It’s a term you may have heard of, but what does it mean and how can you get involved in Neurodiversity Celebration Week?

We’re all unique. We’ve each got something that sets us apart – be it our unique blend of experiences, talents, or interests. But for some individuals, our differences can become the focal point of those around us and ourselves. We can begin overlooking the positives that can come with our labels, looking only at how these definitions can impact us for the worse. Neurodiversity Celebration Week hopes to change that.

Looking to celebrate children and young people with special educational needs (SEN), in schools, universities, and other organisations, as well as to transform how neurodivergent individuals are percieved and supported, Neurodiversity Week highlights the positive learning differences, talents and strengths each individual has – no matter what their label.

Founded by 16-year-old autism and neurodiversity advocate, Siena Castellon, in 2018, it’s estimated that 15% of students across the UK have a learning difference. While many receive help and support to overcome challenges they may experience, they may still feel frustration and embarrassment, and experience bullying that can negatively impact their self-confidence and self-esteem.

According to a survey by Ambitious about Autism’s Youth Council, 75% of autistic young people have experienced bullying. Only half said they felt safe at school. 2017 report by Ditch the Label, 70% of students with learning difficulties and 75% of students who are autistic report experiencing bullying at school. Siena hopes that through this week of celebrations, young people can begin to celebrate SEN students, change the way that these students are perceived, and help neurodiverse people to celebrate themselves and their achievements.

Aiming to help shift the focus from our weaknesses to the strengths and positive aspects of being neurodiverse, this week provides the chance to talk about the creativity, innovation, ability to think outside of the box, unique insights and perspectives, as well as the perseverance and resilience of neurodiverse individuals.

Schools are encouraged to participate with neurodiversity-themed assemblies, neurodivergent parents giving talks about their careers, as well as sharing information on neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspracia, dyscalculia, and tourettes. A full list of events and downloadable resources can be found on the official neurodiveristy celebration week website.

Workplaces can also get involved. Share your own experiences, successes and celebrations on social media to help encourage and inspire others. Discover four simple ways employers can support neurodiversity at work and make the workplace more inclusive this coming Neurodiversity Celebration Week and beyond.

What is neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity refers to those who fall within a spectrum of conditions including autism spectrum condition (ASC), dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, and dyslexia. Referring to the different ways the brain can work or interpret information, neurodiverse people think about things differently, may have a variety of different interests and motivations, and may be naturally better or worse at some things.

Counselling Directory member, counsellor and coach Louise Taylor explains more about neurodivertiy. “Neurodiversity is a relatively new term. (It was created) to raise awareness about how we are all different. The way we view the world, the way we experience the world, for each person will be unique.”

Neurodiverse people aren’t really that different, however, they may process things a little differently from how neurotypical people (those whose brain processes information in the way society typically expects) do, or may struggle in some social situations. Around one in seven people within the UK are thought to fall somewhere on the neurodivergent spectrum.

Despite around 99% of the British public having heard of autism, there are still many commonly held myths and misconceptions. Growing numbers of the neurodiversity community believe more needs to be done to promote understanding and individual experiences, over general awareness of conditions and disorders.

Discover more about neurodiversity and how counselling can help, visit Counselling Directory or use the search bar below to find a counsellor near you.

Article published: May 2019
Article updated: March 2022

To mark the two year anniversary of the UK going into national lockdown, National Day of Reflection encourages us to come together and remember what we’ve lost

I still remember the day we left the office to work from home for what we thought would be a couple of weeks. So it’s quite incredible to realise now it’s been a couple of years. Today is the two year anniversary of the UK going into lockdown, and charity Marie Curie is once again encouraging us all to reflect on National Day of Reflection.

The awareness day asks us to take a moment to reflect on the last two years and remember those we’ve lost. Inspiring a sense of connection as we come together to reflect, there is also a spark of hope weaved into the day, reminding us of our innate strength and compassion.

As well as encouraging a minute’s silence at noon, the charity is hosting a number of online talks including a mindfulness workshop on grief at 3:30pm hosted by therapist Neil Morbey and The Memory Kitchen at 6:00pm, where TV presenter Mel Giedroyc brings special guests together around the kitchen table to share family recipes and discuss the role of food in grief.

Resources to help with bereavement

If you’ve lost someone during the covid pandemic, know that you are not alone. Counsellor and author Lianna Champ has written several articles around coping with bereavement, including the following.

How to cope with sudden bereavement

In this article Lianna explores how we can cope when we lose someone unexpectedly.

“Whatever you experience when you suffer loss is your normal and natural reaction. Don’t question your initial reaction. Grief is incredibly personal and no two people will react to the same loss in exactly the same way. Try not to compare your feelings with others.”

How to cope with anger in grief

Anger is a common reaction to grief. In this article Lianna encourages us to look beyond the anger.

“Anger is not an emotion in its own right, but stems from hurt, sadness, or fear. Grief makes us feel out of control and that in itself is scary. The anger can grow into a large ball and it can be easier to remain angry than to process the truth around the pain of our grief.”

5 ways to support someone who is grieving

If a loved one is going through a bereavement, it can be hard to know how to help. In this guide Lianna shares five ways we can show our support.

“Working through grief takes time, so don’t expect too much too soon. They will need to focus on the process, the journey rather than the destination. They need to allow themselves the luxury of feeling the pain and grieving. Just as we laugh when we are happy, we need to allow ourselves to hurt through our loss.”

Processing what’s happened

As well as dealing with the loss caused by covid, the pandemic has triggered other traumas we need to process.  

How to process the pandemic experience

In this article psychotherapist Emmy Brunner shares her thoughts on how we can process what we’ve been through.

“As well as the direct traumas that the pandemic has caused – the deaths, illness, job losses, and hardship – the pandemic has also called into question our life choices: opportunities missed, loves lost, parts of ourselves we have come to realise that we have abandoned. I think that these aspects have also been traumatic and need addressing.” Emmy Brunner is a psychotherapist

Words of hope for hard times

Collecting words of hope from the Happiful team and community, here we share some ideas to help you when you’re going through a tough time.

“A sentiment I’ve found myself repeating recently is: ‘We rise.’ To me, this is a personal reminder that with both difficult situations and people, or when my patience is being tested, I can both rise above it and rise to the challenge. I am more than my circumstances dictate.” – Rebecca Thair, editor

How to cope with uncertainty

If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that uncertainty is part and parcel of our future. Instead of fearing the unknown, in this article creative scientist Katherine Templar Lewis shares how we can reframe uncertainty and reap its benefits.

“We are always stronger together. Admitting doubt and anxiety in uncertainty is not just human, it allows others to do the same. We have greater resilience when we work as a team or community.”

If you are struggling to cope you can use Counselling Directory to connect with a therapist today.

Try these two-minute exercises to calm your brain and sharpen your thinking

Chi Kung is an ancient Taoist practise, a way of being able to influence your own energy.

In times of stress, global or otherwise, being able to affect changes in your own energetic state is a really invaluable skill.

Overwhelm can take many forms. We experience emotions and sensations that are strong, and they leave us feeling ungrounded, uncentered, scattered or out of control. Coming back to, and paying attention to, yourself is vital. The following will help you to connect with and regulate yourself.

Smoothing down

Let’s start with a really gentle and soothing practice.

Sit or stand comfortably. Before you begin, imagine something soft, slightly delicate and full of love in the palms of your hands (something like a baby chick, or a kitten). Allow your palms and fingers to soften and infuse with this imagined energy.

As if you were smoothing the ruffled fur of a cat, stroke and smooth your palms easily over your head, down your neck, and over the tops of your shoulders. Using your fingers, you can smooth across your forehead, temples, cheeks, over your nose, across your jaw and down your throat.

Using your right hand, smooth across your left upper chest and down your left arm, all the way to your hands. Then from under your left armpit down the sides of your ribs and your waist. Remember we’re not brushing fast, just smoothing gently, kindly. Repeat using your left hand on your right side.

Use the backs of your hands to smooth over your lower back and bum, and then your palms over the outside of your hips and the tops of your thighs.

Use both hands to smooth down the whole right leg (don’t apply pressure, still just smoothing imaginary fur) all the way to and including the top of your foot. Repeat on the left leg.

Then take both palms, one over the other to your belly, and circle the soft part of your belly (moving clockwise, up the right, across the top). Circle a few times and then let your palms stop just below your belly button. Stay here for two deep breaths, deeply inhale and sigh the exhalation. Be still and notice how you feel.

Simple breathing – ease with constant change

Stand as comfortably as you can. Feet hip-width and parallel, balanced in the middle of your feet. Slight bend in the knees and slight lift in the pelvic floor, strong in the lowest part of your belly which will let your tail tuck slightly underneath you. Spine rising up easily, and head balanced on top of your spine, gaze into the distance at eye level. Try to balance in your belly (a point about three fingers below your belly button) and not your head.

As you inhale, allow your arms to rise upwards (not straight out in front but with a curve- as if holding a really big beach ball) to about chest height. Your shoulders stay relaxed and away from your ears.

As you exhale, allow your arms to fall – back the way they came, gaze staying up and ahead.

Continue to move with your breath, make the breath deep but comfortable, so that there is no fighting in your body, the movement feeling frictionless.

In-breath – taking in Chi, taking in breath, taking in life

Out-breath – releasing Chi, letting your breath go, coming back to yourself.

As you move and breathe, see if you can really feel the sensation, the experience of expansion in your whole body as you inhale, and release in your whole body as you exhale.

Notice the moment of lightness, fullness at the top of the in-breath (a tiny moment). Notice the moment of emptiness, stillness and peace at the bottom of the outbreath (slightly longer moment).

Continue for between one and five minutes. You’re following the expansion – the expanse, the release, the stillness.

Be still and notice how you feel.

Find your centre

Sit or stand comfortably in balance. Place both palms over your Dan Tien (3 finger widths below your belly button). Imagine in the centre of your body under your palms is a flame, like the pilot light on a boiler. See if you can find it with your feeling senses, not your mind. Is it warm or cold, still or moving, what colour is it? Feel this place with all of your awareness.

Feel it slightly expand as you inhale (you don’t have to breathe into your belly, just breathe comfortably), and shrink slightly as you exhale. Expand and brighten, shrink and intensify with each breath. Feel it radiate outwards, through your belly, your waist, your back, up into your heart and down into your pelvis.

Here you can feel, but don’t need to react. You can be, without having to do anything. You can act from your centre.

Lizzie Slowe is a well-being expert, fully qualified equine therapist, Chi Kung Master and author of ‘The Living Art of Chi Kung’, available now priced £12.00.

New beginnings aren’t always easy, but spring is the perfect time to welcome positive change in your life. Here, columnist Grace Victory explores how we can embrace starting anew, and enter a transformative time with the right mindset

For years now, I’ve always felt that the emphasis on ‘new year new me’ vibes in January is just counterproductive. More often than not, it’s cold, we’re broke, and we’re on a serious come down from the festive period. It just doesn’t make sense to my soul to try to have all this energy and vitality, when technically we should be in hibernation mode until spring.

Like nature, when winter arrives we want to sleep more, nest more, and spend time inside in the warm. Our homes become cosier and more inviting, and we often choose a mug of hot cocoa on the sofa over going out for cocktails with the girls. For me, the start of the year is about rest, resetting, and doing as many restorative things as I possibly can (which can be very hard with my one-year-old, but I try nonetheless). I also love to declutter and reorganise ahead of spring, because, in my eyes, that’s when the New Year really begins.

The Spring Equinox comes at a time where our days are filled with more light, flowers are beginning to bloom, and you can taste summer just around the corner. Cadbury Mini Eggs are readily available (yum!), you can ditch your winter coat and instead wear your favourite cardi, your toddler still wakes you up at 6am but at least the sun is shining, and the thought of a fresh start becomes less overwhelming and more exciting.

There is just something in the air around springtime that makes me feel like “Hey… I’m ready! Let’s take on life, let’s manifest our dreams, let’s level up, let’s boss this… I can do this.”

But let’s be honest, beginning again can feel daunting. Whether it’s a calendar date, moving out, or the end of a relationship, this sense of change can quickly turn into an anxiety-inducing task that you ultimately don’t feel ready for, but you know in your heart you must do.

When I can feel a change on the horizon, or that little niggle in the pit of my stomach that I need to start over, I tend to just hit pause so I can re-evaluate and make adjustments accordingly. My head feels too full a lot of the time, and I end up getting tired – but the type of tired that sleep can’t fix. That cry over spilt milk, no motivation, I hate the world kind of tired – if you know, you know. I then become bored, frustrated, and fixate on everything I need to do, so much so that I end up doing none of it. For me to be rested enough to feel inspired, I use the months before spring to take it slow, think about the things I want to bring into my life, and the things I need to let go of in order for that to happen.

Believe it or not, the humanity in us would like to reflect nature, but the capitalist world has made us think otherwise. We should be changing with the tides, evolving through the cycles, and honouring ourselves throughout each season. If we choose to go slow throughout winter, we will have the vim to start fresh come springtime. This approach can be used throughout our lives in other ways, too. For example, after a breakup, it’s always healthier and more beneficial to grieve that relationship, reassess where you’re at now, and become reacquainted with the ‘single’ you, rather than jump on Tinder the minute your partner has moved out. There is something beautiful about the messy in-between stage before you put real change into action.

New beginnings are the chance to renew and rebirth. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, we can dust off the cobwebs and be open to opportunities of growth and alignment. It’s an exciting time of hope, vibrancy, and youthful spirit. It’s letting go of what’s been, and walking towards what could be – and how refreshing is that? It’s truly the epitome of ‘better days are coming’ and I don’t know about you, but that is something I really look forward to. Beginning again may not always be easy, but my goodness is it worth it.

Remember, you can begin again on any day, at any time, and in any moment, and it is courageous and brave to do so.

Love Grace x

Come back next month for more from Grace!

Four steps to pursuing your dreams, whatever life stage you’re at

My favourite episode of Friends, the one that is guaranteed to make me laugh out loud, is the one with the ‘pivot’. The sight of that sofa stuck halfway up the stairs, and Ross blindly screaming at Rachel and Chandler to get it moving, despite the fact it looks to be going nowhere, is still funny. That Friends episode is on my mind right now for two reasons. Firstly, any excuse for a laugh after the past two years is welcome and, secondly, I’m currently at that corner, about to make the biggest pivot of my life so far.

I’ve been a medical doctor since the age of 22, and 20 years later, I’ve decided I’m going to do something else. Believe me, that is easier to type than it is to act on. As with making any big decision, the reasons for this are multiple, complicated, and have consumed many hours of conversation. My pros and cons lists have been written on Word documents, Post-its, and napkins. But here I am, decision made, making a midlife pivot.

And, I am not alone. Research from the London Business School suggests that 47% of UK adults want to change their careers. The drivers for wanting a midlife career change often focus on finding a sense of purpose, as well as igniting that creative spark that we may have left behind at school in the pursuit of exams, accolades, and steady employment.

I’m scared. I had a great purpose in what I did, and trying to make sense of not practising medicine has been personally challenging. I’ve realised that all these years of listening, caring, thinking, and worrying, have taken their toll on me and my own health.Thanks to lots of talking and inner work, I understand that it’s OK to say I want to do something else. As I make my way deep into the unknown, and if you are considering a visit here too, here are the things that I’ve found helpful so far.

1. Pros and cons

The act of writing it down helps free your mind, so make your list of staying versus going. Then make it again. Your views will change on any given day  – tiredness, hormones, or something you’ve read, might all sway your point of view, so revisit this list. Don’t be afraid to change your mind.

2. Take your time

My pivot has been on my mind for longer than I’d like to admit. Often, I’ve felt more conflicted and cross with myself for having these thoughts and then doing nothing about them. Complex decisions take time, and you don’t need to put further pressure on yourself by watching the calendar.

3. Consider who you talk to

My husband has listened to my career dilemmas for almost as long as I’ve had them. His career has been very different to mine, and I think this has given me a wider perspective. Talking to people who are in your profession or company, who are content and happy with their career path, may not give you the response you are looking for. Not because they don’t want to or they don’t care, but often they can’t because they aren’t in your headspace.

4. It may be about a ‘grand plan’, but it’s really about you

I have big dreams for my next chapter. I’ve started my supplement company, Noggin The Brain People, to help people understand how important lifestyle is; both for how we feel and for looking after our brain health at every stage of our lives. I am also finally pursuing my passion to write – I’ve been writing a memoir and signed with a literary agent in December. But there are no guarantees. You have to make peace with that first. As author Anne Lamott writes: “There is almost nothing outside of you that will help you feel happier in any lasting way, unless you are waiting for an organ. You can’t buy, achieve, or date serenity and peace of mind.”

Even if I don’t get all the way to the top of the stairs, I know I will have listened to myself, and embraced my mid-life pivot.

To connect with a life coach and learn more about finding the right career path for you visit lifecoach-directory.org.uk

A toxic workplace can have a huge impact on people’s wellbeing. With expert insight, we’re identifying the signs of this harmful culture, and sharing the simple life skills that can help transform your ability to approach it

If you raise the subject of toxic workplaces in any group of people, I can guarantee you that at least half will have first-hand experience of a past role where bad company behaviour was the norm, and staff were consistently treated poorly.

Chatting with colleagues brings up plenty of past examples.

From the outright outlandish: “I realised my previous workplace was toxic when the owner of the company walked through the office shouting and swearing at the top of his voice,” to the snide and divisive red flags: “A colleague commented on leaving work on time being ‘nice for some’ (despite my commute being two hours on the train versus their 10-minute stroll).”

And then there’s the non-verbal toxicity: out of hours emails and an expectation of responses in that same time period; lack of opportunities to ask questions and gain clarity over expectations; desk presenteeism; and promoting a culture of unhealthy competition or fear around job security.

But, clearly toxic workplaces are nothing new, given how many people seem all-too-familiar with this detrimental experience – so why is it such a hot topic?

“The time we spent away from the office during the pandemic has really allowed people who worked in those environments to return to their most authentic selves,” life and career elevation coach Carly Ferguson explains. “Being physically away from colleagues has collectively given us space to think our own thoughts and feel our own eelings, which has impacted actions and reactions to career paths, choices, and the return to previous ways of working.”

We all know that some companies and institutions have yet to catch up when it comes to healthy, boundried, respectful workplace policy and behaviours. The previous examples are just the tip of the iceberg, and they’re undeniably negative and damaging to staff wellbeing.

Where the topic of toxicity – and it’s more nuanced derivatives – becomes more tricky, is in the murky area between expectations, and employer-employee relationships. Is there a situation where a genuine conflict between business needs, communication styles, skills match, and career ambitions culminate in a toxic circumstance, perhaps?

Helping to create a definition, Carly says: “A toxic workplace can be any work environment, it doesn’t have to be an office, that has a detrimental effect on its employees. That could be [in terms of] their performance and productivity, or their physical, spiritual, and mental health, wellbeing, and happiness.”

And the fact is, toxicity doesn’t just happen to manifest in a business. Individuals within that company contribute to the culture, and the experience of those around them.

“You can only have a toxic workplace if there are toxic behaviours coming from people,” Carly says. “And unknowingly or not, everyone can play a role, whether that’s poor communication, gossiping, or feeding a cycle of negativity.

“It’s important for us all to be self-aware and reflect on how we can manage each work situation in the best, most authentic and professional way possible.”

Regardless of whether we’re part of a world-wide organisation, or a small family-run business, each and every person brings different perspectives and qualities to a workplace, and they’ll perceive their professional interactions and experiences differently, too. Acknowledging this, as well as taking proactive responsibility for our own contributing behaviours, is key, Carly says, to managing our emotions when experiencing professional toxicity.

“My personal opinion is that the sense of a toxic workplace isn’t the same for everybody, and some people will be more affected than others. However for most people, being in a toxic workplace, dealing with a toxic situation or colleague, is unavoidable at some point in their life. So for me, the question is how can you prepare for it, if it is inevitable?”

Being aware of what a healthy work environment looks like to you, and what behaviours or situations might be triggering, can enable you to identify and try to address an issue before it escalates. Is it high staff turnover signposting deep-rooted issues? Or perhaps it’s burnout from prolonged stress? Is it a lack of communication, support, or growth opportunities? Is it unrealistic expectations weighing on your shoulders, or a specific individual/group of people whose comments make you uncomfortable? While the contributing factors may vary, the overall feeling you’re often left with is Sunday-night anxiety, dreading the working week.

If you find yourself in this situation, it can feel really isolating, and sometimes like a personal attack. But before going down that route, Carly suggests trying to remain objective to understand why this is happening.

“We all have our own ‘manual’ of how people are ‘supposed’ to behave, which is how we would behave in a situation – but everyone else has their own manuals, their own life experiences, and insecurities, too.”

This means that, in some scenarios, your colleagues or employers may be oblivious to the toxic culture, or unaware of the impact of their behaviour. It may be entirely unintentional.

“With this in mind, try not to label or judge people,” Carly says. “My advice would be that it’s important to honour people’s differences and personal circumstances.”

But, of course, unintentional or not, the fact that a toxic workplace has been created needs to be addressed. As daunting as it may sometimes feel, the best course of action is always to speak up for yourself – nothing can change otherwise.

“Firstly, I would say engage with all the avenues open to you, including speaking up, talking to HR, chatting with friends, focusing on what brings you joy outside of work, counselling, engaging a life coach if possible, and considering moving jobs. However, leaving a role doesn’t necessarily fix something. You might really love your job, so it’s important to take time to think about your next steps.”

Carly also suggests working on your all-round wellbeing, in particular your nervous system, but acknowledges that this can be hard when you’re feeling low.

“You need to get to a point where you can physically and mentally handle the situation you’re in. That could involve practising yoga or anything that strengthens your navel and your core, so you can literally stand up for yourself,” Carly says.

“Breathwork can also be hugely helpful, as can cold showers and cold water swimming. These activities all build up your nervous system.”

At the end of the day, we spend a lot of time at work, and deserve to feel safe, supported, and have our boundaries respected, whatever role we’re in.

For more career advice, visit lifecoach-directory.org.uk

From savoury eggs to spring craft kits and rejuvenating scented items, do something different this Easter

Easter is a time for rejuvenation – when the world around us is coming back to life, and the days are full with a sense of hope for the season ahead of us.

Many of us treasure the traditional chocolate Easter egg but, if you’re looking for something a bit different or something that captures the unique feeling of this time of year, we’ve got just the lineup for you…

1. Bulgarian rose water, Alteya Organic

The perfect way to bring a breath of spring air into your life, the pure distilled rose water from Alteya Organic is a real treat. Spray it on your face and body to tap into the nourishing qualities of rose water, and use it as a toner or a setting spray – or just give yourself a spritz during the day when your skin (and mind) needs a refreshing boost.

£7.95, lovelula.com

2. Liquorice Easter egg, Lakrids

For those who want to expand beyond the traditional Easter egg, the liquorice Easter eggs from Lakrids blend the distinct flavour of liquorice with other ingredients, to create a truly unique experience. Coming in egg capsules, these soft liquorice spheres come in delicious flavours, including banana, salted dulce de leche caramel, and creamy white chocolate.

£27, souschef.co.uk

3. Sari rag wreath, Pri Pri

A gift that looks good while doing good, the wreaths from Pri Pri are made from pre-loved saris, and are made by a charity in India that supports underprivileged women by offering them training in tailoring. Brighten up any front door with a unique wreath.

£33, pripri.co.uk

4. Botanical cast diffusers, The Foxglove Tree

Handmade from real plants and flowers, the cast diffusers from The Foxglove Tree are the perfect way to scent small areas around the home (or even a car). Each set comes with a fragrance oil, and you simply add a few drops to the back of the cast diffuser. Designs come seasonally, as new flowers and plants become available in creator Clare’s garden, and there are vegan and cruelty-free fragrances to choose from.

£11.99, thefoxglovetree.co.uk

5. Needle felting kits, LoveCrafts

Whether it’s for the craftsperson in your life, or for yourself to make and gift to someone else, the kits from LoveCraft exude springtime energy. Needle felting is a simple yet effective craft that is recommended for those aged 10 and up, and these kits include everything you need to create delicate and beautiful items.

From £11.50, lovecrafts.com

6. Print subscription, Happiful

For the gift that’s guaranteed to uplift, inspire, and support you, a Happiful print subscription has it all. Choose a subscription length from three to 12 issues, and your loved one can enjoy a beautiful new issue each month, delivered straight to their door, packed in recyclable materials. Each and every purchase of a print subscription goes towards helping us provide our digital editions for free, so that everyone who needs it has access to mental health and wellbeing information.

From £17.97, shop.happiful.com

7. Restful Sleep Pillow Mist, Olverum

Wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated this spring, with the pillow mist designed to support and enhance each stage of your natural nighttime sleep. In this unique blend, Bergamot oil stimulates the brain’s limbic system to settle you down, lavender oil enhances the second stage of sleep (REM), geranium oil relaxed your mind and body, amyris oil deepens your sleep, and roman chamomile oil lengthens the critical stage of deep sleep.

£25, uk.olverum.com

8. Letterbox Cheester Eggs, Butlers Cheeses

For savoury taste buds looking for something different, the Letterbox Cheester Eggs from Butler’s Cheeses are a tasty twist on the traditional Easter egg. With a creamy, smooth texture that makes it perfect for spreading on a hot cross bun, crackers, or toast, and coming in a Cheddar or Blacksticks Blue flavour – try something different this year.

£6, butlerscheeses.co.uk

Feel like you’re stuck in a work rut and on the edge of burnout? Career Elevation Coach Carly Ferguson shares some simple tips to help you move past a tough time

‘Stuck in a work rut’ is an odd place to be. Not moving forwards but not necessarily ready to jump ship to another job, there’s quite often a feeling of despondency, tiredness and inability to take action or make decisions associated with this state of being.

Life Coach Directory Member and Career Elevation Coach Carly Ferguson knows these feelings all too well, having experienced them herself some time ago. However, she believes that it is very possible to move beyond the work rut.

Here’s some practical steps you can take, starting right now…

Cultivate Clarity

Carly notes that one of the biggest issues when it comes to getting yourself out of a work rut is the feeling of not being able to see the wood for the trees.

Talking to a professional, colleague or friend can help but Carly encourages us all to take a moment to consider who might be the best person to turn to and start with someone who has no personal investment in the decision you might make.

“We all have our own fears and we can project those upon other people,” she explains. “So you might be ready to take a risk with your career but you might have a friend who’s more risk averse and that can easily affect your decision.”

Spend time alone

Looking inwards is crucial too, when it comes to cultivating clarity.

“Spending time alone exploring your thoughts and feelings is really important,” Carly shares.

If you’re feeling burnout, stressed, doubtful, afraid, unsure – all those feelings – the best thing you can do is stop focusing on the job

Look elsewhere for joy

Building upon advice she was given when experiencing her own, Carly asserts that the best way to move out of a work rut is to look at where you can experience joy and pleasure elsewhere in your life.

“If you’re feeling burnout, stressed, doubtful, afraid, unsure – all those feelings – the best thing you can do is stop focusing on the job. A lot of us have a lot of our identity wrapped up in work and it feels like the end of the world that things are not going as we’d like in our career’ Carly says.

“I’ve found, for myself and my clients, that the moment we take our focus off it and we start exploring new hobbies, working on our friendships and our personal relationships or our pet that we’re completely neglecting – just taking the pressure off a little bit and focussing on having more of that in our lives can free you up and give you some energy to think differently.”

You might also like…

Dr Julie Smith shares her realistic every day tips on managing stress and burnout.

For more expert advice, information on therapy and self hypnosis tracks, subscribe to Happiful’s YouTube channel

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Find the right coach for you at Life Coach Directory