Top 4 Reasons to Learn - Why enrolling in an Adult Education Class is a great idea

1. Increase your confidence
Doing a short course allows you to flourish in ways that you may have thought were not possible. Finally doing something that you have always wanted to do will help make you a happier and a more fun person to be around. This new lease of life is infectious and helps to encourage others to explore new possibilities. This in turn increases your confidence and makes you more interesting to others. Take the leap and you will not only meet likeminded classmates, but you may also surprise yourself when you realise how capable you are.

2. Learn a new skill
Ever wanted to learn how to play the harmonica, speak Italian, understand bookkeeping or improve your psychic abilities? Well now you can. Try something that you have always wanted to, but have dismissed it as unachievable or unrealistic. The beauty of a short course is that it allows you to dip your toe in to get a feel for it, without exposing yourself fully or paying hefty tuition fees.

3. Take time out for yourself
Whether you work, are retired, look after the family you deserve to take time out for nurturing you and only you. Make a commitment to yourself, rather than everyone else. Your family, friends and colleagues will benefit from your new found happiness. What’s a couple of hours a week out of your busy schedule? Ditch the television or the ironing for one night a week in exchange for gaining more clarity about who you are and what you enjoy doing. Go on your worth it.

4. Earn more money
Enrolling in a short course gives you the opportunity to gain more experience and maybe a qualification in your chosen career. Whether you want a promotion or are returning to work after a break, learning a new skill or improving on a familiar one, is a great way to help you earn what you’re worth. Who knows it may even enable you to change careers and do what you feel you were born to do.

Don’t put off an adult education course for another term, take the plunge now and reap the rewards in all areas of your life.

What is the best version of yourself?

When you are being the best version of yourself, what does your life look like?

When you are being the least liked version of yourself, what does your life look like?

What springs to mind? Write it down quickly without thinking to much about it. You may be surprised by your answers. Interestingly, when we are being the best version of ourselves other parts of our lives seem to follow suit. For example, managing household chores, our wellbeing, our work all seem to have a certain ease and grace which enables us to complete tasks effortlessly.

Thinking about the worst version of yourself helps you get perspective about areas of your life that are not working. This version of yourself no doubt limits you in so many ways and makes you unhappy and unmotivated. Therefore, if you know how good being the best version of yourself feels, why would you want to live your life any other way? The benefits of being the best version of yourself are endless and you deserve those benefits. You are worthy of great things.

If completing this little exercise has made you aware that you are not being the best version of yourself, then don't despair just start to make incremental changes towards your best self. Believe me if will eagerly repay you and help you along the way. Start by doing something small today towards regaining the best version of yourself. The key to regaining your best self is not to get overwhelmed, just take it slow and make tiny little changes daily. The changes that are required are different for everyone and you have an inner knowing as to what those changes should be.

Here's to being the best version of you!

The Importance of Sleep

Why Do We Sleep?

Philosophers, scientists, psychologists and researchers have struggled with this question for centuries. We do know that it assists our body in recuperating from the day’s activities.

A brain imaging study at Harvard Medical School found that sleep deprivation effects the emotional brain by excessively boosting the part of the brain most closely connected to feelings of depression and anxiety. Whereas a good night’s sleep helps you regulate your mood and cope with the coming day’s challenges.

Sleep has recently been linked to learning and memory. New findings, in animals and humans, suggest that sleep plays a critical role in storing important memories, both intellectual and physical, and also seeing subtle connections that may not be apparent during waking. Therefore there may be something in it when peoples say “sleep on it.”

So we know the importance of sleep, but that does not necessarily mean we get enough of it. A recent survey conducted by the American National Sleep Foundation of more than 1000 participants found that:

50 % suffer insomnia symptoms twice a week
40% are spending less time asleep
33% often wake up during the night
60% do not get the recommended 8 hrs sleep
31% sleep less than 7 hrs a night
§ 22% are so tired it interferes with daily activities twice a week
If you can relate to any of these statistics, you can make simple changes to see radical results.

Top Tips for Good Sleep:

1. Exercise your body as well as your mind daily, ensuring you are physically as well as mentally tired.
2. Avoid caffeine four hours before bedtime as it can interfere with sleep.
3. Go to bed and get up at the same time daily.
4. Only sleep and make love in your bedroom.
5. Have a routine before bed to relax, such as taking a bath or lighting a candle.
6. Ensure your bedroom is peaceful, clean and somewhere you want to spend time.

Happy sleeping!