From wars of words to actual wars, with bombings and killings, to rioting in the streets and the rise of extremism on both left and right, those of us of a more spiritual bent might very well be finding these times of turbulence trying, to say the least. Many of our readers are spiritual beings. That is to say, we recognise our divinity and seek greater connection between ourselves and a higher power. But how can we balance the sanctity of our innerscape with the chaotic external world around us? Looking out at the world we live in, it’s easy to get pulled back into the duality of things in the physical realm and be lured into the black-and-white, right-and-wrong debates that are going on all around. Here are a few things you can do to retain that stillness of mind that you’ve probably worked so hard to achieve. 1. Remaining grounded in nature Remaining grounded in nature is a great way to shake off the trauma of hearing bad news reports and fearmongering, day in and day out. When we step out of our narrow world and seek solace in the beauty that surrounds us, bad news simply fades into the background and we can return to a place of gratitude, inner joy and peace. Taking time for a stroll in the park or a walk along the beach, or to watch an ant busily maintaining its nest or a butterfly flitting from place to place, reminds us of the simpler things in life, and the beauty of it. Being in nature reminds us of something that’s solid and real, rather than the constant shifting of politics and the whims of another nature: human nature. 2. Meditation Check in with your inner landscape regularly. Whether you meditate by sitting still and becoming aware of your breath, or going for a stroll, or mindfully doing your chores, it all counts. Meditative time spent listening to the calming ‘white noise’ of life, such as a babbling brook or even your own breathing, helps anchor us to the present moment and to a higher power, helping us to remember that there’s something bigger than the chaos we can see surrounding us, and that there’s a beautiful symmetry to life that’s ever-present and guiding us to a better future. 3. Trust your intuition Trusting your intuition will help you navigate the world around us. From fake news to a society that’s obsessed with external appearances, checking in with your intuition and trusting in it is essential. Often, we’ll find the answers we need inside, rather than looking for it on the outside; and if you ask, you might even get signs to help you along the way, such as repeating numbers to remind you that you’re being supported from beyond, or a white feather in an unlikely spot, or another sign that you’re on the right path. What do you do to help navigate the turbulence of our times? Could you help someone else find peace? If you’re a writer and you’d like to publish your book with us, contact us for the next steps and, together, let’s make this world a little better and brighter! Email us at info@wellnessbooks.co.uk today.

In this blog post, we'll look at how journalling is not only a great way to start writing your book, but also some of the amazing health benefits enjoyed by people who keep a journal

Writer’s block is a little like trying to grow miniature roses (have you ever tried it?); getting those darn little buds to open up requires a lot of patience and tender-loving care. When you hit a block like this, it’s a delicate balance: you need to finish your book but the words aren’t coming. You’ve hit the wall. Yet, more you struggle against writer’s block, the deeper you may sink into it. If this sounds like you, keep reading for some of my best tips to help those cogs start turning again! 1. Take a break Step away from your book for a while. This advice probably feels seems counter-productive, but stick with me here. Time away, especially if it’s time that you give back to yourself, doing things such as taking a stroll, meditating or exercising your creative muscle in a different way such as painting or drawing, will give your artistic side space to breathe. Sometimes all you need is space in order for your creative juices to start flowing along nicely once again. So, go away and focus on something else that fills you up, and that you enjoy. If your block lasts for a few days, don’t beat yourself up – go with it, ask yourself why are you blocked? Do some digging and figure out what’s stopping you and use your writer’s block as a fact-finding mission to explore your inner world and grow as a writer and as a human. Allow any ideas you come up with, to flow again and you’ll be banging out words on a keyboard again (or jotting on your notepad) in no time at all. If your block is lasting longer than, say, a few weeks, then read on – you’ll need a heavy-duty intervention to keep your book on track. 2. Mark your milestones Writing is like using a certain muscle; we have to keep exercising it, otherwise its power simply fades away. In keeping with the analogy, writing a book can feel a little like a marathon; it takes time, dedication and practice. Use markers along the way, similar to a marathon runner, who takes each step at a time and whittles away at the miles ahead by celebrating each small milestone. So, get down to it and remember to give yourself a huge pat on the back when you’re a quarter of the way through, halfway through, and especially when the end is in sight, because this can be the hardest part – so don’t stop the forward momentum! 3. Relax Relaxing is absolutely key to writing. When you’re writing, you’re using the creative part of your brain, rather than the logical, black-or-white side of it. Creative writing is a “soft-focus” skill, whereas analysing something is “hard” and laser-like. To get back to your writing, relax completely – let go of all the worries, stress, critical-thinking and allow your mind to wander to a happier place. Choose to do this in whatever way suits you best, be it a lovely hot bath or a walk or jog in the country, or a film. After a few hours of proper relaxation, without thinking about your book at all, you’ll come back full of new ideas, having resolved whatever challenges you had with writing your book, and raring to get back to work on it. Remember to enjoy the process of writing a book! 4. Don’t compare your work to anyone else’s It’s natural to compare ourselves – and for others to compare our work – with someone else’s. While that can be an interesting exercise, while we’re writing it can lead to feelings of not being good enough. Don’t try to mimic anybody else; the wonderful thing about your book is that it is unique to you. You have a one-of-a-kind perspective on the world and your gift is to express that in a way that only you can do. While it’s a good idea to check out what others are writing about, following book trends and admiring the work of others, we writers are often hyper-critical of our own work and comparing it with someone else can put a serious stop to our creative flow. The best solution is to write in a silo and don’t compare your book with another until you’ve finished writing it. 5. Discipline Discipline is the key to unblocking yourself as a writer. If all else fails, simply plough on and keep writing; it’s what marks the would-be writers from the published authors. Writing can be a lonely existence which requires us to switch off our phone and other distractions, and simply get down to it – no excuses. There’s really no other way around it. The more you write, the more you get used to the discipline of sitting for long hours in front of a machine or notebook. Just pick up the pen, or ready your fingers over the keyboard, and write! If this sounds too daunting, then start with an hour, then build up to spending more and more time penning your book. Sometimes the words feel as if they’re not flowing but if you get down to it, treating writing as a discipline that you have to keep practising, then your creative mind will kick in eventually. What you write doesn’t matter; what matters is that you write. Get into the habit of writing anything; let it be a stream of consciousness, or what’s known as “channelled writing”. Once you’ve started doing this, you’re exercising that creative muscle we’ve talked about, and it’ll become easier to do it at will. Soon, you’ll be back to writing your book again. The great thing about this exercise is that you might find other book ideas coming to you; it’s worth keeping what you’ve written because you might look back at it and realise you’ve conceived of some amazing stuff. Need help to write your book? Contact info@wellnessbooks.co.uk for advice or to talk through our services; we can help with the development of your book, editing and proofreading right through to publishing your book.

Writing a book is a time-consuming task that takes dedication and a fair deal of mental stamina. Lots of people can relate: you have a great book you’ve been thinking of writing but when it comes down to it, there’s no time to get started. So, the question is, can AI write your book for you? And isn't it cheating? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere, and it’s been dominating news headlines for a few years, with arguments for and against both its ethics and safety. Yet, in spite of those concerns, AI is here to stay and already some people are setting it to the task of writing a book, or writing the book they want to write, on their behalf. Confusing, huh? I mean, how could a machine write your book for you? AI, for anyone who’s been living under a rock in the past few years, is the abbreviated version of Artificial Intelligence. It means, in simplistic terms, a machine that is capable of undertaking the type of intelligent function as a human brain can. ChatGPT is an example of AI, and perhaps the one you may have heard of, and there are others, such as Google Bard. ChatGPT an AI chatbot created by AI research company OpenAI. It is supported by Microsoft. It uses machine learning – processing masses of data collected from across the internet – to create such as stories, articles, essays and blogs, which mimic text created by a human. To get started with ChatGPT, you can simply sign up for a free account and then ask a question. The technology works by answering questions, or prompts, which generates strings of text in response. You can also ask it to write prose and poetry; simply tell it the topic. The beauty of AI is that one article, which might take a professional writer hours or even days to research and produce, can be created in minutes using this technology. Its ability to find and analyse information in milliseconds, far faster than any human brain, is phenomenal. It’s so sophisticated that it can be difficult to tell whether a piece of work has been produced by artificial intelligence or whether a real, live human is behind it. This is a double-edged sword, and is the reason why AI is being banished by a growing number of schools, as some school cheats have been submitting essays created by the technology. Plagiarism is a big problem when it comes to AI, because AI sources its information from the slew of information that is the internet – causing a headache in terms of intellectual property as it muddies the waters as to whom copyright should be attributed. Fears that AI could decimate the industry have been part of recent discussions between Hollywood writers and producers , too, with the writers concerned that their jobs will be taken over by machines – truly the stuff of sci-fi novels, with life imitating art, imitating life! So, can you write a book using AI? The answer is, yes! Lots of companies are using AI to create the e-books that we sometimes see drop into our inbox from a brand we like. It stands to reason that its ability to handle short books such as e-books will soon lend itself to larger writing tasks. A more pressing question is, should you write a book using AI? A growing number of commercial books are also being produced by AI, and are being sold on Amazon. Many of the writers who’ve used AI to ghostwrite their book have credited AI with the work along with their own author name on the copyright page of the book – some even receiving five-star reviews on the site . However, there are suspected to be untold numbers passing off entire AI-produced books as their own, leaving other writers, from whom the work may have been copied, in a precarious position in regards to their rights as the original artist. Another reason to think twice about writing your book with AI, is that while AI has huge potential, it’s still fraught with pitfalls. For example, it lacks the ability to make the judgement calls that a writer must make while working on a book. This could lead to an increase in misinformation, rather dangerous territory. If you’re thinking of using AI to write your book, another consideration might be this: there’s something magical about writing a book, and the satisfaction of completing the mission, is, of course, lost when we bring AI into the equation. Finally, writing a book can boost your credibility as a thought-leader; imagine how, then, how your reputation could be impacted by the admission that the work is not your own but that of a machine? Or worse, using AI to help you write a book while claiming all the credit – only to be “outed” further down the road? Can AI produce a book as well as a human? A keen-eyed copy editor can probably tell the difference between human-made and AI-created copy. For starters, text produced by AI lacks, for lack of a better phrase, that human touch. Yes, AI can spew out facts and string complex sentences together, with all the appearance of having some understanding, which is part of its appeal. However, it often lacks the cadence in and between its words that is uniquely human. The nuance that’s alive in human communication is something it may never be able to replicate. Also, the best non-fiction books are relatable; that is, they’re written by real people with real stories and lives that may resonate with others. AI is missing the key ingredient that makes a great non-fiction book – or fiction book, for that matter. Would I use ChatGPT to write a book? I'm perched on the fence on this one, both cursing AI for its potential to destroy one of the last bastions of what it means to be human, giving up even our prosody to a machine, while simultaneously aware of its potential to help people churn out blogs and articles in an information-hungry world. For small businesses like this, for example, with a low marketing budget, this could really level the playing field. Regardless of my opinion, the likes of ChatGPT and AI are here to stay, and it may just be a new era, with many positives to arise from it, without the destruction to industry, and eventually humankind, that we’re being warned about. Whether you choose to write a book yourself or “cheat” by using AI, the choice is yours, but please take into consideration what you’ll be missing out on if you choose to do the latter. At Wellness Books, we look for quality books with a message meant to be shared with the wider public or information that could serve to enhance someone else’s health, wellness and vitality on every level. If you need a human hand to edit it, and a helping hand through the publishing process, get in touch. Ready to get started? Email info@wellnessbooks.co.uk with an outline of your book and your contact number so we can schedule a call with you.

An always-on culture, packed commuter trains, too much information, rising costs, bad news, endless to-do lists, FOMO (fear of missing out), and existential threat from nuclear weapons and environmental damage! It’s no wonder why so many people suffer from stress and anxiety when we’re faced with a barrage of stressors on a daily basis – we can easily feel overwhelmed by it all. As it’s National Stress Awareness Month, we look at stress, what it is, what can cause it, and how we can overcome feelings of stress. Keep reading to find out how you can deal with the stresses of modern-day living. Stressed out? You’re not alone. A 2018 online poll by the Mental Health Foundation and YouGov, the largest study to date investigating stress in the UK, found that almost three-quarters of respondents (74%) felt so stressed they were overwhelmed or unable to cope in the previous year. The greatest causes of stress included health (36%), and debt (22%). Meanwhile, a 2022 survey from YouGov, including 1,242 employees, revealed that more than half (52%) of British workers feel stressed at work. Stress, as we can see, is a pervasive problem in our society – and across the globe. But what is stress, and how can we manage it more effectively? What is stress? According to the World Health Organization, stress is “ a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation ”. The UK’s National Health Service describes stress as “the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure ”, and further states that when we’re under stress, our body releases the “fight or flight” hormone adrenaline. In other words, when we’re under pressure, our bodies respond by preparing us to take action, such as running away. Stress can affect us not only physically but also impact our emotions, and, over time, can impaction the way we function, our relationships and our self-esteem. Too much stress is also linked to anxiety and depression. If allowed to continue for a long time, stress can lead to burnout. How do I know I’m suffering from stress? The symptoms of stress can vary, as can its severity between people faced with the same life circumstances. This isn’t a matter of judging one person to be weaker than another, but simply means that some are naturally more resilient to stressors, just as one person’s tolerance to physical pain might be different than another’s. This can be due to a number of factors, including how our emotions were handled and nurtured during the developmental stages of childhood, and, of course, our individual make-up and personality. While some stress is necessary – and inevitable – in life, in order to help us evolve as humans, too much of it can culminate in a range of symptoms. Some of the common signs of stress include: Upset stomach Loss of appetite (or increased food consumption as a coping mechanism) Lack of concentration Anxiety Irritability Racing thoughts Inability to make decisions Muscle pain/headache Rashes Feeling sick and/or dizzy Raised blood pressure Recreational drug use/alcohol usage How to combat stress Although a little stress is healthy, too much of it can wreak havoc in our lives. Here are some tips to help you cope with unnecessary amounts of stress in your life. Cross non-essentials from your to-do list. Deep breathing can help us to navigate stress. Try breathing into your belly for several breaths. This sends the body ‘safe’ signals, helping you to stay calm. Take a walk in nature. Express yourself. Either talk to a trusted friend or relative, or use journalling to write down your feelings. Get sufficient sleep. Stick to a routine, waking up, going to bed and eating at the same time every day. Take regular exercise to help burn off excess energy. Limit exposure to the news (especially bad news). Schedule time away from pinging computers/phones and gadgets. Chew gum! Research has provided some evidence that chewing gum can reduce feelings of stress. It’s thought that the practice of chewing gum helps to reduce our focus on external stressors and limit the spread of stress signals through the brain’s stress network. Just remember to use sugar-free gum! If you’re suffering from stress/anxiety, which is having a detrimental impact on your life, your health and/or relationships, contact your GP for advice. Can you offer valuable advice about stress or another wellbeing topic? Thinking of writing a book? Contact Wellness Books to discuss publishing your book with us today. Email info@wellnessbooks.co.uk now!

It’s mid-January and the New Year celebrations are already a distant memory…and what about the resolutions you made? Have they fallen by the wayside? Here are some New Year resolutions that you’ll want to keep (remember, you can reset any time of the year, not just on the first of January!) Spend more time in nature Be kinder (to yourself and others) Fall in love with healthy food Fall out of love with junk food Accept yourself Get acquainted with your internal environment (listening to the stillness within) Discover a hobby that you love Be happy Carve more time out just for YOU Make every moment count Can you offer life-changing advice? Is your New Year's Resolution to finish writing your book? If your book could help others, let us help you publish it. Contact Wellness Books at info@wellnessbooks.co.uk.

It’s easy to be swept away in the nervous and chaotic energy that seems to be so prevalent across the world right now. Rediscover your zen with these top tips to help you navigate the fearful trend that’s happening and find calm in the midst of the storm. Balance the bad news with the good Many people are addicted to bad news. We’re connected at all times with horrific news headlines, which might pop up on our devices during the day, or we might sit down to watch or listen to the news on TV in the morning and repeat the experience in the evening or multiples times in the day. Have you ever thought about what this is doing to your body? When we absorb all this bad news, we’re activating our own fight or flight system within the body; we might tense parts of our body, our heart rate quickens and our breathing becomes more shallow. We’re getting ready to flee or to fight – yet there’s nowhere to run to, and nobody to fight, unless we pick a fight with our partner or neighbour or some other innocent bystander. Not only does our addiction to bad news harm our own wellbeing, but we also prime ourselves for more bad news, in addition to creating negative waves that ripple out into the world. A few news sites have recognised this and are now focussing solely on disseminating good news, which is available in abundance if only we’ll care to notice it. Try sites such as Positive News or the Happy Newspaper or the Good News Network for happy stories from around the world. Try it and see how much better your day progresses! Be at one with nature Go outside and observe nature; how a tree grows strong through its roots, how a flower blossoms from a bud or how a breeze or a raindrop caresses your face. Being at one with nature has the ability to calm frayed nerves with immediacy, so make sure you spent a little time each day appreciating this natural way to dissipate worries and enhance your enjoyment of life. Be the thing you want to see Start showing up as the thing you want to see in the world. This means that if you want more kindness in the world, then show up as that quality; be kind to everybody you see, try to eliminate unkind thoughts and be more compassionate with your family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances – even the people you meet in the shop or the street. Being kinder will create more kindness and calm in your own world. It nurtures joy inside and impacts your relationships, and even your own relationship with yourself as you’ll be all the more gentle with yourself. It all starts with you, and then ripples out into your outer world. Imagine, that little act of kindness has the power to encourage somebody else to be kinder in turn, and then onto the next person and the next. You’re creating a wave of kindness. Could you teach others how to calm their nerves? Are you a speaker, healer, survivor, mentor, or have wellbeing knowledge that you want to pass on to others? If you’ve written a book and are considering your publishing options, contact us to find out how to self-publish on your own terms! Email Wellness Books: info@wellnessbooks.co.uk today.

Happiness is the one goal we all have in common. In one way or another, we’re all searching for it, whether it’s through our work, family, friends or social activities. However, at times happiness can seem elusive. Bad news, toxic relationships, poor working conditions, loss and trauma can stifle the joy; we can get pulled into a downward spiral, often even subconsciously creating our own unhappiness while mistakenly thinking we’re paving the way to being happy. Use the following 3 tips to transform into a happier, more carefree YOU! 1. Appreciate the happiness you have Everybody has moments, even many moments, of happiness in their life, often we just don’t allow ourselves to feel it, perhaps worrying about something in the future or regretting something in the past. Rather than holding out for an expression of happiness which is pegged on something beyond your control, such as a lottery win or some seemingly impossible dream, instead, recognise happiness for what it is: a lovely, sunny day; a walk in the park; hearing a child’s laughter; whatever good health you do possess. If you’re waiting for happiness, you’ll miss the happiness that’s already abundant in your life…just look around and you’ll find it! Notice and count the number of happy moments in your day. You might be surprised at how they stack up. 2. Count your blessings! Have you ever noticed that when things go wrong, they really go wrong? Your stub your toe, break your favourite cup, something breaks and the bad luck seems to spiral…the same is true of good things, too. When you count your blessings and have appreciation for what you have, you’ll find more things to be happy about. Happiness begets happiness. Remember to be grateful for all the things that bring you happiness and you’ll soon find that your happiness multiplies. Say thank you for every good thing that happens in your life and more wonderful things come your way! 3. Make room for more happiness There’s nothing like self-care to help you lead a happier life. Carve out time for yourself, do more of what you enjoy and allow yourself a little joy. Sometimes we deny ourselves happiness because we’re too busy dealing with the realities of life or we feel unworthy. Happiness sometimes needs cultivating, so go ahead and be happy – because you deserve it. Find time every day to do something that puts a smile on your face; be it exercise, singing along to your favourite music without a care, watching a funny movie or catching up with someone who always makes you smile. Are you an expert on happiness, self-care or another wellness topic? Publish with Wellness Books. We’ll take care of the self-publishing process for you. Become an author! Contact info@wellnessbooks.co.uk to get started.

1. Writing things down, whether journaling or creative writing, can help you clarify situations, events and even your thoughts, allowing you to gain a sense of perspective or a different perspective on problems. A different perspective is often all that’s needed to begin to resolve your own issues. The more you heal yourself, the more you can extend that healing to others. 2. Writing is a healthy way to express yourself – humans are social creatures, and communicating with others is part of our DNA. Clamping down on our voice is unnatural; writing offers a healthy way to express your inner world and let your unique voice be heard…you were born to do it! 3. Help others through your experiences – you might be surprised by how much sharing aspects of your life and events could help another person gain perspective in their own lives, and how much, in turn, helping others helps you, too. Contact us today at info@wellnessbooks.co.uk to discuss your book and find out how we can help to get it published.