Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all well. Autumn definitely feels like it is now on its way as I have already started sweeping up leaves from our driveway.  Although I have to admit this is one of my favourite times of the year as I love going out and admiring all of the beautiful reds and browns of the leaves on the trees.

I know I have written blogs in the past about positivity and making some time for myself; however, it is always good to have a reminder every so often, so that is the reason for the title of this blog.

Unfortunately for the past 4 months, I have hardly made any time for myself apart from an occasional night out to the quiz at my local golf club or an early night in bed reading or watching tv. Well, after a few extremely stressful weeks, I decided that enough was enough, and I had to make some changes to help with my declining mental health as well as physical ailments due to stress and anxiety.

Just making some small changes has made such a difference, for example, each evening having some me time, even if it is just having a shower with one of my favourite shower gels, giving myself a manicure and putting on some of my favourite hand cream. I know this may not seem extremely exciting, but just that 20 minutes or so of self-care can make a world of difference to my mental state.

Because of various situations going on within my family circle, it had gotten to the point where I was putting myself totally to the back of the queue. I had not noticed this until I had missed a couple of appointments and more worryingly ran out of some of my medications and had to call my doctor urgently.

It is so easy when you are caring for others especially if you have more than one person to look after that all your time is spent in one continuous chain of attending appointments, making phone calls and spending endless hours encouraging loved ones to get on with their lives in a positive way and completely forgetting about your own life.

I will be totally honest with you and say that I have found it extremely difficult to get out of this continuous circle of putting everyone’s needs above my own. The turning point was when I realised how much my actions were having an effect on my own close family relationships. Thankfully, I have an amazing husband and two daughters whose help and support I am so grateful for. I know that I am incredibly lucky to be able to say this as I know there are some unpaid carers who unfortunately do not have someone to help understand and support them in their caring roles.

I just wanted to write this blog to remind each and every one of you to please make sure that you are making time for yourselves no matter how big or small this is as you are just as important if not more than those who you love and care for.

Take care of yourselves and I promise I will definitely be writing a more upbeat blog very soon.

Love Susie x