Living Quietly Magazine: The January Issue

January 2019

LIVING QUIETLY in mind, body and home

New Year, New You? Not necessarily

New Year, New Knickers

9 WAYS TO BUILD A PURPOSEFUL LIFE THIS NEW YEAR Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 1

HOMESENSE 2 | Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5

HOMESENSE

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HOMESENSE 4 | Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5

HOMESENSE Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 5

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Benefits of Simple Living

W

henever we think about simple living, we have a tendency to give attention to things we can easily see. We think about decluttering and celebrate clear countertops and tidy desks, yet this is just the start of simplicity.

The most rewarding benefits of simple living aren’t always visible, and can appear just a little vague until experienced. Once evident though, they can be truly life-changing.

7 invisible yet rewarding aspects of living simply 1. Under-reacting A simpler life permits us to look more closely at our response. When things are too active and complicated, we get lost in a reactionary lifestyle. We say things we don’t mean and blow things completely out of proportion. Whenever we contemplate before responding, we can answer properly from a thoughtful place, rather than a fight or flight mentality.

2. Lifestyle When we reduce commitments and obligations, and eliminate common stressors like credit card debt, unfulfilled careers, and hurtful relationships, we’ve allowed ourselves to take better attention of our core. We can find the time to take a nap or for writing and being creative, space for meditation, or perhaps a straightforward practice of gratitude.

3. Better health Even without changing our diet or working out, simplicity can lower blood pressure and decrease the threat of disease. Stress can result in migraines, colds and auto-immune conditions. If you’re fed up of feeling unwell and fatigued, simplify your life to aid your best health.

4. More meaningful relationships It’s hard to get the best out of any relationship when we are constantly connected to our computers and phones. Our imaginations are full enough, and when we add tiers of digital information, it’s easy to reduce focus during a simple chat. Unplugging gives us a quiet platform, allowing us to pay attention and fully engage.

5. Hope After experiencing some of the advantages of simplicity, from enjoying a superior liveable space, to growth in our bank account, we are more hopeful and open to new experiences and possibilities. A simple life is a hopeful life.

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6. Increased freedom Whenever we aren’t tied to technology, engaged in overreacting or feeling unfulfilled and tired, we feel the joys of freedom. We make smarter decisions, and enjoy lives we’ve wished for. Instead of aiming to live up to a typical path that someone else set for us, we are free to be exactly who we are. That’s freedom.

7. Benevolence When we free up resources, need less to be happy, and also have the time to think about what we care about the most, we are simply more loving, caring and giving.

These unseen benefits of simple living become completely tangible, and they are the secret behind being more with less. Only a taste of the inner workings of a simpler life inspires us to go after even more simplicity. We naturally want less of the meaningless products and even more of what really matters.

Cornerstones of Living Quietly 1. Consciously choosing how to spend your energy and resources 2. Being gentle to yourself and in your environment 3. Creating a supportive space for yourself, both mentally and physically 4. Learning to say NO Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 7

TEAPIGS

www.teapigs.co.uk

PUBLISHER Blooming Fabulous Media EDITOR IN CHIEF Margaret Bligdon-Boyt EDITORIAL CONTENT Kindly provided by experts and people embracing the quiet living ethos DESIGN Jennifer Powis Virtual Assistant CONTACT US www.livingquietlymagazine.com For submissions: submissions@livingquietlymagazine.com Telephone: 02380 970229 MEDIA ENQUIRIES & ADVERTISING Email: bfmedialtd@gmail.com Copyright 2018 Living Quietly Magazine.

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission is prohibited.

Printed in the United Kingdom.

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Contents 6. Benefits of Simple Living 12. A Note from Our Editor 13. This Season’s Essentials 15. Same Old, Same Old? Not Necessarily

20. 9 Ways to Build a Purposeful Life This New Year 34. Celebrating the National Arboretum 46. Being Gentle with Yourself 50. Do You Suffer From Winter Itchy Skin?

42. New Year, Still the Old Me

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Contents 52. New Year, New Knickers 57. Winter Warmers

Roasted Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup Italian Meatball Stew

65. Garden Planning

70. 7 Scented Flowering Shrubs for Your Winter Garden

76. Living Coral: 2019’s Colour of the Year

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Contents

94. 10 Ways to Harness the Magic of Midwinter

82. Techniques for Coping With Stress

97. Get More Done in the Morning 101. 5 Ways to Filter Out Some of the Noise Today 104. The British Heart Foundation Collection 106. The Function of Cynicism in the Media 108. How Turning 30 Made Me Embrace Slow Living Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 11

A Note From Our Editor Happy New Year!

So here we are in a new year and if the Facebook memes are to be believed, anything is possible. If you read my article on page 42 you will see that I am not so sure!

As far as I am concerned, January is for quiet reflection under a blanket on the sofa. No big decisions should be made in what is the darkest month of the year. But plans can be made, ideas can be researched and lists can be written.

The short days and the cold weather give us a way of punctuating the year, it allows us to step back and rest before we start again in the Spring.

Go Well Margaret Oliver Bonas Oliver Bonas X Teapigs Jasmin Green Tea £6

BE REALISTIC

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It is ok to say ‘no’ to things that will compromise your time, your resources or your feelings.

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4 Cornerstones of Living Quietly

1

Consciously choosing how to spend your energy and resources

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Same Old, Same Old? Not Necessarily Written by Jacci Gooding

Already a bit weary of the sound bite New Year New You? Then you’re not alone.

T

here was a time when January was just for the sales - now it’s all about the New You. You You You. Or rather your money.

Join The Gym! Get Fit! Get Fabulous! Or to put it another way, January is the month where you are encouraged to lose £s as well as lbs. Let’s be honest here, if you wanted to go on a diet or make yourself fitter you would have done it by now, right? So if you wake up on January 1st and it feels suspiciously like February the 3rd or November the 18th or any other random day of the year and everything looks like the same old same old, well, that’s because it is.

Don’t be fooled.

Join the gym!

Get fit!

Get fabulous!

Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 15

There is a saying you only hear on your birthday - although less and less these days - and that saying is Many Happy Returns. Return of what, you may wonder?

Until the Romans arrived on these shores, the peoples of Britain followed the astronomical calendar whereby the start of the year began at the vernal equinox of March 20th/21st. It would make sense to the people of those times that after very cold and often frozen winters that a new rotation of time would begin when they saw the land renewed and reborn.

It was the Romans who brought with them new ways and that saw the new year shunted into what was effectively the middle of winter, presided over by the two- headed God of beginnings and endings, Janus. Until this time we had only ten months (clues being the names of September, October, November and December: 7, 8, 9 and 10) - with the new year arriving in March. Pope Gregory realigned the Christian calendar and that is the calendar we live with today in the UK - so it’s not surprising that January 1st as the first day of a New Year may not sit well with everyone.

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Each religion of the world marks its calendars differently.

The return we refer to therefore on our birthdays is the return of the sun to the same place in the sky that it was at the time we were born. If your birthday is June the 1st for example, your new year doesn’t start until the sun has returned to the point it was at when you came into the world; thus your personal new year’s eve is actually May 31st. It’s no wonder then January 1st

“

It is easy to see

why some people feel out of kilter with not only the days and years but often themselves too. feels like any other day, unless you do happen to be born on January 1st when it really would be the beginning of your own individual new year.

For someone with an

August birthday, January is halfway through their year; for those born in February, January is coming up to be the end of their year and so on.

Taking your birth date, whereabouts in your own calendar is January the 1st? If you look at the months (the lunar ‘moonth’s as they once were) in relation to the way we view new year it is easy to see why some people feel out of kilter with not only the days and years but often themselves too.

On the day before your birthday - your new year’s eve - reflect a moment: assess the previous

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twelve months, smooth any rough edges and round any corners in preparation for your new year ahead. These few hours are a good time for quiet personal reflection - no one needs to know what you’re thinking or why. If you get used to starting your new year on your birthday you will find that over time you become comfortable with the notion; it will become very natural and maybe you won’t feel like you’re swimming against the tide sometimes. Sure, enjoy the festivities of December 31st, embrace the first day of January but keep in the back of your mind it is not your own new year

THE DAY BEFORE YOUR BIRTHDAY Take a moment for quiet reflection.

Assess the previous 12 months.

Smooth any rough edges and round any corners in preparation for your new year ahead.

- you can have a private celebration of that when the time comes. Unless of course you are a New Year baby - in which case many happy returns!

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9 ways to build a purposeful life this new year

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our personal purpose is your raison d’être - your reason for being. It is what gives your life meaning, direction and inspiration. It is a deep

sense of knowing what is true for you which, if you follow, will ensure that you flourish, be the best version of yourself and fulfil your potential. When you are on purpose you are at your best. When you are on purpose you are in flow. The time for purpose is now. Finding your purpose and learning to apply it from a range of perspectives including personal, leadership, team, organisational and societal is critical to navigate the uncertainty of your world.

Here are 9 ways you can build a purposeful life in 2019...

1. HAVE A CLEAR IDENTITY Understanding your purpose is a vital ingredient for understanding your true identity, which is the essence of who you are. To discover your purpose requires an open mind and a genuine willingness focused on peak experiences in your life.

Identify times when you have been at your best, for instance you might have been travelling and 20 | Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5

immersed in new cultures, completing a challenging project, or helping others manage their lives. Ask yourself, why were these experiences so meaningful for you? What deepest motivation did they tap into within yourself? For example, it could have been wanting to make a difference, add value, contribute, or leave a legacy.

The final step is to create your own purpose statement based on the

meaning of this motivation, such as ‘being the best I can be’, ‘inspiring others to be fulfilled’, ‘love and be loved’, or simply ‘be happy’.

2. BE YOURSELF Once you have a better idea about your identity, you are in a position to be your genuine authentic self. The great benefit of being yourself is that you free yourself from the good opinion of others and allow yourself to show up as the real version of you. This

taps you into new levels of energy and vitality as minimising yourself is an exhausting business.

Take a stand for who you are. Communicate your authentic ideas, don’t edit them. Be willing to go out on a limb to express your version of truth.

3. LIVE YOUR VALUES Your values are your innermost beliefs which you have a strong emotional connection with. This could include ‘doing the right thing’, ‘treating people with respect’, creating connections’, or ‘doing your best’.

Identify times when you have been at your best...

Values tend to come from learned experiences, for instance, growing up you might have got caught for breaking rules and learned the importance of integrity, or you might have witnessed prejudice which shaped your value of equality.

Your values are like an internal emotional compass guiding you in the direction you want to go, providing you with a lens to look through when you are unsure about how to respond to situations.

To clarify your values, reflect upon the major

events that impacted you from your past, understand the big learning from each event and how it went to shape a value. Then commit to living your values each day by making value-based decisions.

4. SHIFT YOUR MINDSET When you wake up what is on your mind? Tea or coffee? Emails? Meetings?

Traffic? Weather? You’ve got to admit it’s an inspiring list! The majority of people upon awakening are consumed by a ‘to do’ list.

Make 2019 different. Start the day by deciding how you want to be. We are called

Why were these experiences so meaningful for you?

What deepest motivation did they tap into within yourself?

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Take a stand for who you are

Communicate your authentic ideas, don’t edit them

Be willing to go out on a limb to express your version of truth

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human beings for a reason and yet we get dominated by our ‘to do’ list which turns us into human doings.

The typical mindset goes along the following lines.

We tell ourselves when we have what we want, we will do all the great things we want to do and be the type of person we want to be. The classic example is money. We think that when we have enough money, we’ll do what we want and be happy. In the meantime, we put our life on hold. The invitation is to switch this and put your being first.

Decide how you want to be, this will shape what you do and influence what you have.

5. THE POWER OF INTENTION Brain scientists estimate that we process approximately 11 million pieces of information in any given moment. However, our brain can only consciously manage about 40. As a result, the brain

“

The starting

point for making 2019 your best year yet is to set an intention for that to be true.

SHIFT YOUR MINDSET We tell ourselves when we have what we want, we will do all the great things we want to do.

We put our life on hold.

Switch this - put your being first.

does a mental shortcut and jumps to what is known and familiar – autopilot.

When we operate on autopilot it’s helpful in that we don’t have to make conscious decisions, however the nature of autopilot is that it’s quick, reactive, focused on the everyday and sometimes error prone. On the other hand, the cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that deals with logic and reason. It is able to handle complexity and responds in a considered way enabling us to make smart choices.

You have the ability to set a deliberate intention about the big choices you want to make in your life. The

starting point for making 2019 your best year yet is to set an intention for that to be true. This will activate your cerebral cortex to think slowly and deeply in order to guide you in the right direction.

6. THE ART OF LISTENING If there was one resolution that could radically change your work, life and relationships for the better it would be to become a world-class listener. From a relationship perspective the biggest deposit you can make is to understand somebody else’s world before coming in with yours. The art of listening takes intense curiosity to walk in other’s shoes and show a genuine willingness to empathise. This builds trust which is at the heart of relationship.

When listening, sit on your hands if you are tempted to interrupt. Take the time to playback what you have heard in your own words to demonstrate your understanding. Make the shift from wanting to reply in conversation to wanting to understand, which makes others feel valued and respected.

7. APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE There is a saying that what Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 23

Brain scientists estimate that we process approximately 11 million pieces of information in any given moment.

However, our brain can only consciously manage about 40.

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you appreciate, appreciates in value. Living in a state of gratitude for what you do have, rather than focusing on what you don’t is a game-changer.

Appreciation starts with a willingness to count your blessings, see the glass as half-full and be optimistic about the possibilities in life, even if you are having a tough time. When you are struggling with difficulties whether they are relationship based, work orientated, or health related, appreciating what you do have strengthens your resolve, gives you fresh perspective and enables you to bounce back stronger and fitter.

8. BE ADAPTABLE Your ability to flex, see things differently and adapt to the unpredictable nature of life today is probably the single most important skill to develop.

Being adaptable means going with the flow, embracing change as opportunity and having a growth mindset. It requires you to alter course in a graceful way, managing any fears so that they don’t disrupt your progress. For instance, when you are faced with a big obstacle, focus on the opportunity it brings in terms of learning something new, becoming

more resilient, generating new ideas, and being an example to others about the art of the possible.

9. TOTAL WELLBEING Unless you look after yourself well, then all the proceeding 8 ways to build a purposeful life become very secondary. Total wellbeing requires you to explore 4 capacities – physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual which will help you become the best version of yourself over time.

4 CAPACITIES THAT WILL HELP YOU TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF PHYSICAL To look after your physical wellbeing means ensuring you have got the basics in place including your nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress levels.

EMOTIONAL To nurture your emotional wellbeing means looking after your relationships so that you have a sense of belonging and connection, as well as accepting your range of feelings like fear, guilt, happiness and joy.

INTELLECTUAL To stimulate your intellect requires you to stretch your thinking and commit to lifelong learning.

SPIRITUAL To manage your spiritual wellbeing means being inspired, living your values and enjoying a purposeful life.

Ben Renshaw is one of the world’s most sought-after leadership coaches and speakers, working with top leaders in FTSE 100 companies including Coca-Cola, Heathrow, Heinz, IHG, M&S, P&G, Sainsbury’s, Argos, Sky and Unilever. Previous books are Successful But Something Missing, SuperCoaching, and LEAD!. His new book, Purpose: The extraordinary benefits of focusing on what matters most is available now instore and online. For more information on the author, please visit: www.benrenshaw.com Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 25

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Celebrating the National Arboretum at Westonbirt for the Forestry Commission’s Centenary Written by Debbie Young

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O

ver the last twenty years I’ve developed a special affection for the unique and wonderful tree garden that is officially the jewel in the Forestry Commission’s crown: the National Arboretum at Westonbirt.

when I wrote a short play about the estate’s history to mark the school’s eightieth birthday celebrations. Holford’s part was ably played by the school’s Head of Drama, wearing my knee-length leather boots, and bearing a striking resemblance to the portrait in the Hall.

I’ve visited in various guises –as a funrunner training for races, as a mother of a small child seeking safe spaces to run around in, and latterly as a novelist walking alone in quiet contemplation.

A passionate collector of plants from all over the world, Holford shifted endless quantities of the right kinds of soil to allow each imported specimen to thrive. The word “forestry” might suggest marshalling trees to man’s will, but Holford’s planting schemes flow with natural grace and beauty, whimsical sinuous paths winding around practical rodstraight drives. No matter how well you know the layout, the vistas always enchant and surprise.

But I first got to know it when I went to work at Westonbirt School, formerly Westonbirt House. This was formerly the private country house of Robert Holford, who planted the Arboretum on his own land. I’d pop over to the Arboretum at lunchtime for an oasis of calm in a busy day, or after work for a natural antidote to the stress of governors’ meetings.

Plenty of local visitors use it this way, but for me there was an extra point of connection.

Every day I’d encounter Robert Holford in person – or rather, in the form of his vast portrait in the school hall. I felt so close to him that I even put words into his mouth

While the famous autumn colours attract the biggest crowds, the Arboretum is a joy to visit at any time of year. Seasonal trails encourage year-round return visits, even in midwinter, when the trees’ skeletal architecture, laid bare by leaf-fall, is uplit in a blaze of colour to create the “Enchanted Christmas” trail after dark.

Away from the events that pull in crowds, the

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Arboretum offers quiet retreat.

No matter how crowded the car park, passing through the visitor centre feels like entering Narnia through the back of the wardrobe. You quickly find yourself alone, keeping an eye out for Mr Tumnus among the towering trees and winding paths. On a recent visit, I found myself thinking “Ah, there’s a lifesized Gruffalo” (on the fun Gruffalo trail), before remembering that Gruffalos (whisper it) don’t exist.

Holford knew he would never see the Arboretum reach maturity, despite living to a good age himself. No matter how much money you have – and Holford was one the richest of his generation - you can’t hurry trees. Today’s visitors reap the benefit of his selfless planting for the pleasure of future generations.

While Holford might be surprised by the modern facilities added to his project – the Great Oak Hall, the visitor centre, the shop, restaurant and treetop walk – I think he’d have admired them. Fashioned mostly from mellow wood, they blend unobtrusively into the treescape.

I’m less sure what he might have made of summer pop concerts, attracting younger generations to watch their favourite bands perform against spectacular afforested backdrops in summer sunsets.

But as an astute businessman, he’d appreciate their financial contribution, which helps the Forestry Commission to 36 | Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5

maintain Holford’s high standards and make his private estate accessible to all, 364 days of the year. What began as one man’s private hobby has morphed into a public delight.

Although I’ve long since left my job at Westonbirt School, and now write full-time in my Victorian cottage, which, I’ve just realised, was built during Holford’s heyday, I continue to return in my current incarnation as novelist. Solitary early morning walks allow my unconscious imagination free rein to thrash out plot points as I stroll. I never leave the Arboretum without taking with me new ideas for my books, new chapters scribbled down over coffee in the café, strategic plans for my writing life, or even practical resolutions such as decluttering my study when I get home.

And that’s the greatest genius behind such spaces as the National Arboretum at Westonbirt and other Forestry Commission properties. With every visit, no matter what else you discover, you’ll always find yourself, and leave grounded and restored, better equipped and inspired to return to the outside world.

Debbie Young, author of the Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries, is currently writing the first in a new series of novels, set in a girls’ boarding school inspired by Holford’s heritage and the Westonbirt estate. www.authordebieyoung.com

With every visit, no matter what else you discover, you’ll always find yourself, and leave grounded and restored, better equipped and inspired to return to the outside world.

Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 37

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4 Cornerstones of Living Quietly

2 Being gentle to

yourself and in your environment

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New Year Still the Old Me! Written by Margaret Bligdon-Boyt

I

t’s that time of year when the internet erupts with posts on New Year resolutions. A never ending parade of self styled gurus

touting their messages.

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Can anyone guess my thoughts on this?

“New Year - New You” “10 ways to make and keep your New Years Resolutions” “5 ways to make this your best year ever...”

So, having just put incredible pressure on ourselves and our bank accounts to create the perfect Christmas, we now plan to put even more incredible pressure on ourselves to do the impossible, at the most depressing time of the year.

Lets just dissect this lunacy into it’s component parts.

The steely resolve and enthusiasm fuelled by buckets of cheap champagne, wears off about the same time as we return to work and resume the relentless monotony that is everyday life, without tinsel and a myriad of bearded gentlemen shouting HO HO HO. January is one of the darkest months of the year both emotionally and physically.

The days are short and the

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January is the longest month of the year - not the best time to add the pressure of becoming a millionaire by March!

weather is at its coldest.

Personally, when its cold I am hard pushed to function beyond feeding myself, checking that the radiators are still working and stopping the dog from stealing my blanket.

Getting my shizzle together to go to the gym, is quite frankly, complete madness.

As for the other popular resolution of losing 10 stone in a month? Well, consider this .... food is fuel, our bodies need fuel to keep warm. So why in the name of all things pink and sparkly would anyone choose this time of year to go on a ‘lets not eat anything that our body needs’ diet?

Try out our slow cooker recipes on p.57 to fuel your body for winter

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Financially, January is the longest month of the year - not the best time to add the pressure of becoming a millionaire by March!

On a serious note, there is a science behind my ramblings. I was after all a therapist before the universe gifted me with the time to spout my opinions all over the internet (and to anyone who will listen to me in the Sainsbury cafe).

The dark days of January and February do have an effect on our psychological wellbeing. Its not just people with SAD that feel the effects, most of us will feel it on some level.

Its the time of year when our immune systems and our emotional strength are at their lowest. Putting extra pressure on ourselves is just self destructive. We set ourselves up to fail

“

Why in the

name of all things pink and sparkly would anyone choose this time of year to go on a ‘lets not eat anything that our body needs’ diet?

and our self confidence is knocked, our motivation is lost and the thing that we wanted to do is written off as un achievable.

I have no objection, in principal, to making resolutions - In my own little world I do what ever seems like a good idea at any given moment and if it goes horribly wrong I resolve never to do that again!

There is a bright side to

my ramblings - I am 100% sure that the thing that you wanted to do is actually achievable. It just needs to be broken down into achievable chunks.

Ask yourself - what can I do TODAY (tomorrow is another entity) to help me reach my goal?

It may not be the best time of year to get up at 4am to go to the gym before work, but you could fit in 10 mins to enthusiastically dance to your favourite song or look for a yoga video on youtube that would suit you. Ease yourself gently into your

new routine and by spring when the whole world feels a bit more optimistic, maybe step it up to a nice walk in the forest.

I could go on with the examples but its nearly time for my nap! All I am saying is be nice to yourself, do things at an achievable pace.

Remember the story about a Hare and a tortoise?

Be the tortoise...

STEPS TO TAKE TO ACHIEVE YOUR NEW YEAR’S GOALS 1. Break goals down into achievable chunks.

2. Ask yourself - what can I do TODAY to help me reach my goals?

3. Ease yourself gently into your new routine.

Be nice to yourself, do things at an achievable pace.

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Being Gentle with Yourself Written by Kerry Needs

F

or most of us, this is a hectic time of year. Over the holiday season and into the New Year, it can feel like our tasks are never-ending. We buy presents, prepare meals, tidy the house, connect with others, browse the sales, review our goals for the new year, take on new projects and much more. ‘To-do lists’ are in most households, and sometimes in busy periods, they can feel like they grow longer, instead of shorter! Your lists probably consist of lots of errands and jobs.

But do you make sure you add some downtime to your ‘to-do’ list?

Often, we’re so busy doing tasks, that we forget to just give ourselves space ‘to be’.

This means being gentle with ourselves.

How can we do that in a world that seems so fast paced and hectic?

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#1: DISCONNECT

happening recently.

We have so many gadgets these days, that by giving ourselves a ‘digital detox’, it can do wonders for our peace of mind.

#2: SCHEDULE IN PERSONAL TIME

Try leaving your phone at home and being offline for the whole day, which means not even using a TV screen.

Our minds can be so full, that adding to them with information from social media or TV can just make things worse.

When we disconnect, we give our minds a break, and a chance to catch up on everything that’s been

Once a month, or once a week if you can manage it, pop a couple of hours into your diary with your name.

Once you give yourself that gift, it will be far easier and less stressful to give back to others.

#3: NOURISH

This is ‘you time’, and you can spend it however you wish. It is a time to be free from all of those distractions. If you have kids, this time can be invaluable.

Nourishing is being gentle with ourselves by pampering. We can soothe ourselves through the senses - so for example breathing in the aroma of a spiced scented candle, or lying on a soft velvet rug or a fleece pillow.

It might just be a weekly meet up with a friend for a hot chocolate, or some quiet time reading in your favourite library.

The Danish have a perfect word for this time of year: ‘Hygge’ - and it’s about that feeling of cosiness during the winter months.

Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 47

What could you do to allow your body to feel relaxed?

Maybe it’s moisturising with some delicious-smelling balm, or sinking your feet into a pair of fluffy slippers.

It may even be things like giving yourself a mini-facial, or conditioning your hair.

Allow your body to be rested with soft textures, beautiful smells and oils for your skin. #4: GET INTO

NATURE

Nature is by far the most gentle example we can witness. In nature, things grow so slowly, we hardly notice them.

We can take this approach when we feel overwhelmed or stressed. Nature is always calm, always serene, and always makes us feel better when we are connected to it.

Being gentle with ourselves then, can involve returning to nature. It can be as simple as planting a few herbs in the garden, or as consistent as a morning stroll in the woods.

When you’re in nature, it’s important to be mindful. This increases our connection to the natural world.

Feel the crunch of the leaves 48 | Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5

WHEN YOU’RE IN NATURE, BE MINDFUL: Feel the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet See how dew drops form on blades of grass Watch how the clouds move Take in the smells around you

Too often, we overlook signs of burnout.

We need to listen to that small voice within us that says: “I need a break!”

beneath your feet. See how the dew drops form on the blades of grass, reflecting like diamonds.

BEING GENTLE WITH OURSELVES Being gentle with ourselves is ultimately about caring for our physical and mental wellbeing. It is doing nice things for ourselves, and noticing when we need rest, or pampering, or sleep, or socialising.

Too often in our culture we overlook signs of burnout,

and if we push on despite warning signs, it can be detrimental to our overall wellbeing.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BE GENTLE WITH OURSELVES?

the body and mind, you’ll notice when you’re getting near your limits.

Perhaps you become fidgety, moody, or restless.

Or perhaps you snap at others, or find you can’t sleep at night. Or maybe your neck and shoulders start to tense up, and you feel anxious.

When we listen to that still small voice within us that says ‘I need a break!’, and honour it and respond to its wishes, we are being gentle to ourselves.

Those are all signs your body is talking to you, asking you if you’d be so kind to listen to what you truly need.

Over time, by becoming aware of subtle cues within

So next time you’re aware of the signs, remember you can choose to be gentle.

Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 49

Do you suffer from winter itchy skin?

T

his is a common wintertime problem that occurs when temperatures drop and the air becomes cold and dry. Living in a house that has central heating only makes the problem worse unless you run a humidifier constantly. What’s the best way to deal with the frustrating problem of winter itchy skin?

1

HUMIDIFY YOUR HOME

To treat winter, itchy skin, start by increasing the humidity in your home, particularly the bedroom where you sleep. There are humidifiers at all price levels and many small, portable ones are quite affordable. Not only do they help with itching in winter, but humidified air keeps mucous membranes moist which reduces the risk of wintertime colds and viruses.

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2

CHANGE YOUR BATH AND SHOWER HABITS

If you’re used to showering twice a day, cut back to no more than once a day in the winter. Exposing your body to too much water is drying which can make winter itchy skin worse. Use a moisturizing soap such as Dove which is less likely to strip the skin of the oils it needs to badly. If you bathe instead of shower, add bath oil to the water.

When you step out of the bath or shower, apply a rich

moisturizer while your skin is still damp; and resist the urge to stay in the bath or shower too long since this only dries the skin out further.

3

PROTECT EXPOSED SKIN WHEN OUTDOORS

If you do sports or other outdoor activities in the winter, cover as much skin as possible. If the temperatures are low, cover exposed areas with a heavy layer of moisture and apply

petroleum jelly to the lips for additional protection.

4

AVOID SCRATCHING WINTER ITCHY SKIN

Keep your skin moisturized to reduce the need to scratch dry, itchy areas.

Repeated scratching can lead to thickening of the skin, a condition known as lichenification which can be difficult to control. Cover itchy areas with a layer of petroleum jelly or mineral oil to reduce the tendency to scratch.

5

DON’T SKIMP ON THE SUNSCREEN

During the winter, many people think it’s okay to put the sunscreen away.

Nothing could be further from the truth. If you have winter itchy skin, choose a moisturizing sunscreen designed for sensitive skin to avoid aggravating the dry skin problem. Consider using a sunscreen designed for children or one that contains natural botanicals since they’re often less drying and irritating.

Take some commonsense measures and give winter dry skin the boot. It’s one less cold weather problem you’ll have to deal with.

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Underwear that is too tight will cause unflattering bulges and lumps underneath your clothes and cause skin irritation from the friction. In general, any underwear that’s tight enough to leave marks on your skin is too tight. It can also lead to health issues and leave you a little sweaty.

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Winter Warmers

B

ack in the day, at this time of year, Mothers and Grandmothers used to say things like “you need to put some fat on your bones to keep the cold out�.

And they were right - at this time of year our bodies need plenty of fuel, not only to boost the immune system, but also to give us the extra calories needed to cope with the cold and wet weather.

Physically and psychologically a warming soup or hearty casserole will greatly contribute to our winter wellbeing.

Turn the page to find 2 recipes to help you on your way.

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Roasted Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

Serves 4 Ingredients 500 g potatoes peeled and cut into chunks 300 g carrots, peeled and cut into chunks 3 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 cup vegetable stock 100 ml crème fraiche, plus extra to serve

Method 1. Roast the sweet potato and carrot in the oven, sautĂŠ some onion and garlic in a pan.

2. Using the hand blender, make a paste of the vegetables, add 2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.

3. Add some cream and seasoning.

4. Add one cup of vegetable stock and heat slowly.

5. Serve with a a few cubes of feta on top.

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Italian Meatball Stew

Serves 4 Ingredients 12 beef meatballs 2 tsp oil 1 onion, diced 2 carrots, diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbsp plain flour 1 tbsp tomato purĂŠe 3 tbsp pesto 1 glass red wine, optional 300 ml beef stock 1 tin chopped tomato with herbs 1 tin butter beans, drained Fresh parsley, roughly chopped

Method 1. Heat the oil in a large casserole dish and brown the meatballs on all sides until evenly browned,remove from the pan and set aside.

2. Drain excess fat from the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low and add in the onions, carrots and garlic. Stir to coat in oil, put the lid on and leave to sweat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Sprinkle over the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring until to coat the vegetables evenly in the flour. Stir in the tomato purĂŠe and pesto, then pour in the wine (if using), stirring continuously.

4. Slowly stir in the stock and add the tomatoes and beans. Return the meatballs to the pan, stir well and season generously with salt and pepper.

5. Bring the sauce up to a gentle simmer and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened.

Serve with a dollop of creme fresh and handful of fresh herbs.

Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 59

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3

4 Cornerstones of Living Quietly

Creating a supportive space for yourself, both mentally and physically

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Garden Planning – the Alternative to New Year’s Resolutions Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 65

G

arden planning is not the same as garden design or planning a garden. It’s about how to get the most from your garden with minimum effort. Or at least spreading the workload so you get to enjoy your garden all year round rather than having panic times when you can’t see the strawberries from the weeds.

The emphasis is different to planning a garden as you, the gardener or owner of the outdoor space are the focus rather than the garden which needs to be designed. Garden planning is one of the first topics that we cover in a Plews Gardening Course, so I thought I’d share some of those tips with you here.

As an alternative to New Year’s Resolutions, it requires you to first sit down with a coffee or herb tea, a notebook or computer and give yourself some quality time. Read on…

GARDEN PLANNING

#

1

Firstly, ask yourself – what would you like to achieve in relation to your garden by the end of the year?

As a working number, I thought 12 aims, one for each month would be appropriate.

The gardening aims do not each need to be planned for or achieved in a particular month. If you can only think of 7, then start with those, and add more if /when they appear important to you.

Keeping your aims specific is important. Here are a few suggestions to get you started: 1. Have a scented plant or flower by the front door. With a bit of ingenuity, and by changing the plants in the pot this can be achieved yearround. It is likely to give you 66 | Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5

daily pleasure so it’s a good aim to start with.

2. Learn how to correctly prune an espalier apple tree.

Or even discover what an espalier apple tree is and how it is different from other ‘ordinary’ apple trees.

3. Deciding you’d like to ‘have more colour’ in your garden is too vague for this exercise.

Refining it to ‘more colour (insert actual colour/s if you know at this point) in the rear border during July and August’ is good.

4. Growing potatoes for Christmas dinner. I’ve put this one in, so you can check out the article on this topic I wrote last year for Living Quietly at www. livingquietlymagazine.com Write these garden planning aims down in a notebook or on your computer, where you

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can refer to them. Note down when you have succeeded in achieving your aims. It is always satisfying to give oneself a well-earned pat on the back! Remember that it’s okay to amend your aims as you go along if your situation changes.

GARDEN PLANNING

#

2

Do you have photos you took of the garden last year? This will help you to remember what you liked and didn’t like at any particular season and give you a basis to work from.

If you can’t find any, then all is not lost. Take photographs this year. In fact, do this anyway. The photos should be taken regularly, roughly monthly, so that you can see how the garden changes. This makes a useful record of your garden and will help remind you what you enjoyed and what you didn’t.

You may like to amend this to taking photos of a particular

area of your garden if that’s where you’re focussing on making changes this year.

This part of garden planning also has a use when you come to planning your garden or having it designed. It enables you and the garden designer to look back and have a broader picture of the garden, both of the plants and how you are using the garden.

GARDEN PLANNING

#

3

Do the chores first. And by chores, I mean the gardening tasks that you don’t enjoy doing. Also, where possible, do them little and often, this way you will leave yourself

time to do the gardening tasks that you do enjoy.

If you really hate certain things, is it possible to find an alternative? For example, if you don’t mind mowing the lawn but hate having to separately trim the lawn edges, then a fairly simple adjustment of adding a mowing strip may resolve the issue.

If you decide to get someone in to mow the lawn for you, do make sure they have the necessary insurances as a bare minimum, otherwise you could find yourself paying to have your neighbour’s window replaced when a stone flies out from under the mower and breaks it. I know

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Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 67

people this has happened to when they just used a cheap so-called professional gardener.

GARDEN PLANNING

#

4

Make time to sit in your garden. One of your aims could be to buy a new garden seat in the sales so you have something comfy to sit on.

prefer; under a tree for dappled shade is pleasant.

- Surround the seat with scented plants or colourful plants or even edible plants – your favourites.

One of your aims could be to create a new border planting scheme for your seating area.

Although planting design ideas and tips for that is a whole different article! You could have a read of this month’s other article: ‘7 Scented Flowering Shrubs for Your Winter Garden’ for some ideas though.

Find 7 Scented Flowering Shrubs for Your Winter Garden on p.70

If it’s primarily your seat: - Situate it where it will catch the sun at the time you are going to be sitting down.

- Or where it’s shady if you

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GARDEN PLANNING

#

5

Garden Visits. You may be surprised at how many gardens are open and have winter gardens and winter borders for you to be inspired by. Take along relevant aims from your list: we’re being both relaxed and focused here.

Plan a trip to the café to warm up at the end and check that you took photos of the plants, planting combinations, pergolas and paving that caught your eye.

And if you were wondering, yes, I make a list of up to 12 aims I want to achieve in, with or for my garden in the coming year. Sometimes I even tick off most of the items. Luckily my garden is laid back and doesn’t complain too much…

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Wishing you pleasure in your garden in 2019 and a Happy New Year!

Marie Shallcross Plews Garden Design Passionate about edible ornamental gardens where you have a beautiful, practical space, Marie at Plews offers Garden Design, Garden Consultancy and Gardening Lessons where your garden is your classroom. She writes a weekly award-winning gardening blog – Plews Potting Shed.

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Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 69

7 Scented Flowering Shrubs for Your Winter Garden Written by Marie Shallcross

Y

ou may be asking why you need flowering shrubs in your garden in January.

I mean, its not like you’re going to be spending much time out there! Read on for why winter flowering shrubs should have a place in every garden‌ 70 | Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5

Why Grow Flowering Shrubs in the Winter?

1

SCENT

Most winter flowering shrubs are fragrant. To the extent that you wouldn’t notice some of them until the scent knocks you over with more accuracy than a snowball.

2

POLLINATING INSECTS

There are some around even in the depths of winter, especially in milder winters.

Honey bees are active if its warmer than about 10C. And it’s thanks to winter hardy pollinators that we have deliciously scented winter flowering shrubs.

3

WINTER INTEREST

This is to do with placement of winter flowering shrubs.

They may be next to the path to your front door, or where they can be seen from the kitchen window. Either way, they’re providing winter interest in

“

You wouldn’t

notice some of them until the scent knocks you over with more accuracy than a snowball.

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your garden.

This isn’t just a garden designer ‘thing’. It helps to brighten you up in those dull days after Christmas.

4

CUT FLOWERS

Sprays of scented flowers gathered on a frosty morning and brought indoors will fill your warm rooms with fragrance. No need for hot house flowers!

Turn over the page for my suggestions for scented flowering shrubs to add to your winter garden

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7 Scented Flowering Shrubs for Your Winter Garden

1

CHIMONANTHUS PRAECOX

This shrub is also known as wintersweet, and Japanese allspice, which is a giveaway for the scent to expect.

Chimonanthus praecox is deciduous, so the flowers appear on bare stems.

Highly fragrant small paleyellow flowers, maroon inside, fill your garden with a sweet spicy fragrance.

It can be grown as a freestanding shrub or trained to grow against a wall.

Chimonanthus praecox ‘Grandiflorus’ is a bushier shrub. As you’d guess from the name, it has larger flowers. If its scent you’re after, I’d resist the sharper yellow of Chimonanthus praecox ‘Luteus’ which is not as fragrant.

with an upright habit and evergreen foliage. The pinkred buds open to white, beautifully scented flowers.

Daphne mezereum by contrast is deciduous, so it has fragrant flowers on bare branches. NB the berries are scrummy for garden birds but toxic to humans and pets.

Likes a moist but free draining soil, fairly tolerant of alkalinity, in sun or semi shade.

3

Will tolerate most soils but needs a sunny sheltered spot or south facing wall.

2

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DAPHNE

Daphne bholua is genrally considered to be one of the best winter flowering shrubs. It’s eminently suitable for smaller gardens

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HAMAMELIS

Witch hazel, Hamamelis, comes in a range of yellow, orange and red flowers to offer colour and a spicy scent. The ‘witch’ comes from the old English ‘wice’ meaning pliant, referring to the pliant or bendable stems of this shrub.

Hamamelis mollis is the first to flower with acid yellow blooms on bare stems, such a zing in the garden! Whilst Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ has sunny orange flowers, although is more lightly scented. And I

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love Hamamelis vernalis ‘January pride’ with pinkypurple scented flowers.

Prefers an acid soil and semi-shade.

4

LONICERA X PURPUSII

Winter flowering honeysuckles are related to summer flowering honeysuckles, but they’re shrubs not climbers.

Creamy flowers with a fantastic fragrance from even a young plant make Lonicera x purpusii a must for the ornamental garden and the cutting garden.

However, there is a

downside. It isn’t the prettiest of winter flowering shrubs when we reach summertime. The trick is to grow it near a path for easy access in the winter and surround it with plants that have summer interest.

Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ is a cross between Lonicera fragrantissima and Lonicera Standishii. Both of which are just as delightful in the winter garden.

Lonicera Standishii is only semi evergreen and has a pink tinge to its scented flowers.

Will tolerate most soils, including alkaline / chalky,

in sun or semi shade.

5

MAHONIA X MEDIA

A good evergreen shrub to have on a boundary as its sharp-edged leaves can act as a burglar deterrent; it can reach 3m high and wide if not pruned. Mahonia also provides a waft of scent on a winter’s day that has you turning around wondering where the delicious aroma came from.

Mahonia x media flowers from November to early March, in a star burst of bright, scented yellow-ness that’s guaranteed to perk you up. These are followed

Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 73

by blue-black berries that are enjoyed by garden birds. Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ and Mahonia x media ‘Winter sun’ are both admirable winter garden additions.

Tolerant of most soils and situations, but does best in semi shade.

6 Gardening Seed Packet Organiser Annabel James www.annabeljames.co.uk

SARCOCOCCCA

Sarcococcca is commonly known as Christmas box or Sweet box for its family likeness to the hedging and topiary favourite, Buxus sempervirens. However, this evergreen is an excellent winter flowering shrub that offers interest throughout the year.

The small fragrant white flowers are followed by purple-black berries that may last throughout summer. Glossy foliage makes an attractive foil to bright summer flowers.

Happy in a border, in a pot, used as hedging or a backdrop for spring bulbs Sarcococcca is an outstanding choice to plant next to a door or gateway.

Sarcococcca confusa gets to 2m; Sarcococcca hookeriana var humilis at 60cm is better for a pot.

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Tolerates shade, virtually any soil and pollution.

7

VIBURNUM X BODNANTENSE

All the Viburnum x bodnantense hybrids are scented and the flower sprays are lovely both in the garden or cut to display indoors.

They are deciduous shrubs, the scented flowers bloom on bare branches from late autumn through winter and into early spring. Developed at Bodnant Gardens in North Wales, this hybrid is hardy throughout the UK. The cultivar Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ has particularly attractive flowers, red in bud, opening to pink and fading to white.

Will tolerate most soils, including alkaline / chalky, in sun or semi shade.

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Living Coral Is 2019's colour of the year

"The natural, playful shade evokes a sense of comfort and buoyancy", says the team at Pantone.

The colour will be reflected in the home decor industry this year

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Techniques for

Coping with Stress

O

ne of the most common maladies of the modern age, stress is something that affects us all. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons given for time taken off work – so a healthy, happy, functioning employee is good for the economy!

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A stress response can be caused by all manner of things from everyday anxiety to a life-altering event such as bereavement.

A ‘fight or flight’ response is triggered by the release of adrenalin from the adrenal glands, which stimulates our body’s responses and enables us to confront or escape danger. The problem occurs when the hormone remains in the body or is not eliminated properly, and the body remains in a state of sustained tension.

Eventually this will weaken the adrenal system.

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS Psychological irritability, anxiety, low moods, anger, mood swings, hopelessness Physical aches and pains, susceptibility to illness, fatigue, migraines, tension Mental - poor concentration, indecisiveness

The insidious nature of stress means that it can creep up on us seemingly without warning and gradually wears down our general well-being. The first step is to identify the symptoms, which range from the psychological (irritability, anxiety, low moods, anger, mood swings, hopelessness) to the physical (aches and pains, susceptibility to illness, fatigue, migraines, tension, etc.) to the mental (poor concentration, indecisiveness). If left untreated or unchecked, stress can lead to much more serious complaints such as high blood pressure, even a stroke.

So if you want to continue getting the most out of life and find the strength to deal with the very things that made you stressed in the first place, here are some useful recommendations:

1

TIMEMANAGEMENT

Quite often a stressed person will continue to work until literal exhaustion, feeling the need to ‘get it all done’. Then there’s striking the balance between work and family, seeing friends, doing the household chores – we

are expected to give equal priority to everything.

So try to organise your weekly timetable in advance: - Work out where you’re spending all your time and try to rearrange if necessary.

- Delegate, perhaps.

- Make sure you fit in some time to eat properly, preferably away from your desk (see 4).

- Try to list where you can make changes in your lifestyle, and tackle them one by one – without putting too much pressure on yourself.

2

EXERCISE

Those little feel-good chemicals, endorphins, are what help us relax.

After a hard day’s work, exercise can often seem the last thing your body can cope with, but going for a quick run or even doing some aerobics in the bedroom may actually help to energise you. The endorphins will enhance your immune system, making you less susceptible to illness.

Choose a complementary therapy. For example, the different fragrances used

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Stress-induced tiredness may make it tempting to make it through the day with caffeine, but this will only cause an energy crash later. Simply replace your tea or coffee with calming herbal infusions or water.

Essentially, poor nutritional choices make the bloodsugar level fluctuate, producing increased insulin, which then has a knock-on effect on hormones.

Good foods for stress relief are: foods rich in B vitamins to keep the brain and nervous system functioning properly (such as whole grains, dark leafy vegetables and liver), foods containing the serotonin-booster tryptophan, such as turkey, eggs or cheese, and other sustaining snacks such as almonds (full of protein, which won’t send your blood sugar soaring), seeds (packed with zinc, calcium, B vitamins), broccoli (folic acid) and oily fish to enable the essential fatty acids to help your brain.

in aromatherapy massage (also a good way to release endorphins) are thought to energise, soothe, relax or stimulate as required.

Other reputedly beneficial activities are yoga, which focuses on correcting posture, increasing muscle strength and relaxing the

3

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mind.

EAT WELL AND CHEW SLOWLY

Additive-filled fatty snacks or sweet treats may feel good at the time, but it could be an emotional response to your low mood or stressed mind.

4

RELAX

It’s important to take time for yourself, whether that’s by taking a 20-minute walk, reading or singing.

Spending time with loved ones can be a real tonic for mind and soul.

GOOD FOODS FOR STRESS RELIEF Foods rich in B vitamins e.g. whole grains, dark leafy vegetables, liver.

Foods containing serotoninbooster tryptophan e.g. turkey, eggs, cheese.

Sustaining snacks that won’t send your blood sugar soaring e.g. almonds.

5

LAUGH

Not only does it improve our mental and emotional well-being, it has also been proven to increase the body’s oxygen levels in the blood by the increased air entering our lungs. This enhances the body’s main systems, among them hormonal and immune by increasing the amount of immunoglobin in the blood.

6

AVOID ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND SMOKING as these

will burden your system.

Enough said!

7

ENJOY SOME CHOCOLATE!

While refined milk chocolate is often

“

Dark

chocolate with a high cocoa content is highly nutritious and a good way to get a natural kick.

accompanied by feelings of guilt or anxiety, dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (for example, over 70%) is highly nutritious.

It is a source of iron, magnesium, protein and B vitamins and is a good way to get a natural kick.

Seeds packed with zinc, calcium, B vitamins Foods containing folic acid e.g. broccoli.

Foods packed with fatty acids e.g. oily fish.

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OAK FURNITURELAND www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk

Drawing influence from the 1980s Memphis interiors trend and merging this with ever-popular geometric motifs, Playful Geometrics sees vibrant colour pops sing out from an otherwise neutral backdrop, with clashing patterns used in unexpected ways to add interest.

Chunky woods with dovetail joints enhance the look and mix effortlessly with paint-finished pieces, whilst generously sized modular seating allows for experimenting with different configurations depending on individual requirements. A connected feel unites this scheme, and by adding touches of playful pattern in all areas of the home, the look feels composed without ever being matchy-matchy.

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10 Ways to Harness the

Magic of Midwinter It may be frosty outside , but there is magic in the air ‌.

The midwinter lull is mother nature’s gift to us.

A time to rest and reflect.

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1. Wrap up warm and go for a walk The great outdoors is the perfect place for quiet reflection

2. Catch up on those box sets Turn off the phone and lose yourself in Netflix

3. Plan a holiday Check online for special offers and discount codes

4. Start on that pile of ‘must read’ books Yes! We know you have one ...

5. Cook something from scratch There is something very therapeutic about chopping vegetables and making nourishing food

6. Learn to knit/sew/crochet Homemade scarfs are good for the soul of both maker and wearer

7. Try out a new hairstyle If it goes horribly wrong, winter is the perfect time for a hat

8. Organise your cupboards If you do it now, when everyone else is spring cleaning, you can be out enjoying the spring sunshine

9. Find yoga videos on YouTube Not only get a head start on the beach body, but also boost your immune system with the exercise

10. Make a wish list Or several - not just things that you want, try listing the things that you would like to achieve and tick them off as you do them throughout the year

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Get More Done in the Morning H

ow many times do you wake up in the morning and instantly know that it is going to be an unproductive day? Many people wake up feeling unrested and unmotivated for the day ahead.

Even if you’re not a morning person, there are a few great ways that you can add a little boost to your day (without gallons of coffee!).

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Wake up

Earlier It might seem a little counterintuitive, but waking up earlier is one of the best ways to add a little productivity to your day. Besides the obvious, having an extra hour or two in the morning actually stimulates your brain. Wake up even just a half hour early each weekday morning and spend that extra time doing something that you enjoy. Having this time for yourself will leave you feeling fulfilled the moment you step into the office.

Routine

An important part of getting more done during the day is sticking to a routine. Your body craves routine and rhythm, so it is important that you listen to it. Go to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. Of course you get a little leeway on the weekends – an hour or two of extra sleep on a Saturday never hurt anybody.

Your routine extends past sleeping though. Having an order in which you get ready in the mornings is also a great way of staying on track for the rest of the day. Your body needs an established schedule and will thank you for one.

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Breakfast You might be busy, but you can’t skip breakfast. Having a small meal in the morning increases your brain productivity and stabilizes your moods. Plus, it will help you resist those snacking urges later on. Shoot for a balanced breakfast with protein, whole grains, and a fruit or vegetable. It can be tiring cooking up an extravagant feast every morning, so don’t feel bad if you opt for cereal or toast more times than not. It is more important to just get the food into your system.

Exercise

One of the best ways to get more out of your day is by exercising in the morning. Not only does it make you feel happier, but it also boosts your powers of concentration and creativity. Most people don’t have enough time in the mornings to spend on a full-blown workout, but don’t worry. Moving around a little is what is important. Park a few blocks away from work for a quick and refreshing walk to the office. If you have a little bit more time, try taking a twenty minute walk before you leave the house. *** Getting more done during your day isn’t rocket science. It just takes a little know-how and a little bit of willpower. If you wake up earlier, establish a routine, eat a small breakfast, and take a short walk, then you’re well on your way to increasing your productivity and feeling more fulfilled.

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4

4 Cornerstones of Living Quietly

Learning to say NO

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5

Ways to Filter Out Some of the Noise Today!

Turn off notifications and switch to silent on your phone.

Only log on to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. once a day.

Unsubscribe from or delete anything that is not essential.

Let people know that you only check your messages once or twice a day, so that they do not bombard you with follow up messages or expect instant replies.

Set time limits for your online interaction and TV viewing.

DID YOU KNOW?

The adverts between programs are louder than the show that you are watching, so turn the sound right down during the ad break and take the opportunity to close your eyes for a few minutes Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 101

Curiouser, and curiouser...open your mind to curiousities and insightment in Tasgal’s newest book, The Inspiratorium

The perfect gift book for those who love curiosities and facts, words and games. If you’re a fan of HQ Trivia, Trivial Pursuit and the likes, you’ll enjoy The Inspiratorium.

“Real insights only emerge when we have the time to experiment with the mind’s filters. Anthony Tasgal, who has deservedly made a living from his insights, can teach you how to do this.

If you haven’t got time to read this book, that’s precisely why you need it.”

Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman Ogilvy Group

Available on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Inspiratorium-AnthonyTasgal/dp/1911498460

What do Game of Thrones, David Beckham and Einstein have in common? From the award-winning author of The Storytelling Book, comes Anthony Tasgal’s newest book, The Inspiratorium: A Space for the Curious, a place where insightful ideas come to meet, grow, evolve and flourish.

A treasure chest of thoughts, ideas and short readings to make people feel smarter, happier and more likely to advance in their work and personal life, The Inspiratorium will inspire, delight and educate its readers. Flitting between the poles of science and art, quantum physics and epic poetry, philosophy and football, ancient history and artificial intelligence, this little book is a web of connections.

The Inspiratorium is random, serendipitous, and spontaneous. Take a leap into the unknown!

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Out Now & Available on AMAZON & READLY

THE HOUSEWORK ISSUE Specially created for our readers living with a chronic illness

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The British Heart Foundation is launching an exclusive accessories collection, in collaboration with renowned textile designer

Celia Birtwell.

The charming range of 12 home and fashion accessories will be available from 15th January at all 560 BHF standard shops across the UK. The products, which showcase Celia Birtwell’s iconic floral prints, will include a pom pom wash bag, a super soft cushion and a blue tassel scarf. There’s also a photo frame, jewellery box, set of mugs, canvas tote bag and a selection of purses.

You can even get your hands on a charming magnifying glass if you’re feeling especially nostalgic!

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Celia has kindly chosen to support the BHF as her family have a personal connection to the cause. Bella Clark, her daughter-in-law and business partner, sadly lost her sister, artist Roz Cryer, to a rare congenital heart condition in 2017. The family have been strong supporters of the BHF ever since and want to help raise awareness and funds for the BHF’s life saving research through the sales and promotion of this exclusive range.

The collection offers the perfect solution if you’re after a pick-meup to beat the January blues or perhaps searching for a Mother’s Day gift. Whatever the occasion, the dream-like quality of Celia Birtwell’s delightful prints will transport you to days gone by.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation said: “We are so grateful to Celia for her support in designing these beautiful accessories, which not only look great but will also help fund the BHF’s vital work. With a staggering 7 million people across the country living with heart and circulatory diseases, it’s essential that we continue to accelerate research into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat them. The support of families like Celia’s is vital in enabling us to continue this work.”

All proceeds from the collection will go towards much needed funds for life-saving research into heart and circulatory diseases, including conditions such as stroke, diabetes and vascular dementia.

Celia says: “It has been an honour to work with the British Heart Foundation over the past few months and I am so pleased to reveal the final products. The cause is very close to my heart and I hope the collection will raise vital funds so that future families don’t have to go through the devastation caused by heart and circulatory diseases.”

For more information about the new collection please visit www.bhf.org.uk/CeliaBirtwell and to locate the nearest BHF shop visit www.bhf.org.uk/shop

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The Function of Cynicism in the Media Written by Christina May

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C

ynicism, that sneering, questioning voice among voices, has always and will always be a part of humanity. From the Greek philosophers to the 1960’s love generation to the stars of contemporary media, questioning authority and finding fault with systems has been the coal that fuels debate, the darker nay-saying rebellion of conspiracy thinkers and often the fodder for despair. Indignant and antithetical to the status quo, cynicism, though ugly, serves a higher purpose, whether it be in the arena of philosophy, religion, politics or socio-economics.

Many say this “glass half-empty” outlook is a detriment to progress on both personal and group levels. Pessimists, doomsday predictors, and anti-disestablishmentoriented individuals, all may be viewed as weighing us down, perhaps even counteracting that most ephemeral locomotion toward achievement such as the magical flow of good karma found in “The Secret.” But really on both the personal and societal levels, it is only natural to be cynical, at least on a temporary basis. As a constant state, cynicism becomes utter grief, not what we as a world strive for. On a personal

level, constant cynicism would inevitably lead to depression. But for a time, cynicism is useful.

It phases us into solutions by creating a deeper counterweight and like a Trebuchet catapult, propels us toward those most happy of goals we wish to reach.

Personal cynicism serves a purpose and though not all of us have ever subscribed to it, many experience it in our early adulthood when the vestiges of our youth, our idealism, clash with a world that appears hard, unforgiving and at times irrational. With maturity we learn to mesh those ideals with the real world. Cynicism allows us through dialectic to learn what we want out of life, by voicing what we don’t want out of life. The degree to which this happens varies according to the level of idealism one embraces as they grow up as well as the level to which one has been, thus far, protected from the harsh realities of real life. This is particularly a key balance for those with an adventurous spirit, the soul seekers, the wanderers, those who want to see what else there is, beyond the path worn by their parents as example.

Where personal and societal cynicism meet is in the media. There we are

barraged with personalities magnified by the size of their audiences. No matter which channel you prescribe to, CNN, Fox, BBC and so on, each has their cynic.

There the cynical individual has found a platform, their place in the macrocosm, the “family” if you will, of their country and their world. This is the battlefield where the cynic will shine most supremely as they emerge with a level of cynicism spawned by their own imposition of “family” onto politics and the world.

Shouldn’t the world be as loving, they ask, as a family unit. While no one will argue that it shouldn’t, of course, that’s even what the masters of the religions taught, such an expectation is simplistic in an ever more complex world.

To expect their standards of youthful idealism to be embraced at this level is unrealistic. To actively reach for them, however, breeds an evolution to a greater plateau of understanding.

To apply one’s own hand, to work toward it, while engaging with the world one finds their footing, their balance of idealism and realism. At this point cynicism may dissipate, or it may disseminate, but either way, cynicism is a voice we shall always hear and shall always need.

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How Turning 30 Made Me Embrace Slow Living

Written by Alicia Cesana

I

f 10 years ago you told me I would be almost looking forward to my 30th birthday I would have laughed in your face.

Yet, I was in the audience of a blog awards when a comedian I had never heard of before made a joke about the hangover those over 30 would get the following day and I didn’t dread the idea: my party girl’s day are (almost) over.

I started my twenties like most university students, moving from class to party and back almost every night of the week, always visible either in front of a camera or behind one (as a street fashion photographer). I lived in a city that never stopped, and I was in search of something I didn’t even know what it was. I just said yes to every opportunity that came my way. Even as an introvert, burnout never crossed my mind because I was doing fun things…concerts, gallery openings, fashion shows, you name it.

Moving to London in my mid-20s was the dream come true: the indie scene in Milan was always lagging behind on the new discoveries, and we

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all wanted the chance to just walk into a club and mingle with the next big thing before the rest of the world even knew that bad existed. Between the golden age coming to an end and the demands of a career my social calendar slimmed down a little, and I got sucked into the world of busy for the sake of busy.

Leaving the office on time is one of the things most frowned upon in many workplaces, with workdays over 12 hours being the norm in some fields.

Instead of being more discerning with my time outside of work, I became even more eager to say yes to invitations because I dreaded to feel like I lived to work. The workaholic of the family was my mother, who couldn’t even slow down when doing chemotherapy, even though cancer forced her to begin to take sick days for the first time in over 30 years. The influence of this example of feeling like one cannot afford to rest if they mean to keep a job has never left me, being the nagging voice in my head that has made me feel lazy for needing time to care for myself, even with a chronic illness.

However, after 4 years of battling against my body telling me to stop, I have begun the slow

road of acceptance and healing: like the comedian expecting a hangover for half a bottle of wine, I have come to accept that I have limitations, and age is only going to add to them. As I began to slow down, it dawned on me just how miserable I had become, without even realising it.

I was too busy to face my own emotions, and I had long forgotten what being stress-free felt like. It was my new normal.

Choosing to do away with Christmas presents and the pressure that comes with them prompted me to ask myself a question: what else am I doing because it’s expected but I don’t enjoy it or, worse, it makes me unhappy? The answer was surprising: a lot of things qualified for that.

Even without an illness demanding rest, being more intentional with my time has come to signify one way in which to assert my value. I’m no longer seeking either a sense of identity or acceptance, so I can say no to what doesn’t align with my quest for contentment. Saying no to new opportunities was the easiest part, though: the hard one was pulling out of things that I have signed up for in the past, with the worry about people’s judgement sneaking in through the back door.

“

What else am

I doing because it’s expected but I don’t enjoy it or, worse, it makes me unhappy?

The looming 30th birthday has given me the courage to just do it. To say it in the words of a friend, I put my big girl’s pants on and pulled out of those things that my long reflection highlighted as a source of stress and unhappiness. As for the judgement, I didn’t overcome the fear, but I put it aside because life doesn’t go on forever, and I have already wasted 3 decades trying to please everyone else. The commitments that met the axe were both personal and professionals: I feel like I have enough under my belt not to have to prove myself all the time, and the more balanced workload means I feel less the need to do things so I don’t feel like I live to work.

In the past, the concept of slow living felt like losing time and missing out on what life had to offer in the hectic places where I’ve lived, but with the wisdom of entering my 30s it looks like gaining more of it by dedicating it to the things that matter.

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M&Co

www.mandco.com

Women plus parka jacket ÂŁ85

Straight leg jeans ÂŁ20

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Damask Coat £89

Jeggings £24

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Check coat £79

Floral embroidered peasant blouse £28

Slim leg twill jeans £24

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Ochre Pea Coat £65

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With Oxfam Unwrapped, you really can give a gift that lasts. Because when you surprise your loved one with a goat, a chicken or even a pineapple, you’ll help people around the world beat poverty - for good. www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/oxfam-unwrapped

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Tell someone if you are feeling overwhelmed or depressed.

Friends - family - medical professionals or call the Samaritans.

Never suffer alone. If you ask, someone will help you ...

www.samaritans.org Call the Samaritans: 116 123 Living Quietly Magazine | Issue 5 | 115

When an elderly villager is found in an open grave in the Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, Sophie’s suspicions of murder are overruled by the officious local doctor – but can she prove a sinister plot is afoot before the assailant strikes again?

In an often hilarious but also poignant story of family, friendship, love and loss, Sophie and her bookseller boss/boyfriend Hector endeavour to untangle the messy relationships within a long-established village clan, to whom half the village claim to be related.

Like Sophie’s previous adventures, this newest addition to the series offers plenty of clever yet gentle humour, but it also marks Sophie’s growing wisdom, understanding and thoughtfulness as she becomes more settled as part of the village community and more confident in her role as self-appointed amateur local sleuth.

Available on Amazon:

www.amazon.com/Debbie-Young/e/ B009GLU6XU/

Popular characters return from previous books in the series, such as the orderly shopkeeper Carol, local gardener and gravedigger Billy, unruly teenager Tommy and his spirited little sister Sina. Joining them are intriguing neighbours, the mischievous old Bunny, her addled daughter Kitty, and Petunia Lot, leading light of the Cats Prevention charity.

But not all will live to tell the tale…

Springtime for Murder is the fifth in the Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries series.

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FATFACE

www.fatface.com

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GEORGE Home https://direct.asda.com

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TEAPIGS

www.teapigs.co.uk

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Send any enquiries to our publisher at: bfmedialtd@gmail.com

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