This is the place to find any supplementary resources needed to accompany Wellbeing Therapy Solutions’ courses, webinars, sessions or videos.
A page to find all of Wellbeing Therapy Solutions’ downloadable worksheets and resources to accompany courses, webinars, sessions and videos…
* Self-care for children: A downloadable worksheet for children to use while watching the ‘Self-care for children’ video found at https://youtu.be/UMeqBLgnve8
* Positive self-talk for children: A downloadable worksheet for children to use while watching the ‘Positive Self-talk for children’ video found at: https://youtu.be/qV7TUTynVoQ
Join Kate Jackson for some practical hints and tips to help you deal with the domestic challenges posed by lockdowns and homeschooling
Are you a parent or carer who is struggling to find any clarity or calm during the latest pandemic lockdown?
If so, don’t feel like you are alone.
The latest lockdowns in the UK – and all over the world – have given parents a tremendous amount to deal with.
They are a test for relationships, they put pressure on those working from home and the challenges of keeping children learning and active is a big one.
Webinar
Join Wellbeing Therapy Solutions’ Kate Jackson for this webinar called ‘Finding Clarity and Calm During Lockdown’.
It is mainly aimed at parents, grandparents and carers who are supporting primary-school aged children.
It will focus on hints, tips, and support, helping viewers deal with the various challenges that are being thrown at them, including the issues of homeschooling.
So often it is our thinking around what is happening that causes the distress, rather than what is actually happening.
Notice your thoughts
One of the first things to start finding some calm and clarity, is to start noticing our thoughts.
Ask yourself: Are they helpful? Are they true?
If you can start noticing what you are feeling inside your body, it can be really helpful in realising how we are feeling.
Watch the video to learn more from Kate and put yourself in a better position to tackle the challenges that are being thrown at all of us during a pandemic.
Making key decisions will help protect you from anxiety and fake news
Kate Jackson has advised BBC Radio Leicester listeners to be aware of the amount of news and social media they are consuming during the latest nationwide lockdown.
Appearing on Jimmy Carpenter’s Breakfast Show after being invited onto the programme, Kate said that too much news and social media could lead to stress and anxiety during what is already a very testing time.
“We all need to stay connected so it’s important to know what is going on and for that reason, news channels and social media are important,” said Kate.
“We all need facts – but opinion and speculation can spark stress and anxiety.
Endlessly scrolling
“Perhaps have a look and a bit of a clear out this week and decide what social media and news you want to consume.”
Kate, who was approached by Radio Leicester for her advice having been a guest on the station before added: “I am guilty of endlessly scrolling through my feeds and, as a result, consuming a lot more social media that I intended to and stressing myself out as a consequence! Cutting back on some of the things I follow would limit that consumption.
“It’s also a good idea to set times for consuming news and social media so you do keep up to date with what is going on but don’t allow yourself to take too much opinion and speculation on board.”
“Try and be positive but also be realistic about what you can and cannot achieve.” – Kate Jackson
Breakfast Show: BBC Radio Leicester host Jimmy Carpenter
As a third national lockdown begins across England, Kate Jackson has appeared on Radio Leicester’s Breakfast Show to offer some positive advice on how to deal with another challenging situation.
The sudden and seemingly lengthy lockdown facing the public in England took many people by surprise and left them with a feeling of déjà vu as they woke up on Tuesday morning.
But while Kate explained to Radio Leicester listeners, there would be challenges ahead, she hoped that the learnings of previous lockdowns could put people in a better position to deal with another one.
“There will be many people at home this week wondering how they are going to juggle their work and home lives, especially those with children,” Kate told BBC Radio Leicester’s Jimmy Carpenter (pictured above).
Positivity
“But there were lots of learnings from the first lockdown last year and hopefully, we can all take those lessons into this one.
“We talk about positivity a lot at Wellbeing Therapy Solutions and this situation is about how we can stay positive when there is a lack of control in our lives.
“People are fatigued by lockdowns so be kind to yourself this week because the decision to enforce a lockdown has come quickly and allowed nobody to plan ahead.
“Take stock, see what your expectations are see what is still within your control. Ask yourself what can you do to make a positive start this week? Try and be positive but also be realistic about what you can and cannot achieve.
Challenge
“This is a new challenge for us this time because there was lots of nice weather in the summer for us to enjoy outside. This time, it is cold and wet at times but can you find the time to go out in daylight hours, especially if the sun is out?”
“Write down your positive achievements and put them together. I have a jar at home to put mine in.
“And look out for resources to help too. I can recommend the Action For Happiness Calendar. They are a charity ran by a group of people who are committed to building a happier society. Their calendar has small but achievable things to do every day to put some positivity in your life and it is really good.”
If you would like some tips and advice from Kate about dealing with the latest lockdown, homeschooling or your own personal mental health, please get in touch at kate@wellbeingtherapysolutions.co.uk.
Mum’s Lockdown challenge proves an inspiration for all of us
Among the different challenges presented to us during spells of lockdown, restrictions and social isolation, has been the ability to find motivation amidst our day-to-day grind.
I think many of us know that things can get mundane when we are not allowed to do so many of the little things that we tend to look forward to during a week and at the weekend.
With this in mind, I have been particularly proud of my mum’s journey during this latest Lockdown 2.0.
When the tough restrictions were announced in November, she vowed that she would go for a walk every day and, with those 28 days now up, she has completed her goal!
Challenges
It is a wonderful example to us all on how setting challenges and goals, and being determined to reach them, can not only be good for your physical health but tremendously rewarding for your mental health too.
My sister suggested that she made each day’s walk along a different route and she has done herself and our family so proud. She was very committed, she pushed herself to go out when the weather was bad and she says she feels brilliant for doing it.
Mum’s walks have been anything from 20 minutes up to an hour-and-a-half. Some days, she has been ‘around the block’, other days, she has done up to six miles! She has looked for different routes and found parts of her local area that she never knew existed.
And what has been even more incredible is that she has been inspiring other friends and family to get out and join her – all in a socially-distanced way, of course.
Exercise
I have been out with her for a few walks, and found it has been a great way to get some exercise and catch up with her at the same time, during a spell when we are restricted from seeing our family as much as we would like to.
She has also been joined by some of her fellow volunteers at LOROS, a local hospice, who have all missed their usual friendship at work. A stroll and a natter has done them all the world of good.
Even bad weather has struggled to stop her!
So, well done mum. I’m proud of you (as I know my sisters are too) and I hope her little personal pick-me-up might remind a few more people of the benefits of setting personal goals and challenges to help you through testing times.
Despite the pandemic, positive vibes will keep us smiling
Last week, I felt myself getting annoyed about something and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, until I heard it someone say it out loud … ‘Christmas is cancelled’!
I have seen the phrase ‘Christmas is cancelled’ in the media, on TV and in many social media platforms too but hearing it from someone close to me made it stronger. The negative vibes flowing off a phrase like that are obvious.
As lockdown restrictions continue in varying forms up to, and beyond the festive season, we have been painted a very dim outlook of traditional celebrations this year, despite there being talk of a relaxing of the rules for a few days either side of December 25.
The reality, however, is that while we will not be able to do whatever we want this year, there is still plenty of things we can do to give ourselves a festive glow, spread a bit of positivity and to make the most of a tough situation at the end of a very tough year.
Shared on Facebook
So, on a cold and wintery afternoon, I shared my thoughts on my Facebook page and asked my friends: ‘what have you enjoyed and what things have brought a smile to you recently?’
The responses brought a big smile to my face.
And the speed at which the responses came made me think that other people, like me, were very keen to spread a bit of joy in the world too.
Putting up Christmas trees, lights and decorations ‘early’ was high on the list of replies but so were the basics of life that we all too often overlook.
Family time, baking, fresh air, Sunday roasts, supportive family and friends, baths, films and a general slower pace of life with nowhere to rush off to.
It’s amazing how good the simple things in life can be at times.
Resilient
It also shows how resilient we can be as humans to find joy in testing times.
Perhaps these months we have spent restricted by a pandemic will also teach us to be more aware of positives that we have in life.
As a therapist, that is one of the things I try to work on with people. Not focusing on life’s negatives, or what we can’t do, but being aware of good things that are around us and our achievements. It’s just that we don’t tend to see them so easily.
Perhaps we could create a platform where people can share their positive vibes? I know reading the responses to my Facebook post certainly made me feel happy.
So, whatever we are allowed to do this Christmas, have a good time and spread some joy. One thing I am certain of, is that we all deserve it.
