learn to grow even more to have a happier life.
It is like building a forte and a wall around you, that you aren’t going to allow bad things happening around you to, allow the negative thoughts and listen to them, and addressing them.
Dealing with Mental health can be challenging, because with having psychosis, and it has taken a lot to say yes I have this, because of judgement by others. It can trigger negative thoughts, and lash out, but know this won’t fix the issue that is happening around me, like those girls on the bus, and wants you know how to control it and manage your mental health can help things like that effect your growth with mental health.
We all have the strength to build ourselves and have a life full of joy and happiness, never allow your Mental health stop you from doing the things that you love and helps you gain a sense of control and learning about your mind. Once you learn about your mind and what it says to you, the more you can get a hold of it and seek the right support, as I have needed that and go through what you instantly feel to someone who understands.
When I was in a Mental Health hospital last year, it made me learn more about it, and I think often we think we are going to loose your mind even more, and I know there hasn’t been good press for Mental Health hospitals, and I went down hill, because I was changed to a new medication and of a high dosage and couldn’t move and had to be aided when it came to having a shower and using the loo, and I had the shakes, but it was rectified. When my nurse, as you get your own, saw this she and instantly gave me a lower dosage and another medication to counteract with that other medication. I was in two hospital as the other needed the room for another patient, I was transferred but glad I did as the doctor there was brilliant and within 4 days I was back to myself and got back on my feet.
I came out of it and you have to be strong and for me it helps me get back to a good mind and shown me how strong I am and how others can be too, and so if you are struggling with your mental health never stay quiet and get help, as there is no miracle that can cure you unfortunately but get the right support you need, and honestly I will never allow it to build up ever again and neither should you.
It can be hard, but you know in order to make changes in life, there are things that need to be rid of, and if they just gathering dust and no longer make you feel good then it is time to give them to a new home, like clothes or books you are never going to read again.
This can cause anxiety because you need stuff in your life to feel fulfilled and that to me is fine, but if it makes you feel low and feels like an eye sore, then it is time to let it go. There may be items that have sentimental value but if they don’t fit anywhere, for me that is a sign that some items need replacing, and something else to replace it.
Example I used to collect T-Pots and had loads, but I moved into a new home with my husband back then and it was time to let them go. It was a hard decision but it felt right and had no more a place for me. It helped start a fresh chapter and time to focus on living and building myself as I was looking to a new job, so it was time. That need replaced my need t collect stuff.
As I have gotten older it has become easier and so this week concentrated on sorting my clothes out, and then going to work on paperwork. I find paperwork can build and build so it is time to have a sort through to have a clearer space and feel I need to get this done to allow other documents that have replaced other documents and go through what is a requirement and what is not.
I keep my writing because of fear of someone else writing the same thing and it is proof that I wrote it, and I hope noone would, with the internet you never know who could steal my work, so it is safety net of just in case. Also like to look back on my writing because how far it has come and go back on passed ideas that I may want to re-write.
I am a stuff girl and so I have to be disciplined and realistic. Do I have a place for it all? and no so going to keep going through what is still present in my life and what is not, to downsize and have more space.
Thank you for following me on my Autumn Reset journey and lets work together.
I am still doing my challenges, so this month September through to October I am doing a reset and going through my routine to see if it can be better, as hate it when it feels like Groundhog and I have published a new video talking about how it is not about Materialistic things, and so check this out along with my newsletter linked above.
Its about getting projects finished, including newsletter that was on my list and so see above, but want my new book finished and published and finish my Autumn Reset printable I am putting together too, so again I will once it is finished link it to my blog and on my main Youtube channel.
Like I said I do have another two youtube channels, blogs, and I am on social media and check out my Pinterest and have written books, on amazon under the names, Carrie Challoner, Carrie Lee Holmes and Carrie Holmes. I am going to list all my books at some point to amazon, so will let you know once that is done.
Checkout all the links below of where you can find my content that I post each week and month.
Today I have a few videos to be edited and uploaded, yet right now I don’t feel like it. Not because I don’t like the videos, because I do. It is about “Will my laptop shut down when I try?” as it is a bit temperamental and feel like I want a day off, which once I can get into the right mindset I know I will get it done.
I tend to feel like this each morning because of self doubt of “Am I capable?”. It is only a video some may say but for me it is the process of listening to myself that stops me in my tracks to ask “Is it good enough?”, “Will people like it?”. Imposter syndrome is very common and I feel it a lot at times, and have to remind myself that “I am good enough” and “I am worth it”, but I find it so hard to say because of how much others are doing compared to me.
That needs to stop I know so I allow myself to get bits done but with a break and as I get through the morning feel better, because I know this is just a habit I have got myself in and can be detoured by just acting not thinking.
The more I think about it the more I resist it, so I just need to “Bite the bullet” and get it done, and that is the answer. No more dwelling but doing.
So lets take action today. Do you ever feel like this? Leave a comment below.
Hello it September 2022 and it has taken a few days to get over the events of the Queens passing as it was so amazing to see so many people paying their respects and when it comes to a loss of someone it can take a while to readjust and it was such a historic event that kids will be able to tell their kids one day of the last ten days.
Now it is time to get back to normality and so getting bits done and today I have really had to push myself as I am struggling with my energy levels and been gradually getting bits done but at a steady pace and that the key is “Not to stress over what I needs to be done”, and do it because you want to. It is a bad habit to fall into as when we rush we aren’t using our full potential. It can make us even more unmotivated, and make mistakes, so this morning I have been filming as filming in the mornings works better for me and I don’t always wear make up, but I want my videos to be about me and that is what it is, it’s showing parts of my life that may inspired others, but finding what works for them, using my methods of getting parts of your life sorted out.
I separate my time by doing some work in the mornings and in the evenings and it really is a system to manage what I need to do. Doing a Autumn Reset means Managing your life but for me it has to be “One area at a time”. I can’t do it for my sanity “All at once”. So for example this week I have been filming some videos that were due and wanted to get done, I have been going through my financial goals, then writing this blog post and will be working on my other blog sites and get my Autumn Reset Printable completed to post and work on this months newsletter and then work on my emails.
I have no posh system. I use my diary from TK Maxx, a notebook from the store The Works, One Note and Notion to manage my life. I use a teacher planner for my son Henry to help with managing his life to help keep track of dates and what he had for dinner, what he has been doing and just keeping track, to help him and me. It is have “A I can do it system” and now I have started to feel a live and so gonna use it to manage my life and listen to music, and “Be comfortable”.
When it comes to doing a Reset it is clearing out the feelings you have as you move from Summer to Autumn, get rid of negative thoughts and welcoming a new change of weather and time. Getting up the dark and going home in the dark, can have an impact on our feelings, so to help with this is to get to alter your way of thinking, by making changes to it.
Use a SAD light, as getting up when it is dark and make us more prone to put our alarms on snooze and so getting a SAD light still make you feel more awake if you suffer with SAD, or for me I use m little lamp to help me become awake and I set my alarm earlier to help me awake better. Cold showers can help too and go for a run or walk if you can in the morning wake us up also.
Have a daily ritual where by in the mornings you have a drink, have your clothes ready to put on and your croissant, anything that helps you to function through from the morning to the evening, where you wind down ready for bed.
Set out your day. I plan the night before and use my weekly block schedule I showed in a previous blog, where I have set different task for each day to help what been done, going to do next and what to do after those tasks have been completed.
Change your home. A lot of people, watching Youtube mainly, change their homes for the Autumn and winter, and when I do get a new home of my own again, will be something I will be doing, and it can really help prepare and enjoy each season through the changes you have been making in your home.
Spend time getting extra rest. Doing the school runs, fitting in some writing and making a meal for each day can be tiring so set a time to have some extra rest.
Go for a family walk. If you don’t get time to spend time as a family then set time. Like the weekends to go on a autumn or winter walk, and why not pop in a coffee shop together and have coffee and and walk regularly.
Remember to have a good weekend meal. I love Autumn as it can be a great time to have a traditional Sunday Roast and so why not make one whilst watching a good Sunday and Autumnal movie, followed by a nice tea in the evening whilst watching a good Sunday Drama on the TV or Netflix.
It is so good to try these ways to get used to a different season again, and make the most of each day and create more happiness in your everyday life going with the changes of the seasons.
First of all thank you for those that have started following me on this blog, it really means a lot honestly.
There have been some changes happening here in the UK, and I bet you can guess why, because the Queen Elizabeth II has died and it been a real adjustment, but life does have to carry on and so in this blog I am talking about is Letting things go.
First of all it is good to have sentimental things, because of the memories they hold, but if it just in a draw with other stuff then it is time to make a decision about it. If it a photo, a keyring or a stone, display it, don’t hide it. Put it somewhere safe and the one thing I have done is kept a memory box. I used a paper bag of items my son had as a baby and I love having photo albums. It is good to look back and reflect.
Do you need to keep copies of items? It depends what it is. How many photos that are the same worth keeping? It all depends on the value of them, personally. What memories are stored in the photo and does it give you joy or make you sad?
Does the photo or what ever it may be, mark an anniversary that means the world to you and does it reach your heart? Does it help you to keep in contact with those that have passed on, and help you to grieve? I bet the Queen found it hard to let things go, having such a history of Queens and Kings before her, and now King Charles III will be making those choices, I bet he dare move anything, because of the Royal Family’s history. I know they display the Queens dresses I think it was at the V&A and became part of her legacy.
So, it can be being ruthless and giving yourself tough love and be honest about the different areas of your life.
Have a maybe section and have a keep sake box. I have done this and used a folder to keep cards that meant a lot and when I got married, when my son was born. I used a paper bag to keep his teether Suzy and a birthday card. I keep my medals that I got doing fundraising events and runs and walks, and they really mark a change in my life where I was trying to raise money for charity and deal with my self confidence, and so rewarding and makes me feel proud of myself.
It can be a letters. I used to have penfriends and kept on the letters, not sure as to where these are now but I kept them in a shoe box and lost touch, but again create a keepsake box and I do often wonder if they did the same. When my nan passed away we found the letters my grandad wrote to my nan during the war and were so lovely that my mum I think still has them or my Uncle may have them, but marked a era and made us see how ever much my nan and grandad would disagree they deeply loved each other and marked the war, and thinking of these letters helps me to keep in touch of my grandparents.
So it is time for me to end the day, but lets keep doing the reset and have a fresh new start to our lives.