Here is my monthly newsletter and this newsletter is all about the Summer Holidays and giving tips on what to do during the six weeks to have plenty of fun on a budget and for those rainy days.
Tomorrow I am off to the seaside to meet up with some friends, and for them to meet our son, who they haven’t met him yet and so no matter what the weather I am still going to make sure it is enjoyable and good to catch up with friends we don’t always get to see and being near the sea always helps to balance my mood and feel calm.
So yesterday was a day where some people were just being rude and reckless. First of all I let some guy pass me with his dog and got no thank you or acknowledgement, then a car pulled up close to the bus on the way home making the bus do a sudden stop, and then getting on the other bus I have to get on to go home, this person who got of the other bus aswell and get on the other decided to jump in front of me. This really annoyed me in that it did effect my mood. I made it clear to this guy that I wasn’t happy with what he had done and think of all the bad things I could do to make my case to him even more, but then thought to myself, “What would that achieve?”
There are always going to be people who will test you, and like that guy getting on the bus, he won’t change, there will always be those who push in, and I found now that I get a bit like that too and push in front, but then I will rein myself in and wait. At the end of the day never allow others people’s actions rub off on you as it reminds me that I will give up my seat whenever other people won’t and will acknowledge other people who have waited for the bus before me. I am not a saint but I do believe that if you do good for people you will get rewarded and it just makes the world a better place to live.
When it comes to being a good citizen is to not to allow others bad habits rub off on you and show especially when you have kids how to behave even when someone has been unkind and what is the right thing. I have over reacted on some occasions, for example when I thought I had left Henry’s water bottle at his swimming class had to go back and a women had a go at me for having the door open to the outside and so I said “Have you never forgotten anything?” and called her a horrible person and then started to get super angry.
This effected me in thinking will I ever reach my dreams because of that incident, but actually makes me more determined and if she wants to be unkind then let her be and the best thing is to learn about what not to do and how to be if someone I see has forgotten something and would help them find it, rather than be rude because they have the door open for a second.
I will keep being good to others and not allow people who are unkind effect my habits towards others it just leads down the wrong road and can escalate to not wanting to go out and having a good day Working in a call centre was tough as you did get people calling you names on the phone and be rude from the moment you have picked up the call, and so you had to hold yourself together and not to take it personally. Yet I would go home feeling my blood boiling and take my mood out on my husband and it would effect his mood and this became a habit, and made me feel that my life isn’t going anywhere, when that wasn’t true It was actually motivating me to be stronger and learn how to help people that aren’t so nice. This would make me feel also “Stop being nice” but then would ask “What would that Achieve?” I like being kind to others, and not all calls were bad some just needed help and would be happy, so it wasn’t that bad and helped me be better socially and would respect those when I called a call centre be kinda and politer, and not allow others bad habits of behaviour affect me in chasing my dreams and move on in my life.
So don’t allow other people’s actions cause you to think there is no other life out there, but use these challenges to help you to conquer your dreams even more.
Hi yes it is that time of the month again where I share what I have been up to and what is coming up in my content. If you didn’t know I am a mum and this month been writing blogs on this site and creating videos on my Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal)
So here it is, and I hope you like the new look and that you enjoy reading my other ones for this year, I love putting these together and sharing what I have been up to and what is to come, and your response to my blogs and videos means the world.
You can reduce clutter from all areas of your life, like your computer/laptop, the kitchen, wardrobe, draws and cupboards and set a date of when you plan to do this and stick with it and start with one area at a time.
Living with clutter can be too much and we dread going back to the mess, and so if you want to clear it do it step by step and if you have someone to help you, take advantage and delegate.
I like having a sort through and do a weekly reset, where I will put my clothes away and quickly go through and take anything out that is worn and that you have no use for anymore and taking such steps can really help your wellbeing and I did a whole reset and had a complete sort through of my stuff and once I saw the clear space I had, made me feel relieved and so much better.
Clutter can build and build and so set it all out from the area you have chosen first to sort out and be realistic in making the choice to keep it or go. I am conscious of landfill and so if it is in a good condition like a piece of equipment, interior or furniture and clothes, donate and or sell. I know many people sell items on Facebook so check that out.
Set up a plan and challenge yourself to clear one items a day, or area.
I hope you find this useful and never fear, if I can declutter so can you.
So if you didn’t see my last blog then I am taking on a new challenge for January and that is no spend. This is from and idea I got from watching a Kate Kaden, and not because she is doing it, it’s because I do want to control myself when it comes to money and focusing what I need rather than what I want.
If you’d like to see more of my videos that I do each week then please subscribe on my channel as I love reaching out to you all.
Please check out first vide on Youtube here:
I really you enjoy watching and there will be more to come.
Tomorrow it is the last day of my Life Coaching programme “The Summer Project 2022”, and managed to fit a new video, check it out here: https://youtu.be/PAl0RT4OUSY
Image I took of my son’s and I trip into London School Summer Holidays 2022
Thank you for all the likes and follows, it really means the world to me. I can’t believe this week of the School summer holidays and I have had so much fun, and it be back in the routine of school and my routine changes, in that I work in the morning, and I have new programme beginning, which is the “Autumn Reset 2022” and is all about resetting your life for a better Autumn and get back into the winter time zone and when the nights get dark early.
This will run as of the beginning of September to the end of October and will be getting back into colder days and nights. It is good to get ready for it, and time for birthday planning and Christmas. It stuns me how close it is and feel a little bit anxious knowing it is leading close by and so be thinking about cards and gifts.
I will be doing gift guide videos and will be prepping for the festive cheer and setting more challenges for myself and going to have a more fun this year. I no longer want to be a humbug, even though many of us will be struggling with the price of things and many family scrimping and scrapping, and so it means lowering the budget but still have a good time.
I find it makes me want to be a bit inventive and not buy the same thing, in terms of presents and will be doing all I can to reach out to you in helping you get through the Winter slump.
So, I am going to enjoy this last week and then will be having a revamp of my life and getting rid of items I no longer need but may be for someone else, and sensible about where my money is going too.
It is all about making the most of what you have and how you can save without living for each paycheck.
Do you feel sometimes that life is full of errands, like doing laundry, cleaning, checking my finances, packing for the school holidays and on emails, that you avoid these tasks?
Yes my hands are up, and I think its because we build too much of hard expectation of ourselves and it usually because we are pleasing others in doing so. I mean we pay our debts because we began not to care anymore about where it is going, and have a load of books still to be returned to the library, but know we are pissing off the bank we are debt with, and return our books to stop the library being annoyed with us and avoid visiting, and not because we actually want to be these things off.
Of course these things need to be done, because of our own insanity and we don’t want these things hanging around our heads, growing and know we want them to be gone. You feel begrudging about the bills you have to pay. So what is the answer?
Well do we want to be debt for the rest of our lives and still have those library books? Of course not and so set a date and each day go through what will help face them to get them done. Create a plan and a goal.
I have used a bit of paper on my wall and set myself a target of paying off my credit card and plan my finances of what needs to come out and what I want to come out. I also go through where I can save money, by going to parks which are free to use, not always having a coffee out and if it a store I use of the time do they have points cards that would lower the amount you pay, like Boots for example I love their points system and use the points I build up on items from their stores.
I enjoy setting myself goals and I do it bit by bit, rather than all in one go.
Invest in what you want and not what you don’t. Go through the things in your life that makes you avoid errands and can you delegate? I am no good at making beds, but I do it because it does help set up my day, but if someone offers, of course I am not going to say no. and the same with having a reset each week. I find that I avoid them because I make them bigger than what they are, rather than seeing that it is not a hard task. Example: Worried about getting up to London and not being up there on time.
So I packed my bag the night before, saw a cash machine on route yesterday as took my son to Wimbledon park, and withdrew some cash and checked the trains the night before and then in the morning, set an alarm and just prepared myself.
Separate errands into sections, and think about how you will feel once the task is done and what it will lead to. I know when I complete tasks I feel a buzzed and that the preparation is the the key.
So don’t avoid get them done, do them but then reward yourself, very important and then go onto the things you want to do and do one together. Example when I have written a blog, I reward myself with watching a video, which is what I want to do, because I love writing blogs, but often will be my own worst critic and editing it can be a process, but I feel really good afterwards and so will then watch a bit of TV, what I want to do. If someone could in help me with editing I would be truly thankful.
It’s all about balance and not getting left behind, as this can be a factor, the time you have.
So break things down, prep and break each task down so its not such a burden to get the errands we plan done and make it enjoyable, example when I write I may listen to a podcast or music, with a cup of tea or coffee, have the window open and wear a favourites T-Shirt, anything that helps boost your enthusiasm to get errands completed so you and focus on the want items.
It is all about living life and making the most of it, why we have it.
Hello this another Life Coaching video as part of my Life Coaching programme, “2022 Project”, helping you to have a happier life and a year.
To get to grips with your life, it is good to be strong and guided. This time last year I was in a Mental Health hospital and wished I had known about these places as I would have checked myself in, as like many I found the lockdowns we had, was effecting my mental health, by not being able to go out and explore, and I love walking and visiting different places, but due to Lockdown I couldn’t.
Develop your understanding of what is good in your life and why and what is not, and do you want to be good or the bad?
Never Promise if you can’t deliver, because there is such a thing as false promises and when we don’t follow through we feel failure. Doing is better than promising.
Develop a life that is personal to you. So now I am back walking again, long distances and as soon as I see people running, I feel I am not doing enough, yet walking is just as good and so don’t do things just because of other people but what will benefit you
Get in touch with your spirituality. I have had a tough nine years where I allowed my mental health dictate my life and not getting in touch with myself and so began praying again, because, for me that helps and I listen to my soul and gut rather than my heart and mind
Stop comparing. I should hold a reward for this because I am guilty as sin. I have learnt and I do what suits me and love myself, rather than looking at someone else and feel inadequate
Creating different systems. This came from watching Mel Robbins Reset, check it out, and if you want to remember something like a pair of shoes for walking, I put them out so I can slip them on and go. Being a parent I would make sure I had items I could grab and go, as hate forgetting. Sorry what was that, I said, I don’t like forgetting, so leave items in full view so I know I will remember
Create good patterns. I now make sure I set an alarm in the mornings, to make sure I have a good sleep pattern, as 4 hours sleep which I used to sleep for, did me no good and so I now go to bed between 8 and 9pm and wake up by 8:30am. I don’t have lunch until I go over to my son’s house to wait for him to return from school and stops me snacking and I love reading my book whilst travelling, as i learn a lot this way
Give back what others have given you. I do this by thanking the bus driver for taking me safely to my last stop, I will buy nice cards and presents for family and what I do need to do is remember to write thank you cards, as I always forget and so will make an effort to do this, and feeling bad from not doing so.
Get rid of anger by making changes in your life. Example hating your job, and feel you don’t connect with the people you work with. Look for a new place to work that has a better atmosphere. I had jobs like this, when working for a computer company, and there was a lot of back stabbing and felt so uncomfortable so I left, and followed my dream to work at a Holiday camp and finally got the chance, to leave my old life in London and Surrey for the south coast and was a brilliant experience.
Make yourself be heard, Staying silent never helps and so set boundaries, making it clear of what they are. and stand your ground. This is not contradicting number 9, as you can do this to prevent anger, but just sitting and talking to people and teach others to do the same. Sitting having a conversation about what upsets us, rather than a shouting match.
It is all about keeping your head held high and to realise your value, and that you have a part to play in this world just like everyone else.
There will always be events in our lives we have no control over like today in London there was a bus crash and I travel by bus most days, and it questions “Is life worth living when it can be soon be taken?”
I watched a video of Meat Loaf his last ones he made before he died, and in it he was already planning his future and see that even when life can be fragile it can also be a huge lift of “I need to live my life now”
Often we can feel like the world is on our shoulders and that there is no where to go that will lift you out of the feeling of “Is this really my life?” and so we get stuck in that bubble, but you can feel good about your life by making gradual steps, like changing your daily routine and get away from the norm that comes to life.
I remember once when it was my friends birthday and was on a Tuesday, but we met knowing we had work the next day, but we got into a huddle and went clubbing and was such a good night, so doing something to your norm can bring back the life in you. The next day after that Tuesday though, I didn’t go into work and slept in, which I would not promote, but doing the everyday routine can bring us down, and wanting a bit of a change from what you do every single day can make a huge difference to your wellness and health, in terms of how you wake up the next day and want to have more days and nights to do one thing different that you don’t always do. Like when I was up in London would arrange a meet up with friends last minute and staying over at a friends afterwards unplanned.
Never stop planning life and if you fancy meeting someone for an afternoon tea for example then save up, set a date and contact to see who will be able to go with you and have that luxury. It is something I really want to do again and so going to schedule it for it to happen.
I am really want to go and watch a football match again, with my son and have it in my planner on OneNote to have this booked and wanted to take Henry to another show and we are, we are going to see a play about the Gingerman at the Polka Theatre who do a lot of shows for kids and would recommend, oh I am not sponsored them but if someone who works there would like me to, I would say yes definitely.
Life can be full of surprises and if you are fed up in doing the same thing over and over again it can be boring and that is where it can lead you to feel negative about life. I love having things to look forward and it breaks up the days and weeks to come.
I write blogs everyweek and many things planned. If you like to see my first Newsletter I did starting this month, please click the file linked below:
I also have three Youtube channels and you kind find a lot of my content on Pinterest, plus I am on social media and so see all the links below, and I have written many books and these can be found on Amazon.com under the names Carrie Challoner, Carrie Lee Holmes and Carrie Holmes.
Hello! This blog has been prewritten for Sunday, as I don’t post any live blogs on this day, and in this blog I am talking about Taking time out to practice kindness that can be so rewarding and empowering, and it is a simple as holding the door for someone, or dedicating a blog post to someone and I want to praise people like Lenny Henry who with Bob Geldoff came up with Comic Relief and raising money for kids in Africa and then in the UK.
We do need to protect and building up the next generation and I am concisous of myself of how sometimes I have taken other people for granted that now I have grown and realised no that’s not me.
I do common courtesy and it has been enbedded for me so I do like I drink water, and supporting those that have fallen then built their lives up that has inspired me like Tony Robbins and Rod Stewart with his music.
No one likes a door shut in their faces and that does happen but that teaches you how not to be.
Sending a card every month to a relative or friend to check in on them and now social distancing is being removed slightly we will be able to visit our friends and relatives on their own.
Organize a gathering and do the Tea and Cake afternoons with Murie Curie Cancer or Dementia and if it is birthday and sunny why to arrange a BBQ for those friends you haven’t seen for ages to raise money for charity.
Visit a Charity shop as I love doing this as it is amazing on what you can find. Buy books for someone for their birthday and arrange a book club to raise money for good causes.
Anything that helps those in greater need than ourselves. Do a Fundraising walk or run and have celebration of a small gathering to reward yourself. It is all empowering and can make such a difference.
Create a project like I have done this year, doing my Project 2021 which I turned into an online course:
Everyone can build a castle 