Linda Hobbis

When the clocks go forward (this year on Sunday 28 March), it’s clearly bad news for the sleep-deprived and if you have very young children you will probably find You could try going to bed 10-15 minutes earlier each night and waking up 10-15 minutes earlier each morning. If your children haven’t eaten much that day you could always try a small portion of porridge (not a high sugar cereal) to help settle little tums or even a couple of cubes of cheese. If your children are still napping, consider reducing their nap time by a quarter of an hour or so the day before to ensure that they are a little more tired at bedtime.

If you want to be a person who has good self-esteem and lets go of self-doubt, purposefully turning negative thoughts to positive ones will help you like almost nothing else. Sometimes negative feedback is only feedback based on the other person’s opinion and isn’t something you need to say you’re sorry for. For example, let’s say you’re worried about your daughter going on her first date and now you’re having circular thoughts about what terrible things could happen over what great things will happen. The healthiest people alive seek professional help when they need it, so don’t look at the need as some kind of failure.

The majority of the time, it’s always best to let your negative emotions out as soon as possible. Not only will this help you come to terms with the issue, but it will also help you work through your next steps. You can ask friends and family to help you cope, or you can look for people with similar experiences. With everything you’ve learned from this experience, you are well-equipped to show yourself the kindness you deserve, and it will help you cope with bad news better.

Normal day-to-day activities require much more energy when you’re grieving. Try these methods to help with your grief and move forward: Initially, you may want to be left alone with your thoughts or you may be afraid to love anyone else again. If you’re not ready to discuss your feelings face to face, start a journal or join an online community of people with similar experiences. Go above and beyond your normal nurturing routine and treat yourself to a relaxing massage, a walk in nature, or some time to listen to soft music.