Seasonal change can often be a reminder to check in with ourselves and those around us. So, it’s fitting that our Wellbeing for the Change of Season event on the Autumnal Equinox was an evening of conversation and connection at Tanya’s in Chelsea.

The key message from the evening was that checking in with our whole selves is so important and often not done frequently enough. Pausing and reflecting is for everyone, whether you are the type of person who only downloaded the meditation app because you’d heard it would help you relax, or you’re a life-long yogi.

NZBWN’s very own Bronwen Horton opened by sharing her top tip for surviving and thriving in the London winter; make it a priority to get winter sun.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*CK

A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

By Mark Manson

Review by Siobhan O’Brien

This is a marmite self-help guide book - you either love it or hate it – but you’ll remember it. It aims to cut through the crap to show us how to decide what really matters to us and find the golden ticket to success and happiness – the Good Life. To define what we truly give a f*ck about, it shows us how to define our top most important life cares. 

This book is an antidote to the mollycoddling chirpy peep-talk often promoted in positive thinking self-improvement reads, and ruffles feathers by saying the opposite - suck it up and sort it out. Written by a male superstar blogger who backs his argument through his own personal development, this book presents his take on the standard, self-help sanguine theories.

It’s a heavy hitting, joke packed, story backed, research supported, no-nonsense book that punctuates every weighty point with heavy swearing. It cuts through foggy thinking to focus on what our main blockages are, to force us to – define our fears, take responsibility, acknowledge our uncertainty, accept our failures, define our rejections and face our mortality.

Starting a family can be a daunting task, let alone doing so away from home and family support. Thankfully, the UK is well set up to assist growing families, you just need to know where to look for advice and support. So, read on for a breakdown of some great services which are there for you in your time of need.

NHS
When you fall pregnant your first port of call should be your local GP. They will refer you on to a midwife who will be your primary carer throughout your pregnancy; do all your checks, make sure you and your baby are healthy and outline your birth options. They will be responsible for you up to and post birth, at which time you will go into the care of the health visiting team. The health visiting team is then responsible for your child until age five. You will receive a ‘Red’ book to keep track of your child’s appointments and developmental milestones.