Author: Bernie Egerton

Bernie is a Mindset Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Writer. She helps with stress, confidence, perfectionism and low self-esteem. Helping you to gain clarity in a warm, focused, non judgemental and friendly coaching environment (online). You deserve to feel happier, stronger and confident in your abilities going forward!
Check out www.bernieegerton.com for more

Categories
health and wellbeing

Cutting down on the rich foods and a bit of exercise for a healthier you!

Hello you!

So for the past month I’ve been cutting down on all the sugary, fatty foods to lose a bit of my mama weight! I have to say I feel so much better and not as bloated (I love my bread and chocolate treats).

At first it’s tough, as I’m following a certain plan (not a diet) and your body is like “hey where’s my sugar and what’s going on here?” But when sticking to plan and recognising the overall benefits it has to your health in the long run, it makes it easier to focus and plough on through with your weight loss journey.

Balance:

Being a Libra myself, it’s all about the balance! Making sure you get the ‘balance’ right with enough proteins, fats, carbohydrates, calcium and iron (the list is endless)

Also drinking plenty of water to flush out those toxins helps. Aim for 8 glasses a day they say (I like drinking a pint of cooled boiled water as it’s easier to drink)

White to wholemeal:

Changing the white breads to wholemeal, white pasta to wholewheat and adding unsalted/lighter butter to your diet for the extra fibre that your body needs.

Grilling instead of frying.

All these little tweaks to your diet aids your weight loss journey, making you feel better.

Let’s not forget plenty of fruit and veggies…

Exercise:

Along with cutting down on the aul lockdown munching (done plenty of that over the past year) I’m making a habit of going out for a 20-30 min walk everyday. Soaking up the beautiful outdoors, being mindful along with getting fresh air into my lungs. The best bit about it? It’s free…

I know it sounds hard to cut down, but ‘you’ start to feel so much better and it’s just about tweaking your diet and adding plenty of water.

Now I’d like to add I’m no nutritionist but I’m sharing with ‘you’ whats helping me on my weight loss/healthier lifestyle journey. I feel so much better and plan to stick to it.

Hope these little tips help you! And please do comment on what helps you on your healthier lifestyle journey. Would love to hear.

Have a beautiful day, stay safe, be kind to yourself and ‘your’ body.

Thank you for reading 💖

Categories
mental health awareness week

Mental health awareness week, soaking up the outdoors and a poem on kindness!

Hello you!

As it comes to the end of ‘mental health awareness week’ (mental health foundation UK – a very worthy foundation) and its promotion on connecting more with nature, I reflect on the importance of this awareness. I feel a strong connection to nature and it is so beneficial to my mental wellbeing – especially throughout these uncertain times that ‘you’ and I find ourselves in. I’ve connected vastly with the outdoors throughout this pandemic.

It sounds so simple and it is: stepping outside, soaking up the outdoors and all that beauty – while getting a good blast of fresh air in the process! I know the thoughts sometimes seem harder than the actual doing! But ‘you’ start to reap the benefits from doing so…

Onto that lovely word called ‘kindness’

I shared the following poem about being kind as one of my first blog posts (I’m 2 months blogging now, so still a newbie 😉), and I’m sharing it with you again. With it being ‘mental health awareness week’ I think ‘kindness’ is so important and how a little bit goes such a long way. Its one of the first poems I wrote when I first started writing poetry during this pandemic.

Poem:

Thank you, it’s nice to be kind

A gentle smile, a heartfelt word, clears the cloud from my mind:
lifting me out of the darkest of places ‘thank you’ it’s nice to be kind.
A little text with those words ‘I’m here’ travels the length of the earth –
the racing mind slowly calms from every word and its worth.

In a world portraying so much anger yet still has so much beauty –
spreading kindness every day is undoubtedly everyone’s duty.
Be kind you say, how hard is this in a world with so much confusion?
kindness helps one another, without the fear and intrusion.

To someone in need a simple hello or even a chat over tea –
is the greatest gift for a person to thrive and also to somewhat feel free.
A withered flower blossom’s again and is no longer blind.
Lifting me out of the darkest of places, ‘thank you’ it’s nice to be kind.

– Bernie Egerton June 2020

Kindness is so easy

Little gestures – heartfelt words

The ‘kind’ that matters

Connectwithpoetry.com

Thank ‘you’ for taking the time to read my post 💖🙏. Be gentle and kind with yourself; may it be filled with lovely walks/jogs/cycles (whatever you enjoy) kindness and surrounded by the beauty of loved ones and nature 🌲🌱🌻

Have a beautiful day and keep smiling – you’ve got this 🙏💫

Do you feel a sense of connection to nature?

Soaking up the beauty of nature 🍃
Family 💖 – outdoor adventures with our busy bees 🥰
💖💖
Categories
mindfulness relaxation wellbeing

Mindful moments… Breathe, relax and visualise…

Haiku

Blossom petals fall

Look down at the gentle pinks

Blankets of pure bliss

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Mindful moments 🌸🌸
Gentle pinks 🌸🌸

Blossom trees are so beautiful!  Even more so are the blankets of pink stretched across lawns, drives and paths as the petals sofly fall. Little pieces of heaven when out walking – soaking up those mindful moments. Spring is such a beautiful, colourful time of the year 🌸🌳

Inhale

Exhale

Visualise

Relax

Connectwithpoetry.com

Take some time out for mindful moments!

Be gentle to ‘you’

Take a deep breath, visualise and relax…

Have a beautiful, peaceful day. Be kind and gentle to you 🙏 🌸💐

And breathe!

Categories
glastonbury festival

Glastonbury… A festival filled with love, peace, happiness and great music (in a time pre-covid)

I’ve been to a few festivals back in my festival going days and the one that really stands out as having that peace love and happiness vibe – is of course the famous Glastonbury festival! I also love Electric Picnic in Ireland (a much smaller but beautiful festival). However, Glasto is up there as being one of those WOW experiences – you’ll know all about that if you’ve attended this great festival.

Glastonbury started in 1970 (named Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival back then) and had around 1,500 people. Today it has over 200,000 attending and sells out within the hour: you can imagine the panic the morning they go on sale to secure a ticket!!

There is so much you can say about Glasto – with its beautiful location in Worthy Farm Somerset, portraying that peace, love and happiness theme it so famously lives by. Vibes with outstanding views, the banter and exploring the many quirky and fun areas!

There are so many areas to chill out in, browse around while soaking up the glorious and incredible creative and artistic creations displayed throughout – before the music even starts.

Glastonbury festival overlooks an abundance of greenery in a farm dotted with thousands of festival-goers. It is picturesque to stand back and embrace it all on the highest hill of the venue. Every area is evidently put together with so much love and hard work; displaying amazing themes throughout the farm.

Oh the joy after we set up camp ⛺
Lots of creativity throughout!
Green farm fields!
Peace Garden – chilled out!
Even has a daily press – Dolly Parton was amazing!
Nothing like huddling around a camp fire as the night got chilly 🔥

Festival of trust:

Everyone is just in their element and so much trust is attached to a festival of such vast. From my own experience: I remember losing my bag with wallet, keys, phone and sunglasses (ok, a few ciders might’ve been involved) thought to myself “there is no chance of that being handed in”. I went to the lost and found area next day and couldn’t believe my luck, when my bag was handed in and EVERYTHING was there. That just showed the trust and vibe of the place, making the experience even more special.

Dalai Lama Appearance:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama made an appearance back in 2015 (Patty Smith brought him on stage during her set) . It was so lovely to experience this as the crowd sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. As he left (as gracious as ever) he wished us a happy life and that the sun would shine for us throughout the day. The minute he uttered those words the clouds split and out came that sun to a roaring crowd of festival-goers; it was such a magical moment!

Ley Line:

Glasto is meant to lie on a ley line, aligning monuments and landscapes – having an energy like no other. That is entirely up to what you believe. Whatever it is, it certainly has a powerful energy attached to it!

Glasto has everything, from family areas, amazing food stands from every type of food, meditation fields, circus, comedy, oh the list is endless. It really is a place for all ages to enjoy. Let’s not forget the music that is added to this glorious event. Standing at the top of that Pyramid stage overlooking the farm and feeling that connection is powerful. Live bands belting out tunes to a crowd of music lovers – soaking up the vibes and connecting with each other!

Those days will return for any of you itching to get back to festivals. My festival days are over (well the long weekend ones anyway) but it’s the memories that live on in your soul along with the people, music, fun, laughter and beautiful Worthy Farm Somerset that I’ll forever be grateful for experiencing!

The famous Glasto wristband!
Beautiful lanterns at night 🌌

Thank you for taking the time to read my nostalgic festival post. What festivals have you enjoyed? Would love to hear 😊

As the famous Glastonbury vibe goes: may you have peace love and happiness in your life. Stay safe, be kind to each other and enjoy belting out those tunes!!

Categories
health and wellbeing mindfulness

Reflecting on recent lockdown lifting, new-found hobbies and mindful moments!

So things are starting to slowly open up again in England. Evenings are brighter, weather is just so lovely and there really is a buzz around the place. How are you feeling? Are the many months in lockdown making you feel nervous about normality returning and visiting places again? Its only normal to feel this way if you do. Its been a tough year.

I’m not going to rush back to non-essential shops just yet, but I’m enjoying meeting up with friends again for leisurely walks outside in parks, with take away coffees and a bit of banter!

I’ve really enjoyed the reflective work and my new hobbies (poetry writing and cardmaking), connecting more with nature and appreciating things you really took for granted when life was full of hustle and bustle before the pandemic.

Once cases get to a very low level, I’m really looking forward to getting back home to Ireland and seeing my family again. I’m sure you also look forward to that day and where you and I are mask free – with social distancing no longer being part of our norm.

This pandemic has changed us all in so many ways, having to deal with a huge wave of events, losing loved ones and having the virus. Its a time of constant reflection, looking at the small but important stuff that makes a huge difference to all our lives.

Mindful moments:

Throughout the pandemic I’ve been practicing mindful techniques and just being more ‘aware’ of the moment and appreciating the simple, yet powerful things in life.

So much beauty is out there when you stop, look around and look up.

On a recent walk with my daughter we discovered this little bee burrowing in the ground, flapping its little wings and it really was amazing to watch. We both enjoyed that moment in a little area with lots of pretty flowers. Nature is ‘always’ there.

My little lady admiring the tall tree 🌳©️Bernie Egerton 2021
Daffodils are such lovely spring flowers 💐 ©️Bernie Egerton 2021
Busy burrowing bee 🐝 ©️Bernie Egerton 2021

Things are slowly going back to normal, new-found hobbies have surfaced throughout this pandemic and small mindful moments can be so precious.

Have a lovely day/evening, stay safe, keep smiling – look up and around you, enjoying those mindful moments ❤

What have you enjoyed during these strange times?

Categories
inspiration kindness

Random acts of kindness can be so ‘powerful’…

Haiku

Kindness is easy

Unfeigned, unforgettable

The ‘kind’ that matters

Connectwithpoetry.com

It can be random, but so powerful at the same time. Have you ever been ready to buy a parking ticket then someone comes along, and hands you theirs as they leave? It happened to me and I was touched by this random act of kindness. Or any type of little acts of kindness? It can be the simple little gestures that really touch you in such a heartfelt way.

During one of my walks recently, I happened to come across this beautiful little tree that was bursting with joy – filled with lots of lovely toys from children, crochet gifts and for anyone to take away if they needed to. It really did put a big smile on my face.

Throughout a time of great sadness in our world and dealing with a pandemic; we find ourselves in a situation like no other – and it’s the little thoughtful things that can brighten your day and give ‘you’ that little bit of a lift and to show there is so much ‘kindness’ out there!

Like a little fairy tree 🧚‍♀️
A little crochet gift to brighten your day 💗
Adorable 💛

We all need a little lift at times and kindness to each other goes such a long way, no matter how big or small. Its the simple little things in life.

Love a cherry blossom tree 🌸

Haiku

Look at shining stars
Twinkling in darkened crisp skies
Small lights of power

Have you a story of a random act of kindness that brightened your day?

Thank you reading my post! Stay safe, be kind, keep smiling, look out for each other and lift each other up ❤

Categories
wellbeing

Some days are harder than others during a pandemic. Thats ok… You’ve got this, and beauty is around you!

Some days you think “I’ve got the hang of this new lockdown way of life”, then others you think its difficult. Missing your family, friends, a fun day out, and even a trip to the hairdressers (goodness, my roots are very ashen looking these days!) All the things you take for granted. Going out for a good blast of fresh air to blow off those cobwebs – really helps your soul. I love going for a walk, soaking up the outdoors and snapping a few beautiful nature pics along the way.

Here in England, all non essential shops are re-opening soon and outdoor dining – so it will make it that bit easier and hopefully avoid another spike in cases – lets remain focussed & optimistic

Breathe in that fresh air, notice all that beauty that surrounds you and go with each day as it comes. This is new to you and I, but we’re riding this storm together, learning and growing each day and have been for over a year now. Days filled with hope are here, now a vaccine is well and truly rolling out.

©️ Bernie Egerton connectwithpoetry.com

Sitting in the garden with a hot cuppa, a stroll in the park while the sun is shining and watching your family playing together: the simple little precious mindful moments that make a challenging time seem so much brighter. Focussing on whatever those ‘special’ things are, that make all the difference in ‘your’ life.

Be kind to yourself and be gentle to yourself. There is so much love and hope surrounding you during a time, when some days it really does feel like that light is harder to grasp. Some days are challenging, and thats ok. Focus on what gives ‘you’ joy.

©️ Bernie Egerton connectwithpoetry.com

Heres to the light at the end of that long pandemic tunnel getting closer each day.

Stay safe, keep smiling and keep writing!

What gets ‘you’ through these times of uncertainty? ❤

Categories
health and wellbeing

Clearing that morning fog, a healthy brekkie & spring!

During a time when lockdown feels like its never ending, you tend to forget the importance of nourishing the body and mind… Do you forget to drink some water? do you forget to eat a healthy breakfast and pack up on those fruit and veggies? I certainly do.

I’ve been a bit too fond of those chocolate treats during lockdown (I really have a sweet tooth) skipping breakfast and running on empty. Its challenging when you have nothing to look forward to during a global pandemic and all you want to do is turn to those snacks and chomp away!

Being a parent and running after two busy toddlers, I’ve recently started focussing on eating a good healthy breakfast to start the day with, and drinking plenty of water (I mix a pint glass with cold and a bit of boiling water as I find it easier to drink).

I feel so much better adding the healthy foods along with water – then you’re ready for whatever work you do throughout the day as well as having energy to run after your little cherubs!

Open those windows, let the fresh air in and circulate! Working from home and more time spent indoors means a fresh working environment is needed to help ‘you’ when you’re constantly confined to a new office space you’ve had to adapt to.

Spring is here, the evenings are brighter, those beautiful blossom trees and daffodils are flourishing, and as my little girls say “mummy, the birdies are singing!”

©️ 2021 Bernie Egerton connectwithpoetry.com
©️ 2021 Bernie Egerton, connectwithpoetry.com

Stay safe, keep smiling and rehydrate along with a good brekkie!

Haiku:

A withered flower

The seeds they grow and flourish

Blossom brighten shine

Bernie Egerton @ connectwithpoetry.com
Categories
poetry writing tips

Ten tips, to help you on your poetry writing journey and some styles!

When I started writing poetry I was eager to learn more about the skills attached to this incredible creative outlet.

The following tips can help ‘you’ strengthen your writing skills and to understand more about the art if you’re just starting off.
Its a few pointers on what helped me (and still does) starting out. I continue to learn every day and I’ve had a few poems published to date.

Ten Poetry Writing Tips:

1. Read a poetry handbook to learn more about the craft, highlighting sections for future reference so you can always refer back to (I still refer back to mine!)


2. Read poetry every day, from a range of different poets, styles, themes, even if its just one or two poems each day.


3. Listen to online poetry readings and recordings, feeling the flow of the words and to connect in a form different to reading.

4. Listen to a poetry podcast


5. Keep writing when in the flow, when inspiration hits and feel that poem.

6. Edit later, or leave for a few days and return to edit with fresh eyes and read aloud.

7. If feeling overwhelmed with writing, give it a breather and read poetry instead (you’re still learning and absorbing all about the art)


8. Find what style you prefer and work on it.


9. Join poetry clubs and share your work

10. Lastly, enjoy the process 🙂

Styles:

Recently I’ve been focussing on writing shorter types of poetry such as Limericks and Haikus.

A Haiku consists of 3 lines in total and the traditional rules are:
Line one has 5 syllables
Line two has 7 syllables
Line three has 5 syllables

A Limerick consists of a five line poem and it can be witty and fun to write. Traditional rules are: First second and fifth line rhyme
Third & fourth line rhyme (AABBA)
First, second & fifth lines have between 7-10 syllables
Third & fourth lines have between 5-7 syllables

Hope these tips help ‘you’ with your poetry writing – its what helped me when starting out!

A haiku to start your day with!

Turning the page to

A crisp new day, breathe a smile

Wipe away the dust

Connectwithpoetry.com

Stay safe, keep smiling and happy writing 🙂

Categories
relaxation

Visualization, connecting with nature and relaxation…

During a time when our busy lifestyle can make us feel tired, stressed and exhausted: taking time out for some mindful moments can help you to find that balance needed to reconnect with yourself. Visualization exercises are great for finding that balance needed and for a bit of ‘you’ time.

Connecting with nature:

A walk along the beach is so relaxing.  There’s something peaceful about being near the sea, listening to the swishing sound of that ocean, as your bare feet glides through those ripples. You can feel a sense of calm and connection to this beautiful environment, as you dip your toes into that water, feeling the smooth sand sinking under your grounded feet, being mindful throughout and soaking up that peaceful scene.

©️2020 Bernie Egerton
©️2020 Bernie Egerton

Its tough when you’re feeling anxious and trying to stay motivated and relaxed, especially during a global pandemic. Throughout lockdown, I found going for a brisk 20 minute walk outside and connecting with nature helped to clear my mind and reconnect with myself. Also being a mum, its important to have a bit of ‘you’ time, refreshing the mind and to relax if feeling overwhelmed.

©️2020 Bernie Egerton

Relaxation exercises are helpful if you are having trouble relaxing or sleeping. I’ve been practicing vizualization exercises on occasions where I struggle to fall asleep at night. Helping me to focus and relax while taking deep breaths throughout.

Visualization exercise:

The following technique, can help anytime when you’re feeling stressed. it can be very beneficial, especially after a busy day!

  • Close your eyes
  • Inhale deeply for 3 seconds
  • Exhale for 4 seconds
  • Visualize the soothing swishing ocean and the scene of that calming beach
  • Repeat, inhaling for 3 seconds and exhaling for 4 seconds

Deep breaths

Visualize

Relax…

Take some time out during periods of stress for relaxation exercises to recharge those batteries. You deserve it!

©️ 2021 Bernie Egerton