Adding a splash of colour!

Hi folks,

I hope you and your families are safe and well.

These are trying times for us all , for differing reasons, so I wanted to share some splashes of colour with you, which are making a difference to my health and sense of wellbeing.

Gloomy January days , even without a pandemic, can challenge the hardiest of we ‘perennials ‘ , so I’ve been adding colour into my day and seeking it out wherever possible.

For the first time ever, I potted up my geraniums at the end of last summer and brought them into the house, where they’ve just kept flowering …what a treat! I’m sure they’ll run out of steam soon, but I’m appreciating their colourful presence for now.

Adding a flowering pot plant or treating yourself to a bunch of flowers is one way of keeping your spirits lifted and has been proven to increase feel good hormones. (I talk to mine but that may just be madness creeping in from too much alone time! )

Are you getting your daily walk in? I go out walking every morning and just recently have been setting off with the intention of catching sunrise (about 7.30). Starting the day witnessing natures amazing colours , can be such a boost to our mood and energy levels, and a reminder that the sun will always rise ( isn’t that a line from The Lion King)?

Being exposed to daylight first thing also has the added benefit of increasing melatonin levels (our sleep hormone), so if sleep’s an issue for you, another reason for getting out at first light….win win!

(On a personal level, it’s giving me a deeper appreciation of my name, thanks Mum and Dad 💕)

I’m noticing my laundry basket is full of more pinks and oranges than usual too (no I didn’t leave a red sock in with the whites this time 😂!) . Wearing something bright and colourful is another simple way to help ourselves feel better (and those who get to see us), so why not jazz it up a bit…bright clothes = bright mood.

And for anyone else missing peoples smiles hidden under masks, this smile is for you.

And finally , here are two links to short workout videos, which can be put together with others which you should already have, to help keep you resilient and strong and ready to handle whatever comes next.

Wishing you colour in your January.

Dawn