Autumn Morning Routine

Morning Rituals

So the weather has certainly changed where I am, the leaves are failing off the trees and the beautiful change of colours is a lovely indication that it is officially autumn. Starting my morning right is really important to me at this time of year, so much so it sets me up for the rest of the day. Now that the summer is over, dark mornings really make getting up and out of my bed that bit harder. To help kick start my day, I created a morning ritual for myself introducing a few simple steps which gives me energy, gets me in the right frame of mind and overall increases my self-care.

My Autumn Morning Routine

Light

Having a burst of sunlight hit me in the morning feeling the sun on my face is my ideal way to wake up. Now this is not always possible during the autumn and winter months so I use my alarm lightbox by Lumie Lights which has a wakeup feature to gently wake me up naturally mimicking real sunrise. This alarm clock has made such a difference to how I wake up in the morning. The light therapy boosts my mood and energy levels increasing my productivity for the day.

Gratitude

I have mentioned this before that spending a few minutes to take time and have gratitude for seeing another day, for all of the amazing people in my life, the journey I have been on and the lessons learned from it, really helps me to start and end the day on a positive note. You may think there is not enough time to reflect or give gratitude in the morning, especially when you have plenty of other commitments. However it can be as simple as spending a couple of minutes reflecting on what gave you the most gratitude the day before and in the evening writing down 5 things from the day in a gratitude journal. It is such a small task and creates a positive impact by increasing my own wellbeing.

Breakfast

I love having oatmeal during the autumn mornings. I tend to use steel cut oats due to the nutritional value; rich in B-vitamins, calcium, protein and fiber while low in sodium and unsaturated fat. It also takes longer to digest making me feel fuller for longer. I find the easiest and quickest way to prepare my steel cut oats is to use my slow cooker as they do take longer to cook compared to instant oats. Just before I go to bed I put the steel cut oats in my slow cooker with some water, almond milk, a dash of cinnamon and choice of chopped fruit (apples, bananas) and set the cooker to simmer overnight. In the morning we have oatmeal ready to eat! My kids enjoy adding dried cranberries and raisins to theirs with a drizzle of honey.

Hot drink

It doesn’t feel like the morning unless I have a hot drink. I’m not sure if it’s the taste I need or just the feeling of steam rising up to my face that makes me say ‘yeah lets start this day'“ I have a few favourites; A cuppa of black tea does the trick, coffee is my go to or Jasmine tea is a great combination especially if I have been meditating that morning. Chai latte has been my favourite hot drink so far this season. Having a hot drink in the morning is part of my morning ritual and really helps to put me in the right state of mind.

My Journey to Growing as a Coach

To say I have always been coaching is an understatement to say the least. Through some of my past work experience as an advocate within the mental health sector and being part of projects to inspire people, I have always had a burning desire to help people reach their goals to be happier and live their best life.

I remember the moment I decided I wanted to become a coach rather than a therapist. I realised the journey to becoming a counsellor was not in my career plan at this time. However I KNEW that I still wanted to work with people exploring unique ideas and pathways towards their goal. I also realised that not everyone needs a clinical diagnosis and you could help someone achieve their goal by focusing on their present moment as well as looking towards their future.

So what is the difference between a life coach and therapist? I discovered through various conversations with other coaches and therapists that there really isn’t one right answer. To some there really isn’t a difference and the lines are blurred to what constitutes a coach to a therapist, but I do know both help their clients immensely.  To put it in simple terms and in my opinion, a coach meets the client at a place where they are ready to work on the present and therefore move toward setting up the future. A coach will help the client identify their goals and obstacles they may be facing, helping to explore and expand their choices. They are trained in helping clients move forward in life.

So once I decided not to do what felt safe, to go with my passion rather than what seemed like the ‘right’ thing to do, I created this blog. My journey to growing as a coach has led me to further my training and become certified. Although coaching is an unregulated industry and you currently don’t need a certification to work as a coach. I felt it was important for me to receive some top-notch training that will help me to develop the skills I need to grow as a coach.

You see I have this passion for interior blogging, interior design, home organisation and believe that if your home rises up to meet you, you would have created a safe space to be yourself. It will give you a chance to get creative about your life and become less afraid about making the RIGHT decisions for you, in your life, in this moment. Abode Remedy has become a catalyst for this. Creating the right environment for yourself can help you to feel clearer and understand what you want from life and from this world!

As I have said before, I believe your home is the breadth for which you move in. Home to me doesn’t just mean your house, the place where you lay your head at night. Home to me also means your heart. What is your heart telling you? Or you may be experiencing so many overwhelming feelings right now that you need help to explore those beliefs and fears. When you look at your life what do you see for yourself, and what steps will it take for you to get there? My intention as a coach is to provoke these questions in the your mind so that you can create the type of life that serves you right now in this moment.

Feeling stuck, or feel like you are at a crossroads? Ever considered using a coach? Want to know more, lets talk! Click the link below.

Why Scents Make Sense

Summer is here, can you believe we have almost got through six months of the year!! I have visited a few exhibitions over the last couple of months namely, London Design Week, The Ideal Home Show and Grand Designs to name a few. During my visits I realised the importance of scenting your home and how using different scents contributes to the design of your space.

As you know I love to fill my home with different scents and like to use different fragrances in the rooms around my home. I will tend to use zingy citrusy fragrances in the kitchen and bathroom areas as these offer a fresh scent and to tend eliminate cooking smells. It also revitalises and adds energy to the space. In the living room I find jasmine, sandalwood and ylang-ylang scents or those blended with woody notes can help to alleviate stress so I use these fragrances in the living room, which contributes to creating a warm environment. My bedroom is my ultimate sanctuary so I love to use Vanilla scent diffusers which help to make me feel at ease at night and sprays which include neroli during the day to help uplift and revitalise my mood. Using scents can compliment and add warmth to the design of your room creating an everyday luxury. Sense of smells can also have a psychological impact creating a positive effect on your mood and emotions. There are two candle brands I purchased, and I am currently obsessed with these since visiting the home shows.

Vanilla Blanc Diffuser Grenade & Frosted Vanilla £30

I love Vanilla Blanc who make environmentally conscious products. I purchased the grenade and frosted vanilla diffuser which came in this cute box, perfect for a gift. The scent smells divine and is perfect in my bedroom. Plus you can also order refills, so cost effective.....hurrah!! www.vanillablanc.co.uk

Valentte London White Neroli & Lemon Candle £20 and Lemongrass & Rosemary Diffuser £24

If you are looking for a diffuser with a strong scent that energises you, then you should try the Valentte London products which is perfect for creating a powerful aroma around your home. I could smell the scent before I opened the box and because both the candle and diffuser has such an amazing fresh aroma I use the diffuser in my hallway and candle in my kitchen. I also love that the products are handmade and organic at such a reasonable price!  www.valentte.com

Working on My New Years REVOLUTION

So here’s the thing, towards the end of each year I start to think about all of the things I have achieved or accomplished that year, reflect on the good and the not so great, then create mental notes of all the things I need to stop doing in order to have a fulfilling following year. See, what I have found with this way of thinking normally associated with saying ‘my new years resolution’ is I would focused on the things I shouldn’t be doing instead of putting my energy into the goals and achievements that would improve my life and well-being for the year ahead.

So 2017 was the start of my new years REVOLUTION. I renamed this term for myself, as I no longer wanted to focus on giving up or not doing something, which perpetuated the idea I can't stick to my goals because I couldn’t stop doing it the year before!

Nope, this year is different. I want to associate this year with the terms that represent revolution. My attitude will concentrate on a complete shift in my thinking, a change in my attitudes and conditions, a restructuring of my goals that will lead to a transformation in my life.  So what is the plan to achieve the things I set out to do this year?

Revolutionise My Diet - My goal for 2017 is to create new meals that are nutritious and taste good. I am changing my focus from a long list of do not eats which feels like torture and I have started to create meals that will not only benefit my body but will also satisfy my taste buds.

Revolutionise My Spirit - Paying close attention to my goals and direction, asking myself questions about what makes me happy, what gives me joy and fulfilment? It is important to set intentions about attainable goals. Although I do see the big picture of what I want to achieve, I set short achievable goals so I am not overwhelmed by my journey to the bigger picture.

Revolutionise My Fitness - I am practicing a lot more yoga this year. I love how it makes me feel and how it reduces tension in my mind and body. This has encouraged me to include fitness into my weekly routine to keep my body healthy and strong.

Think of how you can set intentions and goals that could revolutionise your 2017, giving you a positive perspective towards your journey!

Art Snapshots in Abu Dhabi

I had a short but sweet trip to Abu Dhabi (UAE) last week, and visited a mosque for the first time. To see how much detail went into building, designing and decorating the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque was truly breathtaking. I couldn't stop taking pictures after taking it all in. Check out a few snapshots I managed to capture. 

I was taken in by the flower detail; the colours used are a beautiful contrast to the white exterior of the mosque.

These pillars featured a flower art design. At the top of each pillar there was a striking gold leaf design.

I think this tiled art design was one of my favourite things featured in the mosque hallways. The pictures were positioned within the alcoves of the building.

We had lunch at the Etihad Modern Art Gallery and while I was waiting for my order I realised the walls were framed using wooden pallets. Paying close attention I noticed the café interiors was designed using up-cycled furniture, which I love!

I posted these up-cycled furniture photos to my Instagram and found these oil drums come café chairs so creative.

This ‘paint a brick’ collage was so colourful and sweet. It is such a lovely way of encouraging kids to be creative and practice their artistic flair.