Simple Self Improvement

                                                                    Image:Marie Vonow Recently I have been enjoying watching a stack of YouTube videos about current fashions, how to dress if you are a woman over sixty, making more use of the clothes you already own, minimalist wardrobes and all sorts of random videos about clothes and accessories. This is inspiring me to wear some of my clothes differently and try a few new ideas. Individual approach to clothes Each individual has different ideas about clothes. Some want to keep up with trends and others have their own style which they are confident in wearing. There are those who view clothing simply as a necessity, something to keep them warm in winter and prevent sunburn in summer. Budget Everyone has their own budget. While some spend as little as possible on clothes, (sometimes because they have little money)  others are shopaholics with scary credit card debt.  Some set themselves a realistic clothing budget and don

  Plenty of trees to look at and not a shop for kilometres               Image:Marie Vonow I recently went on holiday and stayed with a cousin and her husband on Kangaroo Island. I had booked my travel arrangements early in the year and was looking forward to the catch up. Then COVID 19 hit and it looked like the trip wouldn't happen. When social distancing restrictions were eased the trip was once again possible. I spent five days away from home and had a wonderful break from my usual routine. Occasionally I am away from home for one or two nights but for me, five nights away is quite a long break. Some people often go on holidays of this length and much longer. When I returned home I was refreshed and found myself thinking about a variety of things in a different way. I think one of the great benefits of going on a holiday is that you break your usual routine, see different things and think some new thoughts . It is not necessary to go overseas or experience a totally di

Image:Marie Vonow Have you ever had a job interview over the phone? Did you find it less or more intimidating than a face-to-face interview? What did you do to get yourself in the right emotional place to prepare for the interview? Many years ago I had a phone interview for a job. I must have managed okay as I got the position. It was strange not to have someone (or more than one person) to talk to face to face. Although interviews make me nervous I would rather have the face to face contact. I like being able to see the person I am talking to so I can judge from their facial expressions and body language if they understand what I am saying. In general, with people I have communicated with over the phone I feel happier if I get the opportunity to meet that person. The next time we converse on the phone I am more relaxed. Recently a friend had a phone interview for a position. She told me she was feeling a bit uptight beforehand. She knew the interviewer would not be a

                                                                                                     Image:Marie Vonow There are many things I feel gratitude for but recently I have become very aware of how changes in the world around me influences what I feel gratitude for. It's May 2020 and COVID19 has caused many changes in our lives. There are things I now feel gratitude for which three months or more ago I didn't think about. There are other things I will feel gratitude for when life returns to some form of normal. Things I feel gratitude for I walked into my usual supermarket just before lunch today and saw toilet paper back on the shelves. People weren't grabbing it and throwing it into their shopping trolleys. They were acting as if it was normal to see shelves stocked with 2ply, 3ply, recycled, embossed, plain toilet paper, all sorts of toilet paper. I felt gratitude this every day item is once again readily available. It is now possible to get ordinary

Image:Jill Wellington from Pixabay My tip for the final day of March is do what makes you happy (as long as it doesn't cause harm to someone else or infringe on their rights.) Get to know yourself and what makes you happy. Make time for those activities. Activities such as tai chi meditation you tube videos for relaxation CDs for meditation and such music dance being creative may contribute to your happiness. Many studies claim meditation is particularly good for increasing happiness. If you can't work out what makes you happy, I have read technology can give you a helping hand. http://simpleselfimprovement.blogspot.com/2018/08/identifying-your-happiness-triggers.html#more Many ordinary things can make a person happier but this varies from person to person. For more ideas check out   http://selfavenue.com/8-tips-to-boost-happiness/ http://selfavenue.com/what-makes-people-happy-i-already-knew-that/   http://selfavenue

Image:Marie Vonow Studies claim reading makes people happier, less stressed and less depressed. This tip won't work for everyone because not everyone has learnt to read and some who are able to just don't enjoy it. However, many people love reading, once they find the right book, and will agree it increases their level of happiness. A couple of years ago I went with a neighbour to a book sale held by a library. I was right into decluttering at the time and didn’t know whether to buy any books or resist. I decided to buy a box of books, they were so affordable and I like to support libraries because I borrow from them. After reading them I could donate the books and avoid accumulating clutter I told myself. One of the books I picked up was called The Happiness Factor. Imagine my surprise when I opened the book and saw what the author had written in it. Look at the image below. I had to buy that book!