Spreading The Joy

The people have spoken, and they’re here for the puzzle content 🥳

It might seem random to intersperse overthinking content and coaching posts with jigsaws…

BUT

I’ve said it before - puzzles are my way to dial down overwhelm, to calm the chaos in my mind and forget my phone exists 🧩

Also a mega win because I can dip in for 10 mins or an hour, depending on what’s going on that specific day - no unrealistic time expectations over here, bebz ✌🏼

VJ x

Where does your washing machine live?
 
My bet is, in your kitchen. Or perhaps you've got a separate utility room, you absolute player ( ).

I was reading an interiors article where an expert said to put the washing machine upstairs or as near to the bedrooms and clothes storage as possible. YES. Goodbye traipsing back and forth with 🧺 of dirty washing to stick in the machine and clean clothes to fold and put away.
 
Now, I'm not in a position to move my washing machine but it got me thinking if there were any smaller tweaks I could make around the home to make life easier 👏🏼

Because anything you can do, however small or trivial it might seem, to free up time and energy helps kicks overwhelm down a notch and gives you more headspace for things you actually enjoy doing or thinking about decisions that deserve proper thought 🤔
 
So, what small tweaks or relocations can you put in place to make life feel easier? ⬇️
 
😎 I've moved my bedtime supplements from the kitchen cupboard to my bedside table

😎 I've put a pen and pad next to my Peloton bike because I get my best ideas during workouts but forget them really quickly afterwards

😎 I've moved the bathroom cleaning products from the downstairs storage to, duh, the bathroom

😎 I've taken my son's socks out of the drawer in his room so they can live in a basket near the front door next to his shoes

See - tiny. But you and I both know the little things add up faster than you think. So make them work FOR you, not against you.
 
Can you take inspiration from any of my ideas, or commit to some of your own today?  Your mind will thank you for it, even if your step count doesn't

VJ x

How I got here 👇🏼

I was asked to explain recently how I ended up where I am now - working half the week as a life coach

Thought I’d share it here too, for my fellow curious (nosy) people 🕵🏼‍♀️

👉🏼 I’ve always been fascinated with humans, our psyche, how we work and why we do what we do

👉🏼 I had talking therapy myself, years ago, and loved the power of being truly listened to without judgement and agenda

👉🏼 I completed a foundation year in counselling back in 2017, but it wasn’t the right time to continue onto the diploma qualification to become a therapist

👉🏼 After going back to my magazine editing day job after a Covid mat leave, the balance didn’t feel right

👉🏼 I wanted a life that would not only allow me more space and freedom, and to earn a comfortable wage, but that would allow me to have a tangible positive impact on other people

👉🏼 A friend suggested coaching over lunch - and it landed. I researched into it, signed up for a diploma qualification and loved what I learnt and what I practised

👉🏼 The transformational shifts I see in clients light me up - I’m here for more of that

Why do you do what you do?
Tell me in the captions below or consensually slide into my DMs 😎

VJ x

Don’t take it from me, take it from her 👆🏼

These lovely words came from a client I worked with during a The Decider session 🤲🏼

When your mind is constantly buzzing, and your body is in a state of stress, you need to power down 🪫

Sometimes a 90-minute session can be enough to relax, reframe and reset - so you finish feeling lighter, clearer and excited to move forward 💫

Because how will you feel in a month’s time if you do nothing? 🤷🏼‍♀️

DM me for more info or book a FREE intro session using the link in my bio 💪🏼

VJ x

Are you willing to answer the juicy questions? 🤨

This was the one that led to the biggest 💡 moment in a client’s session yesterday

She realised by not taking the action she knew she wanted to take, the cost to herself would be MASSIVE 💰

If you’re deliberating or second-guessing, it’s a great question to pose to yourself - just be sure to answer it honestly and fully 💪🏼

And if you want someone to hold your hand, to ask the challenging questions and support you while you answer and explore, I’ve got you 🤜🏼🤛🏼

Book a FREE intro session (link in bio) to see how I can help you get clarity and build confidence 💫

VJ x

Feeling paralysed by even the smallest everyday choices? The ones that aren’t significant but feel overwhelming?

Overthinking can show up in the form of analysis paralysis, where you go round and round in circles considering your options but never actually choosing or taking action out of fear the outcome won’t be ‘perfect’ or the ‘best’.

You know what IS guaranteed? That thinking rather than doing definitely won’t lead to the best outcome. It might not lead to ANY outcome.

And then you’re still exactly where you started, drained of the energy and time you’ve put into thinking it through again and again.

What tiny action can you take today, to simplify even the smallest decisions you need to make?

Is it taking five mins to prep breakfast the night before?
Buying the kids bedding so you can stop thinking about it every time you walk in their room?
Choosing to skip the hen do and finally telling the bride?
Signing up for a part-time course that could be the first step into a new career?
Work with a coach to find a sense of purpose and make life feel simpler? (That’s ME by the way 🙋🏼‍♀️)

Take the tiny step. Your brain and energy levels will thank you for it.

VJ x

Here’s why it feels safer to delegate your decision-making

➡️ You don't have to face up to your indecision
By putting the power in someone else's in hand, you skip the part where you overthink, ruminate and second-guess yourself, for days, weeks or even months.  Because on some level you know that's what you'd do, and it's a complete fun-suck.  Much easier to ignore that trait altogether, right? 
 
➡️ You can blame someone else if it goes 'wrong'
If you don't make the final call, you don't have to bear the regret, disappointment or embarrassment if it doesn't work out the way you wanted it to, right?  You can just point the finger at someone else standing over there.  Phew. 
 
➡️ You don't have to explore and own your vision
Making decisions forces you to look forward, which can be scary.  Owning what you're aiming for, what the end goal is, feels risky and demands you get vulnerable.  If you delegate the decision, you can opt out of creating a future vision that may or may not happen. 

✋🏼BUT, here’s the rub 🙄
By not taking control of your own choices, you WON’T get to build your confidence in decision-making. You WON’T get a grip on your overthinking and start to reverse the habit. You WON’T get to take pride in the decisions that go right and learn from those that don't. You WON’T get clear on which choices lead you to a state of joy, fulfilment and calm. 

It might seem like the easy option, but it’s not the best 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m giving away a FREE 90-minute coaching session 🎉 to help you work through a decision that’s been bugging you for way too long, whether’s it a meaty life-changing one or a small everyday choice that’s not going anywhere

Sign up to my email list to be in with a chance of winning - you can DM your email address and I’ll add you, or find the link in my bio 👍🏼

Don’t overthink this one or you’ll miss out - giveaway closes 30th Sep! 💫

VJ x

Do you allow overthinking to steal away simple moments of pleasure?

Seeing the world through a child’s eyes - every tiny detail, the magic in the mundane - has been my biggest wake-up call to how much time I wasted (oh, and it’s still a journey) ruminating ordinary decisions, let alone the big ones 🤯

Constantly being in your head, boomeranging between possible outcomes and worrying about imagined future scenarios, will not improve your quality of life 👎🏼

I can say that without hesitation

Swipe away the repetitive thoughts and open your eyes to what’s going on around you 🧐

Here to help you navigate overwhelm and challenging decisions whenever you’re ready - stop second-guessing yourself and just drop me a DM 🤝🏼

VJ x

spreadingthejoy

You don’t have an never ending supply of mental energy 🪫

Can you be more choosy about where you spend it? And which thoughts you give attention to? 🤔

Sign up to my newsletter (link in bio) for tips on how to dial down overthinking and stop second-guessing yourself 🙏🏼

VJ x

Learn to HELP yourself 💪🏼

Things are rarely ‘good’ or ‘bad’ - it’s an example of all or nothing thinking ⚖️

A much more powerful tool, when you become mindful of a thought, behaviour or habit, is to ask yourself:

‘Is this helpful or unhelpful to me?’ 🤔

Is it helping you live in your values and get closer to your goals and the life you want to live? 👀

If the answer is no, THEN you start making s**t happen to reverse it🔥

VJ x