Creating Calm, Connection and Confidence by Kim Dunn | Health & wellness website

Creating Calm, Connection and Confidence by Kim Dunn

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24.01.2022 How did you start your day this morning? Right now do you know what you need most? For many years, when my children were younger my routine depended on other people. ... Mainly other little people. Now I get to create my own. How powerful and amazing is that. Normally I wake up, make a coffee, open the blinds, look out at the garden my parents planted for one of my birthdays and journal at the kitchen table. Now journaling is just a fancy way of saying write stuff down, and there are many variations on this. - You could use a prompt - You can use it as a self-care check in tool, and specifically ask yourself ‘what do I need today’? - You can use it as a braindump and just write down whatever comes into your head. - You can reflect on yesterday or plan for today. After journaling I will usually eat my breakfast and then start the day. This is a simple thing but looking at the garden helps me feel connected with my parents (who I haven’t seen since March due to COVID19 lockdown), and journalling increases my connection with myself. Your morning routine may look similar or totally different. The important thing is it works for you. This luxury of a morning routine just for me, is relatively recent, as my children are now older and self-sufficient . But I know what it’s like to not have this luxury. So a tip for those of you whose morning is not your own, there are many micro routines you can choose for yourself. For example, a deep breath as you sit on the side of the bed before getting up; a personal mantra you can repeat in your head; or choosing to be fully in the moment with whatever chaos is happening in your house. If you would like some guidance to create your own morning routine, reach out I would be happy to help you. Until next time, take care of yourself Kim

24.01.2022 This is my latest blog about Going Back to School. Although it is a positive step in getting back to COVID normal, it is still a difficult and stressful readjustment for many children.

23.01.2022 MYTH BUSTING - MOTIVATION If I could just feel more motivated I would be able to achieve more/look after myself better / (insert your own saying). . Motivation can be defined as an internal process that directs and maintains behaviour. ... It is thought to be what causes you to move towards your goals. How many times have you said I’m unmotivated? Which translated means I don’t feel like doing it. I’ll let you in on a secret, you may not know - Your brain sees change as scarey. Anything that disturbs your environment and is different, your brain processes as a potential threat. It then takes mental energy to work out whether it is a threat or not. So let’s say you start with a great idea that you would love to change your life so that you were braver, calmer, fitter, healthier. You can see yourself and all that you’d be doing when you achieve that goal. And that involves change. Changing your mindset, changing your schedule, changing up your habits. So, is your brain going to take all this change lying down? NO. As much as you stand there encouraging your brain we can do this, we’ve got this, let’s go it ain’t going to come easily. (imagine a toddler, in the supermarket aisle, not wanting to move). So, what do you do? You need a bridge. A well constructed bridge to take you from here (frazzled, overwhelmed, exhausted) to there (in control, calmer, confident). I can tell you one thing that bridge is not going to be motivation. It may have some motivation in there but to work it’s going to need structure, processes, knowing how to create habits that stick, knowing what obstacles are going to pop up and what to do about them, support from friends, family and/or an accountability buddy, a clear understanding of why this change is important to YOU, an understanding of the change process and self-compassion. This is why when I teach people how to improve their mental health to get from here to there it’s not just one session on motivation, dust my hands and say ‘you’ve got this’, and walk away. NO. I provide education, understanding, structure and fierce support. Improving your mental health requires a considered structured approach. It takes your time, your open mindedness and your commitment. So ask yourself. What is important to you? What really matters? Give yourself permission to invest in yourself and get support to create the bridge. Until next time, take care of yourself, Kim xx

18.01.2022 My number one tip for reducing Christmas stress

14.01.2022 Early Friday knock off

14.01.2022 In this episode I explore expectations and confidence around Christmas and reducing Christmas Stress. What is on your 'should do' list and what is on your 'wan...t to do' list? Do they overlap at all? And what to do about it. What happens when you simple observe and notice all the expectations and it feels to have them? Look at them again. Where have they come from? Are they necessary, important, do they enhance Christmas time? You can see the ‘shoulds’ and ‘have tos’ for what they really are; they aren’t rules by which you have to live by, they aren’t absolute truths, they are just thoughts your mind is holding on to. By seeing this you can you can choose to let go of expectations that have no meaning or satisfaction for you. And knowing this you can choose. You can choose to participate in activities leading up to Christmas that you value. That bring joy to your heart and that of your family. You can choose activities that focus on kindness, gratitude, togetherness. You don’t need to be religious to tap into the good will that exists at this time of the year, where most people are actually actively trying to make other people happy. There is a lot of freedom that comes with being an adult and having so many choices to make. We might feel the heavy weight of expectations, but when we lose that weight it is not just freeing, it also exposes us and makes it vulnerable. I think that is one reason why treading your own path at Christmas, in line with your values and not others expectations, is so difficult, but for you, it might be the path to your Christmas calm, connection and confidence.

10.01.2022 Two years ago I did a live blog everyday for mental health. I’ll give you a hint- not a lot as changed on what we know works. So I’ll share a couple and if you want to see more simply go to the Positive Young Minds page and check out the videos tab

10.01.2022 Breakfast of Champions

06.01.2022 Do you have children anxious about going back to face to face school? I’ve created this workbook with some questions you can talk to your child about. And then a bonus page with suggestions to help your child regulate their emotions. Simply follow this link https://positiveyoungminds.vipmembervault.com//cou/view/20 to download your workbook.

06.01.2022 Me after meditating. What a difference a few minutes can make . Next time I’ll do a before and after! . . . .... . #mindfulness #mindfulnesspractice #mindfulnessmeditation #mindfulnessmatters #themindfulway #whymeditate #yourfiercesupport #innercalm See more

06.01.2022 Helping your kids get back into school routine

06.01.2022 It’s World Mental Health Day. So here’s a question for you. What does mental health mean to you?It’s World Mental Health Day. So here’s a question for you. What does mental health mean to you?

04.01.2022 Creating order is one thing that helps me feel calmer. Even a little bit of order in my often chaotic home

04.01.2022 When you need to Take 5 and Take these five. Combining awareness, breathing, acceptance, mindfulness, these five steps will help you move from "this is too much" to "I've got this"

02.01.2022 Are you feeling depleted, exhausted and just want some energy from somewhere! Right now we are all subject to the ongoing stress of COVID-19 and many of your normal stress management strategies may not be as effective as they used to be. I've got your back with 7 of my best pops of calm strategies.... This is a FREE download with a one page easy reference to print and put on your fridge. http://bit.ly/MV7popsofcalm.

01.01.2022 We often talk about the intrinsic link between exercise and wellbeing. This infographic from BelievePerform highlights the many positive effects physical activity has on our overall wellbeing.

01.01.2022 It’s all about the night before.