What Keeps You Up At Night? - My 5 Tips For Getting A Good Night's Sleep*

Ahh sleep. Me and sleep have a very turbulent relationship. Have done for a good few years now. That's not to say I don't love it, who doesn't? but the actual falling asleep bit? That's what I struggle with. I've said many times before on my blog that insomnia is something I've struggled with and whilst at the moment I seem to have managed to keep it at bay for a while (I think having a puppy helps!) that's not to say some nights I don't lie awake for hours on end. According to a recent survey by beds.net, it seems I'm not the only one either. 

Beds.net, a mattress and bed manufacturer based in West Yorkshire recently conducted a survey that revealed that the majority of Brits are being kept awake by stress, others because of an uncomfortable bed or mattress and a small minority are tormented by ghosts. Those aren't the only complaints though, others mentioned noisy neighbours and even escaping pets, so what keeps me up at night? Well a number of things! 

I find when I'm in bed, though that's the time my brain should be starting to unwind, it often does the complete opposite. Every possible thought runs through my mind! There's just something about the nightime that makes me re-think every embarrassing scenario I've found myself in and get anxious about things that probably won't ever happen. My brain just doesn't stop. If overthinking isn't the cause of my lack of sleep, then it tends to be a little pup named Bear running around the bedroom, wanting to play. He's cute so I'll forgive him but some nights I just want to get straight in bed and actually fall asleep when my head hits the pillow.

So, now let's get onto some of the things I do find actually help when I'm struggling with sleep. They're not mind-blowing ideas and I'm sure a lot of them, you already do yourself but for me when I'm in need of a decent sleep, and I want to give myself the best possible start, these are the things I reach for.

De-clutter Your Home

I can't quite put into the words the impact a tidy home has on my mind. Beyond many other things, a tidy home really makes for a tidy mind and if I can sit down and see that there's no more pots to do, no more toys to pick up etc, then I can really start my night off in the best way. I just can't deal with life when things are messy! It has a massive impact on my anxiety so I like to keep on top of cleaning and tidying my home as best as I can.

Pamper Time

When I get chance, I love nothing more than a pamper night. A hot bubble bath with a bath bomb, a refreshing face mask, and a good book can do the world of good. It might only be an hour or so to myself but it's often very much needed, and I come out feeling 10x better. It's amazing what taking some time out to look after yourself can do.

Practise Mindfulness

I'm definitely not the best at practising mindfulness, but it's something that helps SO many people and seems to be a great tool with clearing your mind and re-connecting with yourself. There are apps you can get now which tell you exactly what to do so you can just lie back, close your eyes and truly relax. Focused relaxation like this allows for you to really pay attention to your thoughts and become aware of what you're feeling, and whilst it might sound a little strange, it leaves you feeling so much better afterwards. It's upto you how long you do it for but even just 5 minutes while you're chilling in the bath can help.

Switch From Your Phone To A Book

When I'm having some self-care time, I always reach for a book. I often now try not to take my phone into the bathroom with me so I can just enjoy a hot soak with a good book. The same goes for when I get in bed, the phone goes on the bedtime table and I'll read a couple of chapters. I find if I'm still scrolling through Instagram or reading something pointless on Twitter, my mind just keeps whirring for ages afterwards, whereas reading a book - there's just something about it that always makes me tired and I often find I get a much better sleep if I've turned away from my phone for the evening.

All The Candles

Let's end with candles, because who doesn't love candles? Especially now Autumn is almost here and there is finally a chill in the air. I've stocked up on some autumnal scents and each evening I've been making sure all of the lights are off and just lighting candles instead. Not only does this make our home look far prettier, it also just makes me feel so cosy and ready to wind down. It's the perfect way for me to chill before bed.

Whilst some nights aren't perfect and it's not possible to practise all of these methods for a good night's sleep, the majority of the time, just one or two of these does wonders and I find myself having a more more peaceful night than I would have otherwise. I'd love to know if you've got any tips for a better night's sleep, or maybe you've got a funny story on things that keep you awake at night?

*This post is in collaboration with Beds.net

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My Packing Tips For Moving House*

We all know moving house can be seriously stressful. The last time George and I moved, which was in 2014, we had a bit of help when it came to packing and unloading everything but the next time, which hopefully won't be too far in the distant future, it's likely to be 10x more work. We've accumulated a LOT of stuff in this flat and I'm already dreading having to pack it all up and start again. I'm hoping to get sorted as early as possible though, making the process far simpler for everyone involved. Aswell as that I have a few other ideas in mind for packing and moving so keep reading if you want to know more!

Check Which Packing Materials You Need

Before even getting started on actually packing, you need to make sure you've actually got all the materials you need. Last time we collected so many random boxes from corners shops but they all came in handy and I'm sure we'll end up doing the same next time too. These are great to store in one room and take out as and when you need them. You'll also need to try and estimate how many boxes you're likely to need for each room and make sure you're clear which boxes have fragile items in as you don't want to be unwrapping broken items on your first day in your new home! It's also good to stock up on tape, newspaper and bubble wrap, just to take extra care when it comes to packaging everything up.

Pack Early

So, let me just expand on what I mentioned at the start of this post. I'm not going to go crazy and get packing our whole life up into boxes months and months in advance but once we've secured a new home, I'll definitely be making a start on the rooms we don't use as often. For us the living room and kitchen are our main areas, whereas the office isn't something that's used every single day. I'd likely start packing up little unimportant bits that I know I won't miss for a while, really as soon as I could. With the amount of stuff we have, each room is going to take days to sort through so any room we can pack up early and get stored away will help us massively.

Consider The Larger Items & Electricals

Whilst all the home decor bits and smaller items from around the home can be packed away into boxes and shipped from your current home to your next place pretty easily, the larger items like the fridge, washing machines, beds etc are all going to require more time set aside. With us currently renting we won't have loads of major appliances to take with us, as they're not ours to take, but for those that do it's important you get prepared before moving day. Furniture will need to be disassembled - make sure all parts are stored together and screws and smaller fittings are in one bag. Fridge & freezers will need time to defrost beforehand, and disconnecting a gas oven will need to be sorted weeks in advance as it requires a gas engineer to visit. A tip would be to make a list of all the larger appliances in your home and gradually go through them all, making sure you know exactly what needs doing and when, and are clear on what is staying or going.

Make Sure You've Hired A Removal Van

If you're going to need help getting from one place to the other on moving day, make sure you book a removal van in advance. There are endless options available in each city but depending on where you're based, The Man Van London are a great company to reach out to. They provide a reliable and professional service meaning they can get all your precious items safely to your new home. We're definitely going to be needing a man and a van next time we move as I'm not sure our small car alone will hold much at all!

So that's 4 of my packing tips for moving house. It's never something that's guaranteed to go perfectly and all sorts of things can crop up on the actual day but making sure you've got started early and have done as much prep as possible, will help things go far smoother than they might have otherwise!

*This post is in collaboration with The Man Van

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6 Things I'm Excited For This Autumn

I tend to write up a post like this every Autumn so why change the habit of a lifetime? Autumn is my favourite time of year, though I'm sure you already know that because it's not like I don't bang on about it enough over on Instagram. There's just something really special about it, the weather finally cools down and and it's the start of the best few months of the year. So, here are 6 things I'm excited for this Autumn, and I'd love to know if you've got anything fun planned too!

Bear Experiencing Autumn For The First Time

I know it's cheesy but sometimes having a puppy is like having a newborn, and like with a child, I'm so excited for him to experience this time of year for the first time. I mean, to him nothing will really be different and he'll just go about his life as usual but I am SO excited. This time last year was when I was really feeling like when are we ever going to get a dog? Is it ever going to happen? but now we have Bear and I just can't wait to experience everything again but with him this time. I can't wait to take him out for long walks with crunchy leaves on the ground, for us to come home after a day out and all get wrapped up and snuggle, and I might have already started buying his Christmas presents. 

The Cold & Rainy Weather

I fricking love rain. There isn't anything that's much better than being inside all cosy and warm and seeing & hearing the rain outside. I know it's weird and most people are the complete opposite but I much prefer to wake up to a cold and dreary day rather than a hot and sunny one. It's the time of year I can wear my fave boots, layer up with jumpers and bring out my many scarves. I adore going out and that first chill just hitting me as soon as I step through the door.

The Food

I come alive in the kitchen when Autumn hits. Give me allll the pies, casseroles and soups. I adore the warming, comforting meals that just make you feel all cosy afterwards. I always lose inspiration when it comes to meal times in the warmer months, salad and fruit get boring quite quickly and I find myself longing for things like shepherd's pie, slow cooker curry and spicy chilli. Not that I don't ever make those things in Summer but our flat is like a furnace sometimes so it's hard to enjoy those meals when you're hotter than the sun. I've already made my autumnal chicken pie a few times and I can't wait to try out some other pies soon. Autumn always makes me bake loads too in case you hadn't already guessed by the amount of recipes I've been sharing recently.

Day Trips

I love going out for the day with George and Bear. With life and work being as busy as they have been recently, a random day trip out is something I look forward to for weeks. Just knowing we have something planned for us all to enjoy always keeps me motivated and positive. We've recently been to York for the day, Bakewell and Manchester which have all been lovely so I just can't wait to create more memories over the next few months. I want to try and get one final visit to the seaside in because Bear was living his best life on holiday, and of course I'm desperate to get to a Christmas market or two later in the year.

Autumnal Decor

I'm never one to go mad with a theme, I know some people love to change pretty much all their decor for different seasons but 1. I can't be bothered and 2. I couldn't afford that. But Autumn is my fave so I always like to add a few new bits in when I can. That usually comes in the form of candles which I've been stocking up on from Homesense. I've also added a gorgeous glass pumpkin to our bookshelf which I'm already dreading having to take down at some point, and I've just picked up a soft mustard colour blanket from Primark for just £4 which I never want to part with.

Pumpkin Carving

We never got round to this last year, or the year before, or the year before that... It's something we always plan to do but just end up leaving it too late. I'm not sure how it'll go this year with Bear always desperate to be involved in everything but we're gonna give it a go. No doubt mine will be horrific but I'm sure it'll be fun regardless.

So that's some of the things I'm excited for this Autumn. I'm already on a countdown to Christmas and starting to feel festive (it's never too early) and I just can't wait for the next few months to unfold. What are you looking forward to this Autumn?

Similar - The Autumn Blogger Tag // 22 Autumnal Blog Post Ideas // Perfect Autumnal Nails with All That Jazz

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How To Spend A Day In Manchester - Brunch, The Northern Quarter & Lots More*

It's no secret if you're a long time reader of my blog that I LOVE a day trip. Whether that's to go to a Christmas market, splash out on a shopping trip or to just have a day to explore somewhere new, I always find a day just me and George, so much fun. I think dates like that can be so important when life and work are so busy. A place I've spoken about quite a lot on my blog before is Manchester. We've been to their amazing Christmas markets year after year, we had a full week there last year for work and last week we visited with the purpose of exploring the city with fresh eyes and seeing how best to spend a full day there. 

Manchester has so much to offer, from bars and quirky cafes, to huge shopping centres which you can spend hours in and even theatres for you to see the latest musicals (something you know I'm a big fan of). Whilst it's somewhere I think you can see a lot of in a day, it's also a great place for a weekend break and if that's up your street, make sure you check out serviced apartments Manchester for more details. Now, let's get onto how George, Bear and I spent our day in the city.

Breakfast At Cafe 19

We started our day off with brunch at the dog friendly cafe, Cafe 19. I did a bit of research before we set off and this place had so many recommendations. It can be quite tricky to find dog friendly places in a lot of cities so I was thrilled that I had found somewhere we could all enjoy. As soon as we arrived, Bear was given alllll the attention so he was in his element and the staff were so friendly. They couldn't do enough for you. The food was also incredible, and we even got cakes to take back with us which I can't even put into words how good they were. Caramel WAFFLE brownie?! Out of this world. I highly recommend popping in for breakfast if you're in Manchester at any point. I've got my eye on the pancakes for next time.

Explore The Northern Quarter

Just five minutes walk from Cafe 19, you're in the heart of the Northern Quarter. Something Manchester is known for now and it's well worth a visit. Here you'll find the best bars, restaurants, coffee shops, independent shops, hotels and more. It can be seen as quite a 'hipster' part of the city but don't let that put you off. There are also some beautiful pieces of art dotted around which you 100% need to look for. We found a Manchester Bee mural on the side of The Koffee Pot cafe and a few different pieces at Stevenson Square Outhouse. 

Visit The Friends Cafe

Being the huge Friends fan that I am, I knew I had to make a visit to the new cafe in the Manchester Primark. Still full up from breakfast we didn't go in but just look at it! It's so realistic and is a welcome quieter area to Primark which is usually so loud and busy. They do an array of snacks, meals and drinks and you can even grab a photo sat on the famous couch.

Shopping At The Arndale Centre

When in the city centre, you've got to do a bit of shopping in the Arndale. It's full of shops with everything you could possibly need but a few of my faves, Homesense and The Lindt Store are there so I always pop in and see what's new. I picked up a few quirky foodie bits from Homensense this time and of course we went a little mad on chocolate in Lindt. I of course also picked up a few books whilst there and I even managed to get a few presents so it was a successful little shopping trip.

See A Musical At The Manchester Opera House

Finally, if you get chance I think it's so worth going to see a musical at the Manchester Opera House. I'd never been there before and had only seen shows in London but the venue is beautiful, the seats are comfortable (very important) and they have such a variety of shows coming over the next few months. I went to see & Juliet, a brand new musical and it was absolutely amazing. The cast are insane, the songs are so cheesy so of course I was in my element and I had the best view from my seat. I'll have a full review up of the show in a few weeks so keep an eye out for that, but some of the other shows coming include - Rip It Up - The 70's, Back To The Future and Sister Act.

So that's how we spent our day in Manchester, and we had the best time! The weather may have been awful and Bear may have got drenched but it was 100% worth it and we discovered so much more about the city on this particular visit. I'd love to know if you've been to Manchester and if you have any recommendations. I'm already thinking about a Christmas trip in a few months! 

Similar - My Manchester Travel Guide - Where To Stay, What To See & More

*The spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are my own

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