http://www.hannahflowerscounselling.co.uk/

Hannah Flowers Counselling, Carshalton Beeches, Carshalton (2026)

24/02/2026

Some glimmers from half term week…

Time with my family
First beach day of 2026
Creative opportunities
Visits to familiar places I love
A bit more sleep than I usually get
A slower pace

And now I’m back into termtime routine, I’m thinking about how to bring some of that slower rhythm into my everyday life. Some small changes maybe to simplify things but also just being more present with myself, slowing down and taking the day one step at a time.

What are your glimmers today?

24/02/2026

Some glimmers from half term week…

Time with my family
First beach day of 2026
Creative opportunities
Visits to familiar places I love
A bit more sleep than I usually get
A slower pace

And now I’m back into termtime routine, I’m thinking about how to bring some of that slower rhythm into my everyday life. Some small changes maybe to simplify things but also just being more present with myself, slowing down and taking the day one step at a time.

What are your glimmers today?

30/01/2026

What have you done today to take care of yourself?

Today I’ve allowed myself to rest at the end of a busy week. I’ve had a cup of tea and a catch up with a lovely friend this morning and then a slow day. A bit of reading, a few small tasks accomplished and in the afternoon I lay down to listen to an audiobook and fell asleep! I obviously needed it and have had since had a little flurry of productivity at the end of the day with my energy restored. I’ve probably got more done (or more important things done) than if I’d pushed myself to keep going. And I certainly feel better.

Can you follow your natural rhythms today and give yourself more of what you need?

22/01/2026

There are always glimmers if you look for them…

However difficult the day (week/month/season…), there are always things to celebrate, little signs of hope and joy.

For me today, one of the glimmers has been the arrival of crocuses in my garden. I always think of them as a symbol of resilience in hard times. The determination of pushing through when conditions aren’t perfect in the expectation of sunshine and warmth to come.

What have your glimmers been today?

19/01/2026

Well I am definitely wintering…

I’ve been consciously slowing down this month, allowing myself to rest as much as possible within the demands of work and family life. I’m feeling a bit under the weather and my energy is low but I’m not fighting it. I’m keeping warm, seeking comfort (blankets, hot water bottles and fluffy socks!) and taking moments here and there to read as much as I can.

I’m enjoying re-reading “Wintering” by Katherine May. I think I might have to read it every year to remind myself it’s okay to follow my natural rhythm and rest more in the Winter.

How about you? How are you feeling about getting through the winter months? Can you slow down and allow yourself to rest?

19/12/2025

How can you be kind to yourself today?

I managed to get outside for a short walk today and my mood instantly lifted. It’s something I haven’t managed as much as I would like recently but I know how much of a difference it makes so it’s a habit I’m going to try and get back into over the Christmas holidays.

I’ve been trying to do something restful every day in December to be kind to myself in the run up to Christmas. This was day nineteen of my December self compassion practice and this is your invitation to join me. If life feels too busy and you’re trying hard to keep on top of everything but it all just feels too much, can you find a little time each day to do something just for you?

This will be the last of my updates for 2025 but I’m going to try and keep going with making time for myself even (especially) in the busiest of days and I hope you can too.

Wishing you peace, joy and hope for the remainder of 2025 and into the new year.

18/12/2025

Can you take a little bit of time for yourself today?

It’s a bit easier for me today as I’m on the train up to London for the evening which is giving me some much needed quiet time for reading and reflection. I’m noticing how much finding time for myself helps me to stay calm even when I’m very busy and feeling the pressure of the build-up to Christmas.

I’ve been trying to do something restful every day in December to be kind to myself in the run up to Christmas. This was day eighteen of my December self compassion practice and this is your invitation to join me. If life feels too busy and you’re trying hard to keep on top of everything but it all just feels too much, can you find a little time each day to do something just for you?

If you decide to join me, I’d love to hear what you do each day that helps you to rest. Let me know in the comments.

17/12/2025

What would bring you joy today?

Today I’ve found joy in preparing for a mini craft project, making felt owl tree decorations. So far all I’ve done is cut our templates and chosen my felt and embroidery thread and even that was peaceful and relaxing. I don’t know if I’ll have time to start sewing this evening or if it will be for another day, but that’s okay. I’m aiming for process over product and no pressure. And also no perfectionism. (I only have terrible quality cheap felt and no time to buy more for now but that’s okay!

I’ve been trying to do something restful every day in December to be kind to myself in the run up to Christmas. This was day seventeen of my December self compassion practice and this is your invitation to join me. If life feels too busy and you’re trying hard to keep on top of everything but it all just feels too much, can you find a little time each day to do something just for you?

If you decide to join me, I’d love to hear what you do each day that helps you to rest. Let me know in the comments.

16/12/2025

Can you take a few minutes for yourself?

It’s been another busy day and it felt difficult again to see how to make time for myself today. The answer came in making the most of a few minutes to myself between things I needed to do this afternoon. A little space opened up and I had some unplanned time for probably only about ten minutes or so but I made the most of it. Instead of rushing onto the next thing, I intentionally slowed down. I tried to walk mindfully, feeling my feet on the ground, noticing Christmas lights in windows and bare trees silhouetted against the sky. I noticed how much I would have missed if I hadn’t slowed down.

I’ve been trying to do something restful every day in December to be kind to myself in the run up to Christmas. This was day sixteen of my December self compassion practice and this is your invitation to join me. If life feels too busy and you’re trying hard to keep on top of everything but it all just feels too much, can you find a little time each day to do something just for you?

If you decide to join me, I’d love to hear what you do each day that helps you to rest. Let me know in the comments.

15/12/2025

The little things make a big difference.

As the pressure mounts in the approach to Christmas, I’m seeking the little things even when it feels like I have no time for myself. Over the last few days I’ve been snatching moments for reading when I can, listening to Christmas carols and doing anything I can think of to bring a little calm into the chaos. My latest Christmas read is Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” (which I’ve read many times before) and the familiarity is ideal when I haven’t got much concentration and I’m having to read it in snippets here and there. I’m enjoying the brilliance of the writing and the escape from my list of things to do.

I’ve been trying to do something restful every day in December to be kind to myself in the run up to Christmas. This was days thirteen, fourteen and fifteen of my December self compassion practice and this is your invitation to join me. If life feels too busy and you’re trying hard to keep on top of everything but it all just feels too much, can you find a little time each day to do something just for you?

If you decide to join me, I’d love to hear what you do each day that helps you to rest. Let me know in the comments.

12/12/2025

Does it feel hard to find time to take care of yourself?

Sometimes you just have to be a little bit creative and look for opportunities to find those peaceful moments.

Walking around in the drizzle between shopping and a school event, I was thinking that I wouldn’t be able to find time for myself today. Then I reminded myself that at times like this I need to keep it very simple.

So I am listening to Christmas carols while waiting to go into the school and it has transformed my mood. Sometimes modern technology can be annoying but today I’m thankful for Spotify and easily portable headphones! (Although I’m old enough to remember my Sony Walkman fondly - anyone else? 😊)

If you’re finding it hard to take care of yourself, can you do something very simple like this?

I’ve been trying to do something restful every day in December to be kind to myself in the run up to Christmas. This was day twelve of my December self compassion practice and this is your invitation to join me. If life feels too busy and you’re trying hard to keep on top of everything but it all just feels too much, can you find a little time each day to do something just for you?

If you decide to join me, I’d love to hear what you do each day that helps you to rest. Let me know in the comments.

11/12/2025

Can you give yourself some care and comfort today?

I had a very busy day today and some parts were good but a difficult situation knocked me off course a bit early in the day. Fortunately, I had some nice things planned but also a lot to get through and I was definitely in need of comfort today.

When time feels really pressured, I often default to my favourite (and for me the simplest) way to take care of myself - reading. This afternoon I dipped into another of my favourite childhood Christmas books - a selection of extracts and poems chosen and arranged by James Reeves (the title is simply “The Christmas Book”).

I’ve been trying to do something restful and mindful every day in December to be kind to myself in the run up to Christmas. This was day eleven of my December self compassion practice and this is your invitation to join me. If life feels too busy and you’re trying hard to keep on top of everything but it all just feels too much, can you find a little time each day to do something just for you?

If you decide to join me, I’d love to hear what you do each day that helps you to rest. Let me know in the comments.

Hannah Flowers Counselling

24/02/2026

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30/01/2026

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19/12/2025

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