“Social media not only snatches your time, but it also teaches you attention deficiency.,” according to Procrasdemon — The Artist’s Guide to Liberation From Procrastination by Neeraj Agnihotri,[i] Have you ever found yourself spending too much time checking what your friends are up to on social media or looking at the news on SM platforms while working at home? This is a waste of time which reduces productivity, induces guilt feelings, and can lead to addiction in the worst scenario. …

Katherine Reay is one of my favourite authors so I was delighted to read this sequel to The Printed Letter Bookshop. This novel focuses on several characters from that book, together with new ones. They are all dealing with heavy problems but the community of Winsome (this name is perhaps too ‘cheesy’) gradually provides support and healing, although they all have to learn some very difficult lessons.

The characters include Alyssa, Janet and Jeremy. Alyssa is being investigated by the FBI after a scandal at her medical company. Fired and broke, her only option is to return to her hometown…

Have you always dreamed of visiting a particular place? Unfortunately, many of us have been forced to place our ideal vacations on hold, because of closed borders and lockdowns due to the pandemic. However, the rollout of vaccines will probably make the possibility of travel more promising soon.

Don’t despair. Surprisingly, this is the perfect time to plan a trip! A University of Sussex study, published in 2002, shows that people are actually at their happiest when they have a vacation lined up.

Clinical psychologist, now writer Alice Boyes, says that planning a trip is good for anxiety. She always…

Comfort boxes can help you feel better during stressful times. Their contents can soothe, console and relax you. Making a comfort box is also a therapeutic experience. Comfort boxes are good for your mental health.

The History of Comfort Boxes

Imagine fighting in the mud and filth of the trenches far from home, with the fear of scattered shellfire. Then imagine the excitement of receiving a box filled with treats, such as books, magazines, cigarettes, cake, and jam. This would certainly help to make you feel closer to home, and ease the suffering a little.

During World War One many countries sent packages or boxes…

Confident, ambitious, kind, helpful, dreamy. These are all words which describe Anne Shirley, the heroine of Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery, one of the books in the much-loved Canadian Anne of Green Gables series.

My grandmother gave me this book when I was 11, and it is the most inspirational book I have ever read. This is because it concerns profound themes of friendship, death and love, and because of Anne’s wonderful character. Many young girls admire Anne, and want to grow up to be just like her.

Anne certainly has some difficult lessons to learn in this…

The Alleged Affair That Shocked Europe.

The people at court quickly stifled their gasps when they saw the young and beautiful Princess Elizabeth dressed like Queen Anne. As she was of ‘the same shape and complexion’ it was obvious that she was wearing one of the Queen’s dresses. Although Princess Elizabeth had been invited to court for the Christmas celebrations, she had effectively been declared illegitimate, and only royals were permitted to wear rich gold and purple silks. Why was she dressed in one of the Queen’s gorgeous dresses? More importantly, why was King Richard III paying her so much attention at these Christmas celebrations? …

A crisis often requires you to make huge changes in your life, causing great stress. For example, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, most people had to keep away from their loved ones and stop going out except in extremely limited circumstances. Some had to work from home, while others were forced to deal with the loss of their jobs.

All but the most grounded of people found this taxing.

During a crisis, flexibility is arguably the most useful skill to cultivate. Flexibility is “the ability to shift perspectives or actions when new or unexpected events arise.”¹

So, what…

Richard Templar suggests that it’s best to treat life as “a friendly sparring partner”. “If you are flexible, you’ll have fun. If you stand your ground, you’re more likely to get knocked around a bit.”¹

Flexible people are highly prized in work and life, because they adapt to changing circumstances well, and they don’t hang on to rigid ideas.

Crises, such as the coronavirus outbreak, especially call for flexibility. Many businesses adapted their workplaces quickly to the pandemic by arranging for their employees to work at home, or by offering takeaways instead of dining in their restaurants. …