Simple Self Improvement

A garden can bring much joy                             Image:Marie Vonow I enjoy spending time in the garden but to be honest I can’t be bothered with any plants that need to be fussed over. There are so many types which are easy to grow that I can’t see the point in actually stressing over plants when I want to enjoy my time in the garden. Some people do enjoy the challenge of getting a delicate or fussy plant to grow but that's not my style, I prefer things that are simple. When it comes to veggies and herbs, I plant easy to grow stuff like loose leaf lettuce, rocket, spring onions, chives, basil, parsley, rosemary, silver beet and tomatoes. I grow some things in containers and others directly in the garden.              Rosemary bush    ...

Dolls House                   Image by Marie Vonow I moved house earlier this year. As I have moved house several times over the years, had made plenty of lists and thought I was pretty organised I didn't expect this to cause me too much stress. However, even though nothing major went wrong it has been more stressful than I expected. I have come to the conclusion, no matter how organised I think I am, moving house is a stressful life event. That's a fact I have to accept. I think when moving house, the degree of stress an individual experiences depends on various factors including - personality attitude to the move whether it is your decision to move length of time spent in the place one is moving from how attached you are to the place you are moving from how you feel about the dwelling you are moving to how you feel about the location you are moving to distance moving whether ...

Father Christmas display at Gawler South Australia                Image:Marie Vonow Over the years the way one feels about the Christmas season may change. Perhaps as a child it was a time of great excitement and lots of fun but as an adult one may feel under a lot of pressure. People speak of Christmas as a time to celebrate with family and friends but for some it is just exhausting, expensive and stressful. Sometimes there are things we can do to take more control of the Christmas season.

Peaceful harp                                                                                Pixabay As I type this blog I am listening to YouTube music through headphones as is my habit when I write. I vary the music I listen to depending on whether I want something relaxing or feel in need of mental stimulation. I enjoy listening to music at other times, it is one of the simple pleasures which makes life more enjoyable. Many people spend time each day listening to music, either while they are doing something else or as they relax in their favourite spot. People travelling to work, either...

One size does not fit all                                 Image adapted from Pixabay There are so many ideas about how you should run your life. All around there are articles on how to be happy, what your priorities should be and how to make the best use of your time.

  Time with a true friend is good for you     Image:Pixabay There are numerous benefits to spending time with those family members and friends you really get on well with. You may hold different opinions and have varying interests but that's okay because a bit of difference can enrich your life. It makes you feel good to spend time with people you like and it is a way of caring for yourself.

Sometimes the answer comes when you relax                   Image:Adapted from Pixabay Sometimes I get frustrated with myself for taking too long to make a decision. Perhaps there are times when I should be quicker in deciding how to handle a situation. However, I often find I make better decisions when I don’t force myself to make a quick decision. I like the following quote from William S. Burroughs (writer, artist, philosopher), ‘Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.’