CI Magazine - March/April 2021 by Creative Impact Co

M A R/ A P R 2 0 2 1 I S S UE N O . 13 FREE

With Ruby Rare PLUS

We' ve g ot yo u cove re d w ith i ncre d i b l e g if t id e as for

M O T H E R ' S DAY All yo u n e e d to k now a b o ut

CLU B HOUSE Le a rn to b u i l d a h e a lthy b ra i n w ith

KIMBERLEY WILSON

FOREWORD

SPR I NG IS IN THE AIR

Last month, we came together once again for yet another online event. This one was a one-day bootcamp, called ‘Make your Impact’. I danced wildly in my living room, I had wholesome chats with amazing people, and once again I was reminded of the power of bringing people together, albeit from afar. If you missed the event live, do not worry, replays will be available until April 30th, just head to our ‘collective highlights’ page for more information. At the very end of the day, I had an amazing chat with Mariel Witmond and Jazreena Harlow about growing our brand despite adversity. A big takeaway from that was that, especially when going through hardship, reframing is key. Truthfully, the juice is in the journey - we focus on the end goal, but life is all about the journey. Mariel also introduced me to potentially my new favourite quote: “face it till you make it” - which she summarised as our willingness to show up

authentically time and time again regardless of the outcome. The whole day was a reminder that you are your biggest cheerleader! It’s key to take the time to champion yourself and be OK wherever you’re (Jaz threw another brilliant quote at us “there are no losses, just lessons”). This issue we wanted to inspire you to become your biggest cheerleader, and not just in business yet, we’ll still find the time to talk about Clubhouse. I know you were dying for us to spill the beans on that one. You’ll hear the stories of our collective member Kate Rowe-Ham and multi-passionate superwoman Kimberley Wilson, as well as a deep chat about pleasure and sex positivity with our cover star Ruby Rare - genuinely, one of the nicest people I had the pleasure to virtual meet this year. Finally, look out for Mothers Day and Easter recommendations, because priorities ya, all.

Fab Giovanetti Editor in Chief

FAB’S FAVES MAKE YOUR IMPACT BOOTCAMP I am biased, but I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with people over the past month through the event. It was a great reminder that adapting and thinking outside the box can truly pay off.

NOOJ NUT PASTES

You can turn these magical pouches into nut milks, butter, use for smoothies, sauces, baking and much more. Genius!

PODCAST UPGRADE

I have eventually updated my gear to a whole new pop filter and microphone arm! It now is a permanent feature on my desk, bring it on Make an Impact Show!

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 03

CREATIVE IMPACT

EDITORIAL

MAGAZINE

Editor-in-Chief Fab Giovanetti Contribution Editor Amy Lanza Sponsorships Chanelle Allen

CONTRIBUTORS

Columnist Joanna Konstantopoulou, Charlotte Willis; Hannah Wallace Special thanks to Hannah Rose Cluley, Ayelen Martinez, Ami Norton, Laura Ann Moore, Dr. Becky Sage, Lauren Leyva, Laura Davis, Lauren Lovatt

Did you know our members get FREE digital issues ?

BACK ISSUES Creative Impact is the ultimate tool and resource for creatives and conscious entrepreneurs. Current members of the Collective will be able to download each issue directly for free as well as back issues on the online platform.

CLICK HERE

Website creativeimpact.group/collective

VISUALS & MORE Lead Designer Michael Cavalli Junior Designer Lucia Cavalli Stock photography Pexels; Rawpixel; Unsplash Affiliate links Amazon Associates

Creative Impact Mag

is part of Creative Impact group For inquiries or suggestions, contact us at: Website creativeimpact.group Email info@creativeimpact.group Advertising team@creativeimpact.group

FOLLOW US Facebook Facebook.com/creativeimpactc Instagram Instagram.com/creativeimpactco TikTok Tiktok.com/@creativeimpactco Twitter Twitter.com/creativeimpactc

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FIND OUT MORE AT

creativeimpact.group/collective

CONTENTS

I N TH I S I SSU E S P R I N G I S S U E | M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 1 | I S S U E N O . 1 3

ESSENTIALS 03

FEATURES

WELLBEING

Sex Ed with Ruby Rare

Creative Impact top picks

05 Contents

Changing fitness

Bookshelf

06 Good news

Build a healthy brain

Hannah Wallace column

Mother's day gift guide

Editor's note

Monthly calendar

Mission statement

Charlotte Sophie column

Reclaim your time off

Founder series

Community Growth

Expert profile

44 Disrupt an industry

Chocolate food picks

46 A guide to Clubhouse

Recipes

34 Behind the content

PRO SECTION

64 Psychologist Corner

FOODIE

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 05

Good

IN THE NEWS

NEWS As we are consuming news more than ever, we thought we’d bring you our very own roundup of happy news.

Taz the devil NATURE | AUSTRALIA

After a 3,000-year absence, Tasmanian devils, the largest marsupials, are back on mainland Australia. A ten-year breeding and reintroduction programme has seen conservation group Aussie Ark gradually reintroduce 26 devils into a fenced-off, thousandacre area of pre-prepared eucalyptus forest in eastern Australia, after their mysterious decimation over 10 years ago. YOU CAN HELP This month, you guessed it. We are highlighting the Tasmanian Devil. To help care for these special creatures, search online or click on the link to find more information from WWF. You can also support the many zoos across the world that need help. ADOPT A TASMANIAN DEVIL FROM WWF

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Did you know

ads have Their oversized he at can open incredible jaws th e! and to 80 degrees wid t bite for es ng deliver the stro mal am its size of any m in the world.

IN THE NEWS

Accessibility stepping stones HEALTH | GLOBAL

Ford Automaker is making a tight-fitting face mask with a clear panel that reveals wearers' facial expression. The mask is still in development, but it aims to filter out 95% of airborne particles and uses anti-fog technology. The goal is to help the deaf and hard of hearing community that relies on lip reading and help teachers and medical professionals.

Standing up for what matters ACTIVISM | USA

A group of teenagers achieved a historic victory in Chicago recently as they succeeded in pushing city officials to rename one of the city’s parks. The Village Leadership Academy students have been fighting the battle to rename their local park since 2017, when they discovered it was named after Stephen A. Douglas, a man who supported the expansion of slavery. The park will now be named after abolitionists Frederick and Anna Murray Douglass instead.

The healing power of nature HEALTH | GLOBAL

One man and his boat SPORT ENDURANCE | UK

Frank Rothwell has raised more than £1 million pounds for Alzheimer's research after rowing 3,000 miles unassisted in 56 days from the Canary Islands on 12 December in a boat named “Never Too Old” to Antigua, where he arrived earlier in February. He later said crossing the finish line was a "completely euphoric moment.”

Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week will take place from 10-16 May 2021. The theme is nature and the environment. The evidence is clear that access to nature is crucial for our mental health and millions of people re-discovered that during lockdowns this year. The week will be an opportunity to open our eyes to the power of nature.

A long, long game SPORT ENDURANCE | CANADA

It took 572 volunteer shifts over 252 hours to allow 40 players to score 5,177 goals over 11 days in the freezing cold. The final score of the World's Longest Hockey Game was 2,649 to 2,528. Organized by Brent Saik, this year’s event was held from Feb. 4-15 in Alberta, Canada. The funds raised go to the Cure Cancer Foundation at the University of Alberta.

A mobile library for all children EDUCATION | ETHIOPIA

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the ability of children to access education, yet Save the Children found a great solution to tackle the problem of children being absent from school. They introduced the ‘camel library’, which will bring vital books to 22,000 children in 33 villages across Ethiopia, spending two and a half days at each site to also allow the camel to rest and recharge.

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 07

COMING UP

MARCH03 SPECIAL CALENDAR

2 3 4 5 6 7

one-day live business bootcamp Are you looking to create a successful business in 2021? Eager to adapt to the new online landscape and push your brand online? Ready to define work at your own terms, work smarter, not harder? On February 16th we hosted a one-day virtual bootcamp to start 2021 the way you’re meant to

continue it: like the rockstar you truly are. Did you miss the event live? Not to worry: the replays for the day are available to access until April 30th. Get inspired with some of our favourite quotes from the day from our live panelists below.

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Be clear about when you want to work and be available. Be clear and set boundaries about how you are spending your time

Bryony Hopkins @bryonyehopkins

26 27 28 29 30 31

Donna Noble (Noble Yogi)

@donnanobleyoga

Make your impact bootcamp replay - until April 30th MAKEYOURIMPACT.HEYSUMMIT.COM/

Other important dates in March CREATIVE IMPACT MASTERCLASS: SALES & PRICING Tue 2nd March | 12pm FIND OUT MORE HERE

Sat 13th | WORLD SLEEP DAY

CREATIVE IMPACT MEMBERS: SEO WORKSHOP WITH KHALEELAH JONES Tue 9th March | 12pm FIND OUT MORE HERE

Wed 17th | ST PATRICK’S DAY

WORKSHOP PENSIONS 101 WITH PENFOLD Tue 23rd March | 2pm FIND OUT MORE HERE

Sat 27th | EARTH HOUR DAY

24 25

You’re like a lighthouse and you need to switch the light on so people can find you

Sun 14th | MOTHER’S DAY (UK) Not sure what to get your mum for Mother's day? We've got you covered with some special gifts on page 62

Thur 18th | AWKWARD MOMENTS DAY Sat 20th | DAY OF HAPPINESS

Tue 30th | DOCTORS DAY Wed 31st | EQUAL PAY DAY

Try Canva Pro for Free

APRIL04 1

2 3 4 5

There needs to be a mindset shift of seeing self-love as a priority

Don’t be afraid to experiment even if that’s creating space where you talk about everything. This will naturally lead you to hone in on what you’re most passionate talking about and then stick to that

Sabi kerr

Amma Aburam

@sabi.kerr

@styleand.sustain

7 8 9

Face it ‘till you make it. This reminds us for our willingness to show up authentically time and time again regardless of the outcome

10 11 12

Mariel WitmondBateman

13 14

@mindfulsonder

15 16 17

When we think about mindset, we think about what’s in our heads, but it’s also what's in our body. We need to encompass and embrace every facet of who we are

Jazreena Jarlow @jazreena_harlow

Make your impact bootcamp replay - until April 30th MAKEYOURIMPACT.HEYSUMMIT.COM/

18 19

Other important dates in March

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

CREATIVE IMPACT MASTERCLASS: REELS MASTERCLASS WITH TAILWIND Tue 13th April | 4pm FIND OUT MORE HERE ALSO COMING UP

Thur 1st April | APRIL FOOLS’ DAY Sun 4th April | EASTER SUNDAY Get inspired and make the most of Easter by getting in the kitchen. We have some incredible chocolate recipes for you to try over at page 70 Mon 5th April | EASTER MONDAY

27 28

Wed 7th April | WORLD HEALTH DAY

Frid9th April | UNICORN DAY

30 31

Mental Health Awareness Week will take place from 10-16 May 2021

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Frid16th April | STRESS AWARENESS DAY Thur22nd April | EARTH DAY

MISSION STATEMENTS

WHAT’S YOUR MISSION? We asked our collective members what’s their mission and how they are looking to make a positive impact on other people and the planet, and here’s what our founder Ami had to say.

I AM HERE TO INSPIRE About Ami

aka aminortonyoga yoga teacher

Frankfurt, Germany

I believe in the power of conscious connection – not only to others but to ourselves. Living a fast-paced modern lifestyle, it’s so easy to forget who we are at our core. Often beginning with a disconnect from the body, this can then weigh on our mental health. I experienced this myself during my 20s and now see my purpose in inspiring and supporting others to foster a mindful relationship to their body and themselves.

AND SUPPORT OTHERS TO FEEL EMPOWERED

BY THEIR BODY RATHER

THAN STUCK BY IT. THROUGH YOGA, BREATHWORK, AND MEDITATION, I HELP THEM CREATE A CONSCIOUS

CONNECTION TO THEMSELVES.”

Ami Norton www.aminorton.yoga

C lic k h er e to se e m o re about Am i o n In st a

For me, this begins with cultivating awareness and appreciation of the body and breath and all the amazing things they can do. This could be in a fluid yoga sequence with music, a candlelight yin yoga session, or a self-love meditation. I seek to provide my students with a space where they can unfold, peel away the layers, and discover what’s beneath. There’s so much pressure for us to optimize and “be better.” Instead, I want to help others grow deep roots of self-acceptance so that they can find healthy growth from there. Of course, I love seeing smiles on yogis’ faces after class, but the greatest reward is hearing how yoga has helped them off the mat. Patience, joy, and courage are so much more rewarding than touching toes. CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 11

COLUMNIST

CONTEMPLATING WITH CHARLOTTE

Calming the racing mind Contemplating your best night sleep

recent poll on my Instagram feed revealed that 62% of voters classified their sleep as being “different to normal” since lockdown 2.0. And no, I’m not surprised. The past year has seen our lives turn upside down, as we battle to make sense of a situation that changes by the day and unsettles us by night. Research investigating the impact of COVID-19 on our sleep quality is emerging, but initial evidence suggests that anxiety and stress in individuals who are isolating is high, whereas sleep quality is low. By prioritising our sleep, adopting simple self-help practices to ease our anxious tendencies at night, we can create a higher quality of restful, restorative sleep. Let’s sleep better together (socially-distanced, of course…).

RULE 1 Set yourself a sleep schedule

You’re probably thinking, I schedule my whole day, why on earth do I need to schedule my sleeping? Well, having a set sleeping schedule helps your mind and body to create a regular circadian (sleep-wake) rhythm. Think of it as setting the time zone for your internal body clock. If one night your internal clock is set on GMT, and the next night you’re on EST, before Friday night leaves you on PST, your body’s going to feel pretty jetlagged, and you won’t make the most of your sleep window. Set yourself fixed waking and lights-off times, and stick to them regardless of weekdays or weekends if you possibly can. You’ll entrain your rhythm and sleep so much better for it.

RULE 2 Prioritize your sleep

Oh it’s so tempting to skip an hour’s sleep here or there to work late, watch another Netflix episode, or chat to a friend. But if you’re struggling with sleep, you’re going to have to make sacrifices. Be strict with yourself. Create

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a target bedtime, and try not to engage in stimulating activities at least 1 hour before you intend to drift off. Don’t over-nap either. A quick 20 minutes before 3pm is all you’ll need.

RULE 3 Calm a racing mind

Racing mind at night? Time alone with your thoughts at night can be a lonely and worrisome place. Here are some of my favourite ways to calm a racing mind; Meditate before bed, listen to a guided meditation, listen to a calming playlist whilst imagining yourself floating above all your thoughts, write down everything on your mind (known as a mind-dump) before you sleep, replace your negative thoughts with positive memories or moments from the day that incite happiness. If you struggle with anxiety, please also seek help from a therapist, it’ll change your life!

RULE 4 Ditch the blue lights

At least 30 minutes before bed, make sure you leave your screens alone. Keep away from bright, stimulating, and blue lights which decrease the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin. Opt instead to read, listen to some calming music, or stretch a little.

RULE 5 Use relaxation techniques

Therapeutic techniques for whole-body relaxation are simple to use, and can help induce a deeper sleep. Here’s one of my favourites. Working from your toes, tense one muscle in your body at a time as hard as you can for 10 seconds before resting completely for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise working up your legs to your stomach, fingers, arms, even your jaw. At the end of your relaxation, your muscles should be in a complete state of rest, ideal for drifting off to sleep. @charlottesophiewrites

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AYELEN MARTINEZ

FOUNDER SERIES

The healing power of mushrooms

With Ayelen Martinez

yelen Martinez did not just create a mushroom snack company. She found her calling by living and breathing her business every single day. Myshrooms is an opportunity to care for our mother earth, our health, future, and inspire people to tap into that innate connection they have with nature. Founded in 2019, Myshrooms is dedicated to sparking curiosity and awakening our innate connection with nature by seducing people into high-vibe health consciousness through loving indulgence. My eureka moment In 2018, after I had spent 2 years healing my mindbody-soul due to my health spiraling out of control, I found myself sitting at a 10 day silent Vipassana meditation retreat. At that moment it came to me that everyone deserved to be healthy without pain. When I left I decided to start an Instagram page to share the benefits of the medicinal mushrooms that had helped me and enrolled into IIN to become a Holistic Health Coach. A couple of months after, my snack devouring passion merged with my awe of these ingredients and so the testing of medicinal mushroom brownies began. Fast forward to 2019 the opportunity came to sell these snacks at a market and cafe which marked the beginning of Myshrooms as a business. Validating the idea At the time the market for products that were healthy but also provided added benefits to deal with today’s world was growing and still is. I initially tested my brownies with family and friends. Without finishing the testing phase when I got the opportunity to do a

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market and sell at a cafe I took the leap and continued to develop and validate my idea through direct customer feedback. The response to our snacks has been really good but hearing from customers who have noticed benefits to their health is what truly validates it for me. The failure I am glad I experienced I believe that you only fail if you stop. Many challenges have popped up and have led me to things like not establishing boundaries or conditions when dealing with other businesses, saying yes because of the fear

MYSHROOMS Founded: 2019 Job title:

Founder & Owner INSTAGRAM WEBSITE

3 TOP TIPS FOR...

ANYONE STARTING A BUSINESS GO FOR IT!

Don't spend too much time thinking about your idea. Get to the doing part, launch it and tune it on the way.

BE PATIENT

Have patience, move forward and keep in mind that things may take you 10 times longer than what you expected and that it’s completely okay.

of missing out and not believing in myself enough. Through these experiences I have always learned how to do things better the next time. I’ve realised that as you develop your business you develop yourself and that everything happens at the right time when you are ready for it. The role of social media Social media is what allowed me to get started in the first place! It has been my main point of contact with my customers and through it I was able to successfully launch my online shop, discover what

customers were looking for and their feedback, educate them on the ingredients I am so passionate about, network and collaborate with other incredible brands and use it as a point of credibility. Looking to the future I am excited to see more people discover these natural ingredients through our snacks and benefit from them in the same way I have. I am also really looking forward to extending the range and venturing beyond snacks, whilst making them more available and continuing to improve our eco friendliness as a business.

SAY YES!

When a good opportunity comes, say yes, even if you don’t know how to, you will figure it out and push yourself and the business to the next level.

SEX COVER FEATURE

FOR G E T WH A T Y OU AL RE A D Y K N OW A B OUT

With Ruby Rare

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Photo: @sophiec__photography

COVER FEATURE

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 17

Photo: @sophiec__photography

COVER FEATURE

ink vibrant hair, big smile and a pile of soft blankets and pillows. Do not get fooled by the setting of this Zoom interview. Ruby Rare means business, and she's on a mission to engage people of all ages in positive conversations about their pleasure. Plus, the ‘soft’ setting worked incredibly well against the snowy backdrop for an early February afternoon. Ruby Rare is a sex educator, artist, and body-positive champion. Her work is influenced by her experiences as a queer, non-monogamous, dual-heritage woman. Among some of Ruby’s passions and interests, a few highlights include powerpuff girls (you can test her on that) and all types of history: “I'm a history nerd, especially if it comes to things in my field, like the history of sex and relationships”.

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As we discuss the different attitudes around sex and the relationships that people were having at different times in history, she points out how the Victorians have a lot to answer for: “the underbelly of that society was absolutely filthy; it was when visual, photographic porn was first a thing”. She continues by demistifying the longstanding idea that people were super prudish in ancient times: “That's inaccurate because people have always been having sex. For as long as society has existed, we have been having sex in wonderful, weird, creative ways. I like to mention that because we're not the first society who have invented this.” This truly goes back to the idea of being able to openly talk about pleasure and sexuality, including solo sex (or masturbation, but I

COVER FEATURE

“There are no cheats here, there are no quick ways to feel comfortable with yourself and comfortable with pleasure. It's about making a commitment to really look at yourself as you would a friend who you care about, and not someone who you are

inclined to criticize or judge or put pressure on.” RUBY RARE definitely prefer her choice of words). This is at the forefront of her work, and truly what her new book, Sex Ed is all about. It’s an inclusive, curious, and empowering approach to sex education - where everyone is invited to the party.

Photos: Ashley Armitage (@ladyist)

“So much of our sex education at a young age comes from the things that are not said more than the things that are said; the information that's missed, the conversations that you shouldn't be overhearing or that you're shut away from as a younger person.” She remarks how all of this creates a lot of shame that we have to carry around for the rest of our lives, and that it’s really hard if we're not encouraged to do something about that. The book opens this up and actually sees if we can get rid of some of that shame: “I want people to feel empowered, I want people to like having the agency

to make choices that feel right for them, but at the same time, I didn’t want to shy away from the difficult things that happen when we have sex.” This is the pleasure-focused sex ed that you deserved to get at school, but probably didn't, in all it's challenging, messy, awkward, hilarious, enjoyable glory: “our relationship with how we talk about pleasure, and how we teach pleasure, is completely messed up. There are still biology textbooks that have diagrams of genitals that don't mention the clitoris!.” Ruby is also a body positive champion. In 2018 she co-founded Body Love Sketch Club with Rosy Pendlebaby, a body positive life drawing class where everyone is invited to pose (nude or clothed) as well as draw, as a way of exploring our relationships with our bodies and celebrating nudity in a non-sexual setting. “Like most things in my life, which I'm very grateful for, it happened organically. We have been friends for many, many moons, we both come from a life-modeling and life drawing background” she recalls “both of us had really transformational experiences with nudity, and with our relationships with our bodies through life drawing

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 19

COVER FEATURE

spaces.” As her best friend Rosy said, when we talk about self love and body positivity, it's not something that happens overnight. And it's also not something that you just do once. “It's an evolving process, it's something you have to keep doing, it's a muscle that you have to keep exercising. So there are no cheats here, there are no quick ways to feel comfortable with yourself and comfortable with pleasure. It's about like making a commitment to really look at yourself as you would a friend who you care about, and not someone who you are inclined to criticize or judge or put a large amount of pressure on.” We can safely say sex in all of its forms, as well as pleasure, have now made it into

the headlines, yet how is the mainstream going to be make sexuality and pleasure more than just yet another trend? “I'm always wary when I see these conversations in magazines. There's so much to be gained from them, don't get me wrong, but there's also something in the back of my mind thinking...Okay, what are you also telling me to buy?” ‘'I’m interested to see what happens when solo sex and pleasure and sexual wellness become slightly less trendy. They're still going to be here, there’s still going to be me and loads of other educators who continue talking about this stuff and feel very passionate about it. I wonder what happens when we shift and the next big thing becomes the trendy thing that we're

“I want people to feel empowered, I want people to have the agency to make choices that feel

right for them, but at the same time, I don’t want

to shy away from the difficult things that happen when we have sex.”

RUBY RARE

Until recently, Ruby worked at Brook, the UK's leading sexual health charity for young people, where she managed a National period equality project. She feels strongly about the conversations we need to be having with young people: “the societal thing that we can all do is provide these messages at an earlier age, and ensure that it's age appropriate education“.

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Series of photos: @sophiec__photography

talking about. This is not just a trend, this is something that impacts all of us throughout our lives, whether you are sexual or not. Asexual people still benefit from these conversations about pleasure and agency and navigating consent, and figuring out what you do and don't want to experience in your body. It impacts all of us.”

COVER FEATURE

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 21

COVER FEATURE

“It's not about normalising it, because I don't want sex to be normal. Sex is

wonderful, and fun and juicy, and sometimes really challenging. Normal is a boring word, I'm not interested in that. And I also don't want it to be sensationalised, it's not there to be salacious, it's not there for the enjoyment of others.” RUBY RARE Parents have a key role in this, and have a big responsibility towards younger generations: “I would love to see people getting comfortable with using correct medical terminology with their children and with their colleagues. I want people to use the word vulva and clitoris and frenulum in conversations, I want people to feel able to mention to a colleague at work, that they've

just started their period, I want people to be able to talk about thrush, and cystitis and infertility” This is the information you should have been taught at school: a no-holds-barred roadmap that covers everything from how the brain is the most important sex organ and how to communicate what you want

to yourself and a partner, all the way down to the messy stuff - solo sex, orgasms, touching, kissing, blow jobs, cunnilingus, anal play, lube, toys and kegels. “It's not about normalising it, because I don't want sex to be normal. Sex is wonderful, and fun and juicy, and sometimes really challenging. Normal is a boring word, I'm not interested in that. I also don't want it to be sensationalised, it's not. It's not there to be salacious, it's not there for the enjoyment of others. There's a very kind of practical, pragmatic side to it, and I think we could all do with getting more comfortable with that.”

About Ruby Rare

You can find out more about Ruby's work online and her new book, by following her on Instagram @rubyrare

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COVER FEATURE

Book extract

SEX ED FOR GROWN-UPS

(forget everything we said before) Extract from Sex Ed by Ruby Rare (courtesy of the author)

So you’ve probably spent your adolescence being told

sex is bad and something to avoid at all costs. Then you

become an adult in a relatively sexually liberated part of

the world and you’re catapulted into sex. Not only are you expected to become a sexual being, you’re expected to be fucking amazing at it. Sex is everywhere. It can make or break a relationship, and it can feel like playing the world’s most complicated board game without ever

I want to talk about the mechanics of sex. None of

seeing the rules.

this ‘down there’, ‘we did it’, ‘they were good at, you

sex and relationships available to us are often just as

gaps. All the gaps.

And even though sex is everywhere, the examples of

crap as the education we received as teenagers – with

know ... [winky face]’. Here, we are going to fill in the School sex ed let you down, and adult sex ed can

much of it othering or outright ignoring those with

feel just as confusing. But fear not – the sex-positive

norms. Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of

true – I’ll get into my criticisms later – but it’s significantly

identities and sexual preferences that sit outside social amazing educators and resources out there, and sex ed for adults is becoming less of a taboo, but you have to

movement is here to save the day! OK, that’s not entirely better than the other crap we’ve discussed so far.

actively seek out this stuff. With more mainstream sex ed

Want to know if you’re sex positive?

many shying away from the real nitty-gritty.

I believe consensual sex is a healthy part of life,

there’s still an airbrushed quality to depictions of sex, with This is echoed in our social interactions: I’ve overheard

countless conversations where a group of friends

Tick the statements that apply to you:

and that we have a right to experience pleasure if, when and how we choose to.

manage to talk about sex while simultaneously avoiding

I believe everyone has the right to access inclusive

form. They discuss the flirting, the date, the build-up to

Provided they’re done safely and consensually,

the mention of anything directly sexual. It’s a true art

going home together, what the flat looked like, neglected houseplants and all. But then, like a gentle fade to black in an ’80s romance film, the conversation jumps to ‘the morning after’.

sex education and sexual health services.

I support other people’s sexual desires and practices, even if they differ from my own.

I believe we each have the right to take

ownership of our bodies and sexual choices.

I am committed to having a healthy attitude towards sex, even if I don’t feel like I’m 100% there yet.

Click here to grab you copy today

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 23

IN PROFILE

Job title:

Careers Coach Career journey:

The combination of my coaching qualifications and my own personal experiences have allowed me to wotk on my own personal mindset, as well as support my clients in creating a clear strategy for success.

EXPERT PROFILE

Fiona Moss Hi, I’m Fiona Moss and I support women who feel stuck in an unfulfilling job to transition into a fulfilling purpose-led career in which they can truly achieve their potential. I know exactly how my clients feel because I have been there; climbing the ladder, getting caught in the rat race, feeling unfulfilled yet frustrated and stuck, not knowing how to make a change or what to. I help them to build their resilience, confidence and self-belief to uncover their dream career and create a life which truly fulfils them; because that’s what life should be all about, right? What is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to your field? So many people want more purpose in their work but they don’t spend time to consider

YOUR VALUES Spend time to uncover your true values and purpose. By being able to clearly articulate these, will provide a real north star to help you make the right decisions for you (and no-one else!)

INSTAGRAM WEBSITE

what their purpose is. When people feel unfulfilled in their career, they just want change and so they take action, jumping into another career. But because they have not spent time understanding their purpose, their values and what a fulfilling life look like to them, they go into another career which most likely won’t support these

REFRAME What is keeping you in your job? Are you masking the reason as an excuse, or a belief which you are holding onto as gospel? Get clear on your purpose and drive. Recognise, reframe and move on.

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BUILD NETWORKS Unfortunately feeling stuck and unfulfilled in your career is not uncommon. Lean on the experiences of others to help navigate you through a tricky time with more clarity and direction.

fundamentals, leaving them inevitably frustrated and unfulfilled once again. What is your favourite thing about being part of Creative Impact? Positivity, optimism, growth, development! Being surrounded by people who want to achieve more of their potential is so inspiring and only makes you grow and develop more. This is exactly what I tell my clients, surround yourself with positive people who want to develop and see yourself grow as well. How can people feel more confident about improving in your field of expertise? Spending time to know what you stand for, what your purpose is and what your values are is a sure fire way to develop your self belief and confidence in your work and the decisions you take to move forward.

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Make an Impact Show Stories of inspiring creatives

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Changing the face of women’s fitness KATE ROWE-HAM

Interview by Amy Lanza

ate Rowe-Ham is our Best Instagram Account award winner from 2020 and we are so excited to share more about her story with you today. Kate is best known for her live free IG workouts (which are tough, if you’ve ever tried one!) and more recently she

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has graced the insides of Women’s Health magazine and appeared on our TV screens alongside the likes of fitness royalty, Joe Wicks. We all know that Rome wasn’t built in a day and likewise, you cannot build an Instagram account and loyal following

overnight. So how did Kate build up such a connection with her audience and what thought goes into her posts? She first started her Instagram account, @katerh_fitness “in the hope of sharing an honest and authentic perspective of how fitness might be achieved from

KATE ROWE-HAM

one busy working mum to another.” Kate wanted to share her passion and show other women that “moving can be such a powerful tool in helping one cope in times of stress” and due to her perseverance and commitment, her account has organically grown from strength to strength. Her committed audience includes followers of all ages but she aims to target what she sees as a gap in the market: “to empower older women. I would like to encourage women to see it’s never too late to reach their fitness goals, regardless of their starting point, and to give them the tools needed to... navigate this time in their lives.” This “time” is something that Kate talks very openly about: her experience with the menopause. She often feels confronted with social barriers when talking about women’s health and she’s still working to smash them

down. She believes “in order to encourage women to get and stay fit and healthy well into later life, we need to start championing a movement to celebrate this demographic by diversifying the images we currently see in our feeds on social media.” If we hear you say a little “amen” to that, we don’t blame you. Social media can become an echo chamber of young, fit and healthy women who all look and act alike. It’s not often a space to embrace our differences and celebrate our own bodies without thinking we could be a bit more like “so and so”. Talking openly about women’s health has helped Kate personally: “It has helped me accept my body more and to embrace change - something I would like to share. It has made me more aware of how I train some women but the bottom line is we can be just as fit, active and mobile as we want to be. I have in fact achieved some of my

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PB’s in my 40’s.” This raises the question of age-related fitness and what exactly fitness means. In truth, fitness will mean something different to us all for all of our bodies are unique. To Kate, “fitness means feeling strong, healthy, mobile and connected to your body, so you can move and train safely to the best of your ability.” Being unique is something that Kate is passionate about and one of the best pieces of advice she’s ever received was about just that. “Always be authentically and

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unapologetically you. I think I struggled for a long time trying to please people and worried so much about what people thought. As I’ve aged I’ve become increasingly aware that being me and embracing me is so much better. I credit my husband for always telling me to be myself.” Self-kindness and self-confidence are key to feeling at peace with our bodies and getting the most out of them. We needn’t smash a tough gym workout 3 times a week, either. Daily acts of movement and self-care go a

long way and definitely play in part in Kate’s growing success as a face for women’s health and fitness. To date, she has been part of some amazing collaborations, been featured in Women's Health Magazine, she has been on Sunday Brunch and she has been spotlighted among the likes of Joe Wicks! “I have felt very honoured” she tells us, “I have felt overwhelmed and out of my depth having qualified late. I am aware there are many younger trainers in fitness who may be more knowledgeable as they have been

KATE ROWE-HAM

Top Tip

Moving your body and training to your ability can be as simple as a few daily things. Kate recommends:

WALK

Walking is really overlooked and such a wonderful way to get the heart rate up and to clear your mind. I would aim for 30 minutes a day if you can.

STRETCHING...

Many of us forget or don’t leave time to stretch... myself included. But taking 15 minutes 3 x a week to specifically work on mobility and stretching can help with recovery and reduce risk of injury.

DRINK

Water water water and hydration! I suspect that many of us get to the end of a long day and feel thirsty because we lead such busy lives and can easily get stuck and forget to hydrate. I would suggest investing in a bottle that allows you to see how much you are drinking in a day in order to ensure you are getting the requirements.

around longer so to be given an opportunity to represent what I feel is a minority, is great.” But the fun doesn’t end there. Kate is working on an online training program and app to be launched this month in march 2021! The app is aimed at women over 35 who are looking for more bespoke and personalised training plans as well as offering meal plans to help them reach their goals. A key focus and major selling point for Kate’s app is the incorporation of menopause experts in building the plans: “I am hoping that as well as my online coaching platform being a

success, I can raise more awareness and support around fitness and menopause. I would like to create a shift in the media to celebrate this demographic a little more” Kate opens us to us. With all her success to date, we have every faith that her menopause-focused app, IG workouts and TV appearances will go a long way. You heard it here first, Kate Rowe-Ham is changing the face of women’s fitness for the better.

About Kate

You can find out more about Kate, and her incredible live IG workouts for free, by following her on Instagram @katerh_fitness

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BIG INTERVIEW

How to develop stronger minds and build a healthy brain Interview by Amy Lanza

imberley Wilson is a very talented and inspiring Chartered Counselling Psychologist with an additional degree in nutrition. Kimberley is unique in her approach to the "Whole Body Mental Health". She believes that “the way that we typically think about mental health – as being separate from the body – is fundamentally flawed. For example, the brain is made up of certain nutrients that you can only get through the diet, so in that sense your brain function is completely dependent on your diet” In addition, factors such as sleep, light exposure and exercise can literally reshape the brain: “I believe that treatments for our common psychological concerns would be more effective if we took the physical health and structure of the brain into consideration. That’s what I try to do.” She was our 2020 Creative Impact Award Winner for the Best Nutrition creative - take a look at @foodandpsych and alongside the typical work of a practitioner psychologist (providing treatment for mental health concerns) she also considers the role of

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nutrition and lifestyle on brain and mental health. We could not be grateful and in awe of Kimberley’s dedication to the brain and our bodies and her first book, "How to Build a Healthy Brain" was released in March 2020 to help us “reduce stress, anxiety and depression and future-proof your brain.” “The book started as a CPD (continuing professional development) training seminar that I put together for other psychologists. But I soon became frustrated that this information wasn’t getting to the people who needed it most – the public. So I opened the session up to everyone and got some great feedback. At the same time I started working with an agent who saw the potential of the seminar to be turned into a book and she got the ball rolling with that.” “The feedback from the book has been really heartwarming so far: “I receive messages from people who say it has helped them with their own mental health or older children who want to support their parents who are transitioning into old age. Clinicians have been recommending it to their own patients,

KIMBERLEY WILSON

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KIMBERLEY WILSON

themes of a range of books.” This online book club is free and open to everyone and Kimberley aims to “select books that focus on issues that we all struggle with – relationships, emotions, purpose, habits.” From books to podcasts, Kimberley is also the host of Stronger Minds (where does she find all the time, you ask?!). “The podcast is where I can deep dive into mental health issues that I see people struggle with in the clinic and hopefully provide some useful resources for other people.”

tutors are putting it on their course reading lists. I’ve even heard that it has been ordered for prison libraries, which makes me very happy. Everyone deserves better mental health.” The education and accessible read is aimed at anyone and everyone that wants to protect their brain. While it is jam-packed with knowledge and tips, we pressed Kimberley for a few key take-homes you can expect from reading her book: • mental health is the health of the whole body • dementia is not an inevitable part of aging • we have a lot more power than we think to improve the structure and function of the most important organ in the body. As well as writing her own book, Kimberley is a keen reader, too and has a great book club! “Thinking Space is a mental health book club where we think about the psychological or emotional

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The podcast deals with a range of issues and interviews a whole host of interesting guests, though one of the most popular episodes, and Kimberleys admits, one of her favourites, is called “Understanding Anger.” This is a “very misunderstood emotion. I’ve also done special series on Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder (also a very poorly understood condition) and Crime & Nourishment, a funded-series looking at the role of nutrition in violence in prisons.” Previous guests have included Professor John Cryan, one of the leading researchers in the

gut-brain axis, Prof. Felice Jacka, who lead ground-breaking research on nutrition and depression, and Juno Mac & Molly Smith, sex-workers and authors of Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers’ Rights. Kimberley wants to open the stage for a wide range of guests, “basically, anyone with something interesting to say.” With the book club and her podcast running alongside her social media account as well as day job in the clinic, we wonder how she finds time to do it all? Her secret? “I put myself under absolutely no pressure to be all things to all people. I don’t post every day. I batch respond to emails. I keep my phone out of the bedroom. And I take my own advice – eat a brain healthy diet, exercise regularly, prioritise sleep and watch comedy every day.” You heard it here first, you don’t need to post everyday and be on social media 24/7 to build a thriving and loyal following. On her account @foodandpsych, she shares research that she finds interesting, while making it as accessible as possible. “Having worked with patients for over a decade, I also like to share practical resources to help support mental health like the #FlattenTheAnxietyCurve series I did at the start of the pandemic.

KIMBERLEY WILSON

Things are tough out there and people are struggling, especially at the moment, so I like to be able to help if I can. So I guess I choose things that will be useful for others.”

TOP BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM KIMBERLEY’S BOOK CLUB

Such useful tips can help us all live happier and healthier lives every day. We were curious to see if Kimberley had any nonnegotiable acts that make her feel her best. She keeps it simple: “I try to cover my bases first – making sure my brain has the nutrients it needs to function well: I eat a lot of veggies, fibre and fermented food on the daily; trying to get low solar angle (early morning light) to support my sleep; exercise regularly to help grow my brain.

So far, the book club has enjoyed numerous titles, and Kimberley’s personal highlights so far are:

I avoid drama, try to focus on the feeling of having ‘enough’ and have excellent boundaries. Boundaries are an underappreciated cornerstone of mental health.” While setting boundaries to protect her own health, Kimberly continues to invest her time in new and exciting projects like the BBC Radio 4 podcast called Made of Stronger Stuff which she co-hosts with Dr. Xand van Tulleken. You will also be able to hear her giving talks and seminars later in 2021 (fingers crossed in real life rather than online!) and she has her sights set on putting together some courses for 2022. Oh, and she wants to sketch out some ideas for a second book. Kimberley is definitely a woman on a health and scientific mission - for which we are so grateful. Her daily work to help us better understand our own Whole Body Mental Health online, in clinic and on her podcasts continues to inspire us all. For all her optimism and the positive change she is making in the industry, she fully believes that “luck is when preparation meets opportunity” and we cannot wait for the opportunities to come.

About Kimberley

You can find out more about Kimberley on Instagram @foodandpsych

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad You Did) by Philippa Perry

So many of our emotional strengths and vulnerabilities have their roots in our early life and our relationships with our parents or family of origin. I think Philippa does a great job of providing practical advice in a compassionate and non-judgemental way.

The Kindness Method by Shahroo Izadi

Behaviour change is hard, but it’s even harder when you try to bully yourself into it. This book is all about the power of kindness and self-compassion to propel change. I think it’s brilliant.

Mistakes Were Made (but Not By Me)

by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson

I think this book should be recommended reading for all humans. We are all vulnerable to confirmation bias and selfjustification. Essentially, we can trick ourselves into thinking we are right about something and then finding or distorting evidence to fit our worldview. It’s a huge problem in the world today and I think if more people knew this we’d be in a better position to have productive conversations about difficult issues.

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INTERVIEW

BEHIND THE CONTENT

@ drbeckysage AKA DR. BECKY SAGE

I’ve spent over 15 years working in science, technology and entrepreneurship. Initially in academia where I got my PhD in chemistry and since 2014 I’ve been CEO of Interactive Scientific I’m also co-founder of MindStyling for Entrepreneurs podcast and Director of Acceleration at EDUCATE. I also educate entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to help them build businesses that are relevant in the 21st century. My mission is to elevate women and underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship, leadership and STEM. By writing, speaking, coaching podcasting and educating, I help to uncover the challenges that stand in the way of innovation and aim to inspire other women to come together to overcome our barriers.

THE MINDSTYLING PODCAST Dr Becky Sage & Amy Armstrong Pushing the boundaries and giving you the tools to start “Mindstyling” for yourself, hosts Dr Becky Sage and Amy Armstrong interview a diverse range of entrepreneurs. Showing us how to cut our own path to success, they draw on practices employed by top business owners as well as drawing on their challenges and their successes.

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(Clockwise) Becky taking a break; her reading list; podcast goals, and more Instagram posts

Behind the content I always refer back to my mission and then listen to my instinct. If I have a burning desire to create something or talk about something I do it in draft form or store the idea so I can come back to it when it feels right. With regard to the podcast, we have a very clear remit, we focus on women who are both relatable and inspirational, focusing on entrepreneurs. It is a showcase for them and there has to be something practical that people can take away. On making a bigger impact There are two aspects where I am really working to make a big global impact. Demystifying the idea of the “superhero, male, tech-y CEO” by showcasing that everyone has it in them to be an entrepreneur or

INTERVIEW

a STEM professional. By telling my authentic story and helping others to do the same we open the door to others. Uncovering stories from a diverse range of people, highlighting their perspectives and their approaches, helps us all to better understand how we can be inclusive and impactful leaders. Then I put that into practice through my various work roles. Lessons and achievements The biggest mistake has been to work with people who are toxic, in the past I have put up with bad behaviour for a really long time, I’ve learnt how to spot it and nip it in the bud now. My biggest achievement is in the small things. When I am giving talks or coaching people and you see their power being unlocked and that they can finally start being their authentic self in their work. I am proud of some

external achievements, such as being invited to speak at the Global Education Summit and being named a Sunday Times top 100 innovator. Nuggets of gratitude Yes, I have a close friend who started as a mentor for me about 12 years ago. They really helped me to see the world in a new way, I realised, through that person that I could ask for help if I needed it. There have been countless incredible people in the last few years that have had an incredible positive impact too. What excites you about being a judge for Creative Impact Knowing that there is somewhere I can go for solidarity, support and amazing advice and creative education.

FUN FACT

I am a huge gymnastics lover. I am a fan, I listen to all the podcasts, read all the blogs and I am a competitor, winning the Adult Gymnastics Champions (for my category in 2017, 2018 & 2019).

CLICK HERE... Find out more about Becky and her work on her Website here

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THE POWER OF YOUR BRAIN TO RECLAIM YOUR TIME OFF Written by Fab Giovanetti

hat if I could tell you that your subconscious brain could help you work smarter and become more efficient? Over the past week, I had the pleasure to talk all things brain with Dr. Mike Dow. He is a New York Times bestselling author, brain-health expert, and has been called “America’s go-to therapist.” He is trained in both psychotherapy and functional nutrition to provide his readers an integrative and holistic approach to health and happiness. In the latest episode of the Make an Impact show, we explore ways we can reclaim our time off by using the power of our brain and our subconscious. When we look at the history of psychotherapy back in the era of Freud, the subconscious was something that stored these suppressed urges that we should’ve been ashamed of. Hypnosis has been used for hundreds of years, and old-school hypnosis was very directive yet the misconceptions about the subject are incredibly deep: “people in the UK are very open to hypnosis, and I think in most of Europe, but, in America at least, there’s this idea that hypnosis is this magic Las Vegas circus show.” In our chat, he talks extensively about “brain” over “mind”, a simple shift in semantics that has helped with opening up the conversation around the whole subject and those misconceptions.

This is especially true in terms of the difference between the subconscious and the conscious brain: ”I wanted to use the word brain instead of mind because when people hear the word brain they trust it more. When they see my brain scans, they can see my brain at rest in a ‘conscious state’, and then they can see the different ways that it lights up in a ‘subconscious state’.” As a tangible proof of this substantial change that happens in our brains, it reminds us that when given the right tools, our subconscious has our back. When you’re driving home on the freeway, even though your mind is busy thinking about something, your subconscious takes the wheel and gets you home safely.

Jedi-mind-tricking the brain into thinking that it’s doing something — which is incredibly powerful. Yet, how can we use some of those principles to help us with our quest to reclaim some time off and let our brain “rest”? I asked Dr. Dow how our subconscious brain can help us work smarter, not harder. One of the simplest practices you can implement is single-tasking with intention. “Every single day make a list of 7 to 10 most important things you need to do” explains Dow “you start at number one, you give all your attention, and only your attention to

“It all comes down to the idea of time-chunking. If you have a short attention span, let’s say it is only 15 minutes, that’s fine, give yourself that 15 minutes, take a little break, and get back to another focused segment of 15 minutes.” The science (which is extensively explored in his book Your Subconscious Brain Can Change Your Life), is fascinating. As well as walking through some visualisations, in the book, you can also see examples of brain scans and the effect hypnosis has on anyone’s brains. We could say that, on some level, hypnosis is

number one, and then you cross it off your list. You move to number two, and so on.” Anything you don’t get done, you just move up to the next day’s list. How is this simple process encouraging us to become more efficient? From brain scans of “multitaskers”, he was able to analyse a couple of things: “we know that multitaskers are not “really”

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multitasking, what the brain is doing is rapidly switching back and forth, so you could say you are single-tasking rapidly.” ”The more complex the tasks get, the more time you are losing in efficiency because your brain takes a little bit of time to switch back and forth.” “I think a lot of people say ‘multitasking helps me to save time’, but actually, that’s not true, in the long run, is taking your time away”, he observes. When it comes to dispelling myths, there is a bad stigma associated with a short attention span. Yet, Dow points out that you don’t have to be somebody who can sit at a library studying a book for eight hours in a row to be successful. “It all comes down to the idea of time-chunking. If you have a short attention span, let’s say it is only 15 minutes, that’s fine, give yourself that 15 minutes, take a little break, and get back to another focused segment of 15 minutes.” This idea connects with something that is deeply rooted in his practice, and that is reflecting on your behaviours. “Know yourself. You have to examine your life” he explains.

“They say an unexamined life isn’t quite as worth living. I think that’s very true. When we can examine and know ourselves with insight, we realise our strengths, weaknesses, who we are, even getting to know our attention span.” There is a lot of time dysmorphia for so many of us, especially these days, as we are working from home. We underestimate the time it takes to complete a specific task, and that often makes us feel overwhelmed, and does not allow us to focus on a task at any given time. Mindfulness and rest are at the forefront of the work Dr. Dow has been carrying out in the space of therapy and psychology. “I think a lot of people when resting are thinking about work. Conversely, when they’re working, they’re thinking about rest” he points out. “Think about how much that steals from you.” If work is at the back of your mind (no matter whether you are out for a jog or having a meal with a loved one), you’re always working, in a way, even when you’re resting or playing or trying to From hypnosis to cognitive behavioural therapy, and to some extent even meditation, the idea of ‘productivity’ is shifting its gears, and better time management is becoming a reflection of how we harness our mindset. We’re returning to focus on how to integrate

energies and systems that are all interconnected (our physical body, our mind, or inner rhythms). Being able to make time to examine our patterns, learn how to be more flexible with the way we approach time management, and appreciating how to be ‘in the moment’ can be powerful, especially when activating the ways our subconscious mind can work through visualisations. What if one of the keys to working smarter was linked to working more mindfully? Imagine what a change that will make in the way we go about running our days.

Reclaim your Time off

Find out how to work smarter, not harder, by pre-ordering Fab Giovanetti’s upcoming book Reclaim your Time off. Send your proof of purchase to the form over at creativeimpact.group/shop to receive an exclusive workshop replay with 3 practical tips to reclaim your time at work in 2021.

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How to get started with

CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY GROWTH Written by Hannah Rose Cluley

one are the days where Business Coaches are selling you their "get rich quick" fixes or courses that teach you how to make £10K in a month (well actually, they're not gone, but they're being offered less and less, which we love). Now we see a new trend emerging, towards something much more sustainable, ethical and real-humanentrepreneur-friendly... I like to call it "Conscious Community Growth". But what does that even mean? As a Social Media Expert I was very used to using the

About author

Find out more about Hannah on 4 2 | C R E A@hannahrosecluley TIVE IMPACT MAG Instagram

word "audience". "Grow your audience" this and "build an audience" that, but what I realised was that being an entrepreneur, being a business owner, isn't about you sitting on a stage with a microphone and not letting anyone else have a say. Oh no, being an entrepreneur is about listening. About understanding your clients and what they are going through, and where they want to go. And you can't do that if

you're up there with those hot stage lights shining so brightly in your eyes that you can't see who's sitting in front of you. Cue community. That glorious word that, for me means equality, equity, a level playing field and benefit for all, and I don't know about you but that is 100% the kind of world I want to live in. So how can I possibly build a conscious, engaged and loyal community that actually wants to buy what I have to offer I hear you ask? Lucky you, as I've outlined right what I've dubbed the "5 Cs" of Conscious Community Growth:

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“Take your time. Mute, unfollow or block anyone on the internet or in real life who isn't positively contributing to your growth as an entrepreneur and don't forget to be kind and loving to yourself along the way!”

Clarity

You can have the best business plan in the world but if you are not clear on who you are here to help, what you are here to offer, and WHY you want to make any of this happen in the first place, you're never going to make it out of the proverbial gates. Spend time clarifying your niche, your subniche, who your ideal clients and customers are and why they are going to come to you specifically for this offer. A reminder of the people whose lives you're going to change by creating your community and selling your services is always a good motivator for a dark day.

Content

In the business world, content marketing is (in my opinion) king when it comes to attracting warm leads and clients. Whether it's on Instagram, FB, Youtube, a blog or even a podcast, get clear on the content you are putting out there. And make sure that above all else it speaks directly to your ideal clients' needs and wants, that's the key, think like your ideal client when you create your content, ask yourself "what do they need to read/watch/see that's going to make a difference"?

Consistency

One thing I wish all entrepreneurs knew was that it just takes time to see success. It really does. In a world where everything is available at the click of a button we assume business works the same way, and it doesn't. So commit, be in it for the long haul, and show up daily on your chosen platform so that your community are seeing you show up, and want to show up with you. For example if you choose to build a FB group, stick to it, and don't expect the numbers to boom overnight.

Confidence

Back to my stage/mic/bright lights analogy. Now, whilst being a community leader does mean you have to be prepared to pass the mic, you must be willing to introduce people onto the stage. You have to be rooted in the confidence that you can lead the pack. You can hold space for these humans. You can be there for them. Being a leader of a community requires confidence and compassion, for yourself and others, so do what you need to do on a daily basis to keep that confidence muscle strong.

Community

It wouldn't seem right to not include

community in the 5 Cs now would it? When it comes down to it, community is what it is all about. Be innovative in the way you hold space. Instagram is amazing but it doesn't hold a lot of space for groups of people coming together, neither does your website, so look to other spaces to house your community and continually remind them that you want to hear from them, that they are important and they matter. Because at the end of it all, that's what business is about, helping people. I know rolling this up into a neat little package makes it look easy and simple, but it really isn't. Take your time. Mute, unfollow or block anyone on the internet or in real life who isn't positively contributing to your growth as an entrepreneur and don't forget to be kind and loving to yourself along the way! In the past 2 years Hannah has worked with over 100 womxn on growing their businesses, particularly when it comes to social media, marketing and also building a mindset that says, actually, you DO deserve to be successful, and help people along the way.

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DISRUPT AN INDUSTRY Written by Fab Giovanetti

ereus London was born out of a need for genuinely sustainable premium beauty care products There are many brands that have launched sustainable offerings but almost always at some cost - whether it’s to the aesthetics, product performance, or both. “We didn’t want to compromise on any of those factors, so we endeavoured to create packaging that looks premium, natural formulations that actually work, and 100% natural fragrances that are both organic and smell amazing.” share co-founders James and Diana. Why so much focus on how the product looks and the overall experience? Market research

has helped Nereus better understand some of the preconceptions linked to sustainable brands, what they look like, the branding and the messaging, and helped them find a true gap in the market: “we don't look like a sustainable brand - our packaging may not look that way. It can be a challenge for us, but it's also a positive, because people are looking for these kinds of things.” In a way, the leveraged their message to build brand awareness through the sustainable message and the enticing lookand-feel, but what helps customer retention and people coming back is truly the efficacy of the product and the results: “what attracts people is the good smells, high performing great product with a

not only of the highest quality in terms of performance, but also all-natural and environmentally sustainable. They were also spurred on by the overuse of black plastic products in the beauty industry, it’s often assumed that like other plastics, it gets recycled. However, this is rarely the case and it almost invariably ends up in landfills or even worse, the ocean “What we wanted to do was not just go plastic free, but also try and resolve some of those issues. For every product we sell, we actually help collect a kilogram of ocean bound plastic, which is equivalent to 100 plastic bottles”, recalls James. “We took a long time trying to find that partnership. We didn't just

“With that firm foundation in place, we worked tirelessly to design, source, and create the luxury hair and body care products you can see today.” sustainability angle, but what makes him come back is the product performance.” With James spending 12 years working for a multinational focusing on beauty products, and Diana working in the fashion industry, they felt like we wanted to do something meaningful and combine their skills to create products they felt were missing from the market - beauty products that were

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want to give some money or share our profits, we wanted to make it so that the consumer can actively help with solving the problem with every single purchase”. Nereus’ goal is to deliver an excellent product experience with the environment at the heart and soul of every decision: “We want our customers to have all the benefits of high-end products, without compromising their

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About NEREUS LONDON

Nereus London is a sustainable, premium British beauty brand that has the customer and the environment at its heart. Find out more: Nereus.uk

sustainable principles.” They recently took a step back and looked at all the data to understand exactly who was buying, what were they saying and look objectively at the data: “we created a brand for ourselves, and we love our brand, but who's actually buying it from us isn't necessarily us”. Nereus goes beyond just being a beauty product, and pushes itself to become

synonymous with a lifestyle, a feeling. The name actually originated from the God Nereus, and is a clear tribute to what he stands for: he was known for being trustworthy. He was known for being future seeing, and he was gentle. So that's something that we bring into the brand, from the concept to our formulations.”

The design is inspired by the sunset of the Zambezi River, the fragrances are connected to those landscapes and experiences. It truly all started with those colours and feelings. At the core of the fragrances, formulations there was that feeling, of that moment on the river. A celebration of nature at its core. As this is just the beginning of the journey for Nereus, we cannot wait to see where they’ll be heading next.

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 45

PRO SECTION

Getting started

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO CLUBHOUSE [THE DROP-IN AUDIO CHAT APP] Written by Fab Giovanetti

t's interesting to see how often, something that just starts as a trend will quickly become the next new tool to use for your business. If you're not familiar with Clubhouse yet, it's probably time that you get the memo and check out what the app is about. Wait a minute Fab, what is Clubhouse? Pardon me, dear reader, let me explain: Clubhouse App is an audio-only platform

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built and backed by tech investors. Since May 2020, this App has grown exponentially. So, what exactly is the Clubhouse App? In a relatively short space of time, Clubhouse has been growing rapidly, with many online business owners and personalities getting very excited about it. Even more than looking at how entrepreneurs can make use of Clubhouse

at this stage, what fascinated me was understanding how Clubhouse managed to rise to the top and become the next word of mouth online sensation. The app was launched in spring 2020 (in the middle of the pandemic) by Silicon Valley types Paul Davison and Rohan Seth. “The idea was to create a social experience that is focused on connection, learning, and authentic conversations, where people

PRO SECTION

close the app feeling better than they did when they opened it because they have deepened friendships, met new people, and learned”. (Evening Standard) At the start of December 2020, it had just 3,500 members around the world, and now it counts over 600k including the likes of Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, and Jared Leto. Moving away from online video networking and Zoom filters, Clubhouse capitalises on

audio content over any other format, opening a whole new way to deliver content and develop tough leadership. Once you’re in (more on that later), you can join any chat room based on the titles. You can browse through scheduled events with arranged speakers (these can be found in the app’s events calendar) as well as impromptu discussions. You can keep your microphone on mute

or join in the conversation if you wish (once you’ve been approved by the room moderator).

Invite-only brings the heat up

Here’s the trick that got everyone to talk about the social network (and probably the smarter move from the app). Clubhouse is invite-only, and each new member can only invite one person to join. After a while,

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 47

PRO SECTION

“The idea was to create a social experience that is focused on connection, learning, and authentic conversations, where people close the app feeling better than they did when they opened it” you get three more so if you get invited by an existing member, you can eventually pick up to 4 of your friends to join you. This creates a whole new way of vetting as “Clubhouse does not determine who receives an invitation—the community does,” says the app. This is probably the most clever move from the app so far. Not only it creates a high level of exclusivity and excitement, but it also taps into that feeling of belonging that we so desperately crave in the online world.

We all know that exclusivity and urgency are two highly powerful drivers, and I do believe a big part of the success of the app can be attributed to that.

Strengths in its simplicity

The reason why I love Clubhouse is that in its simplicity of features and proposition is going to potentially become a big new driver for brands and businesses and not just personal brands. A lot of people have used it to harness the power of networking on steroids, in a way that prevents you from having to put makeup on, get Zoom-ready, or even having to make sure they get the light lightning in the house. In a way, audio content is the new video content. Even if don't get me wrong, video content is still a very, very important place in everyone's strategy. What is interesting to see is how Clubhouse might be able to enhance your business in one way or another: grow your network, secure investments, open up to new business opportunities, or even PR features. I want to encourage you to get started on the platform and try a few things before I give you some more ideas on how you can harness the power of this new network. If you're starting, and you're terrified of doing something wrong, I get it. Yet, to learn the Clubhouse 'etiquette' (so to speak), you'll have to become active on the

platform first and foremost. What I would suggest is to try and create an event with a friend and see how that goes. You can even ask a business buddy to create a room with you in play for a few minutes. The user guide and overall support on Clubhouse are still a bit confusing, however, there's a whole club dedicated to community and teaching people how to make the most of the platform. All in all, there are a lot of things that you can do to grow your presence on Clubhouse. Don't be scared because it's something relatively new, as a lot of people are jumping on right now a bit like TikTok in 2020), this is the best time to play. Because if the tool works for you, and you enjoy it, you will pretty much start on quite a level playfield with most of the users out there.

Join in today

Give it a try and see how you get along. If you want to see what I am up to on Clubhouse, follow me at @fabgiovanetti.

PRO SECTION

THREE WAYS TO POWER UP YOUR STRATEGY Let's talk about a few things that you can do with the app to harness this potential in creative ways.

ONE FIND YOUR TRIBE

TWO CO-HOST ROOMS

THREE CREATE BRANDED EVENTS

The first thing you should do is being able to make the most of the community aspect.

Tap into peer experts and host rooms as key events that are related to who you are.

Tap into potential experts to create a club together or simply a room through some tailored events.

Bring an element of your community to Clubhouse by setting up a club (currently, you need to request via a form, but there are plans to allow users to set clubs automatically). You can also do it with specific rooms and events by creating a signature series. Even better, you can use secret rooms and invite-only rooms to potentially create new ways for members of our community to connect without having to use Zoom. The possibilities are endless.

This is brand awareness and credibility in a nutshell. One of the problems you might find with this more hands-on strategy is being able to add more things to your calendar and make more time for something new. However, the lack of video can save you a bit of time when it comes to organising every single event you want to try. By creating your ecosystem and tapping into a specific need, you can engage with a variety of different users.

In this case, you can even think about speed networking, dinner parties, and tap into the support of moderators. Thing about these are your own branded events, that can then grow through Clubhouse. To create an even more fun experience that can turn into a side hustle itself, or even ahead of a big campaign where you're launching a new product or new brand, you can create a time-sensitive series that can tap into that element of audio around a very specific topic.

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CREATIVE IMPACT

WELLBEING DID YOU KNOW? It takes about 6 liters of water to brush your teeth if you leave the tap open.

THIS ISSUE

Sustainable

WELLBEING

t c a p m I e v i t rea

TOP PICKS

A selection of products to bring some fun and luxury to your stay-in evenings. All of these products are from brands and businesses we love, and some of these are sponsored. We vetted all of these businesses and products ourselves, so you are in good hands.

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WELLBEING

Tap on any product image to get sales links

01. Sea therapeutics Manuka Seamoss Blend + Mask brush £24, 02. NEOM Deep Sleep, Soften & Nourish £20, 03. Naked marshmallow Vegan Edition Marshmallow Toasting Gift Set £19, 04. Perfect Chaos Rose Gold Electroplated Candle £30, 05. Little Moons Mochi Ice Cream £4.50, 06. Mockingbird Spirit 50cl alcohol free spirit £22.99, 07. Candy Kittens Essentials Personalised Sweet Jar £10

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 53

Recipe for SUCCESS A business coach in your pocket C R E A T I V E

I M P A C T

C O L L E C T I V E

INGREDIENTS Community

Growth

Accountability

WHAT TO EXPECT Business resources Guided success path Opportunities

Monthly masterclasses Roundtables Office hours

JOIN US

WELLBEING

SEX ED: A BELATED GUIDE FOR ADULTS

DID YOU KNOW

Ruby Rare

Written by proud sex educator and body positivity advocade, Ruby Rare, her brand new book teaches you everything you should have been tuagh at school about sex. She covers everything from the importance of your brain to how to best communicate with your partner as well as all the messy bits in between. Read more about Ruby and her book on P16

Our founder, Fab (who is currently looking over my shoulder!) has a book coming out! Reclaim your time off offers practical steps to help with remote and flexible working, so you don't 'burnout'.

Click on the books to get sales link

PRE-ORDER TODAY

BOOKS H E LF CHOSEN FROM OUR COLLECTIVE MEMBERS

THE JOY OF BEING SELFISH Michelle Elman

Following on from Michelle’s first wellbeing book called “Am I Ugly?”, “The Joy of Being Selfish” questions our daily habits and subconscious actions that put others before ourselves. With thought-provoking examples, life coach @scarrednotscared teaches us how to reclaim our life through boundaries to avoid toxic relations and practical tips to show more self-love.

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY Matt Haig

The number one best-selling author, Matt Haig’s latest novel offers an uplifting story of regret, hope and second chances as protagonist, Nora is given the opportunity to undo her regrets and try out other lives. Haig ultimately poses the question: what is the best way to live if we had infinite choices? A reminder of the power of choices and their ripple effect.

BREATHTAKING Rachel Clarke

This brand new book from current NHS doctor and former television journalist, Rachel Clarke, unveils the truth about fighting on the frontline of the COVID pandemic throughout 2020 in the UK. The book draws on testimonies from fellow nurses and colleagues as well as from her patients to reveal what matters most in life.

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WELLBEING

HOW TO BE SUSTAINABLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING

e know that increased sustainability is key for the future of Planet Earth - scaling up recycling processes, choosing to support the least harmful companies - but what does this mean for us? Well, becoming eco-friendly and more conscious about our impact on the planet certainly doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality of your favourite products. Buying more sustainably often

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Written by Chanelle Allen

means better quality ingredients, not only for you and your body, but the planet too. When shopping, we consumers are liable to favour cost and convenience over quality when making a purchase. Although some favour sustainability of the item, we need to make this aspect an equally important decision factor.

you haven’t already; visit local markets if you’re able to get there on foot. You save fuel from not driving to a supermarket, reducing plastic usage when taking your own bags and all the while supporting local industries, people and locally-sourced food. You’re much more likely to get better value for money and more organic produce.

We can adapt the approach taken to our lifestyle and make small changes that promote sustainability, without settling for less on quality. Try taking a local approach if

In a world that feels overrun with fast fashion labels and thousands of new garment styles churned out every day, it’s tough to find affordable and sustainable, yet

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE SPONSORED BY

Aluminium bottle Zero black plastic Infinitely recyclable

Infinitely recyclable aluminium top with food grade seal

Biodegradable wood pulp label good quality and stylish clothing. Look for organically sourced materials in clothes from companies that are transparent about how they manufacture. Better yet, switch high street chains for charity shops and Depop - some items will have hardly been worn, or sometimes can even be designer labels. Investing in key pieces means less frequent buying. Focus on buying fewer but higher quality clothes that will last a long time and be wardrobe staples to be sustainable, more

any stage, no animal-derived products are used as ingredients, no artificial ingredients and no use of destructively-farmed palm oil. One hair and body care brand that guarantees all of the above is Nereus London. conscious and without compromising on material quality. We can also look at the formulation of products, the way they are made. The key words to look out for on items are: crueltyfree, vegan, non-toxic, and palm oil free. This guarantees no animals have been harmed at

Nereus London's luxury beauty care range has been carefully designed to deliver a superior natural product experience with sustainability at heart. Nereus manufactures all their products in Britain, using high performing ingredients and 100% natural fragrances from ethical sources. Nereus products are always vegan, never tested on animals, and free from parabens, sulphates, and gluten. In addition, their products come beautifully packaged in fully recyclable, non-plastic, and biodegradable materials. Unlike other corporations that claim their packing can be recycled, Nereus bottles are infinitely recyclable. The brand has combined luxury with responsibility, so you can leave compromise at the door, factoring sustainability into every stage of their manufacturing process. So by looking out for the right ingredients, altering our approach to shopping and making meaningful purchases, we can all aid and prolong the health of the planet without having to forgo quality.

About NEREUS LONDON

Nereus London is a sustainable, premium British beauty brand that has the customer and the environment at its heart. Find out more: Nereus.uk

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WELLBEING

FINDING GRACE WITH HANNAH

Equinox wellness practices Our columnist Hannah reflects on how to welcome Spring in our space and mind

pring equinox in the northern hemisphere is just around the corner (on the 20th of March to be exact). Spring equinox is when the night and day have equal light, and the sun is directly above the hemisphere. The days will continue to get longer until June 21st. A change is in the air, we are at the halfway point to the Summer solstice. It all feels more hopeful after the long dark Winter. I love Spring and the fresh energy it brings in, a creative boost ready to shake off winter and watch things come alive again. Spring often triggers what is known as the spring clean: we mostly see this as a physical declutter in terms of clearing up our houses, opening the windows, cleaning, and organising. But it's not only the physical declutter that we can do, we can have wellbeing and mind declutter as well. More often than not, winter can leave us feeling a bit stagnant and disconnected from a self-love perspective. This is the perfect time to not only declutter our physical space but our mind as well. Here are a few things to do in terms of decluttering your mind: • Get clear on where you are at and how your feeling about yourself. • Highlight negative thoughts and feelings that have been coming up that you’re ready to let go of. Make that list and burn it or rip it and write the feelings you want to welcome in.

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• Do you have a regular self-care practice, or has it fallen off the wagon with winter? If not create one that's workable for your life and commit to it regularly, this will make a difference to your mind and well-being. • Bring in some fresh affirmations, these need to be feeling in alignment for you to be able to wire in. • Freshen up your meditation practice: sometimes we need to bring in something new to wake things back up. Like anything, what served you at one point may not now, so declutter this too. • Have you been getting outdoors and connecting with nature? If not commit to this a new habit with this. Especially with days getting warmer and lighter it's the perfect time to do this. • If you’ve been feeling sorry for yourself or stuck, “Things are warming bring in new gratitude up and nature is practices to commit to. waking up after its Declutter those stuck feelings with appreciation. long winter slumber.” These are just a few ideas, but I believe it will serve you greatly to do a spiritual declutter as well as a physical Spring clean. Picture a clearer mind and physical space - what could be better than that? To celebrate, put some music on and dance. This is an underrated practice that gets you back in your body, which allows you to get a clearer mind. I hope this article brings some fresh energy your way, to welcome spring in and freshen up your wellbeing! @thehannahwallace

WELLBEING

AFFIRMATION

"It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the spring, who reaps a harvest in the autumn." B.C. Forbes

Author bio

Find out more about Hannah, writer, blogger, and podcaster at @thehannahwallace or head to Hannah’s website to download her free meditation.

WELLBEING

JOIN THE PLASTIC-FREE REVOLUTION Written by Chanelle Allen

et’s talk about plastic. It’s almost impossible to avoid it but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take steps to reduce our plastic use.

not able to degrade, breaking up into smaller fragments confused as food to marine animals, this is damaging their habitat and ecosystems.

Why? The impact of plastic pollution is detrimental to our environment in so many ways. It has been predicted that in just two decades plastic pollution will weigh around 1.3 billion tonnes. Seems a lot right, well it is!

Another impact you might not have associated with plastics is the effect it has on us, humans. With our food supply becoming contaminated so are we. Microplastics are increasingly in our water systems ending up in our bodies.

One huge impact plastic has is on our planet. On land the chemicals leach into the soil contaminating the groundwater deep within the earth's systems. In the ocean, plastics are

So, if you’re reading this article right now and are as shocked as I am, let's spread the word, let’s get to work and actually do something about this!

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE SPONSORED BY

THREE WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR PLASTIC INTAKE STEP 1

Choose brands that fight to eliminate plastic One way to reduce your intake is to do your research, look into companies that actually care about our environment and the future. Nereus has partnered up with Plastic Bank, with every bottle purchased 1kg of ocean-bound plastic will be recovered via Plastic Bank. They have also eliminated an incredible 98% of plastic use in their supply chain.

STEP 2

Opt for infinitely recyclable products The haircare and beauty industry are built on single-use plastics. Take a look at your bathroom, how many products do you end up throwing away after a few weeks? Plastic toothbrushes, razors or bottles to name a few! All of these end up in landfill only aiding our plastic pollution problems. Nereus uses aluminium bottles for all their products which are infinitely recyclable, they have completely disrupted the beauty care market to provide a much more sustainable plastic free option to consumers.

STEP 3

Biodegradable for the win! Being biodegradable means natural materials are used, Nereus’ labels are made with wood pulp which makes them biodegradable allowing them to be broken down without harming our environment. Not only is the packaging natural but the ingredients have been specially selected for their natural fragrance, giving you the luxury both on the inside and out!

STRESS FREE SUSTAINABILITY

Our partnership with Plastic Bank allows us to drive our brand purpose but most importantly, allows our customers the opportunity to make a real trackable plastic impact change through their purchase.

Are you ready to join Nereus taking the luxury beauty industry by storm? Help them to make the world a better place. Want to be part of a sustainable circular economy but not sure where to begin, well looks like you’re covered! Nereus worries about the environment, so you don’t have to, their luxury beauty products are a step forward in the right direction. Come and join Nereus on their journey to be plastic free!

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WELLBEING

y a d s ’ r e h t Mo GIFT IDEAS [ FOR 14TH MARCH ]

We may all be a little distant from each other this year, but you can still make this a meaningful Mother's Day with a personalised handwritten note and some premium ecofriendly toiletries. All of these gifts are from brands and businesses we love, and some of these are sponsored. We vetted all of these businesses ourselves, you are in good hands.

Nereus London Conscious Gift Set is an ideal eco-friendly gift for those who enjoy the finer things in life but have the environment at heart. Each set contains our luxuriously fragrant Shampoo, wonderfully fresh Body Wash and an elegant Hand Sanitiser, all inspired by the scents of the natural world and delivered in fully recyclable, plastic-free packaging. All items contain 100% natural organic essential oils and are sulphate, silicone, SLS and paraben free. For every gift set purchased, 3kg of Ocean-Bound Plastic will be collected through our partner, Plastic Bank.

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WELLBEING

Tap on any product image to get sales links

05 04

01. The Sweet Reason Company Mother's Day Afternoon Tea selection from £10, 02. DON'T BUY HER FLOWERS The Book Package from £26, 03. NEREUS Mothers Day Gift Set from £30, 04. MUDD Matte Lip Mud from £10.99, 05. Cowshed Signature Hand and Body Set £65, 06. Ethical Market Letterbox Vegan Pampering Gift £19.90

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WELLBEING

PSYCHOLOGIST CORNER WITH JOANNA

Get to know Joanna Konstantopoulou Meet our columnist Joanna Konstantopoulou as part or a new mental health series

i there, my name is Joanna and I am an experienced Health Psychologist with over 10 years of professional clinical experience. Here, I tell you a little about myself and my private practice. My particular area of expertise is behavioural and emotional change, and I take pride in building a good rapport with my patients, helping them to improve their overall wellbeing. I specialise in health behaviour change, and the management of weight, stress, and chronic illness. I believe in empowering my clients to make health behaviour changes that will tangibly improve their quality of life: to do this, I need to be attuned to each client’s particular experience, so I tailor each treatment according to the individual’s needs. This means that I use a variety of therapeutic tools and behavioural techniques according to the needs of each client, which can range from cognitive restructuring to exposure therapy, or motivation interviewing to mindfulness. I’m committed to providing the best therapeutic outcome possible to help my patients achieve balance, and I collaborate with psychiatrists, nutritionists, and doctors in order to ensure my clients have the benefit of a holistic approach when its needed. How I started my career as a Health Psychologist My initial BSc was in Psychology, and I then obtained two Master degrees – one in Health Psychology and one in Child Development. I then completed a fouryear qualification in Rational Emotive and Cognitive

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Behavioural Therapy. Following that, I registered as a Health Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council – this means that I have met their high standards for training and professional skills. After having trained as a Health Psychologist, I was committed to creating a clinic where my clients were treated both effectively and efficiently with a psychological practice that is informed by the best scientific evidence available. This dream has been realised in the Health Psychology Clinic in Harley Street, where I'm now based. How a typical day looks like I tend to start my day at 8 am with a healthy breakfast and coffee at home. As I am self-employed, I’m in charge of my schedule, so if I don’t have a morning clinic booked, I’ll take time out for my own wellbeing and enjoy a workout – typically pilates or barre at home. It really helps me focus and gives me an energy boost. I’ll then be in my clinic at 9.30 am, where I’ll see my first patients and in the afternoon I will continue to have one-to-one sessions with patients. Following that, I’ll head out for a walk and I will enjoy cooking at ASK A QUESTION home preparing dinner. I always try to practice Ask our resident experts my relaxation techniques questions and each issue or stretch in the evenings we'll answer one for the too, to take time for my Creative Impact magazine. own wellbeing. Just follow the link to @healthpsychologyclinic

submit your question

ON-DEMAND CLASSES Access top-level information and guidance at reduced rates.

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CREATIVE IMPACT

FOODIE DID YOU KNOW? It takes 400 cocoa beans to make one pound of chocolate.

Chocolate THIS ISSUE

FOODIE

CHOCOLATE AMY’S FOODIE FAVOURITES

With Easter coming up halfway through this March-April issue, it only seemed fitting to have my favourites dedicated to chocolate. My favourite food, maybe ever. From sweeter white chocolate, to rich and dark bars, there is something for everyone whatever your mood. Pair your chocolate with tea, bake it into a cake - I don’t care how you eat it, just eat the chocolate!

Ta p on ct a n y p ro d u et g to e g a im sa le s lin ks

JOSH’S CHOCOLATE Josh’s Chocolate launched in lockdown 2020 and is hand-made in Cornwall by Josh who has a passion for delicious chocolate. From fun hot chocolate spoons to GIANT buttons and milk or dark bars, his chocolate also has gorgeous packaging and beautiful names like “A Show Under the Stars” and “Tiptoe Across the Tide”.

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NUCAO CHOCOLATE The Nu Company promotes food that is natural, functional and delicious - without animal products, plastic or refined sugars. For each chocolate bar sold they plant a mangrove tree in Madagascar and their chocolate is fully vegan and gluten-free. From creamy white nougat bars to rich sea salt and almond, they have additional health benefits, too.

FOODIE

LUCOCOA CHOCOLATE Lucocoa is proudly London’s first bean to bar chocolate maker with a passion for luxury chocolate and wellbeing. Their chocolate never uses refined sugars, additives or preservatives, sweetened only with coconut sugar and lucuma - giving the name Lucocoa. White to rose-tinted to milk and dark chocolate, they offer bars, bites, bricks, tea and more.

Tap here for sales links

DIVINE CHOCOLATE Divine Chocolate is a certified b-corp and the only Fairtrade chocolate company co-owned by farmers, driven by a social mission to empower producers and consumers. Their chocolate comes in a huge range of flavours, all are delicious and smooth - with festive favourites, baking essentials and truly inspired flavour combinations (like dark Gin & Tonic chocolate).

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FOODIE

Recipes

B ROUG H T TO YOU BY

OUR COLLECTIVE

Laura Davis is the Surrey based vegan recipe developer and food photographer behind ‘For the Utter Love of Food’. She shares her easy to make healthy recipes, proving one recipe at a time that plant-based food can be easy to make, inexpensive and tasty without compromise. SERVES 3

Cheesecake brownie By Laura Davis PREP TIME 10 mins | COOK TIME 20 mins | EQUIPMENT

baking tin, bowl, oven, spoon

These protein rich, gluten free brownies are the perfect afternoon pick me up when you are looking for something sweet. No one would ever know they were vegan, let alone a healthier version of a regular brownie. INGREDIENTS • 4 Very ripe bananas, mashed • 200g Smooth peanut butter • 100g Light muscovado sugar • 100g Raw cacao • 50g Buckwheat flour (or regular self-raising if you are not gluten free) • 2 Chia eggs (2 tbsp chia seeds mixed with 6 tbsp water and left to stand for 15 minutes) • 2 tsp baking powder • 1//2 tsp salt • Dairy free cream cheese • Dark chocolate buttons

DIRECTIONS 1 | Pre-heat an oven to 180c and line a square baking tin with parchment paper. 2 | Mix the mashed banana and sugar in bowl until well combined. 3 | To the banana mixture add the smooth peanut butter. 4 | Mix in the chia eggs to the mixture. 5 | Add to the bowl the raw cacao, buckwheat flour, salt and baking powder and mix until well combined. 6 | Pour the mixture into the lined baking tin and top with small spoonfuls of the cream cheese, which you can then swirl through. 7 | Top with a handful of chocolate buttons. 8 | Bake in the oven for 20 minutes and leave to cool completely before cutting.

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FOODIE

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FOODIE

Amy has just launched a brand-new eBook called Nourish Me 2 full of 15 exclusive plantbased recipes to nourish you daily. Find out more here: nourishingamy.com/ebook/ SERVES 8

Vegan Triple Chocolate Cupcakes By Amy Lanza PREP TIME 10 mins | COOK TIME 16-18 mins EQUIPMENT

Bowl, tray, oven, spoon, whisk

Really light and fluffy chocolate cupcakes studded with white chocolate chips, topped with a rich and creamy chocolate buttercream and decorated with more white chocolate. These decadent cupcakes are easy to make and are naturally vegan with GF options. INGREDIENTS Cupcakes • 180ml plant-based milk • 1 tsp lemon juice • 80ml sunflower oil • 70g coconut sugar • 1 tsp vanilla • 140g plain or GF plain flour • 40g cacao powder • 2 tsp espresso powder • ½ tsp baking powder • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda • A pinch of salt

• 6 0g white chocolate, chopped small Chocolate Frosting • 100g vegan butter • 25g cacao powder • 150g icing sugar • 2 tbsp plant-based milk Toppings • 9 squares/triangles white chocolate Optional: mini cookies, sprinkles

TOP TIP Use a small icecream scoop to evenly divide the mixture into the cases

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DIRECTIONS 1 | Preheat the oven to 160Fan/180C and place 8 cupcake cases into a cupcake tray. 2 | Stir together the plant-based milk and lemon juice and leave to curdle for 5 minutes. 3 | Whisk in the sunflower oil, coconut sugar and vanilla essence. 4 | To a large mixing bowl, sift in the flour, cacao powder, espresso powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda with a pinch of salt. Pour in the wet mixture and whisk to a smooth batter. 5 | Stir through the chopped chocolate and

fill each cupcake case to about ¾ full. 6 | Bake for 16-18 minutes until springy and risen, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes and then cool fully on a wire rack. 7 | Make the frosting by beating the butter until soft and then gradually beating in the cacao powder, icing sugar and plant-based milk until really creamy and smooth. 8 | Pipe or spoon onto the cooled cupcakes and top with a triangle of chocolate. Decorate with extra mini cookies and sprinkles, if desired. Store cupcakes in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

SERVES 8

Gooey Chocolate Brownies By Lauren Leyva PREP TIME 10 mins | COOK TIME 15-18 mins EQUIPMENT

Bowl, oven, tray, saucepan, spoon

Lauren here from @the.starving.student This is my chocolate recipe. It's a super easy recipe that uses affordable and easilyaccessible ingredients, a recipe for everyone! INGREDIENTS • 4 eggs • 2 x 100g bars milk/white chocolate • 300g light brown sugar • 150g plain flour • 60g cocoa powder • 150g butter • Half a Tsp baking powder • Icing sugar (to sprinkle on top)

DIRECTIONS 1 | Preheat oven to 190°C. Melt butter in small saucepan. Add sugar and mix until smooth. 2 | Mix the flour, cocoa and baking power. Mix in the butter and sugar mix. 3 | Beat eggs in a bowl. Break

chocolate bars into chunks. Mix eggs and chocolate into the mixture.

into the mix- it should come out with gooey mixture on it (the GOOEY part!).

4 | Grease baking tray (mine was 15cm x 30cm).

6 | Remove from oven, let it cool and cut into 15 pieces.

5 | Pour mixture into tray. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Stick a knife

7 | Sprinkle with sieved icing sugar and enjoy!

SERVES 3

Chocolate Peanut Mug Cake By Laura Davis PREP TIME 20 mins | EQUIPMENT

Blender, oven, spoon

A rich fudgy mug cake with an almost molten centre. Ready in as little as 5 minutes, this decadent treat is protein rich whilst also being gluten and refined sugar free. INGREDIENTS • 2 very ripe bananas • 4 tbsp smooth peanut butter • 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder • 1/2 tbsp buckwheat flour or regular selfraising flour • Small handful of chocolate buttons • 1 tbsp maple syrup • 3 tbsp raw cacao • Vegan ice cream

DIRECTIONS 1 | Preheat an oven to 170oc 2 | Place all the ingredients (except for the chocolate buttons) into a blender and blitz until smooth and combined. Stir in the chocolate buttons. 3 | Spoon into 3 individual ramekins and bake in the oven for 15 minutes (can also be microwaved for 90 seconds – 2 minutes for speed as well). 4 | Allow to cool for a few minutes before enjoying with your favourite vegan ice cream

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FOODIE

SERVES 3

Chaga Chocolate Ganache By Lauren Lovatt PREP TIME 2 hrs | EQUIPMENT Bowls, kettle, spoon

This Chaga chocolate pot is a simple pot of joy. Using a good quality dark chocolate here this recipe makes it go even further with a nutritional boost of Chaga, the mushroom of creativity and vitality.

Photos: Sara Kiyo Popowa (@shisodelicious)

INGREDIENTS • 250g Dark vegan chocolate, finely shredded • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp Chaga mushroom powder • 1-2 tbsp Maple syrup (depending on your chocolate, you may need a little more sweetener) • 200g Boiling water* • Pinch salt

DIRECTIONS 1 | In a heat proof mixing bowl, add the shredded chocolate, olive oil, chaga and maple syrup. 2 | In a separate heatproof bowl pour the hot water over the chocolate and stir to melt the chocolate and mix everything together, season with a pinch of salt.

3 | Pour the ganache into small pots and leave them to set in the fridge for at least 2 hours, until firm to touch. 4 | Once the ganache is set garnish each pot with cacao nibs and berries. Sit down, relax and dig in.

Recipe by Lauren Lovatt - adapted from Plant Academy’s Plant One course in Plant Food fundamentals.

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