whispersandteardrops

  As students go off to schools, colleges and universities , there will no doubt be moments charged with anxiety especially for those embarking on their very first year. The first few weeks can be overwhelming, and you will find yourself doubting whether you will be able to cope. Everything will seem to be in fast forward while you operate in reverse and you wonder how you will ever be able to keep up! With some organising, those stressful moments wont hang around too long if you pick up a few good tips. You are not the first and most definitely won’t be the last. Most students experience these early angst. Some are just better at not letting it show. Developing some good strategies can however help to make the learning process a whole lot smoother.    Here are 10 ideas that can contribute to effective learning and overall success.   1. Use time wisely It’s easy to get carried away with all the distractions that are readily at hand. Having a clear plan about wh...

  photo credit: Jack Actions have consequences. It is always a good idea to stop and think before we act. Why? we are not always going to have all the facts or be always correct in what we think or feel about a person or a particular situation. It is very easy, and perhaps understandably so, to react without thinking in certain situations especially if you feel compromised, are under threat or in despair. Whatever the reason we should always endeavour to step back and allow ourselves time to think rationally and be armed with sufficient information to make an informed decision. I recall an incident that happened to me a while back. I was at home minding my own business, as you do, when I heard a slight commotion and raised voices followed immediately by a frantic knock at my door. I enquired who it was , a woman whose voice wasn’t familiar responded. I opened the door and   standing outside the doorway was a small and very agitated elderly lady. At first I couldn’t make out ...

With the start of school looming on the horizon and especially after the long hiatus away from formal schooling, I imagine all the nerves and angst will have started to resurface. While I’m sure the learning climate will look very different depending on your location and school, some things will remain the same.  Emphasis on teaching and learning will have increased considerably in a bid to close the gap made wider by the many months of classroom closures.  Research suggest that one in five teachers experience job related stress most or all the time.  This might sound surprising, but many teachers experience bouts of anxiety and stress even at the thought of going back to school after a break let alone after many months of lockdown and let’s face it, a virus that is very much present and actively spreading! Find a coping strategy that works! Stress levels will differ from one individual to another and for varying reasons. If you are like me , you develop your coping s...

    I thought I’d spend some time exploring a topic that I know has been a sore issue for many and affects especially us women. While it’s probably not a very attractive topic it’s certainly a very relevant one. Bloating is a very commonplace occurrence and a very uncomfortable one. It is also a problem that is more prevalent among women. Among the many factors suggested by health professionals that contribute to bloating are; constipation, food intolerance, excess gas build up or more serious medical issues such as IBS or coeliac disease. Bloating from gas is perhaps however one of the most popular causes. Bloating from gas Poor eating habits (i.e. swallowing too quickly, drinking while eating) can be a big contributor to excess gas. Food intolerance can also contribute to gas build up. Some foods such cabbage, coffee, beans, nuts and dairy products are among those that cause excess and embarrassing gas for some people. I have known individuals with severely explosive g...

I have for quite some time now been gluten free. I became gluten free in a bid to help ease the symptoms of endometriosis that I have suffered with for many years.  Now however, having been deprived of gluten for so long, my body has become defenceless in protecting itself against gluten and any intake now can cause severe problems. People go gluten free for different reasons.This can range from medical, weight loss or simply as a lifestyle choice.Gluten is not necessarily bad for you unless you have a specific condition such as coeliac disease in which case,an intake of gluten will cause the body to overact to it and result in serious intestinal damage. This is a condition that can sometimes go undiagnosed.  photo credit:Edgar castrejon- unsplash  If you suffer regularly from gut pains,headaches,diarrhoea,constipation it may be worth  checking with a doctor to see whether gluten is the culprit.  If you don't have a specific issue with gluten and you ma...

  Yes, summer is upon us and with very little notice it would seem; or maybe that’s just me! What with all the time spent at home over the past months juggling working from home and finding creative ways to engage the kids as well as trying to keep up with being newly appointed teachers 😊 . It's unsurprising that many parents have not actually had time for self. So now that we have officially entered into the holidays, with little or time to plan   a break away or even a staycation (I hate buzz words😏) given the uncertainty of the current climate, what do we do with the kids? Unless you intend to con them into thinking school is still on, so they continue to do copious amounts of schoolwork  ( this is definitely something I would do 😉 ), here are a few ideas you may want to try and some websites that could be useful. credit: Dani Rendina (unsplash) 1. Writing stories or poetry If your offspring are literary geniuses in the making you could encourage them write ...

So, after a lengthy break I yesterday decided to return to running! Surprisingly it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be considering I haven’t gone running since last summer :) I am really trying to get back to my 5k running at least three times in the week but even a shorter run if I am consistent will be great. Running is my go to for peace and clarification. When I run I feel free and I am able to clear the cobwebs not to mention the added benefits of glowing skin, clothing that fit more comfortable as well as being super energised to get through the day. The past few months of lockdown provided the perfect opportunity for a great run, but I somehow just couldn’t muster the energy to do it. Perhaps I was too caught up with worrying about limiting my outside contact or was just getting a bit too lazy or maybe just plain getting old! Whatever the reason, I am finally up and running and I am looking forward to finishing off the rest of the summer looking and feeling great! ...