Life balance manifesto

Manifesto

I believe that my blog has something for everybody. Because everybody deserves to have joy and happiness in their lives. But then there are certain kinds of people who will always automatically put everyone else first, they are sensitive to negativity and will avoid it at all costs by letting too much fall upon themselves to sort out. Because of this they may have suffered with depression or anxiety, insomnia, stress and overwhelm. They may feel taken advantage of and be in a place where they feel stuck and aren’t sure how to get out. When they perhaps fall upon my blog they might not have realised that the key is ‘Looking after yourself first means that everything else will become easier’. When they visit my blog and start to implement self-care and other techniques their life will become more joy-filled and they will keep up the techniques they have learnt in order to hold off the return of the stress and overwhelm they felt before.

The reason I chose to help this particular kind of people is because I am one of those people. If that is your personality, it doesn’t go away, but you learn to manage and you learn how much you can benefit from looking after yourself first. You have to keep implementing these techniques because otherwise you can go backwards. It does happen and we realise that we haven’t been implementing self-care and we have let people take advantage of us or we forgot to not overdo it. Then you keep going. You aren’t back to square one by any means, you learn to see it coming by knowing your own warning signs and then you can re-address what you need to do.

This is why I am here doing this, this is why I can help you, because I am one of you. I write blog posts, I send them out into the world and I read them too. I follow my own advice, I am by no means a finished product. I am on the same journey as you. Learning how to feel better in my life and fill it with ease and joy. I am still exploring this, imagining new ways to help myself, reading endless books and blogs and meeting people and using techniques given to me to make this a happier, joyful, easier life for myself. I want nothing more than to help as many other people as I can on the way because I truly believe that nobody should have to be always stressed or sad or unhappy and that everyone can and should live happily and all the awful things I experienced didn’t happen for nothing, they happened so that I would be in a better position to help you.

If there was just one thing that I would wish for my readers to take away from my blog it is that you deserve to have a life full of joy and peace and not to dread your days, to enjoy being you and living your life. Life is precious and it should be full of love and light and it can be when you take this first step to start looking after yourself.

Imogen x

The Self-care Manual

Good morning my dear,

Friday is looking pretty beautiful right? 

My new ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’ is available now to buy on Amazon. The Self-Care Manual CoverOr, especially for you, for a limited time, it available as a totally free download when you sign up to my mailing list by clicking right here and filling in a little form.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions at all or fancy a chat.

Loads of love,

Imogen x

You made it! (Self-care month Day 30)

Self-care Month Day 30 - You Made it!

Wow, that’s it. We’ve made it through 30 days of self-care, of prioritising ourselves and reaping the benefits. You are absolutely, wonderfully amazing for giving yourself this gift.

Think you can keep it up? You should, you deserve to feel this good all the time my love and just a small amount of time dedicated to yourself every day is going to make your life more joyful. Cont…

For more click here for the full free download of ‘self-care month’ now all as one handy ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’

Reading (Self-care Month Day 29)

Self-care month Day 29 - Reading. Imogenjhope.com

Morning loves,

I hope Monday morning is being kind to you?

Today I wanted to talk about reading. Whenever I have asked people what self-care they would do more of if they had chance, reading is always top 3. I personally read a lot, usually 2 books at a time. One for when I can concentrate in the day that might be challenging or non-fiction or need more concentration and one for just before I go to bed, something fictional and easy. I also read a lot of blogs. I find the odd moments during the day to snatch a quick chapter if I can and I need to sit and relax. Cont…

For more click here for the full free download of ‘self-care month’ now all as one handy ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’

Weekly Rituals (Self-care month Day 28)

Self-care month Day 28 - Weekly Rituals

Well, hello you absolutely wonderful lot,

Can you believe it is nearly the end of self-care month? We have come so far and we definitely all deserve a pat on the back for taking this wonderful journey to looking after ourselves. Well done love 🙂

Today is a rainy old Sunday here, thats ok, the weather has been getting warmer and were a bit glad of the break. Do you find that on some days of the week that you end up doing the same things? It is lovely to create a ritual on certain days of the week because we often thrive in routine. We know what is coming and we know what we need to do. Cont…

For more click here for the full free download of ‘self-care month’ now all as one handy ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’

Sleep (Self-care month Day 27)

It has been such a crazy, hectic day today and I have only just had to chance to sit down and write this. I didn’t have the foresight to schedule many posts in advance because i’m still getting used to this pro-blogger thing!

Todays self-care task is about sleep. Are you somebody who survives on the minimum sleep for weeks then can’t cope anymore? Or are you like me and work yourself into a frenzy if you can’t get your 9 hours solid a night? Sleep can be a nightmare, it can cause all sorts of issues and actually, if you aren’t getting enough, seriously affect your life. Cont…

For more click here for the full free download of ‘self-care month’ now all as one handy ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’

Setting up a support network (Self-care month Day 24)

Morning everyone! I hope all is well so far today for you,

I have had a little something on my mind just this morning so I have to make it clear here. I want you to know that I am by no means a finished product. Nobody is. I am on this journey, learning how to take better care of myself just the same as you. I want to say this so that you know that I am not better, I don’t have everything sussed. Sometimes, in fact, I struggle to take my own advice. For example, putting too much pressure on myself, not taking care of myself as I should, not making self-care my number one priority. But I learn from it and I move forward and it becomes less and less often that I completely overwhelm myself and it is very rare that I don’t see the warning signs for stress and anxiety coming.

Today, the self-care message that I want to get across is about creating a network of support around yourself so that you can you are at your best to look after yourself and your health. Cont…

For more click here for the full free download of ‘self-care month’ now all as one handy ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’

Saying no (Self-care month Day 23)

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Self-care month Day 23
Saying no

Good morning my lovely reader and all my new followers it’s so good to meet you!
Today is my birthday, 29 years ago today I was brought it to the wonderful world and because of that I am feeling extra specially happy and relaxed. I have spent all day cuddling my kitten, Luna, colouring in my new colouring book and watching Disney films. I have felt extra exhausted recently and I have really needed some time to myself to relax and I feel all the better for it.

IMG_5916

Colouring in bed with Luna this morning

Today I give you permission to say no to something. Whether it is something that you aren’t comfortable with, or are anxious about or whether somebody is demanding too much of your time or energy. To really take care of ourselves we need to be able to say no in these situations. We sometimes say yes out of obligation or because we are too kind to let people down. Cont…

For more click here for the full free download of ‘self-care month’ now all as one handy ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’

Self-care Month Day 22 (Treat yourself!)

Hi all!

Welcome to day 22 (!) of self-care month! Sorry todays email has come a bit late, I’ve had a very hectic weekend and day which involves a new member of our family;

Luna

So this is Luna, she was abandoned in a very cruel way and we have taken her in and she’s so cute and lovely! Feel really lucky to have had to opportunity to rescue her.

Well tomorrow is my birthday! So today I want us to figure out a little way we can treat ourselves today. Here are a few ideas; Cont..

For more click here for the full free download of ‘self-care month’ now all as one handy ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’

Switch-off Sundays (self-care month day 21)

Do you have a day of the week where you just do not work? When you refuse to check emails or switch on your work phone? It’s a nice idea to have a healthy break from work matters but often a difficult thing to pull off, especially for a whole day. Why not try it consciously for a couple of hours and then see if, bit by bit, you can stretch it out into longer periods of time. Cont…

For more click here for the full free download of ‘self-care month’ now all as one handy ebook ‘The Self-care Manual’