Just Lozzy

January was a month of lockdown, isolation and teaching from home. A month of sunrises, walks and reading. Dancing, painting, snow falls and quiet. There was beauty where you looked for it. Moments of calm amongst this storm. The snow bought a welcome relief. Some variety to living so cooped up. It felt lovely to feel such coolness in the air and to see the world looking so bright. I built a snowman and felt my worries slipping away. I enjoyed hot chocolates and cosy blankets. February started off much like January but harder. Days working from home felt filled with stress and worry. Long days slumped over a laptop, grinding teeth and headaches, deadlines and lesson plans. However, it has also been filled with love. Valentines day, walks, yummy food and still more memories from this month to make. I wanted to share a few things that are lighting up my life so far in 2021. We all need to find the light in the storm. I downloaded an app called one second everyday and I really recommend y

One of my 2021 resolutions was to try and make environmentally conscious decisions and this has started with my period. The stats regarding period product waste in landfill was something I just couldn't ignore.  "Did you know that conventional sanitary pads contain a high percentage of plastic? One estimate is that pads are made of  up to 90% plastic  – another is that a pack of menstrual pads is  equivalent to 4 plastic bags"  ( Friends of the Earth ). "The average person who menstruates throws away  up to 200 kg of menstrual products  in their lifetime"  ( Friends of the Earth ). Image by  PatriciaMoraleda  from  Pixabay This really made me think about the waste that I was producing each and every month.   I decided it was time for me to try something more environmentally friendly and I decided that I would try menstrual cups. Now don't get me wrong, the idea made me nervous. I had heard horr or stories of leakage, cramping and struggles removing them. I h

2020 has been ... a year! I for one, and I'm sure like most of you, are very pleased to say goodbye to 2020. Its been a challenging year for all with illness, job losses and cancelled plans. Lockdowns, boredom and worry. But its also been a year for growth, time and space. I for one have cherished these things.  I have seen quite a few posts popping up on my social media accounts talking of the mass cancellation of new years resolutions. About giving yourself a break and space to start 2021 slowly. I completely agree, 2020 has been a hard year and there is no point setting resolutions if they bring you more stress than good. However, I love making my resolutions each year. I enjoy focussing on what I have achieved and what I want to carry forward into the next year. I enjoy reflecting and looking at my 'bigger' life goals.  This last year has been difficult and the next seems so uncertain. Usually I would be looking forward to travelling more and meeting up with family and

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!  With new years quickly approaching I have decided that THIS is THE YEAR i'm going to read a book a month. So without further or do, here are my 12 reads for 2021 (subject to change...).  The Magpie Society - One for Sorrow by Zoe Sugg and Amy McCulloch  This novel is the first in a series set at an elite boarding school. The story follows two students after the findings of a body at the students summer party. They are both drawn together through the unravelling mystery of the girls murder. I always enjoy a good murder mystery and I am looking forward to the twists this will bring.    Mindfulness - A practical guide for finding peace in a frantic world by Mark Williams and Danny Penmann  Back of the book reads " Mindfulness reveals the secrets of lifelong happiness and details a unique programme developed by Oxford University psychologist Professor Mark Williams with colleagues around the world." I first read this book and followed th

I thought I would give an introduction to my teacher training experience thus far for those of you that are thinking of going into the profession. I am currently training to be a secondary school science teacher in the UK and I am training through the university route. I have currently been training for 3 months and I have picked up some tips to share before you dive right into your training.  Get that school experience prior to starting the course. I worked as a teaching assistant for a year before starting my training and it has been invaluable. There is no way I could have trained comfortably this year without it. So many things that you learn as a TA stand you in great steads for starting your training. From knowing acronyms to computer programmes, from juggling your time to dealing with behavioural problems.  Be prepared for those 12 hour days. Everyone says its hard and they are right. The 12 hour days really do knock it out of you. I usually get up at 5am to start working from 6

Meditation is a practise that is growing in popularity. It looks to increase calmness and enhance overall health and well-being.  Meditation focuses on the positive connection between the mind and body. It does not look to change you into a different person. It looks to help you to explore yourself more deeply. There are many different types and reasons that people practise meditation but they all have 4 aspects in common; They usually take place in a quiet space. They use a posture that keeps the spine straight whether that be sitting, standing or laying down. They use focus on a mantra, object or the feeling of your breath. They focus on a sense of self compassion when watching thoughts come and go. Meditation has been found to have a positive impact on health from health conditions such as IBS and high blood pressure to mental health conditions. 5 reasons to meditate : "1: Understand your pain 2: Lower your stress 3: Connect better 4: Improve focus 5: Reduce brain chatter"