J UNE 2 0 2 0 I S S UE N O . 0 5 £3.50
TAKE A DEEP
R ICH I E BOSTOCK How to breathe on purpose NEW SECTIONS Fo o d a n d We l l b e i n g s e g m e nt s a d d e d
FOREWORD
M I N DFU L This past month, I asked our collective a very simple question: how are you, what are you struggling with? Time and overwhelm came up for so many people, which truly made me realise we do not value our time enough. Not just our time really. As June approaches (you could say it brings a slightly different Summer than usual), I found myself thinking about really what I have learned to appreciate in the past 3 months. My breath has surely been something that has helped me massively in my troubled mental health journey. Something I may not talk about often, yet mindfulness has been one of the few things that helped me when I needed to center and calm down. I simply came back to the breath. Again, and again. I am so excited to explore
mindfulness and mental health with our cover boy Richie Bostock (a man who trained with the one and only Wim Hof), as well as the incredible ladies behind the Feel Good Club. I personally love their quote from the piece: “Being kind never killed anyone”. As the hustlers you know us as, we are adding two new sections to the magazine: a wellbeing and a food section, as well as our existing pro section, this month all about TikTok. Talking about TikTok, has been refreshing to see how the social network is favouring conversations around mental health and kindness. Remember, kindness comes in many shapes and forms, and that is truly the beauty of it. Over to you know: what can you do every week to inspire more kindness online and offline?
Fab Giovanetti Editor in Chief
FAB’S FAVES PODCASTS Recently, I have been loving the Buffer podcast. It’s the best way to keep up to date with everything marketing.
NAILED IT When it comes to mindless TV, I have been binging furiously Netflix’s Nailed It. It’s funny, it’s outrageous, and it’s cakes. Nuff said.
#CHALLENGES Are you already on TikTok? This month’s issue will show you everything you need to know - don’t forget to follow us at @creativeimpactco
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 03
CREATIVE IMPACT
EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Fab Giovanetti Contribution Editor Amy Lanza
CONTRIBUTORS Columnist Charlotte Willis; Hannah Wallace Special thanks to Emma Mumford, Caoilfhionn Rose, Elle Linton, Amy Leighton, Nadira V Persuad, Lisa Sexton, Niki Webster
SUBSCRIPTIONS Creative Impact is the ultimate tool and resource for creatives and conscious entrepreneurs. We offer a single issue purchase as well as a yearly subscription with access to our back catalogue Website http://bit.ly/creativeimpactmag Current members of the Creative Impact Collective will be able to download each issue directly for free via the member section on the online platform.
VISUALS & MORE Lead Designer Michael 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 brands@creativeimpact.group
FOLLOW US Facebook Facebook.com/creativeimpactc Intstagram Instagram.com/creativeimpactco TikTok Tiktok.com/@creativeimpactco Twitter Twitter.com/creativeimpactc
04 | CREATIVE IMPACT MAG
MAGAZINE s s i m r e v Ne issue ! an SPECIAL PRICE
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CONTENTS
16
I N TH I S I SSU E MINDFULLNESS
|
JUNE 2020
16
ISSUE NO. 05
37
ESSENTIALS 03
|
53
FEATURES
WELLBEING
16
Cover feature
54
06 Good News
24
Feel Good Club
56 Facial workout
09
Calendar
30
Financial mindfullness
59
Books from the collective
11
Mission statement
60
Hannah Wallace column
12
Charlotte Sophie column
62
Travel essentials
13
Podcasts
38
14
Expert profile
43 New kid on the block
28
Founder Series
46
A content revolution
66
32
Behind the content
48
Top accounts to follow
68 In the Kitchen
34
5 ways to show self-care
50
Best practices
70
Editors notes
PRO SECTION
Creative Impact top picks
Beginners’ guide FOODIE No flour, no problem
Recipes
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 special roundup of happy news from across the globe.
Penguins at the Zoo TRAVEL | USA
A new trend that came out from this lockdown has been the rise in “wild animals in unexpected places!” videos - it really never gets old. The latest example comes compliments of the Kansas City Zoo, which brought three of their penguins – Bubbles, Maggie, and Berkley – to the nearby Museum of Art. You can see the penguins admiring all the art as they waddle around the empty museum. According to the museum’s director, they were more taken with Caravaggio than they were with Monet. Who can blame them, really
YOU CAN HELP We have decided to dedicate each month’s lead image to a different animal that is facing difficulty during these times. This month we’ve gone with penguins. Online you can find information from WWF, and many zoos around the world that need your help. ADOPT A PENGUIN FROM WWF
06 | CREATIVE IMPACT MAG
IN THE NEWS
Instagram Guides you
African Masks
The Instagram update train shows no signs of easing up, as last week, they launched a brand new feature for profiles. The Guides feature will enable selected businesses and creators to highlight recommendations, tips, and other content in a new, dedicated tab. To kick off this new feature, Instagram will be first focusing on Guides with wellness content. Chosen partners will now display a new tab on their profiles. The Guides tab will highlight collections of posts under dedicated topic tiles - which has a Pinterest-like feel to it.
An initiative to provide free face masks to people living in the world’s poorest communities has been expanded to more African nations in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus. The WHO warned last month that Africa could be the next epicentre of the outbreak. African Masks, a non-profit supported by crowdfunding, employs tailors to sew face masks, which are distributed for free in impoverished communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Senegal, Benin and Nigeria.
HEALTH | USA
MANUFACTURE | AFRICA
Sing along with a Soprano MUSIC | UK
When it became impossible to run his real-life choirs as normal, vocal leader James Sills launched The Sofa Singers. The virtual group invites people from all over the world to connect through the power of song – from the comfort of their sofas. People signed up to the choir in advance using a video conferencing app, receiving a link from Sills to the online rehearsal space. At 7.30pm, they were then able to see and hear Sills, who took them through the song bit by bit. There were 500 digital spaces available – all offered for free.
IKEA’s Bee Home DIY | SWEDEN
Bees are vital for life on Earth, so let’s give them a home they deserve. IKEA designed a new, ingenious DIY bee home to celebrate our little striped friends. In true IKEA style, it comes with a handy, yet slightly overwhelming, assembly manual - the required patience to actually assemble the house is not included.
TikTok meditations
HEALTH | CHINA
Off the back of mental health awareness week, Tiktok launched a new series of meditation audios in partnership with TikTok superstar Dr. Julie Smith, now also available for TikTok users to access. Each meditation is less than a minute long, and you can find it in the sounds categories of your “discovery” feed.
From the newsroom FOOD AND DRINK | USA
Fancy getting inspiration and motivation straight from your Instagram? We recently launched our very own news show, the Good Feed. Follow us on Instagram to get notified about the latest episodes. CLICK TO SEE THE LATEST EPISODE
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 07
• STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD •
Listen to season two of Make an Impact Show SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES LEARN HOW TO GROW YOUR BRAND AND CREATE A LEGACY ONLINE 08 | CREATIVE IMPACT MAG
COMING UP
JUNE06 CALENDAR
June | PRIDE MONTH As well as being a month long celebration, It is also an opportunity to raise political awareness.
ON INSTAGRAM Thurs 4th June | 5pm Self Care Clinic Q&A Find Out more here
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Mon 8th | WORLD OCEANS DAY
8 9 10
ON INSTAGRAM Thurs 11th June | 5pm Self Care Clinic Q&A Find Out more here Sun 14th | WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY
11 12
GROUP MASTERMIND AND ACCOUNTABILITY Tues 9th June | 1pm & 5pm Monthly business planning and review a monthly group coaching call to create a clear action steps based on your own business journey with your accountability buddy from the collective Find Out more here MASTERCLASSES Wed 10th June | 1pm & 4pm The beginners’ guide to TikTok Find Out more here
13 14 15
Wed 18th | I NTERNATIONAL PICNIC DAY
16
ON INSTAGRAM Thurs 18th June | 5pm Self Care Clinic Q&A Find Out more here
18
Mon 21st | INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA
Wed 3rd | NATIONAL RUNNING DAY
17
DIGITAL ROUNDTABLES WITH EXPERTS Mon 15th May | 11am Roundtable with Alexandria Maria to Refresh your goals Find Out more here
19 20 21
Sun 21st | FATHER’S DAY
22 Wed 23st | LET IT GO DAY
23 24
ON INSTAGRAM Thurs 25th June | 5pm Self Care Clinic Q&A Find Out more here
25 26 27 28
Mon 29th | C HILDREN’S ART WEEK [THE NATURAL WORLD]
29 30
MASTERCLASSES Wed 24th June | 1pm & 4pm Eight-week digital launch plan Find Out more here PODCAST [LAST EPISODE OF THE SERIES] Wed 24th June | 7am After a long run of weekly episodes the second series of Make an Impact Show draws to a close Find Out more here
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 09
COVER FEATURE
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 Mason had to say.
M Y M I S S I O N I S TO About Mason
aka The Mindset coach
London, England
I absolutely love what I do, which is what I do it. As people, I feel we stress too much, we argue too much, we cry, worry and shout too much. But this is avoidable. I felt that as a man there was a level of “manning-up” that needed to be done and it was only after leaving the country on my own for three years that I realised that I had the choice either to continue allowing the crippling fear of being seen as an emotional failure to dictate how I live my life, or not. Once I recognised this need for change in me, I started seeing others pain around me. I saw the same behaviours I used to use in an attempt to hide my insecurities. I decided to become a coach by “Chance” after seeing the value people found in having a safe space to share and find clarity. After moving back to the UK I was drawn to work with men. I love the work I do with my women and will continue to do so but I feel my brothers needed support and as an ex pro MMA fighter and prisoner, I had A LOT expectation to shake and felt by opening up my experience, it would give others like me permission to break old cycles that no longer serve them.
NORM A L I S E PERS O NA L DEVEL OPM ENT,
REDEFINE MA S CUL I NI TY,
AND HEL P MA KE S PI R I TUA L I TY MORE AC CES S I B L E. I DO THI S BY OPENL Y S HA R I NG M Y HIGH S , LOWS, MY WINS AND MY LESSONS. ”
Mason Roberts londonslifecoach.co.uk
C lic k h er e to se e m o re about Ma so n o n In st a
Now that I do hold space for men, and the work I do with all those I work with, I feel that my road to getting here has not been in vain and so grateful to be able to support, guide and motivate people to move through their individual challenges. CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 11
COLUMNIST
CONTEMPLATING WITH CHARLOTTE
On being a mental safeguard Are you a mental health safeguard? How to protect yourself and safeguard your emotional wellbeing as well as other people around you
P
erhaps it’s my Cancarian intuition or overlyobservant tendencies, but I’d like to consider myself an emotional P.I. (self-proclaimed, no official qualifications necessary). For example, should one of my closest friends reply to a WhatsApp message with a shorter than usual response, or in a tone of voice deemed out of sorts, I’m straight on the other end of the phone asking them what’s up? But supporting others’ emotional wellbeing isn’t directly dependent upon closeness to one’s heart or star-sign. Mental health safeguarding is, or should be, universal. In times of need, those in need require support. But reaching out and asking others for help doesn’t come naturally. We bottle up difficult and nerve-wracking thoughts and emotions inside, creating an upper lip so stiff that we become almost stifled to speak at the risk of our pressurised minds erupting over unsuspecting colleagues on a Zoom call. It’s concerning to think that whilst many of us are fully aware of the possibility that our colleagues could be at bursting-point, we feel almost powerless to support them without seeming like we are prying or over-sharing. After all, not everyone will want to, or feel comfortable, talking about their mental wellbeing, but this doesn’t mean we are powerless to offer a listening ear. Safeguarding involves protecting others from harm and preventing suffering, be it physical or emotional. Opening yourself up to becoming a mental health safeguard empowers those around you to recognise that your door is open should they ever need to ask for help or guidance. The first step to safeguarding other’s
12 | CREATIVE IMPACT MAG
mental health is to recognise when a colleague, friend or family is beginning to show signs of strife, which I like to call their “mental health tells”. Tells may include a change in behaviour or attitude, an unusual withdrawal from activities, over or under-working, changes in communication, and lack of concentration or focus. Once you’ve identified these tells, it’s time to take action in a considerate and constructive way. If you struggle putting this into practice, simply ask yourself, how would I want to be safeguarded? What would I want others to do when I am in need of support? How would this individual react to “Conversation, and my suggestion? Taking letting someone know action can be as subtle that you are on their side as sending a message to your colleague is an unspoken grace” offering support for their workload, assisting on a project, acknowledging their recent work, sharing inspiring articles or inviting them to grab lunch or a coffee (in person or virtually). Providing a chain of conversation, and letting someone know that you are on their side is an unspoken grace which demonstrates your interest in their wellbeing without asking prying or presumptuous questions. Above all, becoming a mental health safeguard involves reaching out to others and offering non-judgmental support for mental wellbeing. I wonder just how many of us would have benefitted from having a safeguard in our own workplace in times of past mental strife? @charlottesophiewrites
WHAT WE’RE FOLLOWING
MAKE AN IMPACT Career Change With Sophie Clyde-Smith SEASON 2, EPISODE 6
You are more than your career. Yet, by the end of your life, you will have spent twothirds of it working, so you better make sure it’s a good one. This is the reason why, in this podcast episode, we talk to Sophie Clyde Smith, the modern career coach about confidence, career change, asking for help and so much more.
Click on podcast artwork to get link
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE
PODCASTS CHOSEN FROM OUR COLLECTIVE MEMBERS
HOPE AND PATIENCE PODCAST 12+ EPISODES
Award-winning chocolate creator Amelia Rope explores the challenges of running a business and taking care of yourself along the way. She encourages you to switch off the internal chatter and continue to sparkle.
l HOPE & PATIENCE PODCAST
“ASIANBOSSGIRL” (ABG) PODCAST
COACHING IGNITED PODCAST
It’s made by three Asian women in their 20s/30s who share their life experiences, specifically touching on the topic of how being Asian affects their day to day lives - from dating to careers to overall health.
Tune in and learn from some of the best coaches, fitness professionals and industry leaders. Trainers at every level who want to discover new ideas, get better results for their clients and be an all round better business owner.
l ASIAN BOSS GIRL PODCAST
l COACHING IGNITED PODCAST
65+ EPISODES
100+ EPISODES
BUILDING A STORY BRAND PODCAST 200+ EPISODES
Get your message out, grow your company, stand out in the marketplace, and have a blast doing it. Donald Miller brings you practical advice about clarifying your message so customers will listen.
l BUILDING A STORY BRAND PODCAST
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 13
IN PROFILE
EXPERT PROFILE
Amy Leighton I’m Amy Leighton, Speaking and Presence Coach. I help people from all over the world to increase their visibility, get confident and show their truth through speaking in a way that works for them through my unique coaching. When it has to count, I help them to stand out. What is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to your field? I believe that people think of speaking and they imagine public speaking to hundreds of people – and so working on their communication skills becomes a ‘one day’ thing. However, what people don’t realise is that we communicate everywhere and the way that we do it has a huge impact on us personally and professionally – think needing to speak up in a relationship, saying when a friendship isn’t working anymore or persuading a grumpy child to go to bed!
CV AMY LEIGHTON Job title: Speaking
& Presence Coach Skills that help you:
Drama School & learning on the job!
How can people feel more confident about improving in your field of expertise? Realising that we all have thoughts, ideas, feelings
TOP TIPS ON...
YO
UR EXPERTISE
14 | CREATIVE IMPACT MAG
START SMALL No-one is asking you to be TED talk ready tomorrow, but start to think about where you can be more aware in how you communicate within your day to day life.
INSTAGRAM WEBSITE
that deserve to be said. Whether that’s for personal reasons as above, sharing about your latest coaching programme online or speaking at an event – we’re actually doing ourselves & those around us a disservice if we don’t speak up. So how can you make small changes on a daily basis that help you work towards speaking up when it really counts? What is your favourite thing about being part of Creative Impact? I love the sense of community and connection! It brings together so many people from all different backgrounds who are passionate about learning, showing up for themselves and their brands and developing their skills!
BE KIND TO YOURSELF Often it’s easy to see what other people are doing and think ‘well what’s the point of me even starting’. Give yourself space & time to work out how you want to put yourself out there.
BE BRAVE I always suggest to clients to get clear on their intentions & values behind what they want to say first, so that they can root their work back in their reasons for doing it in the first place.
INSPIRATION
“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent, and not enough time on what is important” STEVEN COVEY
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 15
COVER FEATURE
Just
Breathe WITH THE BREATH GUY
As part of our Mindfullness threme for this month, we sat down, crossed our legs and talked with Richie Bostock find out how to breathe properly... 16 | CREATIV E I M P A C T M A to G
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CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 17
COVER FEATURE
ichie Bostock, or “The Breath Guy”, is a leading figure and evangelist for breathwork, the next revolution in health and wellness. He is a breathwork coach, author and speaker. His mission to spread the life changing possibilities of breathwork to the world. Having worn many hats, from a corporate management consultant to digital entrepreneur, Richie eventually discovered breathwork which was a catalyst for a life changing journey that completely shifted his own perspective and beliefs on the potential for human beings.
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Richie spent years traveling across five continents learning from many of the modern day masters of breathwork. He continuously witnessed the transformative effects of when people became aware of their breathing and started to use it as a tool to create physical mental and emotional benefits. This free medicine is available to everyone and it's Richie’s mission to remind the world how to breathe with purpose - we are so excited to catch up with Richie and get to know the man behind the breathwork phenomenon.
The origin story
Believe it or not I wasn’t always teaching people how to breathe for a living. Some
time ago my dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune disease with no real widely accepted cure and a myriad of different and sometimes difficult drug treatments. Because there was no set treatment plan for MS, I was always on the lookout for different lifestyle changes and alternative treatments that could be useful for him. Eventually I came across a podcast by a man called Wim Hof, a Dutch man often referred to as The Iceman. In this podcast, he talked about a method he developed through his own experiences which is fantastic for everyone’s physical and mental health. What caught my attention is that he mentioned the method seemed to be really
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GETTING STARTED WITH MINDFUL BREATHING
effective in helping people with autoimmune diseases, including MS. After researching his method more I learned that it had two main elements: cold exposure activities such as cold showers and ice baths and breathing techniques. Wim Hof Method was the first style of breathwork that I ever learned and began my breathwork journey by becoming a WHM instructor. Training with Wim, I learned about how breathwork and cold exposure, whether it is a cold shower or an ice bath, can make a massive difference to your physical, mental and emotional health.
INHALE
Inhale through your nose for six seconds
A simple place to begin, start getting comfortable in breathing more slowly. While many people habitually breathe at a faster than natural rate, consciously EXHALE slowing down your breathing Exhale through for a few minutes has been scientifically shown to shift your nose for your body into your six seconds parasympathetic (also known as ‘rest and digest’) response, promoting functions such as digestion, helping you sleep better and REPEAT to feel more calm. Repeat this cycle for at least 3 minutes, but You can try this *If six seconds there really is no limit feels like a yourself with a as to how long you struggle, start technique called can go off at five or ‘coherence breathing’ four seconds. Research on this technique has shown how breathing at a rate of 5 breaths per minute can help you to balance your nervous system in just a matter of minutes.
FLOURISH APP
Check out Richie’s breathing app and community Flourish here
To cut a long story short, I travelled to Poland to attend a week long training to learn
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 19
COVER FEATURE
Wim's technique and found the effects to be so profound, especially the breathing aspects. On my return, I taught my dad the technique. Fast forward a few years and my dad breathes and takes cold showers every morning and his MS has not progressed at all! After this I was obsessed with finding out what else people were doing using the breath, which has led me to travel across five continents learning from many modern breathwork masters and witnessing the transformative effects of breathwork.
Understanding the power of your breath
By simply learning how to use your breath as a tool the way nature intended you to, you can quickly affect the systems and functions in your body, improving your physical and mental health and performance and emotional wellbeing. You might be a sleep-deprived parent, a stressed business executive, an elite athlete or anyone in between. The way you breathe affects just about every system and function in your body. This means that the way we breathe has a direct
effect on our cardiovascular system, endocrine system, digestive system, nervous system, immune system and lymphatic system. If your breathing changes, whether consciously or unconsciously, then all these systems will change accordingly. It is the state of these systems that largely dictate our physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.
There is a breath technique for everyone and depending on what issues/illnesses you face, a programme of breathwork can be styled for that person. The same for kids - depending on their age, there will be certain styles that work best. I have even breathed a 5 day old baby! We live in such a fast-paced world which can feel very challenging and overwhelming.
HOW TO BREATHE ON PURPOSE There are so many different ways to breathe that all have different effects on the body’s internal systems. You can use your breath to affect the function of your brain positively in various ways. When using the breath to calm down and relax, you will usually adopt a slower, rhythmical rate of breathing to bring the brain into a state of coherence, moving from a high beta brain wave state (stress) to a low beta or alpha brainwave state (relaxed).
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There are four basic elements to how you should breathe day-to-day at rest.. To summarise, they are: Between 9 to 12 breaths per minute
1 BREATHE LOW
2 BREATHE LOW
Down into the belly first, feeling your lower ribs and abdomen expand
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“Your breath is like your body’s very own in-built Swiss Army knife. Here, you have a tool that can help you in so many situations” As a result, reported levels of chronic stress and anxiety are higher than they have ever been in recorded history, taking a toll on our physical health, emotional wellbeing and mental performance. Everyone is looking for tools to combat their overstimulated lives. The number of people doing breathwork has exploded because of its simplicity and
3 BREATHE THROUGH THE NOSE
effectiveness. You don’t have to have had experience meditating or practicing mindfulness. It doesn’t require you to have to think or feel in a certain way, you just breathe and you will experience something new. I see breathwork playing a very big part in bringing more peace and balance to a fast paced and sometimes chaotic world.
Don’t blow out your exhale, just relax and let the air escape naturally
FUN FACT When we breathe we are either right nostril dominated or left nostril.
Dedicate a few moments throughout the day to check in on how you are breathing. Are you breathing high into the chest?
4 That’s what it’s there for!
PRACTICE
LET GO OF YOUR EXHALE
EXHALE
You can preorder Richie’s new book. A one-stop guide to help you understand the world of Breathwork.
Are you holding your breath or barely breathing at all? Take a minute to reset your breath using the four points mentioned previously and then continue on with your day and check in again later. Take note of the changes
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 21
COVER FEATURE
Learn how to breathe to positively impact your mental health
Most people take on average 22 - 29,000 breaths a day however most people are not aware that they are breathing poorly and fewer are aware about how poor breathing habits may be affecting their health and happiness. I would say that 80% of the general population breathe in a way that is anatomically sub-optimal leading to unnecessary physical, mental and emotional distress. The most common dysfunctional breathing pattern I see is a chest or clavicular breathing pattern which is very common in people who are chronically stressed.
“Understanding and using the breath purposefully is a major skill that can help you to reduce stress and anxiety, and increase energy.� This pattern is obvious when a person inhales and their shoulders travel vertically significantly and their chest puffs out. Here you are using your neck, shoulders and
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COVER FEATURE
5PM BREATHING EXERCISE A technique I like to do also is 5pm Breathing and calms down the nervous system in times of stress. It has this name because 5pm is supposed to be that joyous moment where most of us get to knock off work, relax, let our hair down and have a cocktail. It also stands for five breaths per minute and is designed to help you wind down and de-stress your internal systems. FUN FACT
Breathing is the only autonomous system of the body that we can also control. This means that the body governs it but we can change how we breathe through conscious breathing practices
upper chest muscles to expand your chest to breathe in air. These muscles are what are called “Secondary Breathing Muscles” and are designed to be used in short bursts when we need to breathe quickly (e.g. catching our breath after sprinting). They are not designed to be used 24/7 and will fatigue and can cause neck, shoulder and back pain. On top of that, this style of breathing is neurologically linked to sending the body into a stress response by activating your Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS), so even
• Start in a seated or lying position. • Put one or both hands over your belly button so that you can feel the movement of your abdomen • Inhale for four seconds through your nose and feel your hands rise or move a few centimetres. • Exhale for six seconds through your nose and feel your hands fall inwards a few centimetres. No need to empty your lungs all the way, just exhale slowly until your lungs feel comfortably empty. • Hold your breath for two seconds. • That is one breath cycle. Repeat this breath cycle at least ten times, however you can keep repeating it until you have reached your desired state of relaxation.
if you had no reason to be stressed, if you breathed in this way you would cause your body to go into a stress response - doesn’t sound so smart does it?
More about The Breath Guy
C li c k o n the b o ld li nks to fo u n d out more
You can stay up to date with Richie Bostock on his Instagram account, as well as viewing more infomation that has been featured in this article via the website
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GOOD MINDFULLNESS
T
FEEL GOOD [CLUB]
Inte rvi
ew A by
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La
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E TO M I
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a
GOOD MINDFULLNESS
2.
1.
1.
W
e are two wives on a mission to make people feel good and help them become the best versions of themselves. Feel Good Club is just over a year old and we are basically an Instagram page trying to help make it the norm to talk about feelings and mental health, to do this through events and our daily positive posts (that we come up with ourselves every single morning.) Aimie now does Feel Good Club full time after quitting her job back in September to focus on the brand and Kiera is Director of happiness for Social Chain and does Feel Good Club on the side. Our main aim is to keep people connected, keep positive and make sure people are aware it's ok not to be ok. We have been together for 10 years and the idea of Feel Good Club started 6 years ago but last year we decided to take the plunge and go for it.
Wearing kindness on your sleeves We do merchandise, which is like a team kit. We see our merch as a way of connecting people, if you see someone in our merch you know they are supporting the concept of making it ok to talk about feelings and mental health.
We design , create and market our brand all ourselves and we don't have qualifications in marketing , branding or anything we just have passion for. The purpose behind our merch is we wanted the clothing to represent out ‘Club’ sort of like a team kit. We want people to see each other wearing Feel Good Club and now that other person is open to what we represent.
(Above L-R) The Feel Good Club Eco cup; a model wearing branded pink jump; founders Kiera and Aimie pose in their products
OUR FAVOURITE PRODUCTS INCLUDE 1. Our Eco cup, we think it is super important to lower the usage of take away cups which is why we brought out our own Eco cup. We always take it out when we take Juno (our dog) for a walk. 2. Our pink hood. It is so cosy and the colour just brightens up any outfit, as well as your day.
Starting the day well Each day we wake up and create our quote of the day, we don’t pre plan the quotes, we do them on the day. This is so each quote is relatable. We’re on this same feel good journey with our followers, so we are open about our feelings and how certain situations make us feel, this is our way of showing people it’s ok to do so, when
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GOOD MINDFULLNESS
THINGS TO HELP YOU FEEL BETTER EVERY DAY JOURNAL Take time out each day to write how your day has been, what was the positives , what can you let go off? What are you grateful for? This helps to check in with yourself and notice what makes you feel good each day. FIND TIME TO LAUGH Laughing is so important, we always take 10minutes out of our day to just do something silly, dance to one song really loud, watch something funny or call a friend and laugh. Sometimes we get so lost I work we forget to just smile and laugh.
quarantine, mental health and staying positive is more important than ever.
people see others commenting on our post saying they feel the same it shows our community they are not alone.
“we are on a mission to
make you feel good and
support you in becoming
your best & happiest self” We do talks on how to turn your passion into a brand, we give people our positive tips to help with your mental health. We Have Freelance Friday where Freelancers can come to a local coffee shop and mix with
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other freelancers, being a freelancer can be super lonely so we wanted to create a space where they can come and meet new people and hopefully help each other to grow personally and in business. We try and make talking about feeling relatable so our audience feels like it’s the norm to talk about them, we all have mental health and it is something we want to destigmatize.
The importance of mental health and wellbeing Changes are definitely being made, I think with the current circumstances, as large portions of the world have been under
People are slowly becoming more open with talking about how they are feeling and we think social media is taking a turn (slowly) for less perfection posts. We still don’t think it has been normalised enough , there is still stigma around mental health but we do believe we’re on the right path to normalising the discussion. Our favourite quote is something we actually put on a T-shirt once and it sold out in days: “Being kind never killed anyone” What this means to us is , the outcome to being kind to someone is nothing but positive. It costs nothing to be kind and can only make the world a better place, it’s so simple to do, yet so effective.
Find out more
Make sure you follow Feel Good Club on Instagram @wearefeelgoodclub
GOOD MINDFULLNESS
EVERY DAY SELF-LOVE YOGA We do 10 minutes of stretch yoga every morning (during the week) to wake our bodies up and get ourselves in the right mindset for the rest of the day. START PLANNING We have a high performance planner which we fill out each day, it helps you focus on your day ahead but it also asks you questions like, what type of day do you want, what are you going to do that will make you smile today? GET OUTSIDE ! It is super important to get some fresh air, get in nature and just take some time out from the busy world to just be in nature. Editors note: Please follow the latest guidelines when planning to go outside during the outbreak of COVID-19.
1 2 3
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LAUREN LOVATT
FOUNDER SERIES
A business powered by plants with Lauren Lovatt
L
auren is a food entrepreneur and creative, her main aim in life is to inspire passion through plants. “Plant Academy helps me bring people’s dreams to life. We showcase and share the best in plant-based food talent, knowledge and sustainable visions with our content and our variety of courses.” My eureka moment When I moved to London, I was freelancing and had no idea how I was going to make it work, with funding a new project and paying the bills all at once. On a wim I decided to launch a supper club that was all about inspiring better mental health through food and telling the story of my food journey through the menu. Within a week I sold 50 tickets, the dream venue presented itself and people volunteered to help. I saw how if you put out something you so passionately believe in anything was possible. Validating the idea The main offer from the Plant Academy is a course called Plant 123. This class goes from plant food fundamentals, to expressing your essence though food and making an impact on the food system.
CV LAUREN ELLEN LOVATT The Plant Academy
As soon as people across the world started getting in touch without event marketing I knew we are onto something great. Over the last year seeing people travel from the other side of the globe to come and literally saying it changed their life has been incredible and I know there is scope to have even greater impact.
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Founded: 2019 Job title: Founder
and CEO INSTAGRAM WEBSITE
The failure I am glad I experienced When I was at my first restaurant, Asparagasm, my goal was travel to LA and train further, something I eventually did. The second time I went to LA, I just couldn’t make the restaurant work without me being there 100% of the time which is not a sustainable model. It felt devastating but almost three years in we decided to call it quits and close. This opened the whole world up to me, literally, and I went on to travel from Barcelona to Bali teaching and then landing in London to really do my thing. Going against the tide I see so many looking around at what everyone else is doing and worrying they will be copied. For me
3 TOP TIPS FOR...
ANYONE STARTING A BUSINESS COLLABORATE Think about who out there inspires you. If your brands resonate why not join forces and create magic?
collaboration is key. I’m very much action focused and believe that by going out into the world the world will come to you. You can’t wait for it to happen and by connecting and sharing the passion magic happens. Don’t give up, don’t take anything personally and always embrace and believe. The role of social media For new opportunities social media, specifically Instagram, is everything. 100% of the international projects I began are through this channel. I recently co-created the food concept for HOY, Paris’ first plant-based hotel. People just find me and endless opportunities come about. Having a visual portfolio visible to the world is a fantastic way to express values
and skills and I also find it useful to look back, check in and remember how things were and how they have progressed. I can always tell from my feed how I was feeling at a certain time and what it led to. Plans for the future We are just about to open a new food studio in collaboration with a very talented friend of mine. This new space will embody our plant powered values and sustainable ethos. The academy will be going online from there and I feel we will have much more fluidity in what we can do. I’m excited for more collaborations and connections constantly moving towards a more sustainable, creative and delicious future of food.
SHARE If you read/ watch something you learn it once if you share something you learn it twice. Whether that’s with a friend, college or on socials its powerful that knowledge nuggets ARE better when shared! EXPLORE If you go out into the world it will come back to you. It can be so easy to be head down when starting a new business. Stay open, and keep exploring.
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FINANCIAL MINDFULLNESS
Be positively wealthy How to bring mindfulness into your finances Written by Emma Mumford
F
inances seem to be a hot topic right now during lockdown as many face financial uncertainties, losing jobs or money if they own a business for example. So I thought now more than ever was the perfect time to share with you five great ways you can stay positively wealthy this month using the Law of Attraction and practices from my new book Positively Wealthy. My first tip is to watch your finances during lockdown - also all year round this practice works great! This is also a great self-love practice. If you’re worried about money and are desperately trying to manifest it – mindlessly spending what you do have is only going to make the situation worse. There is a lot of BS out there in Law of Attraction books etc that say spending money creates more money. This is only true if it feels good to spend the money if you go and mindlessly spend money you shouldn’t really be on luxuries, is that going to make you feel happy or actually more anxious now that you have even
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less for the month ahead. You want to feel good when looking at your bank account, not avoiding it more because of what you’ve purchased. This is all about your energy at the end of the day, so hold that item in the shop. Does it feel good to buy it? Will you get lots of use out of it and will it bring you joy? If the answer is no then put it back and wait, see how you feel about it in a week or so or when you next get paid. If it’s a yes and it feels good to buy it then you will naturally attract more money to you through these good feelings with every transaction. The same can be done with a service or online product. Ask yourself these questions and be honest with yourself. A great tip for manifesting money into your life is to keep an abundance log, so over the next month each week write down all the money or abundance that you’ve manifested into your life. Remember money can come from any avenue not just your income – so did someone gift you money, did you find it on the floor out and about? Did you get a refund or bonus? Did you get a coupon or discount? All of these are money manifestations so each week write down
FINANCIAL MINDFULLNESS
“Remember when you feel good with your money and take grounded action like this, new money
will manifest to you as your vibration raises and
you feel more relaxed surrounding your finances.” everything that comes to you even other manifestations to keep a log on what you are manifesting so you can physically see the money coming to you and abundance of all forms. Another great thing to focus on, is being grateful for every single penny you currently have. It’s easy to think we have a lack of money or avoid looking at our total finances because we think it’s going to be bad and trigger us. Avoidance is the biggest cause of money blocks and negativity towards your finances. All of this is avoidance and not the vibes you want to be putting out to manifest more money. Get real with your finances and sit down with them, work out how much debt you have, how much your bills will be this month and how much you currently have in your bank account. You may even be pleasantly surprised! When we avoid our finances our ego loves to play the victim and convince you it’s all negative and there’s no hope. Once you have clarity and acceptance of the situation the Universe can get to work and you can start manifesting from a place of acceptance and gratitude instead of fear and lack. Like I said you could have been worrying over nothing!
POSITIVE WEALTHY Is available for pre-order now and can be ordered from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. Click here to get more information FIND OUT MORE Emma is an awardwinning life coach, mentor, author, and Podcast host. Find out more by visiting her Website here
This is a really practical step which I feel is still necessary in order to make sure you’re utilizing the money you do have currently and this ties into mindful spending also. Have a look at your monthly subscriptions and commitments (this excludes household bills, insurances, and finance payments). Here are some questions that can help you getting clarity around your expenses: are there any subscriptions or services that you can cancel? Are those subscriptions bringing you joy? Are you using them and getting the most out of them? I even did this in business and cancelled subscriptions to tools and websites I thought I needed which I didn’t use. I actually surprised myself how much money I was now saving each month just from this simple practice. So use this lockdown as the perfect opportunity to look at your luxuries budget each month and what you could be saving on right now to help you financially. My last tip is one we often forget, and that’s to look at your language surrounding money. Sometimes it can be impossible not to say something negative about your finances if you’re trying to explain to someone that you’re struggling or even to claim help during these uncertain times. Check-in with your money language here and think about ways you can speak more positively about money. You could even create affirmations to manifest more money into your life. Our words create our reality, remember so don’t forget the power of affirmations during this time and catching yourself before you speak negatively about your current financial situation.
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INTERVIEW
BEHIND THE CONTENT
@ e llelinton
My name is Elle and I’m a Fitness Professional and Blogger based in Greater London. I create communities and connections through movement and fitness to inspire and motivate others to live an active, healthy lifestyle. My passion is to share information, through content creation and supporting this by leading activities (running, cycling) and coaching fitness. With 15+ years experience in all aspects of the fitness industry, I want to empower others to make informed choices when it comes to wellbeing. Behind the content I’m pretty aware of the jack of all trades, master of none saying so I try to instill this in my content. Over time, as I’ve found the activities that I’m passionate about for my own training and for coaching, those have become the pillars for my content. Currently I focus on ways to seat ( specifically home fitness, running and cycling), food and athleisure. However, I have slightly broader categories on my blog than say, Instagram.
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ANNA RACHEL PHOTOGRAPHY
AKA ELLE LINTON
(Below L-R) A few examples taken from Elle’s Instagram page including her fitness diaries, an Instagram awareness campaign and a selfie of Elle on a Zoom call.
On making a bigger impact I would like to think that I’m here as a cheerleader for anyone who wants to become active. In the sport & fitness world, there is a stark lack of diversity both in gender and race. ‘You have to see it to be it’ - there is very little representation especially in sports like cycling, or in the fitness influencer world, so I’m prepared to stand up and be the representation
ANNA RACHEL PHOTOGRAPHY
INTERVIEW
younger women and girls need to see. Lessons and achievements The main thing to recognise is that learning is always possible no matter how successful you are. Some of my biggest achievements are the creation of a community for London based Digital Creators and Influencers, managing to create content during
my two years of MSc study and making it to 8 years of blogging without giving up! Nuggets of gratitude I think there have been too many people to mention - with so much help from creator communities who are always willing to help others. Two members of my community who have been an amazing support are Bethan of bethantaylorswaine.com and Donna of huesofdelahaye.com. Getting to Donna was also a pivotal point in my content creation just as I started my MSc as she really helped me to focus on authenticity and to work on imagery.
FUN FACT As a teen, I wanted to be a TV presenter so applied for, auditioned and got accepted at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts where I trained for
About being a Creative Impact member So far, I’ve massively enjoyed the various masterclasses that have been available. Some have been great for learning completely new skills whilst others have been a kind of refresher but either way, I always come out of them feeling positive and inspired to take action!
around 4 years.
CLICK HERE... You can find out more about Elle and her work, on her Website here
SELF CARE TIPS
Every single day before my day starts I check in with myself, I set my intention and decide who I’m going to be that day just so that I’ve got control over my emotions and my day, and not the other way around.
Mason
@masons_mindset_
5
I show myself some self care by allowing myself to feel the emotions I’m feeling without letting them define me, just because I feel bad, or hurt does not mean that I am a bad or hurtful person. I let those emotions (as energy in motion) pass through me.”
Catri
@catribarrett
WAYS TO S H OW I love moving my body as soon as I wake up, especially inversions - and meditating, walking in nature and hugging trees. Have you tried it, they have so much love to give!
Mays
@healthymays
SELF -CARE To p t i p s to s h ow yo u rs e l f s o m e kindness coming straight from the Creative Impact Collective.
I take 10 minutes every day to try and do something that makes me feel good. It’s usually 10 minutes of reading a good book with a big cup of tea. I make sure I check in on my mind, body and soul. I check it on my mind to make sure that I’ve had some sort of mental break, I check it on my body and make sure that I’ve done some sort of movement like a walk, and I check in on my soul to make sure I’ve engaged in a spiritual practice.
Rachel
@thevitalityvet
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Emily
@balancelifewell
INSPIRATION
“Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.” THOMAS EDISON
Join the family
CREATIVE IMPACT
E V I T C E L COL CLICK HERE
ERCLASSES ST A M R FO TH N O M H C JOIN US EA LLENGES A H C | S TE A PL M TE | G IN COACH
FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE ISSUE
CREATIVE IMPACT
PRO SECTION DID YOU KNOW?
TikTok has 800 million active users worldwide, versus Instagram’s 1 billion users
THIS ISSUE
TikTok
PRO SECTION
A beginners’ guide to
T
Written by Fab Giovanetti
ikTok, created by a Chinese tech firm called ByteDance, is a social media app that allows you to record, edit, and share short, looping 15- or 60-second videos with musical overlays, sound effects, and visual effects. Recently TikTok has become a creative outlet for young adults and teens. In the past few years, TikTok has been relatively secretive about its stats. However, according to a leaked advertising pitch deck from October 2019, TikTok reports having 800 million monthly active users worldwide. As of late October 2019, TikTok was the Top Free App in the Entertainment section of the Apple App Store, and by early 2020 its user base has sky-rocketed. Truly, TikTok is NOT that different in behaviours and UX than Instagram Stories — which may be the reason why TikTok is such a threat for Instagram these days. One thing is certain: TikTok is a fast-paced app
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“Creativity is being democratised and soon brands will have to learn to adapt their tone of voice and visual style for the platform” shares Caoilfhionn Rose, Award Winning Brand and Social Strategist TikTok’s key feature is a video-first interface, the “For You Page”, that takes up the entire screen and starts playing immediately, sucking users into the app. Every video loops by default, and users swipe up and down to navigate the endless stream of videos, sideways to jump into a creator’s profile for more content, or tap one of multiple small buttons around the edge of the screen. The second you log in, you see a video at the top of a feed that’s algorithmically curated around your interests. If you enjoy the video you’re watching, you can follow, comment, and like the content directly from the video post. If you really like a video and want to see if the user has more posts you’ll enjoy, swipe left to toggle to their profile.
NAVIGATION HOME
Home
It opens up your home screen with latest recommendations
DISCOVER
Discover
A collection of sounds, challenges and hashtags for your TikTok
NEW VIDEO
Create a new TikTok by clicking on the button
INBOX
Inbox
Where your messages and conversations live
PROFILE
Me
Update your settings, info and preferences
PRO SECTION
FOLLOW US Click on the image follow us on TikTok at @creativeimpactco
PROFILE
Click on the profile picture to head to the user’s profile
LIKES
Likes will help with the TikTok algorithm and get discovered
COMMENTS
Comments are key to create engagement, and helps with the For You page
SHARES
HANDLE
The handle of the TikTok user click on it to see the user profile
HASHTAGS
Use hashtags to get your videos discovered and join challenges
Share your TikTok video with other on Instagram stories or send it to friends
SOUNDS
Sounds are a great way to join a challenge and get discovered by others
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PRO SECTION
Different types of videos
Videos and montages: You’ll see a number of musical montages or mini music videos on the platform. This is where the library of sounds can help inspiring with new, exciting dancing and music challenge everyone can join.
Short tips and intros: Loads of personal brands, fitness pros, but also coaches and experts are combining written tips with fun music or even voiceovers to share relatable and unique stories showcasing their expertise.
Fun, comedy and Vine-like videos: These include comedy audios, or challenges and hashtags with unique combinations that are incredibly relatable. Comedy, fun shorts and Vine-like montages are also incredibly popular.
“Watching mega Instagram influencers cross-pollinate Instagram content to TikTok at the beginning of lockdown highlights that polished content doesn’t wash on this platform.” argues Rose “Smart brands will
DA
N
This CE V IDE is w O h let t he s ere TikT S oun ds b ok start e yo e CO ur g d really MED uide , . From Y j usin oining cha g fu llen nn com edy y relata ges to is an bl ama e soun ds zing outl , et.
use the app to study youth culture to ensure their brand strategy aligns with the values of these potential high-spending consumers!” How can you use your expertise or unique USP to add value to TikTok? Create a list of valuable assets you can share with your audience.
Discovery through hashtags, effects and sounds
When you tap on the second tab of your app, or magnifying glass, you can enter the app’s search area. On this tab, you can either search out accounts or videos, or you can look below the search bar to see videos by trending topics. You can have a similar look to both Discover and Trending on desktop. You can use hashtags, as well as selected sounds and effects, as a way to find new accounts to follow and also be found by other users. HO
W
-T Usin g m OS usic has a bec ome nd text fo a po pula r howtos r pra ctic e.
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PRO SECTION
257BILLION VIEWS
59.4 MILLION VIEWS 12.2 MILLION VIEWS “TikTok is essentially “monkey see, monkey do”. Trends are created on this app to copy” shares Adele Cooper, Social Media Marketing Specialist “Instead of the pressure to create something totally unique, TikTok actively encourages the mimicking of other creators’ content (with your own spin of course) and promotes this through popular hashtags and songs.” Hashtags are also a great way to introduce challenges to the platform.
Spending more time on the discovery feed could be the inspiration you need. Save TikToks, sounds, and effects to your favourites and you’ll be able to reuse them later when the time is right.
The next generation of influencers
Joining challenges on TikTok
Challenges, effects, and sounds are a great way to get discovered on TikTok. This is really where you can follow the footsteps of brands like the Independent, or even Guess, to get inspiration from trending challenges, effects, and much more. The fact that you can use AR effects to enhance your videos means you do not need a video producer to make fun, exciting, and unique snippets. I am spending more and more time on the discovery page of TikTok to get more ideas for challenges and hashtags. I also love that TikTok has its own series spotlighted, like recent challenges to support the British Red Cross and the Mind charity during Mental Health Awareness Week.
“Creativity is being democratised and soon brands will have to learn to adapt their tone of voice and visual style for the platform.” Caoilfhionn Rose
One of the things that’s so fun about TikTok is that it’s an incredible creative platform. It forces kids to get wild and crazy to stand out. High schools have been forming TikTok clubs to enable collaboration on short creative videos. Yet, TikTok is not just for your nieces and nephews - at least not anymore “Starting out as a platform that many brands simply overlooked, we’ve now seen just how powerful TikTok can be” agrees Rebecca Holloway, Social Media Manager & Events Coordinator “Its influence spreads across social media and the music industry, and has fast become the home for everything, be it memes, cooking tutorials, makeup hacks, and of course we can’t forget the dancing! I believe we’re fast approaching a time where including TikTok in your brand strategy will become standard.”
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PRO SECTION
@TikTok_TheNewSocialapp
The new cool kid on the block How to use TikTok to strengthen your personal brand as a creative Written by Fab Giovanetti
have a confession to make. I’ve been scrolling through my TikTok feed more than I’d like to admit recently. In my defense, it’s so easy to get lost in it. 15-second to 1-minute videos that are entertaining, inspiring, and relatable. That is not a winning combo that resonates with any generation on social. To get more clarity about the way TikTok has been rising to the top as the new social network to build a presence on, I turned to the experts, recruiting creator Lauren Carbran and social media manager Becca Holloway for help. Lauren Carbran is an award-winning journalist and content creator who
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PRO SECTION
specializes in lifestyle, fragrance, and beauty and she’s recently worked on creating exciting TikTok content strategies for high street retailers and international brands. Rebecca Holloway is a social media manager at Base Creative and events coordinator for Sharing Social London. For the past 5 years, she’s followed the twists and turns of the social media industry, starting out as an apprentice and now regularly sharing her TikTok expertise at industry events.
Embrace the simplicity
The true secret of TikTok, in my humble opinion, is how effortlessly simple the proposition for the app is. I spotted Lauren after reading her brilliant piece about escaping to TikTok to find inner piece and it massively resonated with me as she wrote: “I
“TikTok has made authenticity cool and allowed users to just be themselves (no airbrushing welcome here)” Lauren Carbran may have discovered TikTok therapy accidentally, but I’m certain it’s helped me get through these uncertain times”
and it immediately resonated with me. I loved how unique, fast-paced and therapeutic it was to scroll down the TikTok feed.”
Lauren really reminds us why the platform I attracting thousands of users daily: “I first downloaded TikTok for a work project in January, but when lockdown started I decided to give it a proper chance as a user
The “For You” feed is a great source of inspiration, providing you with dozens of prompts that can help you find your own, unique style on TikTok. Yes, you should be adapting your content to the way people consume videos on the app, yet you don’t “have to” learn new dance routines to be successful.
@Simple_IsBest
Learn by doing
As a marketing consultant, I am often finding that the best way to learn about a new platform is to play with it. TikTok is at a pivotal moment now where people are still experimenting, learning and making mistakes. It’s a luxury you do not have these days, when you start an Instagram account. TikTok can be a playground to help new users to find their own feet and build their own strategy: “when a new platform comes along like this there is no better way to understand it than use it” adds Holloway “I think it’s a right of passage that before you delve into campaigns you’ve got to have a go at some of the TikTok dances — give it a go!”
Widen your audience
We often talk about niche-ing down your niche on social media, yet TikTok is allowing brands more than ever to expand their horizon and tap into an audience that you may not have considered. “The majority of people on TikTok may be Generation Z, but the wonderful thing is TikTok is inclusive, expressive and has a real community spirit” continues Carbran “There
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@Experiment_with_it
are grandparents, mums, whole families, pets and even therapists on TikTok.”
“When a new platform comes along, there is no better way to understand it than use it”
Getting clear on the value you are bringing to your audience is key, and that will help you niching down on your content — however, be open to attract new people to your content outside of your smaller circle.
Seriously, have fun with it
The amount of pressure we put on ourselves as creatives to show up on social media can be immense, and having a little corner of the
Rebecca Holloway online world where we can just be, well, ourselves and showcase our fun and the relatable edge is key as creatives. “I believe in showing the people working behind the scenes at brands, and TikTok lends itself really well to this. It’s not as polished as Instagram, and presents the opportunity to show the real ‘you’” adds Holloway “We all resonate with content
that’s relatable, and what’s more relatable than all working from home joining Zoom after Zoom right now? “
Authenticity is a word that is often thrown around these days, yet there is an immense power in being able to create a more genuine and light-hearted approach to creating content. “I love how TikTok has made authenticity cool and allowed users to just be themselves (no airbrushing welcome here)” agrees Carbran “If I’m looking for a daily uplift or inspiration, TikTok is where I’m at!”
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PRO SECTION
Q&A
The Content Revolution
STARTS HERE Caoilfhionn Rose talks about how TikTok is changing the way brands show up online Interview and feature by Fab Giovanetti
C
aoilfhionn is an award winning brand and social media strategist, with a background in travel and lifestyle journalism. In this piece, she shares her experience with TikTok based on her training and support to a variety of brands, including Etihad Airways, London Fashion Week, H&M and One & Only Resorts. Caoilfhionn is an expert in helping brands to connect with consumers through high quality, visual storytelling content. influencer marketing trends. Funnily enough, all three of these compliment each other perfectly.
How did you get started with TikTok? I first downloaded TikTok in early 2019 as I like to stay at the forefront of emerging social media trends, so I can relay this information to clients. At first I saw little benefit to clients as the age range of the TikTok users wasn’t relevant to the luxury travel and lifestyle market I worked in. However, when I forgot about my clients and started using it for personal inspiration I was hooked. The content style is authentic and unpolished, vastly different to Instagram and it just seems like a more positive, personalitydriven space. Everyone has a place to be seen and a voice to be heard on TikTok brand’s need to see the benefit of this. When I started introducing it to brands that I work with they didn’t regard it as being a ‘premium’ enough audience - the average
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age of a TikTok user before lockdown was 16, so typically they aren’t high spenders. Cut to mid-March 2020 and everyone and their pets have TikTok. It’s a global phenomenon. It offered brands a palace to connect with consumers during one of the toughest global crises ever - brands who seized that opportunity are reaping the benefits now. Is Tiktok really for me? The benefits to brands are plentiful, but the three I consider to be the most beneficial are the low production cost of content, high engagement levels and the
With over 500M monthly users, TikTok engagement is second to none. Boosting posts? Forget about it. Even if you only have 10 followers on TikTok your content still has the opportunity to go viral within a matter of hours. The platform is content first, unliked Instagram and Facebook who have favoured advertising budgets over great content. The kitchen sink, your driveway, inside your car and your bedroom as just some of the most popular backdrops for TikTok content. No need for styling, high grade camera equipment or moodboards, all you need is you, your niche and 15 - 60 seconds.
PRO SECTION
“No need for styling, high-grade camera equipment or mood boards, all you need is you, your niche, and 15 - 60 seconds.” Caoilfhionn Rose
This presents a great opportunity for brands to strip back on production costs, but also to gain common ground with t he target consumer. This is their chance to relate, while keeping the polished ads for TikTok’s relatively cheap advertising platform. Old misconceptions about TikTok? The majority of your marketing spend should be invested in creating content that connects with the values of your target consumer. If you don’t have this, your brand’s social advertising budget may as well be flushed down the loo! Honestly, I think TikTok would have remained a secondary social channel had it not been for lockdown. With people being cooped up at home, bored and looking for a creative release and connection with others around the world, TikTok stepped up!
It provided the perfect platform for everyone to get involved, have fun and be inspired by global peers. Instagram doesn’t offer users that opportunity because of it’s tough-tocrack algorithm, pay-toplay attitude! TikTok’s algorithm is exceptional and actually shows a user the content they want to see. Not only that, but TikTok have democratised creativity and social media for younger and older generations alike. If brands just view it as a “dancing app” and don’t change their strategy to include TikTok content, they’re going to be very bitter in a few years time. Watching mega Instagram influencers cross-pollinate Instagram content to TikTok at the beginning of lockdown
highlights that polished content doesn’t wash on this platform. Finally, creativity is being democratised and soon brands will have to learn to adapt. Smart brands will use the app to study youth culture to ensure their brand strategy aligns with the values of these potential high-spending consumers!
Author bio
Find out more about Caoilfhionn on Instagram @caoilfhionnrose
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PRO SECTION
TOP ACCOUNTS Written by Fab Giovanetti
few months back, TikTok was the last thing on any brands mind. Fast forward five months and TikTok is proving to be the place to be to grow not only your personal brand, but also corporate brands as well. Yet, this may raise some questions when it comes to TikTok for brands that are not, well, personal. In order to answer them, I’ll share with you a few of my favourite TikTok accounts and challenges that have been gaining traction on the platform.
The Rise of Personal Brands
ME F O L LO W E HE R
Not just the marketers, founders, and creators have had a lot of time to get creative. A lot of successful TikTok users are doctors, therapists, actors, and flight attendants. I spotted a bodyguard with over one million followers. This goes against the common idea that TikTok is all about dance challenges. Comedy, clever videos and fun content have become a true niche that has proven that thinking outside the box and following the trends is a great recipe for viral content.
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dr.karanr
Dr Karan Raj
drjuliesmith
Doctor Julie Smith
sawyerhartman
A big trend on TikTok has seen the rise of doctors and health practitioners to fame on the platform. Humour, inspiration and education have really taken off. One of the most inspiring and funny doctors on TikTok, @dr.karanr shares some amazing content as well as interesting facts you may have been too afraid to ask until now!
She calls herself the “TikTok psychologist” — Dr. Julie Smith has over 500,000 followers on TikTok where she shares short snippets of inspiration as well as practical tips for her audience. She even released a series of meditations in collaboration with TikTok available as sounds for users to access.
Photographers are also growing massively on TikTok. I have seen a variety of creators position themselves as experts by showcasing their expertise in a unique and fun way, making their expertise shine through short tips and bursts of inspiration. Sawyer Hartman, also known as the CEO of Cameras, is a great example of this.
CEO of Cameras
PRO SECTION
ME F O L LO W HE RE
Brands nailing the TikTok game I believe TikTok can be a clever combination of fun, relatable content, and also information in short bursts. We are still infants ourselves when it comes to TikTok — and I see it as a way for myself and my company to just try as many things as possible. I recently set up my personal TikTok account alongside our company account, and I realized that, truly, I am not planning to sell ourselves or our products.
washingtonpost
gymshark Gymshark
guess Guess
To me, really, TikTok is about company culture. A great example (and an all-time favorite) is pretty much anything the Washington Post posts— probably one of the best brands on TikTok. As a newspaper, they could come out very cut and dry. Instead, they are funny, relatable and incredibly witty. A must follow.
Brands like GymShark heavily rely on ambassadors, and tap into the funny side of TikTok in order to create a really unique experience — and they virtually never run out of content, thanks to the wider community they created. They bridge the gap between lifestyle brand and showcasing products.
Guess ran #InMyDenim, the first-ever promoted hashtag challenge on TikTok in the U.S. and the official launch of the app’s U.S. brand partnerships program, which ran Sept. 1–6, 2018. Guess posted several “Official” videos accompanied by Bebe Rexha’s “I’m a Mess,” and then let the content creators do their work.
We are a newspaper.
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 49
PRO SECTION
TI K TOK B E ST
PR ACTICES
JUST GET STARTED WITH IT
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Starting out as a platform that many brands simply overlooked, we’ve now seen just how powerful TikTok can be. Its influence spreads across social media and the music industry, and has fast become the home for everything, be it memes, cooking tutorials, makeup hacks, and of course we can’t forget the dancing! I believe we’re fast approaching a time where including TikTok in your brand strategy will become standard.
Here’s a great tip for brands looking to leverage TikTok, the most second downloaded app of 2019- Spend a week in the app, scrolling through the TikToks it recommends for you to get a feel of how the timeline works and flows. Note what types of content grab your attention, take notes. Note effects that are used that you like and think would work with the kinds of videos you want to post. Take note of specific accounts and jot them down for inspiration later.
Rebecca Holloway
Jason Dominy
Twitter @beccasocial
Twitter @jasondominy
Social Media Manager & Events Coordinator
DRAFT Batch create drafts in one go to make the most of your TikTok scheduling time, then post them throughout the week.
TIMING Ideally, you want to post on TikTok daily (or during weekdays if you are a company). It’s important to make sure you space out your videos.
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Marketing expert
SOUND ON As much as possible, add sounds to your videos (the app may even help you matching sounds) as it helps with discoverability.
RED PILL OR BLUE Challenges are discovered via hashtags, so make sure you choose yours wisely. Niche is better to help with discovery on TikTok.
KEEP IT SHORT The KISS (keep it simple stupid) principle works well. Most videos perform best at 15 seconds, yet top tips can also be up to 60 seconds.
PRO SECTION
CREATE A SCHEDULE TikTok is an extremely creative platform, and it definitely rewards those who create and post often! Two to three times per day is ideal, so if you really want to gain popularity on TikTok, once a week isn’t going to cut it. You’ve definitely got to embrace and commit to using it as much as you can. That’s how I went from zero to 10k followers in just two months! Sharn Rayment
Freelance Digital Producer TikTok @sharnshouse
REPURPOSE CONTENT
KEEP INSPIRATION FRESH
This may not be the best avenue for everyone, but we found that as a small company pretty strapped in time, it was a great way to test our If you want to repurpose other video content on TikTok, make sure you adapt it to the platform. We have had mixed results with re-sharing some content from our IGTV series, the Good Feed, to TikTok. As each episode is seven minutes long, I only focus on the best bits and spotlight both great creative intros as well as some top practical tips.
TikTok is essentially “monkey see, monkey do”. Trends are created on this app to copy. Instead of the pressure to create something totally unique, TikTok actively encourages the mimicking of other creators’ content (with your own spin of course) and promotes this through popular hashtags and songs. You’ll never be stuck for inspiration because the discover page provides new trends to try everyday.
Fab Giovanetti
Adele Cooper
TikTok @fabgiovanetti
youtube.com/adelicate
Founder of Creative Impact Co
Social Media Marketing Specialist
HAVE FUN WITH IT I love that TikTok encourages everyone to become a content creator and to express themselves in a fun and creative way. My top tips would be to find a niche and be consistent with your uploads. Treat each trend or challenge as a creative brief, and bring your own unique style and interpretation to it. Amrit Singh
Creative director, artist and mentor www.mrasingh.tv
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CREATIVE IMPACT
WELLBEING THIS ISSUE
Beauty Rituals DID YOU KNOW? The #nomakeupselfie hashtag became one of the biggest beauty trends of 2018
WELLBEING
UPCIRCLE APRICOT BALM The best way to wash off the day after a long working day - and it removes all makeup (including mascara), whilst giving a lovely massage to your skin. Bonus brownie points, it’s made with the fine powder of discarded apricot stones, which gives thumbs up all around when it comes to daily skincare routine
COCONUT MERCHANT BEAUTY
BEAUTY RITUALS BOLT BEAUTY Sustainable skincare capsules made our of seaweed. Each capsule has the perfect amount of product inside for one application. Cleanser, moisturiser and serums we’ve got your full skincare regime covered with each product in a different coloured capsule.
Each month, we share our favourite wellbeing and beauty rituals and June is all about the products that makes us glow. We have rounded up our most-loved products that promote wellbeing and generally make us feel good! We need all the daily boosts we can get.
CM La Vie is the curated beauty range from the Coconut Merchant team and their coconut oil is a daily life-saver. Like their other products, it is 100% natural, vegan, ethically-sourced and cruelty-free. This one product meets all your beauty needs: make-up remover, hair-conditioner, moisturiser, oil puller for your teeth and shaving balm.
Click on the products to get sales websites
WE ARE WILD REFILL DEODORANT Wild is the brand-new sustainable, natural and 100% vegan deodorant that is paraben and aluminium free. With fragrances like Coconut Dream and Orange Zest, there is something for everyone. Simply select your coloured case, choose your fragrances and Wild send you plasticfree refills giving you a wellbeing boost.
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INSPIRATION
“No matter what you do, your job is to tell your story.” GARY VAYNERCHUK
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 55
WELLBEING
How to give yourself a face workout Written by Nadira V Persaud
M
y five game changing exercises to commit to daily for toning, softening lines and a taut jawline have been adapted and encapsulated into one workout. A key step is not to begin a workout with vigour, instead aim for a mindful moment, face meditation if you will. Why? A relaxed state of ‘being’ ensures the ideal pressure with considered manipulation which is why it’s ideal to be seated or standing in front of a mirror (just be comfortable) and take 5 long deep breaths in and out. Ahhhhh! Use a face oil, serum or cream (anything
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allowing skin to slip, not drag), then if scented inhale the aroma in the palms of your hands, then apply all over the face, avoiding the eye area. As we invest this time towards a more sculpted framework we must unburden tension in our face muscles using hands, fingertips and knuckles – all offer differing pressure and activate hard to reach areas.
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Complexion Enhancer
Start with this flowing exercise to boost illumination and tone. Align both index fingers with the nose whilst positioning thumbs under the chin then with firm pressure slowly glide hands over cheeks to the edge of the face. Repeat 5 times or a few times more if you enjoy the sensation. The gliding motion outwards also wakes up the surface of the skin.
Vertical Knuckling
Offer yourself some profound relief in your forehead and know too you are on a path of training your face NOT to engage in habits such as frowning. Instead softening horizontal lines and those annoying ‘elevenses’. Place index knuckles between brows, press firmly and slowly glide up towards the hairline. Return to the area next along the brow and repeat at intervals along the brows. This is also an instant re energising exercise!
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ILL US TR AT IO NS :Q UA RT
WELLBEING
O
D AN
W IR FA
SS RE SP D IN
Author bio I NEED THIS! Click on the images to get a copy of the book
Nadira V Persaud is a highly sought after Make-Up Artist and Beauty Expert recognised for her distinct signature style and vision. www.nadiramakeup.com
Slow Thumb Press
Moving into this exercise one notices where stiffness and puffiness sits therefore, firm, fluid motion is key to achieving a contoured jawline. Place thumbs under the chin into the groove between neck muscles and jawbone, then slowly travel thumbs towards the ears. If after 3 times you find nodules still prominent then repeat 3 times with slightly more pressure yet more slowly. NB Not to be performed if swollen or tender especially after any dental work.
Intense Definer
Tackle the folds that can appear around the mouth (trauma or marionette lines) during stressful episodes directly and intensely with this simple knuckling technique. Place knuckles of the index fingers to the sides of the chin, then slowly and steadily travel up
Eye Sweeps
the side of the mouth just before reaching the nostrils, then hold for 5 seconds, repeat this 5 times. There can be discomfort but each time the motion is repeated, there will be relief and instant softening. This is the perfect way to manage this area of the face.
Lack of sleep and stress can cause imbalance in the body that shows prominently around the eyes in the form of fluid retention which leads to accentuated under-eye bags though we need to use a light touch in the delicate area. Always apply an eye product first, then position middle or ring fingers under eyes on the side of the nose, with gentle pressure sweep outwards as if flicking fluid away. This lymphatic drainage technique reduces fluid effectively without harming the surface and should be repeated 10 times.
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 57
WELLBEING
Click on the books to get sales link
BOOKS H E LF CHOSEN FROM OUR COLLECTIVE MEMBERS
THE SOURCE
Dr. Tara Swart
Dr Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and executive coach, is convinced beyond all doubt of our ability to alter how our brains work - and transform our lives. She draws on cognitive science and her coaching experience to reveal the secret to mastering our minds.
THE LEMONADE LIFE Zack Friedman
No matter who you are, where you come from, what you do,or the size of your bank account, everyone has a shot at greatness. The Lemonade Life is filled with inspirational and practical advice that will teach you five simple changes you can make to achieve happiness.
CHANGE MAKER John Berardi
The health and fitness industry can feel competitive, and confusing to navigate. This one-of-a-kind book helps you make sense of the chaos, laying out a clear roadmap for career success for both established professionals and anyone just getting started.
BUILDING A STORY BRAND Donald Miller
A revolutionary method for connecting with customers provides listeners with the ultimate competitive advantage, revealing the secret for helping their customers understand the compelling benefits of using their ideas, or services.
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 59
WELLBEING
FINDING GRACE WITH HANNAH
Introduction to Moon cycles Understanding the moon cycles and how you can create powerful rituals for yourself by honouring them.
T
he moon has always held a fascination for people over the years, it’s so powerful as it controls the tides on this planet, and because we are 70 % water to some extent some would say its pull has an effect even on us. In terms of spirituality, the moon is associated with the feminine, the darker Yin energy, whereas the sun is the masculine. It signify intuition and wisdom, rises everyday to welcome the night, and as such the moon is cyclic like the feminine. It moves through a cycle each month, one of rebirth and death so to speak, as it goes from the dark moon to the full moon then it dies back off, and this cycle continues over and over. As we get more deeply in touch with ourselves and become more sensitive, we can feel the moon’s energy as she moves through her cycles. There are eight phases: new moon, waxing crescent moon, the first quarter moon, the waxing gibbous moon, full moon, waning gibbous moon, third quarter moon, waning crescent moon, and then back to the new moon. For each of these phases, when we attune to it, they will represent different things we can do to celebrate them. I will focus on the two phases, the new moon and the full moon. Having an awareness of the new and full moon can be helpful in creating set points in the month to release, set intentions, forgive and manifest. The new moon and the energy just after is also known as the dark moon - this is a great time to set new intentions or goals, plant seeds of intention, and
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plan a new beginning. Basically a mini restart each month, which actually if you’ve been having a tough time, this is a great thing to observe because you can connect to the energy of the reset and restart, and do that for yourself. On the opposite end, the full moon is a great time to release things and forgive, and also welcome your manifestations. Overall, we can often feel a lot of emotions during intense moon phases, the more awareness you have the more you can be present with whatever comes up. Each moon cycle takes on the energy of the astrological sign it’s in, so each one when you tune in will feel a bit different too. Rather than just “Begin to create simple reading about different rituals for yourself, and moons, actually sit and empower your life via feel into it yourself too, as we all experience the lunar cycles.” and feel things differently, and we are all at different stages of our lives. To further this, the full moon will always resonate with the opposite astrological sign sixth months previous. For instance, when the new moon is in the month of Aquarius the full moon will be in Leo, when in Pisces the full moon will be in Virgo, and so forth. So the full moon energy will resonate with this opposite star sign. The more you connect with the moon energy, the more you will feel this. Make this a starting point in your moon cycle journey, and remember that there really is so much to learn and experience with it @thehannahwallace
WELLBEING
TOP TIPS MOON RITUALS
Take just ten or fifteen minutes out to observe your feelings, and journal about what you’re looking to forgive, release or manifest - and don’t forget to meditate on what comes up for you. With the full moon you can burn lists of things you are looking to release and let go of. If you have any crystals, you can charge them under the full moon energy. Women can track how the moon affects their menstrual cycle in a journal. HANNAH WALLACE
Author bio
Find out more about Hannah, writer, blogger, and podcaster at @thehannahwallace or head to Hannah’s website to download her free meditation.
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WELLBEING
WHAT’S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG
{TRAVEL} with Lisa Sexton
M
eet Lisa, an ex-lawyer with a love for skincare. Imagine her shock when the night before a three-week vacation, her partner informed her she could only bring hand luggage. Where would all her skincare products go‽ Realizing there was no solution for busy women who need their skincare on-the-go, Lisa created a skincare range to solve this problem. Bolt Beauty's cleanser, moisturizer, and serums come in biodegradable capsules made from seaweed. Each capsule contains the perfect amount of product for a single-use. As a busy woman on the go, we asked Lisa to share with us some of her favourite products , straight from her travel bag.
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WELLBEING
SANA JARDIN
Revolution De La Fleur
Such a dreamy scent mixing florals and a little spice. It reminds me of summer nights in exotic places so I’m making the most of reminiscing while we’re all still in lockdown.
I NEED THIS! Click on the image to get sales link
FILTHY CLEAN Bolt Beauty
Great skin starts with a good cleanse. It’s a gentle cleanser that leaves my skin clean and soft, never dehydrated. It has antioxidants from turmeric and ginger, antibacterial properties from Margosa extract and calming chamomile. It’s the perfect cleanse, wherever you need your cleanser.
KJAER WEIS LIPSTICK
Naturally Lipstick in Genuine
I love this lipstick. I don’t wear much makeup but I rarely leave the house without this on. It has the best texture and is packed full of nourishing oils which mean your lips don’t get dehydrated and the colour really lasts.
MAD ABOUT MOISTURE Bolt Beauty
My absolute favourite moisturiser. It has camellia japonica seed oil which is super nourishing and hyaluronic acid to attract moisture. As someone with dry skin, I never leave the house without my moisturiser and so I love how convenient it is to have my product in a capsule.
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 63
CREATIVE IMPACT
FOODIE FUN FACT The recipe for Red Velvet was a secret made known to the public as an act of revenge
THIS ISSUE
Home Baking
FOODIE
If you are looking for some #isolationbaking inspiration then let us show you our current favourites.
SUPERFOOD MIXES From Joy Makers Brownies to Glow Makers Cookies and Rise & Shine Banana Loaf, these superfood mixes are gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. Simply add in a few wet ingredients and you have a natural, delicious and simple bake every time (try making the banana bread into donuts!).
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MINDFUL BITES CHOCOLATE SPREADS Not for the faint-hearted, these chocolate and hazelnut spreads are 100% plantbased, palm-oil free and come in two flavours: dark and original. Rich, sticky and indulgent it’s hard to believe they’re good for you. Great on toast, in porridge bowls or spooned from the jar.
KORO ONLINE SHOP
COCONUT MERCHANT
Koro is my one-stop shop for all my baking essentials. Sold in bulk at bargain prices, these ingredients are the highest quality and you will find everything you need. From an extensive range of grains to nuts and seeds, dried fruit and superfoods, Koro have you covered.
Did you even know coconut could make so many different products? From oil, honey, syrup, vinegar and flakes to water, MCT oil and aminos… There is no limit to Coconut Merchant’s shop. They are ethically sourced, organic, 100% natural, vegan and cruelty free, supporting local communities.
FOODIE
DIVINE CHOCOLATE From milk, white and dark chocolate to truffles, cacao powder and treats, Divine have everything you need to get your chocolate fix. It is a certified B-Corp and Fairtrade business, supporting and owned by local growers - chocolate that makes a difference. It tastes good too...
SHOW OFF YOUR BAKE OFF
Any recipe you’ve been loving recently? Tag us in your creations @creativeimpactco
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FOODIE
WHAT’S IN MY KITCHEN
{PANTRY} with Niki Webster
We get nosy and ask some of the most incredible foodies from the online world what’s in their kitchen
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FOODIE
My top five pa ntry sta ples
M
y essentials during this time are quite similar to my usual store cupboard staples - but they are even more important now. I have a range of core dried goods like; lentils, quinoa, rice and flours. If you have these in your store cupboard you can then add fresh vegetables and make something really delicious. Easy recipes include; soups, stews, curries and flatbreads/breads etc Other essential and useful items include tinned pulses, tomatoes and coconut milk. In terms of fresh items I think the most important are; onions and garlic as they make the tasty base for many dishes, potatoes and root veg as they last a long time and they are super versatile. Great things to have in your freezer are; frozen peas, veg and fruit. You really want to get as much flavour and enjoyment into your food at this time.. I think the best way to do that is to use spices and condiments which most people have in their cupboards already. My favourites are; Indian spices, smoked paprika, Harissa paste, soy sauce, sriracha and nutritional yeast. I have a catering size tin of olive oil which is the magic ingredient for sauces, dressings etc And finally a good supply of nuts and seeds is really helpful, a great healthy snack.
Author bio
Find out more about Niki on Instagram @rebelrecipes
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DRI ED STU FF oa as it means My pantry is bursting with dried lentils and quin l - just add veg! you can always make a tasty and nutritious mea a delicious dal With lentils, like red split lentils, you can make ur and texture is in 15 minutes. Puy lentils have the earthy flavo complete plant amazing. A very ‘meaty’ lentil - plus quinoa is a based protein.
2
BEA NS s are When it comes to beans, some personal favourite ed with protein chickpeas, butter and haricot, all of which are pack r addition to stews, and fibre. They are nutrient dense so are a supe ! chillis and soups or they make really creamy dips
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FLO URS emade It’s really useful to have a variety for making hom good options would breads, pizzas, flatbreads, pancakes etc Some teff. Quality plain be wholewheat, buckwheat, gram, spelt, rye and read or pizza flour and wholemeal wheat is great or fluffy flatb en free options, base. Buckwheat and Gram are my favourite glut great to have in and I always have a large bag of oats as they are to use in baking. the pantry so you can whizz a portion up quickly
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NUT S AN D SEE DS ein and good An absolute necessity. Adds crunch, texture, prot ury dishes, baking, fats. It’s good to add a little to your meals. Savo ons are endless. porridge toppers, nut butters, snacks - the opti ias, pistachios Some personal favourites are cashews, macadam toast seeds to and of course, the beloved Peanut. You can dry healthy toast enhance the flavour, and nut butters are perfect and dressings . toppers and tahini is great for making hummus
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CAN S urites for The perfect store cupboard staple! Here’s my favo s and chickpeas making meals in minutes. Keep a stock of bean super quick time. so you can make curries, chillies, dips, salads in utes, and coconut Tomatoes are the perfect base for meals in min curries and desserts. milk and coconut cream for creamy CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 69
FOODIE
WANT TO TRY?
Turn the P72 to read about this delicious recipe. Did we mention it’s vegan and gluten-free?
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FOODIE
Recipes
B ROUG H T TO YOU BY
H E A LT H Y T W I S T S
We are Claire and Sarah, two forty-something Mums, great friends and food lovers who decided to take a closer look at how our families eat and in so doing created Healthy Twists. Our two families have a variety of health needs when it comes to food – diabetes; a childhood liver transplant; migraine; food intolerance, so we set out to find a way of creating tasty, healthy food to keep everyone happy.
We’ll have more easy and nourishing recipes on our website www.healthy-twists.com and you can find us daily on our social media channels where we will be sharing more reassuring tips, ideas and easy meals, do come and say “Hello” for regular updates.
SERVES 1
Acai, avo and coconut you
Smoothie Bowl PREP TIME 5mins | EQUIPMENT Blender
It’s a super creamy, vibrant and gorgeous smoothie bowl that comes together in no time at all - giving you the best start to the day.
INGREDIENTS • 1 small banana • 1/2 avocado • Splash of unsweetened almond milk • 3 heaped tbsps coconut yoghurt • 1/2 cup frozen cherries • 1/3 cup scoopable frozen acai
DIRECTIONS 1 | Blend until smooth and creamy. 2 | Spoon into a bowl and top with some granola, a spoonful of yoghurt, cashew butter, melted dark chocolate, a few cherries and a chunk of dark chocolate.
CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 71
FOODIE
SERVES 8
The best Vegan and gluten-free
Chocolate Muffins
PREP TIME 23mins | EQUIPMENT Muffin tray, bowls, baking paper, piping bag
These chocolate muffins are a real treat. They are gorgeously chocolatey and we’ve loved trying different and fun ways of topping them. There may seem to be quite a few ingredients in them but don’t be put off! Once you have flaxseeds, apple cider vinegar you’ll find you use them time and time again, these are also great egg replacements when baking. To may decide to enjoy the muffins as they are or try out our chocolate icing – it is made by whisking the leftover liquid from a drained tin of chickpeas with icing sugar. If you’ve not heard of this before the liquid is known as aquafaba and the whisks the same way that egg whites do. It’s quite surprising but it works a treat!
INGREDIENTS • 75ml extra virgin olive oil /neutral oil • 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds • 6 tbsp water • 200g dark chocolate, melted • 150ml plant-milk • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 75g plain gluten free flour • 50g ground almonds • 125g soft brown sugar/ coconut sugar • 2 tbsp cocoa powder • ½ tsp baking powder • 1 pinch fine salt
DIRECTIONS Note If making the icing chill the aquafaba in the fridge for at least two hours. 1 | Heat the oven to 170C fan. Line the muffin tray with 8 muffin cases. 2 | Pour the plant-based milk into a small bowl and add the apple cider vinegar, stir well and set to one side. 3 | In another small bowl add the milled flaxseed and water, stir together and set to one side. 4 | To melt the chocolate break, it into small pieces and add them to a glass bowl ether melt on a low heat in the microwave or over a bain-marie on the hob. 5 | In a mixing bowl add the ground almonds, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and sugar and stir together. Make a small well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the
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extra virgin olive oil, water and flaxseed mix and then the plant-based milk and apple cider vinegar mix. Stir together. Pour over the melted chocolate and stir until thoroughly combined. 6 | Spoon the chocolate muffin mix evenly between the muffin cases. 7 | Place in the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 20 to 23 minutes. The muffins are cooked if you can insert a tooth pick and it comes out clean. 9 | Once cooked remove from the oven and place the muffin tray on to a wire cooling rack to cool for 10 minutes. Then remove the muffins from the tray and place them on the wire rack to cool completely. 9 | Once the muffins are cool decide if you would like to decorate them.
FOODIE
DECORATING • 30ml aquafaba, whisked until firm peaks • 140g icing sugar, whisk into aquafaba until combined • 20g cocoa powder • ¼ - 1 tsp plant-based milk Triple recipe to create enough icing for a thick layer or to use for pipping Lettering • 60g dark choc, melted
DIRECTIONS 1 | To make the chocolate heart shape melt 60g of dark chocolate. Layout a small sheet of baking paper. Spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag, with a narrowest hole in the end. Then carefully write/draw on to the baking paper. When you have finished, place the baking paper and place it flat on a shelf in the fridge until the chocolate shapes have set – this only takes about 15 minutes.
NAILED IT?
Share you creations on Instagram by tagging @creativeimpactco as well as the team at @healthy_twists
Icing 1 | To make the icing remove the aquafaba from the fridge and pour into a mixing bowl or a food mixer with the whisk attachment on it. Whisk until the aquafaba turns into firm peaks. Carefully tip in the icing sugar & cocoa powder and whisk until thoroughly combined. To thin the mixture, add up to 1 teaspoon of plant-based milk and whisk through. 2 | Now cut a small circle out of the top of the muffin and spoon in the mix, then push the chocolate shape into the icing. CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 73
CREATIVE IMPACT CO ABOUT US MASTERCLASSES COLLECTIVE OUR COURSES
