I'd hate you to wake in the night...

This week’s workshop, Clearing Space, is all about decluttering. I remember when I first wrote it I had in mind that it would be about tidying up (one of my weak points), but the more I worked with it, the clearer it became that the decluttering was all about every aspect of our lives – whether our diaries, our bodies, our laptops or our minds. And we’ve even run the workshop backwards for those who’ve done too much decluttering to bring a little love and spontaneity back into their lives.

My mind has been playing havoc recently. I’ve been waking in the middle of the night and fretting. I’ve lain there for ages trying hard not to wake my husband - although secretly wishing he would wake and help me relax.

Each night has ended up with me padding out of my cosy bed to a place where I can turn on the light and write down everything that’s worrying me and thus declutter my brain.

In a couple of minutes I’ve written a ‘to do’ list for the morning and thus ensured I won’t forget anything that was causing me such insomnia. That ‘I can’t go to sleep as I might forget something I have to do’ feeling has completely gone. I feel light, relaxed, confident my thoughts have been saved and ready to go back to sleep.

Decluttering works – at all times of day and night – and not just for desk tidying up. Come and find out which bit of you (or your life) needs a good clear out – and how to get a good night’s sleep!

See you there,
Nina

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Working on relationships

This week at Life Clubs we've got a great workshop about relationships, called Making Relationships Work.

My workshop is on Wednesday and, to be honest, I was beginning to feel a bit hypocritical about running it. I haven't been very sociable recently and didn't feel I was doing particularly well on the relationship front.

This weekend has changed all that (or most of it!) Our children are looking after themselves and my husband and I are having the weekend alone together. We've done nothing much - we've both been working quite a bit, but we've also been to the pub, had a lovely wet walk, and, what's been so important, spent time together.

In that time we've had conversations, listened to each other, been sounding boards for each other and realised why we liked each other in the first place.

If you want to make a relationship work, it doesn't have to be a whole weekend, but why not get together and listen to each other. Miracles will happen.

I'm now ready to run that workshop!

See you Wednesday,
Best wishes,
Nina

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Gosh, I'm stuck in my comfort zone!!!

I don't think I've ever won a single medal or award. I don't think I've ever tried.

I'm one of those people who, if I feel any sort of competition looming, just walk in the other direction.

When I heard this week that I was going to be nominated for the NatWest Everywoman Entrepreneurs Award I suddenly felt different.

Part of me wondered why I hadn't been more competitive before as the feeling was definitely good and exciting and then the other part of me kicked in and wanted to crawl back into my hole and say 'I don't do competitions - I'll just lose'.

This week's workshop, I Dare You, seemed particularly apt. If I dared myself, I could allow myself to get excited and if I didn't, I could shrink away.

Maybe this will be the first award I win. Just how exciting would that be.

I Dare You and me to go for it! Do something you're nervous about this week - maybe it's coming to Life Clubs! Just like me you'll find there's absolutely nothing to be nervous about!

See you there.
Best wishes,
Nina
PS Do have a look at this great video about Life Clubs created by a wonderful initiative, A Good Week.

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What cements friendships?

This week at Life Clubs we've got a fascinating workshop on what kind of friends you want and what makes you a good friend. It's called Uppers and Downers.

I was dipping into Richard Wiseman's excellent book, 59 Seconds, last week, where he said (forgive my paraphrasing) that often the instant glue between people is what you both dislike, so I've been thinking about that.

I've gone through a long list of people I know to see who else dislikes squid, We Will Rock You, M&S Heat & Eat meals.. etc and can't think of anyone.

I know that frisson of shared loathing and it is a fun start, but it doesn't sustain a friendship for me. Maybe I've got the wrong friends - or maybe we all think a little bit differently.

I very much enjoy people who like the same things as me. We can have picnics together, go dancing together and laugh together. We bond through our shared experiences rather than our mutual dislikes.

And, of course, I like anyone who comes to Life Clubs this week and works with us on friendship.

See you soon,
Hope you have a great weekend,
Nina

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