Be VERY Productive!

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as “SAD” grabs us in perhaps ways we don’t even realise we are experiencing it. Darker mornings and shorter days have a natural ability to unbalance our systems so for even those of us who feel we are ok it is likely to have an impact on our lives. We often become less productive during the winter, giving in to lethargy and hibernation, and while a little down time is no bad thing, it isn’t always possible when trying to maintain a busy household alongside work. Finding strategies and ways to combat the “winter blues” is key for me when maintaining my usual equilibrium, so I have put some things into place, ordered a “winter kit” if you will, from Very, to ensure my work/life balance is unchanged until we start to have a little more day light.

You see, it’s so easy to feel that get up and go during the summer, the sunshine invites us to rise and shine along with it. Light is really good for us like that, for our skin, hair and more so, our overall wellbeing. This is why I decided a little light therapy could put me in the mood for a more productive morning. I’m always awake early, four children ensures I have to be for if I haven’t been roused by one of them needing something immediate, I have to get up to corral them all into uniforms, with books packed in bags alongside lunches I’ve made. In order to wake myself up in a more calm manner I actually have been setting my alarm for earlier than usual. I know, seems counter productive right, but hear me out.

Taking some time out to use for building myself up for the day ahead ha been invaluable and I’ve been doing it very gently with a minute or so using the StylePro LED Wavelength Mask (£99) from Very. The LED light therapy masks are all the rage for skin care and I have to say, I think its living up to the hype. My skin is less red and sore (a winter normal for me), while I have had no break outs since using it, even on my period. More than this, I’ve actually been able to feel the difference in my mood, not just from the “look good, feel good” gift, but I swear having a little light therapy to begin the day has been super good for my mood. This sets me up far better to hop down the stairs to the cold kitchen floor and make the dreaded pack ups for lunch!

It’s winter, it’s horrible making sandwiches, let alone eating them in this weather. I like to send the kiddos off with something warming for their tummies, so while I sip a herbal mint tea (another pick me up for the day), I’ve been using my new Samsung Convector Microwave Oven (currently on offer at Very for £149, down from £199). My old microwave was beginning to become very unreliable, it was over 20 years old and had been handed down to me by my Grandma fifteen years ago so it’s no wonder, but it had previously been great and because it’s also a convector oven I’ve been used to that. I wanted to get something I could use for either option and this new one has proved to have been the right choice. It’s often not until you try something better that you realise what hard work the previous thing has been and boy, has this made life easier. I can obviously quickly and easily heat up soup, one of my chosen winter packed lunch options. But, it also allows me to cook chicken breasts, frozen foods and other things using the convector. It’s HUGE too, with 28 litres I can roast a whole chicken with ease if I want to, although pre-school that might not be the best choice!

I use the microwave ALL the time. Without it my day would be beyond non-productive, honestly, think about what you do using yours and I bet it’s on every single day. If for nothing else, how do us Mums get to drink a warm cup of tea, am I right, or am I right guys?! This one is SO fancy, but super easy to use and it’s actually even more than a regular old convector microwave, it has options to make bread, AND yogurt – YES PLEASE!

So with my bouncy feel and food already made, it’s time to get the kiddos to school, get my steps in, work on and off the go, clean the house, prep the tea (more Microwave action), and do my endless loads of washing. I’ve always one in the machine, one on the dryer, one waiting to be hung out and then a heap of ironing after… Six people in one house = a truck load of laundry essentially. I actually have to set myself reminders for everything but don’t always see them, especially if on the hoof. I’ve found my (now £49 instead of £69) Samsung Galaxy Fit3 (we’re a mainly Android house over here) really helps with lots of things, including not missing messages from work, school, the kiddos, my husband, various clubs, and lastly, work! To boot, it calculates all my steps to and from and around the house which is strangely satisfying, and good to know when I wonder why I feel so exhausted come bed time. I can even wear it when I go swimming, which you all know I LOVE and I very definitely need as it also helps pick up my mood.

I’m not sure why I didn’t get a smart watch like this sooner, one which links to my phone, and my ear pods which are also Samsung Galaxy Buds (£69 instead of £99 right now)! The buds offer ambient noise control, with absolutely no need to take them out in order to hear the world around me, but also gifting complete isolation if I need (or want) to focus on what’s streaming through them, be it phone calls, music or meetings. Just having them in all the time means I don’t have to faff about, everything is linked from my phone and watch and all I have to worry about is making that 25th trip to the microwave to heat up a gone cold hot drink!

Armour is what we need in winter, and I don’t mean warm clothing. I mean kitting ourselves out with the things which bring good vibes and productivity. Once you get on a roll for the day it breeds more of the same, so with my new “winter kit” from Very.co.uk, for running a productive household, combined with work, I’m all set!

Collaboration.