Firstly, I would like to begin this post by saying this has not been an easy decision, and I would like to thank you all for your support over the past 4 years. But, I have decided to start winding down on Daisies and Bruises. By that, I mean posting only once a week (if I can) and only for the next few months. I have recently graduated university, and will be starting my masters in September this year. As a result, I have decided to step away from the blog full time, and start focusing on my career. Like I said, this has not been an easy decision, this blog saved my life in more ways than one ..read more

If there was one term I would use to describe myself, it would be an over thinker. A worrier. When my head gets a little too jumbled with stressful thoughts and worries, I like to take some time to organise. Just one quick google search has shown that I am not alone in this… many people who suffer with mental health, particularly anxiety, feel that a clear and organised environment can help the worrying thoughts and stress. Clean environment, clean head. This blog post is dedicated to all you other thinkers and worriers out there, with a list of my favourite organisation ideas that I personall ..read more

Worrying about your money can have a negative impact on your mental health, just as mental health can have an impact on our ability to work and earn money. A vicious circle you could say. Money can be a worrying subject alone, but when you throw a pandemic into the mix, one that has had a significant impact on income for both the employed and self employed, it makes an already difficult situation worse. We previously shared some money saving tips, featuring apps, techniques and even activities to help save the pennies. In this post, we have shared some more techniques to save and manage your ..read more

Towards the end of 2020, I asked myself what product I wish was available to help manage my stress and mental health. More importantly, I asked family and friends what they wanted… I personally wished I had a physical workbook to write down all of my worries (there was a lot) and work through them step by step. One family member wished they could journal… they had never done it before, and had heard of the benefits it can have on mental health. They thought an affordable starter kit would be perfect. So, I put my thinking cap on, and combined these two ideas into one! That’s why I’m excited to ..read more

We all sometimes need a little bit of extra positivity and inspiration. Maybe you need a little pick me up, or maybe you want to spread the love and share some wise words with a loved one? In this post, we have shared our favourite inspirational quotes for that little extra motivation! 1) “The Best Way To Get Started Is To Quit Talking And Begin Doing.” – Walt Disney 2) “The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty.” – Winston Churchill 3) “Don’t Let Yesterday Take Up Too Much Of Today.” – Will Rogers 4) “You Learn More From Failure Than ..read more

Welcome to the first official article on the blog! Social media is a huge part of our society; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat – we all have them. But, did you know, that social media can have a negative impact on our mental health. This article explores, with the help of the cyber crime unit at South Wales Police, the negative impact social media has on children and its long term effects. Social media is used worldwide. We share, connect, play and laugh. Studies show that over half of ten-year olds in the UK have their own smartphone, and over 70% of children under the age of 13 have a ..read more

We all, every now and again, need to take a day off to take care of our mental health. Take a day to relax and do something we love. Self-care is an important step to take in order to tackle your mental health. Self-care has been proven to reduce anxiety and stress, and increase our mood. When we take care of ourselves, both physically and mentally, we are better able to maintain a healthy relationship with ourselves and others. This can boost self-esteem and confidence, and allows us to extend our positive energy onto the people around us. There are three main forms of self-care: Spiritual se ..read more

A healthy diet can have an extremely positive impact on our mental health. When you stick to a diet of healthy food, you’re setting yourself up for fewer mood fluctuations, an overall happier outlook and an improved ability to focus. Here’s how it works: Your GI tract is home to billions of bacteria that influence the production of neurotransmitters, chemical substances that constantly carry messages from the gut to the brain. (Dopamine and serotonin are two common examples.) Eating healthily promotes the growth of good bacteria. A diet of junk food, on the o ..read more

I have said it before, I will say it again; I love journaling! Not only is it great for managing stress, but I personally find it very relaxing. Did you know, that journaling isn’t just writing about your day? There are so many different types of journaling, which you can find in my post The Importance of Self Love. Journaling is a helpful practice to cultivate for many reasons. It allows you to look back and see your thoughts and emotions at one point in history. It helps guide you to make better decisions when looking back at past memories, emotions and experiences. It also helps you notice ..read more

A good nights sleep is just as important as good physical health and diet. Research shows that poor sleep has immediate negative effects on your hormones, exercise performance, and brain function. It can also cause weight gain and increase disease risk in both adults and children. But sometimes, it’s easier said than done. This post includes a range of different tips to help! Increase bright light exposure during the day Natural sunlight or bright light during the day helps keep your circadian rhythm healthy. This improves daytime energy, as well as night-time sleep quality and duration ..read more