The EmPowering RVN

Well damn it’s been a hot minute since I pressed publish on a post eh?

I would like to say it’s been a nice break but there have been many ups and downs during my hiatus BUT I am very happy to be back and reconnecting with you guys 🥰

For those of you who might be new here, Hi my name is Em and I am an RVN in the glorious Derbyshire UK!

I have recently started working part time back in clinic after a short career break and around these parts we talk about all things mental health, being human and all the gubbins that come with it 🙂

For those of you who have been long time followers, thank you for your support and love it is greatly appreciated 🥰

Let’s have a catch up in the comments 🙌🏼 how are you? How are things? What have you been up to?

Can we just sit down and chat for a minute? ☕️

As someone who feels very strongly about keeping their content smelling of roses and not 🐂💩 I want to talk to you about comparison.

This is not going to be some fluffy, woo woo post about how to overcome comparison like I may have done in the past.

Instead I'm going to tell you that it's really bloody hard to overcome these feelings.

In the moment it can feel like weight on your shoulders, feeling absolute despair and like your chest is being sat on by a fat gorilla...

For someone who has been creating content since 2018 you would think that these feelings would not affect me - you would be wrong.

As I sat at my desk last week I started to notice my thoughts spiralling, my shoulders felt heavy with pressure and I just had to sit and let this pass.

Am I looking for sympathy - Nope.

Do I want to share my experience to show you that no matter how hot you are at mindset work it can still hit you like a tonne of bricks - Yep.

This is me keeping it real and reminding you that I am proud of the fact I don't have my sh*t together and everyday is a learning curve 🙃

BSAVA congress kicks off in just over a week 🤯

Now, don't get me wrong, I love attending these events - to be truthful, it's the only time I get to see some of my friends and past colleagues 😆

But the days after I come back from congress, I feel like a steam pile of 💩

So, what can you do to try and counteract some of that icky feeling?

#️⃣1️⃣ Stay hydrated - Whether that's a freebie water bottle from the exhibition hall or taking your own for the adventure, keep your water topped up (not a fan of water; buy an on-the-go squash to add some flavour!)

#️⃣2️⃣ Schedule breaks - Spend some time before Congress to plan your day(s) - got a break between lectures? Great! Make sure you spend some time outside soaking up the vitamin D ☀️ even if it is just for 5 minutes (extra brownie points if you do breathing exercises 😉)

#️⃣3️⃣ Give yourself time to decompress and get enough rest—this is easier said than done when you get invites to events from the exhibition, but maintaining good sleep hygiene during a change in routine like congress can help ensure you are not too drained by the end of the event!

Drop a comment below with your best tips for navigating Congress and all the peopling 😅

Hindsight is a wonderful thing...

That's what people always say, isn't it?

So why don't you believe it 🤔

Reflection can be a powerful tool to help you develop more self-awareness, which can look like journaling how your week has gone.

It can simply be just lying down in a dark room with your eyes closed.

The important thing to remember is that reflection is NOT self-criticism. It is a simple exercise of objectivity and understanding what lessons you can take with you into the future 💛

Happy Friday,
Em x

How has it been over a month since I last posted on the 'gram!?!

Is what I used to say to myself...

Tbh I didn't even know it had been that long until I clicked on my last post and saw the date 😅

My inner critic said it was because I was procrastinating and not prioritising it... The realist in me recognises that I was busy and had a lot of 💩 going on!

Onboarding the newest members of the EMS team, creating content for clients, being in clinic and trying desperately to get through the infinite washing pile that never ends meant that I did not have the brain space to even think about content.

At one point in time I would have beat myself up SO hard over this, felt really overwhelmed and like I had failed.

Honestly, over the last few weeks, it has not even crossed my mind (okay maybe it has like twice 😅) and what has happened in that time?

Nothing.

Absolutely sweet FA.

All my content is still there for people to get value from
My DMs have been open for people to reach out if they needed
The world has not imploded

It's okay if life gets busy and you don't have time to create content, could I have planned better - probably.

But is it life or death that I didn't - hell no!

Really wish I had got through this sodding washing pile though 😆

Happy 1st Birthday Fern 🥳

No matter how much you make me question my life choices, you have certainly helped fill the huge ginger-shaped hole in my heart ❤️

You have so much character, and your judgemental glare is enough to make Regina George wilt like a lettuce 😅

But I wouldn't be without your constant snuggles and cute little snoot 😍

Here's to many more years of swearing and wishing you would just come back 🤣

Ah February 😌

A new year is well bedded in like a new pair of slippers; you have survived what feels like a 20-week month (known as January), and the new year can now finally begin.

Right? 😅

Or are you feeling more like January is over and you have already 'failed' at keeping your new years resolutions so 2024 is already a write-off 😑

In previous years, I have moved away from this narrative and tried (even if incrementally) to think of January as a 'pre-new year'.

The excitement and the flurry of 'new year, new me' just gave me this overwhelming sense of dread and, if anything, made me less motivated to start new things because it wouldn't last, so what is the point?

A fresh start doesn't have to be signalled by a new year beginning; it can be whenever you want it to be ✨

I was listening to the podcast EP when creating content last week and I saw this quote my mind began to wander and I just wanted to riff on this for a bit with you.

How many times have you nodded along when someone has said one of the following:

"I would never speak to a friend the way I speak to myself"
"I'm great at giving advice to others but shocking at taking my own advice."

Feeling seen? First of all, I am stood there right with you but how can you change this narrative?

Imagine you have a friend and you make dinner plans to meet up once a week. Over time, you notice that the friend either didn't turn up or cancelled at the last minute, giving you really vague and flakey excuses.

You begin to lose trust in the relationship, eventually you give up speaking them because what's the point?

You are fed up of being stood up or dismissed and to be quite frank - you don't have the mental capacity to be let down again. So you let that ship sail.

Now what if I told you that the relationship that I am talking about is the one you have with yourself.

You don't trust the promises you make to yourself.
You don't show up for the goals you set for yourself.
You speak to and about yourself in an unkind way.

Knowing that you repeat these behaviours is the first step. But giving yourself the space to change and improve the relationship you have with yourself actively - that's where the magic happens ✨

2024 is well under way!

How else would be better to celebrate than a Jumbo Bank of Journal Prompts to use at your disposal? 🥳

No one asked for this BUT I am going to go ahead and give them to you anyway 😆

In the spirit of the new year, let's start off by reflecting and dreaming big with these prompts!

Don't forget to save this post for your next journal session 📚

It's time to start taking self care seriously

Yes I am talking to you!

I know you're going to roll your eyes and huff but before you do that, just answer me one question?

What's ONE thing you can do for yourself today?

Is that washing your hair (because who doesn't love fresh hair)
Reading a chapter of your book?
Listening to your favourite playlist and having a dance party?
Standing outside and breathing in the fresh (but cold) air?

All of these things seem too simple right? WRONG

All of these things above are acts of self care.

The IG influencer edition would be flying to Milan for a spa day (yep I've seen it on my own feed)

For me self care is getting out and walking the dogs, tidying the house and decluttering my desk.

They are all simple little things but they compound into a big result of you feeling like you have accomplished something with your day 😌

The best part is that all of this is FREE! (well apart from buying the book or paying for the streaming service - but you get my point)

Start off by just doing ONE thing that will make you feel good each day and by the end of the week you have taken 7 opportunities to prioritise your needs instead of wishing you had