- Chase the Red Grape! - With Jen Fotheringham - Health Coach, Writer & Podcaster

Recent Posts

March 4, 2022

PICK YOUR BATTLES #5TTT

Hi all,

Are you tired of feeling like you have to fight all the time? Maybe your life feels like one constant battle. Maybe you feel like it’s one battle after the next after the next…

We live in stressful times – sometimes its external stress, sometimes it’s the stress we impose upon ourselves to be more, do more. Work, home, family, Instagram… fight, fight, fight. Aren’t you exhausted? I know I am.

So for this weeks 5 top tips I want to get you thinking about how we can all pick our battles in life. Battles are inevitable, but how they appear in our lives and how we react to them really is the key.

Remember, life should be easy

It may sound obvious but sometimes I think we really do forget this point. The purpose of life isn’t to be hard, full of pressures and constant battles. It should be easy, fun and happy. If you can’t make your battles disappear then try introducing a new habit/ routine into your life to do something you enjoy. Taking a walk, reading a book, a long soak in the bath.

Priorities

Figure out your priorities. What do you really want to focus on? What demands your attention and deserves your attention? What battles are worth fighting? What is worth your time, energy, drive and, sometimes a part of your soul? (Or it sure feels like it anyway!). Fighting for equal pay at work = a battle worth fighting for. Trying to get your kids to pick up their socks and allowing it to drive you insane = not worth it.

Seek clarity

Are you fighting? Is it really a battle? Are you the only one in your team that feels this way? Battles can be surrounded by so much confusion, how do we really feel? In order to work this out you need to focus on gaining clarity. Make sleep a priority so that your mind can process the information and break it down into the necessary and unnecessary. Take some time to walk or meditate. Allow yourself to slow down during the madness so that you can really take stock of what is going on. Maybe you do need to be a warrior for a while – take care of yourself so that you are in the best head space to fight.

Sometimes the right thing to do is give in

You win some, you lose some, right? Well you need to let this be your mantra. If it’s not worth fighting then it’s perfectly fine to give in. You are not a loser! You are not weak! You …

5 TOP TIPS ON A TUESDAY

by Jen

0 Comments

March 4, 2022

DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE JUSTIFIED? #5TTT

Hi all,

Why. Why have you made that choice? Why should you make that choice? The word why shrouds our day, every single moment.

Our brains help us to make the correct choices, those instant decisions like ‘don’t cross the road right now, there are cars coming’. It has already downloaded and rationalised the ‘why’, we don’t question it, we don’t think about it.

The world as a whole is a collection of justifications. Everyone needs a reason to do everything. But do we? Should our personal lives, our distinct choices have to be completely justified?

DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE JUSTIFIED

Does every choice we make in life have to be justified?

As always with my 5 top tips on a Tuesday, I have broken down this topic into different areas with various questions to ask yourself. Reflect on how you make your choices and have your own inner debate!

Lack of action

Are we simply frightened to take action? Does the need for a reason mean we don’t actually have to take a leap, try something new, make a different choice. Do we use justifications to stop us from even trying?

Validation of your ‘why’ by others

Right now the question of why will most likely come from someone else. Sometimes you don’t even need a why within yourself to make a choice, it just feels right. Then when you talk to someone else they ask you why, making you doubt/ justify why you made the choice in the first place. Because you want to (or don’t want to in some cases) is enough. Because you say so is enough. If you make a personal choice that only affects you then you need to let that be enough.

Stepping away from spontaneity

For me, why always stops me from being spontaneous. It makes me question every decision I make too much. I never question others or their choices, simply my own, in my head, that niggling voice that makes you go stop. Maybe next time I think ‘screw it, I will just make nachos for dinner’, I should listen to that instant gut choice – I don’t need a why.

When is your gut and head not enough?

Sometimes we need to work things out. Sometimes we need to know why. Sometimes we need to discuss this with others to prevent us from going mad. But have you worked out those areas in life where your head and gut decision is not enough? Where you need your justifications validated by others? It may be at work, it might be decisions regarding your children, but knowing where your boundaries are will help keep things clear.…

5 TOP TIPS ON A TUESDAY

by Jen

0 Comments

October 22, 2021

How to Enjoy a Comfortable Shower Experience #5TTT

Nothing is more important than having a long, luxurious, comfortable shower at the end of a stressful day. The comfortable bath experience will help relieve your mind of stress and rejuvenate your body strength. Nonetheless, not all the bathes are comfortable and luxurious, as you might find some bath processes straining and stressful.

Having a proper bathroom environment and appropriate bathroom equipment, such as a shower faucet set(duscharmatur) or scrubbers, can enhance the experience. Let’s look for the best ways to enjoy a comfortable shower experience.

1. Having a proper dry brushing exercise

Dry brushing is one of the practices that’ll help enhance your bath experience as it helps provide the appropriate detoxing massage technique. It’s a common practice among most individuals because it helps eliminate cellulite, inflammation, and dead skin cells. Start with your feet and legs before proceeding to your arms. After achieving this practice, you’ll be feeling super soft and exfoliated before proceeding into the full-body shower.

2. Use a shower melt

Most people have commonly used bath bombs for their showers, but the shower melt will work extremely well. It provides the appropriate way to feel more pampered quickly while showering. Have it by your shower drain, and as the water runs down your body, the melt feels your shower with the relaxing eucalyptus steam, enhancing your experience. Being non-toxic, it provides the perfect way to clear up sinuses after a long tiring day.

3. Using the duscharmatur

Including moderne duscharmatur in your bathroom is one of the best ways to ensure you get the best shower experience. Gone are days when individuals could be struggling to ensure water to get water to the body due to the older shower tubs. Replacing the older shower tubs with suitable faucet sets will be appropriate for your bathroom needs. Depending on the style or finishes you choose, they provide the most appropriate shower options to enhance your shower experience than your older shower.

4. Choose the right soap

Choosing the right soap will be the perfect way to ensure you get the best experience when bathing. It’ll be good to choose a gentle hydrating soap for your bath. After washing and soaking the skin in the soap, you’ll have to rinse the soap away. After proper rinsing of the soap from your body, it leaves your skin squeaky clean. It’ll be essential to avoid soaps that might lead to allergic reactions.

5. Have an appropriate SPA music

Music helps you have better experiences when having most of your activities in the home; bathing is not different. You can choose appropriate SPA music to play in the bathroom while …

5 TOP TIPS ON A TUESDAY

by Jen

0 Comments

October 18, 2021

5 Tips to Pay Attention to When Exercising in the Gym #5TTT

The best reward you could ever give your body is a few minutes of exercise every day. It is not only healthy but also quite refreshing when you eventually get a grip of It. However, It is not just about body exercises and lifting weights. You need to pay attention to some things for an effective and safe workout in the gym.

Let’s take a look at 5 valuable tips you need to focus on when exercising in the gym;

1. Pay attention to your breathing

Most gym trainers will tell you to breathe, but they may not necessarily show you how. “Breath normally.” It may not be that helpful as you do not notice you are breathing correctly until there is a change. One common mistake most of us have made severally is holding our breaths. You need to remember that each breath of oxygen is critical for the body’s performance. A CXSBands apple sports watch would come in handy to help you track your breathing and heart rate, among other body functions.

It is fundamental to stay aware and train your breathing while in the gym. Essentially, your breathing should remain synchronous with the rest of your body. This means you should breathe from your diaphragm. The easiest way to ensure that you are breathing right is by placing your hand on your belly. Ideally, as you inhale, your tummy should expand and contract as you exhale. With that in check, ensure that you control your breathing throughout all your exercises. Breath control involves breathing through the nose for the most part and through the mouth whenever you are trying to regulate the breathing rate.

2. Maintain the right posture

A lousy posture may defeat every reason for going to the gym, leading to ineffective exercising or even injury. It could potentially wear or even tear on your ligaments, causing more harm than good. Ensure that you fix your posture appropriately. On the other hand, good posture improves the body’s functionality, minimizing muscle strain that could result in injury. Therefore, it is critical to adjust your form with a change in the exercise or weights to avoid being sidelined.

However, before you get into any workout, be sensitive to your body and be mindful of how you feel. Along with that, take the time to learn the correct alignment of your body, as It will help you adjust accordingly. Take note that any pain during an exercise could be a red flag indicating wrong form or posture.

3. Be comfortable

Whether It is clothes, shoes, or other workout accessories, you need to stay comfortable. When It comes …

5 TOP TIPS ON A TUESDAY

by Jen

0 Comments

October 16, 2021

5 tips to note when running in winter #5TTT

This time of year is one that all runners look forward to. It’s the beginning of fall, which means that winter isn’t too far away. Winter weather presents challenges for even the best outdoor runner. The biggest among them being cold weather.

Keeping safe during your run in cold weather is quite simple once you have the right gear and know-how to run with the cold.

Proper winter dressing

When we run in winter, we lose more moisture through our extremities than we do in summer, making them more susceptible to cold damage. It is important that we not only cover every part of our bodies in winter but that each layer provides insulation without restricting or irritating the skin.

Some tips for clothing:

Wear moisture-wicking fabrics that help your skin release sweat and stay dry.
Wear a base layer that wicks sweat away from your skin before you get too sweaty.
Wear an insulating layer that will trap warm air close to your body.
Wear an outer, windproof (and insulated) shell on top of the other layers to prevent wind chill and minimize water absorption.

The most important thing is to keep warm and dry. This means you should avoid thin or flimsy clothing. After all, staying warm and dry will help maintain your body temperature so you can run for longer. As such, it’s best to opt for clothes that are made of a thicker material like the green bomber jacket mens.

Stay hydrated

Running in winter means you still have to keep up with the regular things, like drinking water. Whether it’s below or above freezing, drink at least 16oz of fluid per hour while running to stay hydrated – just don’t try to down it too quickly as this could lead to feeling unwell.

Ideal running shoes

Sports shoes are the next essential item to consider when buying clothes for running in winter. Sports shoes must be made of material that is waterproof (or at least water-resistant) because you don’t want water seeping into the shoe and soaking your toes. This will make your run uncomfortable and potentially dangerous as you risk developing blisters or even frostbite.

Also, sports shoes should be able to drain any water that comes into the shoe – again, this is for comfort and safety reasons. Sports shoes should also have a suitable grip so you don’t slip over on ice or snow.

keep your hands head and feet warm

Another key tip for staying safe when running in the winter is to take care of your extremities. Your hands and …

5 TOP TIPS ON A TUESDAY

by Jen

0 Comments

October 16, 2021

5 REASONS WHY BEING AN ADULT SUCKS/ IS PRETTY AWESOME #5TTT

Hi all,

Every so often I like to take the tone down slightly and go for a fun, relaxing 5 top tips on a Tuesday post. We all need something to giggle and relate to right? One that doesn’t have us questioning and reflecting in depth on our lives? Good, not just me then!

I had a few ‘grown up’ moments this weekend (cough cough major hangover) that had me thinking about being an adult and how much it sucks. But also on the other hand, how awesome it actually is.

So for this weeks 5 top tips, I bring to you, 5 reasons being an adult sucks… but on the other hand 5 reasons it is also pretty awesome too.

5 reasons being an adult sucks

Hangovers

My Saturday was a bust. I literally could do nothing. I didn’t even drink that much the night before, heck 10 years ago that would have been my pre-night out drinks. But I just have to learn, I simply cannot do it anymore. Long gone are the days of no hangover. Long gone are the days of having a free day to spend in bed because of a hangover. Listen up future Jen, you just ain’t got time for that.

Forgetting about fun

How often do you put ‘adulting’ before fun? Skipping out on a fun night because you have to send emails, clean the house, do the washing. We also forget how the simple things in life can give us so much joy – going to the play park and having fun on the swings, staying up to watch the sun rise, having a slumber party. Let’s stop putting fun at the end of our to do list.

Pressures of society

Are you married? Good. Do you have children? Oh. Yup the pressures of society are always upon us. Don’t have a boyfriend/ girlfriend! Why not? Why hasn’t your partner asked you to marry them? When are you going to have kids? Are you going to give your child a sibling? It never ends. And don’t get me started on the ‘renting or buying’? The problem is when we start listening to those pressures and putting expectations on ourselves. Do what makes you happy.

Watching fashion repeat itself

The 90’s are back with a bang. And nothing makes you feel older than seeing teens wearing clothes that you would have done at their age. Can we still wear those clothes? Is it right to wear them as an adult? Constant questions.

Having no one to blame but yourself

See said paragraph above re hangover… 🙁

Yup we have to realise that …

5 TOP TIPS ON A TUESDAY

by Jen

0 Comments