Self Care Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Jane Travis - Self Care for Busy Women

Category Archives for Self Care

Are you giving too much? Here's how to find balance

Are you giving too much?

how do you know if you're giving too much?

There's a new guy at school.  He's lonely and desperate for friends but a bit shy and awkward, but his parents are wealthy - let's call him Richy Rich.  He uses his money to buy friends, giving sweets, gifts, paying for things, buy buy buy, and giving too much.

The result?  Richy has more people around him.

But are they friends?  What if the money dries up, will they return the favor and ​share what they have?

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The power of music, and how to use it - Jane Travis

The Power of Music

what would your music library it tell me about you?

Well, it would give me clues about your age, your past, what your parents may have liked, whether you are a happy person, a deep person, an angry person or a fun person.  

And when meeting someone new, discovering you like the same music is a great way to connect.

There's something about music, isn't there, that speaks to the soul.  It reflects our mood, and it affects our mood with almost mystical properties. 

How can you use this to your advantage?

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The downside of gratitude - Jane Travis

The downside of gratitude

Gratitude journals are very popular at the moment, with just cause

Many of us are more blessed that our grandparents could have ever imagined, but get wrapped up in insignificant trivia that frankly doesn't matter.  It's good to be reminded of lifes simple pleasures and of what's really important.  

However there's a dark side to gratitude that is often missed, and can cause you damage. 

Let me explain...

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Choice is yours (or is it?) - Jane Travis

The choice is yours

Is it your choice?

You're an adult, a grown up, a mature, sophisticated woman of the world.  You are in charge of your own life, your own destiny and you make your own choices.  

​Or do you..?

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10 Things to say yes to - Jane Travis

10 Things to say yes to

168  

That's how many hours there are in a week, and chances are you feel there aren't enough.  So much to do, busy busy busy, work and commitments and 101 other tasks swallow​ them up. 

Busy.  But bored.  ​

How many of those 168 hours are for you?  To have fun, enjoy yourself, relax and recharge, care for yourself and socialise?  ​

It's time to start saying yes!​

Here are 10 things to say yes to now to improve your life 

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How to say you don't like a gift, without looking ungrateful - Jane Travis

How to say you don’t like a gift, without looking ungrateful

You don't like it.  

They are standing right there in front of you as you open your gift and you don't like it.  ​Your heart sinks.

What do you do?​

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20 Simple ways to make the most of your lunch break - Jane Travis

20 simple ways to make the most of your lunch break

What pops into your mind when I say 'lunch'?

Do you think of long, leisurely and possibly boozy​ times with friends?

Or do you think of brushing crumbs off your computer screen as you eat a sad sandwich at your desk.  Again.  

If your lunch is more like the second version, then take a read, because if you don't take a proper lunch it's having a negative impact on your health, productivity, and creativity. 

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How to find time for self care (in 3 simple steps) - Jane Travis

How to find time for self care (in 3 simple steps)

You know that feeling when you want to meditate because it makes you feel so much better after, less stress and more energy.  

But ​you have a to do list a mile long, and you have a deadline looming.  You can't meditate, you simply don't have time.  

Sounds familiar?​

How can you find time in your busy day to practice self care?​

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How to tell if you're being used - Jane Travis

How to tell if you’re being used (and what to do about it)

Are you being used?

We all have them - high maintenance friends.  Drama queens always in the throws of some kind of trauma that draw you in so you become involved, giving them help and support.

You will always help people out if you can, that's the sort of person you are.  

But they will always let you.  They don't feel bad if you go the extra mile for them, change plans for them, take, fetch and carry for them.  They take advantage of your kind nature.

But have you noticed how exhausted, drained and stressed you feel after being in their company?

Why is that, and what can you do to protect yourself?​

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40 ways to give your opinion - Jane Travis

40 ways to give your opinion

​Picture this: you're having lunch with friends and someone brings up the hot topic of coffee preparation. Hold on to your hat grandma, things are going to get WILD!

She says the perfect way to make coffee is add coffee to the cup, then add water and milk last.  You know that's blatantly wrong, that the milk should and absolutely must go in FIRST.  It's the only way. It's both clear and obvious.  

I mean, durrr!

But you hesitate.  You want to give your opinion - and maybe you can educate some people into the delights of Milk In First (MIF), but what if people take umbrage and there's a conflict? 

Does your opinion go unheard, a fear of conflict or lack of confidence holding you back?

Don't worry, most people instinctively avoid conflict but ​armed with a few of these phrases in your toolbox, you'll soon be comfortable expressing your opinion.

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How to spot a liar, and 7 resources to protect yourself - Jane Travis

How To Spot A Liar (with 7 resources to help protect yourself)

​Did you watch House, the TV series about the grouchy, sarcastic, Vicodin gorging genius doctor?  If you didn't, I'd highly recommend it.

I loved it. I loved each of the 177 episodes. And I loved Dr Gregory (Hugh Laurie) House MD (or DGHLHMD for short).

He comes out with some amazing one liners, but the one he's most known for is:

It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies’ 

(Or ‘everybody lies’ for short).

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Intuition - Jane Travis

Intuition: A Fascinating Skill You Should Trust (And 5 Reasons You Doubt It)

Do you trust your intuition, your gut instinct, that little voice that tells you there's something wrong?

Picture this: Match.com has finally paid off, and in among all the unsuitables you found him.

He's all you wanted from a man:  he makes you laugh, he makes you feel cared for, he makes you feel safe, he makes you feel ALL woman.  

But...well, there's one thing that just doesn't feel right...​

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http://janetravis.com/self-care-challenge/

11 Surprisingly Simple Steps To Master Small Talk – Even If You’re Painfully Shy!

I like people, and I like talking.  So why does thought of small talk make me break out in a cold sweat and want to hide in the cupboard?

Well, it's the inane chitter chatter, the pleasantries, the polite prattle that I hate.  It's the conversational equivalent of twitter - no chance to get stuck into a conversation about anything important or interesting. 

That, and the fact I am RUBBISH at small talk!  My mind goes blank, I say something wildly inappropriate, I stutter and laugh loudly, snorting for good measure,  Then, I quietly die inside as I wait for the floor to swallow me up, which it NEVER does, just proving that floors are evil.  

If you can relate to any of that nonsense, keep reading:

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Trust Me, I'm Lying - Jane Travis

Trust Me, I’m Lying!

Is your mum the font of all wisdom, with a wise word for all occasions? 

Mine wasn't.  She wasn't the 'wise woman of the village' kind.  

However, there was one really useful thing she shared with me, and it pops into my head like a red flag every time it happens, so I want to share it with you.

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If You're Too Busy To Read This, You Should Definitely Read This! - Jane Travis

If You’re Too Busy To Read This, You Should DEFINITELY Read This!

I know you're busy, so I'll keep this short.  You're probably too busy to read it properly anyway, so you'll skim it, get the juicy nuggets of information and discard the rest.  

It's okay, I understand.  I do that myself, as I too am a Very Busy Person or VBP.  After all, I'm far too busy to be typing Very Busy Person out over and over, that's 14 characters, and 'ain't nobody got time for that'!  ​

Busy, busy, busy.  With a daily to do list a mile long.

It's stressful being a VBP because I don't get any downtime, and the time I do get I like to sleep because I am also a VTP (Very Tired Person).

Fun?  Oh, I remember fun.  It was...fun!  But I am too busy for that now... ​

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How To Have The Christmas You Really Want - Jane Travis

How To Have The Christmas You Really Want

Christmas.  Huh.  Good God.  What is it good for?  

Sorry, that should say war, not Christmas.  Oops!

But you know, there are times Christmas can feel a bit like war, with rivalries, family politics, oneupmanship, anger, grief, blood, sweat and tears. 

So with only THIS MANY days till Christmas, how can you make this the Christmas of your dreams?

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7 Blogs That Teach How To Say No - Jane Travis

7 Blogs That Teach How To Say No

Saying no effectively is a skill, and there are lots of ways to say no, and the good news is - learning how to say no is a skill that can be learned

You probably already know that you should say no, but somehow ​you've still not managed to master the skill of how to say no in a way that's comfortable for you. 

There are some great articles about saying no around the interwebz, but some seem to be a bit gung ho and don't take into account how difficult it can be for us people pleasers of the world to 'just say no'.

So here are 7 of the best blogs around that share ways to say no.  

Enjoy! 

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The Art Of Receiving Compliments - Jane Travis

The Art Of Receiving Compliments

Wrapped in white paper with a silver, hand tied ribbon on it, it looked just beautiful.

Flossie smiled and felt a twinge of delight when she anticipated giving the beautifully wrapped gift to her friend, hoping she'd like it​.  

She know her friend had worked hard at a project, and this gift would let her know her hard work was appreciated. 

​She smiled at her friend and said 'this is for you'

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