How to Overcome Writer's Block

Hey readers,

 

Writer's block is a common problem for bloggers. It can be frustrating and demoralising when you can't come up with anything to write about.

There are a few things you can do to overcome writer's block:

1. Take a break.

 Sometimes the best way to get over writer's block is to take a break from writing.

 Go for a walk, read a book, or do something you enjoy. Sometimes all you need is a little time to clear your head and return to your writing with fresh eyes.

2. Brainstorm.

 If you're still stuck, brainstorm a list of topics you could write about. Don't worry about whether or not you will use any of these topics; get them down on paper. 

Once you have a list of topics, you can start to narrow it down and choose one that you're interested in writing about.

3. Talk to someone. 

Sometimes talking to someone else can help you to overcome writer's block. Talk to a friend, family member, or fellow blogger about your problem. They may be able to offer you some helpful advice or suggestions.

If you're struggling with writer's block, don't give up. Just keep trying, and eventually, you'll find a way to overcome it.

4. Write about a problem. 

When crafting a scene, fiction writers frequently use this tool. To better examine the issue and continue writing, write about your work in a notebook to yourself when you feel stuck. 

Write out what you're attempting to express in that specific section and the reason you're feeling stuck when you're feeling stuck in plain terms.

 This will ease the burden of coming up with a definitive statement and assist you in identifying the essence of your point.

 

5. Outline. 

For authors who want to prevent writer's block, preparation is key.

 Without a plan, you run the risk of being stuck in your work and being unable to move forward. 

You can follow a road plan to keep track of your plots and overall direction by creating an outline. With an outline, it's difficult to experience writer's block because you know where you're headed in the beginning, middle, and end of the document.

6. Free write.

 Free writing is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Start writing whatever comes to mind without worrying about grammar or spelling. You can always go back and edit later.

What do you think of my tips on overcoming writer's block? Have I missed any good points to help with writer's block? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday photo 09/07/2023

 

My eldest son had an excellent school report, so I said I would get him a packet of blue Takis. Which he was beyond overjoyed about! 

5 tips to teach your kids to clean their room.

Hey readers, 

Does your youngster have trouble finding what they are looking for? Is your child's room a complete disaster? Has finding a layer of dust on their belongings become commonplace?

Instilling in your youngster the habit of cleaning up after themselves will solve all of these issues. 

Your child should understand how crucial it is to have a clean home, workspace, and surroundings to live a healthy, happy, and stress-free life.

A child must be taught to clean and tidy up early, just like with all healthy habits, to prevent untidiness from becoming ingrained.

Now, this could be a little challenging, especially if your youngster is consistently messy. But if you work hard enough, you can teach your kid to clean up after themselves.

Top tips to teach your child to tidy up.

 
1. Don’t Clean Your Your Child’s Room for Them. 

 The next thing I want to say regarding rooms is this: if your child is old enough to tidy their room independently, don't do it for them. Not to be a martyr. Your child should tidy up their room.

Cleaning your child's room for them rather than letting them do it works against you. It demonstrates to your child that you don't have confidence in their independence. 

It also demonstrates to them that you will cave in and complete the task on their behalf if they put up enough of a fight.

Doing it for them also conveys that they are not obligated to follow your instructions and that your words do not reflect your intentions. And make no mistake; your authority is at risk if youngsters believe you don't mean what you say.

Although doing it yourself might initially seem more convenient, in the long term, this will discourage your child from wanting to complete the task. 

As a general rule, once children are in primary school, they should be able to complete the majority of the chores associated with cleaning their rooms on their own. All you have to do is hold them responsible.

2. Talk through the clean-up process. 

Telling the procedure to your child when they are initially learning the art of organising their rooms (also known as the skill of not stuffing everything under their bed). 

As you clean up, go over each step with them so they may learn. "Say, "I'm putting back all the trains in this container so we can locate them easily next time. " Then, "I'll put back all the play food in the play kitchen since that's where it belongs."

3. Keep the Mood Light; Avoid Yelling.

According to studies, the greatest method to communicate with kids is to keep your cool when speaking to them. 

We all know that screaming or raising your voice will only encourage rebellious behaviour, which is never a good thing. 

Therefore, even when your kids aren't acting appropriately, it's crucial to be patient when speaking to them. 

Therefore, the next time you ask or remind your children to clean their rooms, do so calmly to avoid upsetting them.

 It's up to you to remain composed and patient regardless of how they respond if you don't want to get into a fight. 

Additionally, there is no harm in a little guilt-tripping! Your kids will be more understanding and appreciative of you if you ask them if it's fair for you to clean their room on top of all the other work you have to do. This will encourage them to do the same for their room.

4. Speed clean. 

This is a fantastic tip for those energetic kids that never stop moving around! 

Determine how many toys you can put away before the timer goes off. 

Alternatively, start a timer and time how long it takes to collect every train piece.

 Older children can record their times, save them, and aim to beat them with a new clean-up record.

5. Leading a helping hand.

While we know that most of the time, it is the child's responsibility to clean up their filthy rooms, you should include assistance in your encouragement and motivational strategies.

 By helping out a few times, you can show them how to do it correctly. Kids enjoy cleaning more because of this, which encourages them to finish.

What do you think of my tips to help encourage your child to clean their bedroom? Have I missed any good tips that you think to work wonders?

Love to hear your comments in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading x

How to deal with restlessness

Hey readers, 

A typical sign of numerous mental and physical health issues is restlessness. You might question why you're restless and what you can do to stop it.

 

It can frequently make you antsy, or it might only rarely bother you. In either case, this essay might be helpful if you're restless and want to know why.

You'll learn several things you can do in this article to fix it.

1. Audit your sleep.

 

For our mental, physical, and emotional health, sleep is essential. Examine your bedtime and wake-up routines, as well as your pre- and post-sleep rituals. 

Keeping your bedroom pleasant and turning off your electronics at least an hour before bed is essential for excellent sleep hygiene.

If you experience daytime fatigue and agitation, a sleep tracker might help you identify sleep abnormalities (such as sleep apnea).

2. Learn to relax.

While it's easier said than done, developing good relaxation techniques may help you feel less restless.

Mindful breathing, meditation, forest bathing, and yoga sessions are relaxing practices to master. 

Make time every night to unwind: take a bath, read a good book, put your phone away, stroll, or pick up a new activity, like knitting or sewing.

3. Exercise. 

The best remedy for restlessness is exercise. It is advised to engage in moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes three times per week to significantly lower cortisol (the body's stress hormone).

4. Try progressive muscle relaxation.

 

Deep breathing and the tensing and relaxing of specific muscular areas, like your neck or shoulders, are all parts of progressive muscle relaxation. 

You squeeze the muscles as firmly as possible while not injuring yourself. It would help if you didn't ever experience shooting pain or discomfort when you performed this workout. 

As you breathe in, tense one muscle group; as you exhale, relax that muscle group. Usually, starting with one foot at a time, you work up to your head from your toes.

Before progressive muscle relaxation, check with your doctor whether you have broken bones or torn muscles.

5. Lack of confidence. 

You stopped feeling like you were good enough at some point throughout this trip we call life, which resulted in restlessness.

Think about something that makes you feel immensely confident as a quick remedy for this treatment. 

Your ability to ride a bike or do well in an interview could be all required.

Is it accurate to claim that you haven't always been confident in your interviewing abilities? 

Then, what altered?

The fact that you have obtained much employment over the years is what has changed.

 The same principle applies to your belief in your capacity to ride a bicycle.

Doubt leaves your consciousness once you reach a goal. You no longer need to prepare for a job interview or learn how to ride a bike over three days.

 You feel assured because you have already answered many interview questions with success. 

What do you think about my ideas? Have I missed any good ones out to help conquer restlessness?  

Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 02/07/2023

 

Dippy the dinosaur at The Herbert Art Gallery Coventry.

 Hey readers,

If you're looking for something to do with the kids in the West Midlands area, then why not visit the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry? 

It hosts an impressive life-size replica of a Diplodocus carnegii skeleton – a 26-metre-long dinosaur that lived 155-145 million years ago.

For over 100 years, Dippy has been delighting visitors of all ages at the Natural History Museum in London. Now, Coventry families can discover the Jurassic giant on their doorstep.

You can see Dippy free of charge; however, you need to book tickets beforehand on the website Here. 

Dippy will be at the Herbert until 2025, so there is plenty of time to visit if you want to.

Ensure you bring a digital or physical copy of your ticket when you visit to enter the gallery and collect any purchases from the shop.

Slots are bookable in 15-minute intervals, but you can stay as long as you wish.

If you wish to book for more than 10 people, please email our visitor experience team at ctm.info@cvlife.co.uk.

You can purchase enhanced tickets which will cost you £8 per person. 

Online exclusive deal: This ticket includes entry to see Dippy and a goody bag, which contains Dippy: The Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur book from Natural History Museum and a plastic assorted dinosaur toy. Goody bags must be collected in person on the day of your visit.

If you feel even fancier, you can buy an Online exclusive deal: This ticket includes entry to see Dippy and a goody bag, which contains Dippy: The Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur book from Natural History Museum, a 15cm dinosaur teddy and a children's lunch voucher for Alfred's cafe. 

Goody bags must be collected in person on the day of your visit. 

My personal experience is my kids love seeing Dippy in actual real-life size.

 They love exploring and seeing Dippy smiling. It is great to see the physical form of the dinosaur.

 There is also a paper trail where you can fill in answers to questions relating to Dippy, adding more fun to your learning. 

Plus, you can take the sheet away with you as on the other side of the sheet is a picture of Dippy you can colour in. 

There is plenty of other artefacts relating to the era of Dippy. See the photos below. 

Getting to Herbert Art Gallery is easy as it is in the city centre and a 5-minute walk from the train station. 

Cheers for reading X 

How to make homemade coconut hair mask

Hey readers, 

A coconut oil hair mask is quick, low-cost, and efficient to calm frizzy, dry hair.

Because it includes lauric acid, a type of fatty acid that aids in moisturising your hair, it is a particularly effective hair treatment. 

Additionally, it can enter the hair shaft and nourish your strands from within. Its antimicrobial qualities are excellent for your scalp.

Follow these instructions to make an easy coconut oil hair mask at home.

Ingredients. 

• * 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. 
• * 1 tablespoon of olive oil. 
• * 120 ml of honey (optional). 

Method. 

1.  In a small dish, mix the coconut oil and the olive oil. Both coconut oil and olive oil are thin, natural treatments that can add shine and hydration to dry hair.

 To get the most out of these hydrating substances, combine both in a dish.[1] For longer hair, increase the amount of each ingredient while maintaining the balance.

Because it nourishes and softens your hair, coconut oil is an ideal ingredient for hair masks.

2. Honey can be added to moisturise and brighten skin tone. Another all-natural product that locks in moisture is honey, which is also excellent if you want to lighten the colour of your hair subtly. To loosen it up, add 20 ml and thoroughly stir.

Don't add honey if you don't want to change the colour of your hair.

3. Gently comb the mixture through your hair. Apply the mixture to your hair with your hands and comb a wide-toothed comb through the strands to distribute it evenly. Make careful to cover all of your hair, from the tips to the roots, with the mask.

 Pay special attention to coating your ends. They are usually the most damaged and dry parts of your hair.

4. Gently comb the mixture through your hair. Apply the mixture to your hair with your hands and comb a wide-toothed comb through the strands to distribute it evenly. 

Make careful to cover all of your hair, from the tips to the roots, with the mask.

 Pay special attention to coating your ends. They are usually the most damaged and dry parts of your hair.

5. To assist the mask in penetrating your hair, use heat. You can also use a hair dryer to heat your hair if you'd like. 

For a few minutes, direct the drier at your hair to open the cuticle and aid the mask's efficacy.

6. In the shower, thoroughly rinse the mask, then condition it. After rinsing off the mask in the shower, condition your hair, as usual, to help eliminate any remaining products.

 Although shampooing may suck out even more moisture from dehydrated hair, it is still an option.

To maintain healthy, smooth hair, use this mask once a week.

Cheers for reading X