For many parents, sleep routines for their children can be a really challenging situation. With the outside disruptions, for many this has been accentuated. So, how can we promote positive sleep? I spoke, in my previous blog, 'Bedtime, Sleep and Children' I looked at the amount of sleep children need, the reasons why and some simple steps we can take to support it. Today, we will delve into sleep hygiene and how we can use this to promote a positive attitude to sleep, especially for older children and teens. So, what is sleep hygiene? Sleep Hygiene is all about good…

Motivation - the million dollar word. How do we find it? Where does it live? How can we tap into it? Motivation is defined as; 'a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way' Whether it is: Health and fitness School work Projects Work deadlines Personal targets So, how do we create motivation? Why do some people have the ability to get so much done, whilst others need to be coerced or pushed to achieve anything? Why do some people have the ability to 'get the job done' and remain so committed and focused, whilst others sit…

Whilst we can all desire to do things 'right' and not make mistakes, for some, the need to never make an error can become out of control and the pressure placed on themselves to be 'perfect' can become destructive. So, what is the difference between wanting to do well and desiring to achieve the unachievable? What is perfectionism? Perfectionism is defined as the 'need to be or appear to be perfect' it can also refer to those who believe 'it's possible to be perfect'. What does perfectionism include? Perfectionism is a personality trait, and can include, but is not limited…

As the weeks draw on, holding onto motivation and optimism can feel challenging. For young people, the cancellation of exams, the loss of social interactions and the removal of targets and goals that they used to keep momentum has, for many, created a sense of uncertainty and anxiety. So, how do we help them generate a sense of hope when timelines are unsecured? Motivation, at the best of times, can feel like the metaphorical unicorn. Somedays we are swamped in it, others we sit chewing our pen looking at a to do list and pondering sunlit beaches. The very nature…

“I’m bored”, those two words uttered by so many children and adults over the last year….but, how much is boredom a problem and how much is it a blessing? Boredom, in it’s simplest form, is mental fatigue created by monotony or lack of stimulation which often leaves us with a lack of interest and empty sensation. Has, living in a world where everything is at our finger tips 24/7 added to the depth of those empty sensations? In a world where you can shop online 24/7, get lost in phones and computer games, we work all hours of the day…