Pampas and Pearls

“You’re feeling burnt out and discouraged, but you’ve made it this far and I think that’s really brave.” — Unknown Burn out is something that we have all experienced and most likely will experience again. Burnout by definition is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion caused by stress. Recognising the signs of burnout is crucial in order to address it effectively.  You may include feeling overwhelmed, lack of motivation, irritability, and physical symptoms such as headaches or insomnia. To overcome burnout, it's essential that we prioritise self-care and set boundaries. This can involve taking breaks when needed, practicing mindfulness or meditation, getting regular exercise, and ensuring a healthy work-life balance. Seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional can also be beneficial.  It's okay to take a step back and prioritise your well-being. Setting boundaries in your life is crucial for maintaining your well-being and protecting your mental

'All relationships have one law. Never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you're there.'  - Unknown It's been two weeks since Valentine’s Day and during it I was reminded of the fact that I am quite single.  It had me so hyper focused on my singleness that I started to dislike the idea of being single. Media, people and just everything around me was filled with romantic stories and date ideas. Which was still nice to see but it was a reminder of me being alone. In between those posts came a shining light. One word ‘Galentine's’, it brightened my day! I forgot that Valentines doesn’t have be all about romantic relationships and it can be very much a celebration of your family and friendships. The people around you that make your life better. So that’s what I’ve been thinking about in the past week.  I've been able to take a good look at those around me and think about how much they add to my life. I literally wouldn't be the person I am without

"Take time to do what makes your soul happy."– Unknown We've said before that implementing self-care into our daily lives can be difficult. We have busy lives and often neglect ourselves until we feel completely dejected and a deep self-care session is needed. But taking small elements of the day and making them into self-care moments may just be the thing you're missing.  A few ways to create small moments of self-care consist of: That morning cup of Tea or Coffee Often we drink this while doing other things and don't really take too much notice of it but if we take the time to sit and appreciate the moment and slow down even for just a couple of moments this can re-centre our minds and help us feel at ease and calmer for the day ahead.   Makeup Doing my makeup every morning can often be a quick 'slap it on a go' but again taking care and slowing down while putting on your face can be one of those moments that can set you up for the day. Alternatively ta

"I love you very much, probably more than anybody could love another person."- 50 first dates Valentines is over but that doesn't mean we have to stop feeling romantic and cosy. In fact post Valentines is the perfect time to whack out a romantic film. The emotional come down from Valentines day can make us feel down and low in ourselves so giving yourself a little extra self-care can really make you feel better.  So with that in mind here are some well known and not so well known romantic films for a romantic self-care evening in: Pretty Woman- an absolute classic and one I can watch again and again. It contains so many iconic moments how could you not want to watch it as part of a self-care night in.  Grease- The OG of chic-flicks , If you don't know this word for word...why not? This literally is a great feel good film perfect for that mood boost post Valentines Legally Blonde- I discovered this film about 6 years ago and it most certainly changed my mood, now it ma

'I want Jake form Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80s movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason.'  - Olive Penderghast, Easy A Not doing anything for Valentine’s Day?  Whether you’ve got a partner to celebrate with, or you’re gonna have a Galentines. OR you’ll be spending it with yourself. No matter which choice, you can have a chill valentines in the comfort of your own home. You could order a meal or cook, but then the next best thing would be to pop on a romantic film to get yourself in the Valentines mood. Here are my top romance films that are perfect to get you in the feels:  1. Edward Scissorhands: such a cute, wholesome and pure romance. This one makes me cry, laugh and smile.  2 Howl’s Moving Castle: It’s a fantastical adventure that grips you. The love between Sophie and Howl is natural, pure and wholes

"We were both young when I first saw you"- Taylor Swift, Love Story. Date night often involves a higher cost and expectations. But honestly sometimes all you need is a giant Taco Bell order and an Xbox and you're good to go. It isn't really about what you do it's about who you are with, remove that expectation that you have to get all dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant (although it would be nice), and focus on who you are with.  The cost of living crisis is something that adds a little extra pressure to Valentines that year so that can weigh heavily on our minds and impact our wellbeing, so here are a few D.I.Y tips for Date Night that won't break the bank! A movie marathon! A favourite one? A Scary film? A sexy film maybe? Set the mood and grab those snacks. They will either all be devoured or discarded on the floor (if you catch my drift) But none the less it is a great way to spend an evening just the two of you. It can also be planned to fit your per

" To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance ." - Oscar Wilde It doesn’t take a lot to love yourself but it sure is one of the most important things you will ever do! You might not know how to love yourself, here are some things you can do to  give yourself a little love. • Take yourself out: Sometimes you just need to spend some time alone, you don’t have to be around people every single day. Instead you can balance it and make time for yourself. Whether that’s going to a restaurant alone or going to the cinema to watch a film that none of your friends might be interested in or going to a spa. Of course you don’t need to spend money either and take yourself on a walk to a park to enjoy the scenery. It’s a lovely little treat for you. • Exercise: This may not sound fun, but you can make it fun! There is quite nothing like the rewarding feeling you get after you complete a workout. It makes you happier and you’re taking care of yourself through this activity. This

"She's my friend because we both know what it's like for people to be jealous of us." — Cher Horowitz, Clueless Quite often our friends are like our family and safe the say that is the case for me. We are there for each other through thick and thin, the good the bad and the sometimes ugly. We don't tell each other what we WANT to hear but what we NEED to hear and I couldn't be more grateful. With that in mind and the universal theme of  February being love and relationships its only right that I start with the most important people in my life...and how you too can celebrate with your besties! Self-Care activities don't always have to be face masks and prosecco (although we will come to that later on) but can be things you as a group or pair like to do together and brings you joy and happiness.  The one thing that is quite universal is... Friends coffee date : Now this doesn't have to be to a large coffee chain it could be somewhere local. An independen