Action for Happiness

Action for Happiness – December 2021

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It’s December – yet another month has passed, and we are at the fresh beginning of a new one. This month is one which many people can find difficult and painful in some ways – but, as this Action for Happiness calendar shows, it’s the very small things which can make a difference to others, and which can turn around a day (or a month!)

These small kindnesses also help us – doing something for another, an act of kindness, of services, of love and support, is a wonderfully healing and uplifting thing for the one doing, as well as for the one receiving.

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Action for Happiness – Optimistic October

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October already! This year seems simultaneously to be flying past and endless – but somehow we are in October, nights are getting longer, weather colder, and it’s time to start thinking about cosy fires and hearty soup!

The Action For Happiness calendar this month focusses on Optimism – and there are, as always, some wonderful suggestions;

 

Action for Happiness – Self Care September

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Isn’t it funny that we think of August as bright sun, peak of summer, long days and time outdoors – but September is immediately cosy, hot chocolate and soup, and all things fireside…

With that in mind, it’s the perfect month for self-care – and that’s the prompt from this month’s Action for Happiness calendar – with something each day that puts you at the forefront of your needs.

Small acts of self-care can add up to huge changes in wellbeing, so do save this month’s calendar, print it, keep it close at hand, and be kind to yourself every day.

Action for Happiness – Jump Back Up July

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I share the Action for Happiness Calendar every month, because I benefit from them personally as well as sharing them with my clients (and family, and friends, and social media audience!)

This month’s topic is Jump Back Up – and the idea is building resilience, and building skills which help us to manage any challenges that life brings without letting those challenges derail us. Building resilience doesn’t mean becoming hard – quite the opposite; it is flexibility, the ability to heal and self manage, and to moderate our emotional responses to unexpected situations or changes.

Each day there is a prompt – an action to take, a subject to think about, an opportunity to process something challenging and see just how well we can overcome it with the right mindset.

YOU are in charge of your life, of the way you face it; you can’t change how others behave or control every aspect of the world – but we can be fully in control of our own emotional responses, and our own behaviours.

If this is something you feel you need more support with, and if you want to leave the hurt the world has given you behind to live a free, content life with better emotional resilience I can help; you can contact me through this website, through Facebook, LinkedIn or email on amandaburbidge-counselling@outlook.com, or call me on 07849 037095 – you can also message or call via WhatsApp on the same number, and I offer video sessions for those who are still unable to meet in person.

Action for Happiness – Joyful June

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Each month I share the Action for Happiness calendar, each full of suggestions for ways to improve your mental health and lift your mood in small, simple ways each day.

 

June is all about joy – and about finding it, creating it, sharing it and experiencing it each day, even if it’s a difficult one, in small ways.

Joy has been elusive for many people in the past year – so take a moment each time you feel overwhelmed or challenged, and indulge yourself in the little things that bring you happiness.

 

May Mental Health Awareness: ideas and resources

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Mental health awareness is something you know I’m passionate about – and I work in this area because I know that finding the right support and being able to speak about and move through, and past, our traumatic and life altering experiences is absolutely vital if we are to have any chance of recovering and being the happiest, most successful we can be.

May is a time when people are raising awareness and funds for various mental health causes – and you’ll see a lot of activity on your social media channels and in the news, on TV shows and in your community, focussing on various mental health conversations.

If you’re at a bit of a loss for ideas, but want to do your bit to raise awareness, share your own story, or support others with the challenges they face, I have brought some ideas and references together here to help you get off on the right foot.

May Action for Happiness

I share the action for happiness calendar every month, and as always May’s is full of lovely small, mindful ways to bring smiles – to your own face and to those of the people around you.

Mental health Foundation:

Lots of ideas for community, workplace and school activities are collated here – they have packs and downloadable content, so you can pull together your own activities, whether it’s a charity walk, a bake sale, a community outreach or something small scale with your family and friends.

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/get-involved/ideas

Their take action, get active campaign is one I think is going to be particularly popular – I know the weather has been a little hit and miss in the past few days, but you know what they say: there’s no such thing as the wrong weather – just the wrong clothes! Rain or shine, kit yourself out and get active – it won’t just help the cause, it will benefit you enormously getting some endorphins and fresh air, and you’ll feel far better for moving your body, especially if it’s the last thing you want to do!

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/events/take-action-get-active

Mind have mapped out May 10th to 16th as their Mental Health Awareness Week, and you can donate, raise funds, share your own story and bring attention to their work – again, they’ve got downloadable content and packs to get you started:

https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-week/

Perhaps things this public and organised aren’t your style – it might be more your thing to stay home, spend some time pondering your experiences; maybe put some energy into creating some art or craft work which you find relaxing and soothing. Use art as therapy, and get some bigger feelings out on canvas. Write some poetry or a story; not necessarily of your own life, but that can help hugely when you’re processing things. Journaling and scrapbooking are brilliant ways of remembering the things you have been enjoying and are looking forward to, and of keeping a record of your days.

If you aren’t sure where to start with that, sometimes I find prompts are a good beginning point: here are some suggestions you can use to journal, to create art, just to think about:

https://bulletjournalideas.com/bullet-journal-ideas-for-mental-health/

If you just want to keep track of your progress through a challenging time and focus on your mental health here are some smaller suggestions you can use to do so more quietly:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/annaborges/mental-health-trackers

I wrote an article about mental health awareness and the worrying growth of ‘toxic positivity’ – particularly on social media – which you can read here

Remember: your mental health is your experience – and sharing it, or choosing not to, is entirely a personal choice – but if you are struggling please remember that you don’t have to do that alone.

Reach out for support, and let me help you to process your challenges, to move through and past the hurt that you’re experiencing, and to build yourself into the whole, happy and content person you deserve to be, leaving your trauma and worry behind you as you work through them.

You can contact me through this website, through Facebook, LinkedIn or email on amandaburbidge-counselling@outlook.com, or call me on 07849 037095 – you can also message or call via WhatsApp on the same number, and I offer video sessions for those who are still unable to meet in person.

Meaningful May – Action for Happiness

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Meaningful May is a fantastic prompt – and as the sun shines and the days are longer, giving our space more colour and life we are also waking from our winter hibernation, our bodies and minds crave more outside time, more nature, more fresh produce and colourful food.

Follow what your body is telling you it needs, nourish yourself and your mind, and take time to be restful and attuned to your own thoughts. The prompts each day are great ways to build on that inner sense of wellbeing, and sharing that feeling with those who matter to us.

Action For Happiness – Active April 2021

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The prompt from Action for Happiness for April is activity. I know that when we feel low, or are struggling and feeling overwhelmed, it can be difficult to motivate our bodies into being active. I also know that the days I least feel like being active are the days I feel the most benefit from pushing myself to do something – even just a stroll around my garden, if I can’t face anything more.

Challenge yourself this month; try to add just a little more physical activity to your routines. You don’t need to go all-in and start training for a marathon, but being more active has a huge amount of benefits for body and mind. Now that some of the Covid restrictions are lifting and we are able to meet in small groups outdoors it’s the perfect time to meet a friend for a walk, or a bike ride with a loved one.

January 2021 Action for Happiness

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Each month I will share the Action for Happiness calendar because I know how important it is to take a little time where you can to focus on the positives and to give yourself a little kindness.

The announcement that we are in another Lockdown in the UK has left people reeling once again, and there is a lot of anxiety and anger. If you are struggling, remember that you don’t need to face these feelings alone, and that I can help you to find your feet and feel more able to face the challenges.

Contact me through this website, on my Facebook page, email me on amandaburbidge-counselling@outlook.com or call me, on phone or WhatsApp, on 07849 037095