Welcome to our blog

11.6.21

The sun has finally made an appearance! We can all step outside and enjoy some well earnt vitamin D. With Freedom Day on the horizon and for some of us, working from home is the new norm, looking after your wellbeing this summer is important.

In this blog post I am sharing my tips for wellbeing living in Castle Hill.

The Book Exchange –

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are” – Mason Cooley.

The Book Exchange has made its way to Castle Hill, located outside the Community Centre. You may be a book worm or so busy you could not possibly think of picking up and book and reading it. Challenge yourself, try something new. If like me, you have some great books lying around and fancy a new read pop down and swap, or simply take a book and give it a go. I am guilty of really enjoying a book and only reading it once for it then to collect dust. Trying something new is my first top tip, it is so easy to be stuck in the same routine and moving out of your comfort zone may seem scary, but it is pretty exhilarating. Reading can often be seen as boring, but it is just the right amount of escapism you may need.

Walking – These boots are made for walking (flipflops if you are going this week), nothing can boost your mood quite like going for a good old-fashioned walk. If like me, you have children, it is more like a full-scale mission trying to leave the house with everything you need and in one piece – but it is worth it. My second tip is walking, we are so lucky to have open spaces on the development for walking. A walk really can boost your mood and set you up for the day. For those of you working from home try a ‘fake commute’, chose a route around the development and have a lengthy walk before starting work. The newly opened pathway that runs down Castle Hill Drive behind Norman Lane is a great shaded spot for walking in sweaty weather, it is a lovely downhill walk finishing by the Co-op. If you are lucky enough, you may have a brief encounter with our new local celebrities, the ducks. If you would prefer a walk where it is a little flatter, cross the road at the top of Castle Hill Drive and enjoy the gravel path surrounded by grass, with newly installed children’s play (my kids love this), the path leads to a Grow Your Own Project just off Mercer Avenue. There are lots of things to catch your eye around here.

Picnics – Deciding what to have for lunch everyday can sometimes be repetitive, my third tip is go for a picnic. A favourite spot for us is at the Elephant Park (the park located at the front of the development), the big open green is perfect for chucking a mat down and enjoying some lunch. Getting some fresh air and a change of scenery at lunchtime can break up the day. Picnics do not have to be soggy sandwiches, they can be little works of art (stay with me), swap crisps for breadsticks and dips, spruce up sandwiches with sourdough bread and for those of you with little one’s fruit muffins are a good alternative to melting chocolate. Having a picnic can be a social too, a chance to catch up with a friend under the current restrictions.

Exercise – my last tip is exercise, now this might be the last thing you are thinking about, it is already sweaty enough as it is without throwing in exercise, but it is those feel-good endorphins you are after. If you do fancy a bit of light working out, try going early morning or evening so you are not out under the full beams of sunshine. I joined a Couch to 5K group (run by Ebbsfleet Sunday Active) 9 weeks ago today, if anybody had told me I would be running I would have laughed them down, the thought of squeezing myself into gym wear and running alongside a group, out in the open!? – no chance. BUT I absolutely love it. Penny Marsh one of the lovely run leaders describes the group as a “friendly running group where no-one gets left behind – we aim to make our sessions fun and suitable for all abilities” – Penny is absolutely right, running is fun!

Sunday Active will be back very soon with sessions on Sunday mornings if you fancy trying a group exercise, which also includes walking, check out their Facebook page Sunday Active – Ebbsfleet for more information.

If running is not your cup of tea, and it is not for everybody, there are plenty of other fitness activities to do here on the development. If you want something a bit more chilled, Yoga and Pilates with Emma is available at the Community Centre every Tuesday evening from 7.15pm. Emma’s classes “seek to bring a sense of well-being to both the body and mind and can leave you feeling more content and at ease with yourself”. Emma emphasises that everybody is welcome – this is on my list to try. For more information check out – yogaandpilateswithemma.co.uk.

My last tip is to just enjoy the summer, after the last year we have had enjoy the little things!

Stay safe and thank you for reading.