fbpx
Sophie Robinson
  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Marrakech Retreat
    • Ban the beige
    • Masterclasses
  • Online Courses
  • Collaboration
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • About
    • About me
    • Work with me
    • Press
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
07 Jan 21

How to take on 2021

As we slide out of 2020 and creep into 2021 it’s been a subdued mood, opposed to the usual ‘out with the old, in with the new’ fanfare with fireworks that we usually celebrate. While we all were desperate to say ‘Farewell’ (or something more expressive) to 2020, we are not out of the woods.

Here is the UK we are under another strict lockdown. My heart goes out to all the kids missing their friends at school, parents faced with the impossible juggle of work and childcare and those feeling lonely and isolated at this time. In short, it sucks.

I’m in no hurry to ‘smash it’, start the ‘hustle’ or set aggressive business ‘goals’. It’s just not my style anyway and I urge you the tendency to resist putting any added pressure on yourself. But as the recent news surrounding the pandemic is unsettling, I’m slowly getting my head around it. We have been here before and can implement the strategies to cope. For me, when things feel out of control, I start to take a look at what I can try to control. And that’s my mindset. So this post is a little different than the usual cushion plumping fare. Indulge me while I share what has really been quite a transformation for me in terms of coping with feelings of anxiety and overwhelm.

COLDWATER THERAPY

For anyone who has been following my Instagram stories, I have been doing a lot of cold-water therapy! Inspired by the Wimm Hoff method, I’ve been taking cold showers every morning for the past few months and taking a sea swim once a week in Brighton. Here is me taking a dip on New Year’s Day! Yes, it’s freezing and deeply unpleasant, but the rush of feel-good hormones and mood boost it gives me that stays with me for the rest of the day makes it so worth it! If you are intrigued, the way I first got inspired was listening to Fearne Cotton interview Wimm on her podcast The Happy Place. I’ve since bought the book, downloaded the app and installed a cold water plunge bath in the garden!

sophie robinson wimm hoff cold water sea swimming new year

Weekly dips into the English channel down at Brighton beach has kept me motivated and in a powerful state of mind. If I can do this, surely I am invincible!

 

POSITIVE PRACTICES

Another thing that has helped me tame my anxiety is reading positive books. I hit a low point in the middle of last year and my best friend recommended ‘Notes on a nervous planet’ by Matt Haig which is full of very practical advice about controlling feelings of overwhelm, distress and panic. Biggest take away tip has been to ban my phone from ever entering my bedroom! I make sure I don’t look at it first or last thing in the day.

Instead, I’m focusing on better morning and evening routine. Another brilliant book that has helped my state of mind loads is Think like a Monk by Jay Shetty. It’s a lovely read and bursting with accessible wisdoms and ideas that are easy to apply. My biggest take home from this book so far has been setting a morning routine. The Monks way is to have a positive, gentle and peaceful morning that sets you up for the day. The way I am doing this is getting up 15 minutes earlier each day to afford myself some quiet ‘me time’ before the rest of the house gets up and it all kicks off! My cold shower or garden bathtub plunge is part of that too and not looking at Instagram or the news until I’ve done it.

Another quick shout out to Humankind by Rutger Bregman. I loved this book so much I bought all my friends and family a copy for Christmas! Within it Bregman makes the argument that, contrary to what the media, both ‘fake’ and ‘real’ would have you believe, humans are fundamentally kind. Bregman analyses data, history, philosophy and sociology to win the argument that believing in the true nature of human kindness and altruism can change not only how we think and feel about one another, but act as the foundation for achieving positive change.

Reading has become at the heart of gaining knowledge and insight on how I apply positive practices in my day to day life

WORKING OUT

Exercise has been a new thing for me in 2020! I was never a lover of lycra but taking up weight training from home with Team Yo has been transformational, not just on my butt but on my moods too. Weight training has been particularly successful at helping me reconnect with my body and feel grateful for my health and vitality. Cardio has always just made me feel puffed out and stressed but whatever works for you! Due to the lockdowns I’ve also never walked so much and having that connection to nature has been fundamental to us all! Here’s more to that and hitting 10,000 steps a day, my current target!

 

VISION BOARDING

This is something I do the start of every year and is much more effective than any ‘new year’s resolution’ for many reasons. I’m not going to go into too much depth here as I’m going to do a whole post on it in the next couple of weeks as I’ve received so many questions over on Instagram about how and why I do it. Needless to say, it’s an incredible way to help you feel positive, steadily moving towards your aspirations with no pressure or feeling of failure and gives you a big dose of the good vibes! Here is mine for this year which for the first time I think ever doesn’t have any big plans for my house! I’m sure I’ll be adding something as the year rolls out, but we did so much lockdown decorating, for now I feel satisfied! But you now…watch this space!

LITTLE PLEASURES

While we can’t make plans for big trips, nights out, parties or events my attention turns to the little pleasures and they are no less worthy. I really urge you to think how you can make yourself feel good in an everyday way that doesn’t require loads of effort or money. Here are a few of mine.

  • A beautiful mug to drink my morning coffee from
  • My electric blanket. Slipping into a warm bed gives me all the thrills!
  • Beautiful room scent. Currently loving Miller Harris scented candles.
  • A freshly made bed. (You can see where my pleasure points are!) But making my bed every morning is part of my feel-good routine that kicks off my day positively.
  • A tidy kitchen at night. This one was from Michelle Ogundehin who claims in her book Happy Inside (another worthwhile read) that cleaning away the pots and wiping down the surfaces last thing at night should be as regular as brushing your teeth. It really helps my morning routine when I pad into a tidy kitchen first thing to have my coffee in my favourite mug.
  • Fresh flowers. Yes, they are a luxury, especially at this time of year, but a splash of fresh colour and a chirpy flower head really does brighten my day.

At home with Sophie Robinson photographed by Alun Callender

AND EVERYTHING ELSE

And all that’s left is to practice gratitude. That sometimes feels hard when there is so many hardships facing us, but it really works when it comes to managing feelings of anxiety. I’m a real one for taking a pragmatic ‘it is what it is’ outlook and then looking at how I can control my perspective. Gratitude is a really personal thing but ideas for me include a fridge full of food, a warm and beautiful home, people who love me, birdsong, my dog’s sofa cuddles and the ability to connect with all of you online. I’ve never got round to keeping a Gratitude journal although that does sound like an excellent idea. But a few moments in the morning and when I go to bed to be thankful for anything in the here and now does the trick.

 

Which just leaves me to thank you for reading this post and making it all the way to the bottom! I hope you have found a little pearl of inspiration here. I’ve only discovered these coping strategies because of the people who have shared them with me. If you have anything that’s really worked for you please do share them in the comments below. My vision for 2021 is that I will never stop learning and finding new inspiration!

 

  • Life
  • Lifestyle
New year goals, decorating and trends, Podcast show notes S10 Ep1 Happy Christmas!

comments

Helen on 08.01.21

What a lovely post. On your recommendation, I just bought the book Humankind. Best wishes

Reply
Katie on 08.01.21

Took my first cold shower this morning! Very invigorating. Of to paint the hall and finish my gallery wall!! Love your blog and being part of the Colour tribe.

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 08.01.21

Yay! What a great start to the new year!

Reply
Debs on 15.01.21

Hi Sophie, my son got me into watching “Yes Theory” videos on YouTube where a lovely group of American lads “seek discomfort” and most of the time, overcome it. In one of their videos they went to see Wim and it was such a great episode that I also started taking cold showers but they are a bit more challenging in this very cold weather! x

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 20.01.21

Wim Hoff is such an inspiration!

Reply

Leave a Comment

Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

  • Interiors
    • colour crush
    • colour psychology
    • DIY
    • dream home makeovers
    • Home Tours
    • Interior Design
    • Interior Styling
    • podcast
    • trends
  • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Fashion/Beauty
    • Life
    • My House
    • Nosh
    • Travel
  • Rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Kids rooms
    • Kitchens
    • Living rooms
    • Outside
  • Videos

mailing
list

Videos

Listen

Listen Here

Online courses
by popular demand

Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

Relaxed wild flowers are having their moment. The Relaxed wild flowers are having their moment. The award winning gardens at the recent Chelsea flower show all showcased wild style flower gardens, celebrating the diversity of nature, supporting wildlife.  Their soft willowy randomness is a lovely antidote to the strict structures of life. I love to see wild flowers ( and a fair fee weeds!) in my garden and in the motifs I choose to decorate my house in. But partnered with a tight geometric creates the tension I enjoy. A little bit of structure, a little bit dishevelled, it is the perfect balance for me, shown here in the patterned tiled floor and botanical print chest. Helps me go with the flow without losing my way. ❤️ are you up for taking it to the wild side?!
Ban the beige hey?! Popping the colour as usual l Ban the beige hey?!

Popping the colour as usual lols. I’m lusting after this green and purple combo right now. What colours are lifting your vibe today?

Tap for credits 😉x 
#bantgebeige #colourlover 
#dopaminedressing
Who else is absolutely struggling today after the Who else is absolutely struggling today after the four day party weekend! I’ve abandoned my desk and resorted to tidying the house instead. Here is a rare glimpse of my sons tidy room! 
While Arthur chose this colour scheme 5 years ago, it’s still going strong but I’ve updated it with a large area rug from @alternativeflooring designed by @margoselbystudio . I’m a BIG FAN of big rugs and what I like about this one is you can order it in a specific size. I recommend 30-50cm clear of the skirting boards all round, tucked under the bed and armchair it feels luxurious and fills the room with more colour and pattern. Floors often go unthought of but is another place to add impact to your schemes. ✅

CREDITS [ad: press product]
Walls painted Atomic red, ceiling gentle sky @littlegreenepaintcompany 
Made to measure rug in Margo Selby loop @alternativeflooring Pouffe in Aluro green @evasonaike 
Blind made in textile Hawai by Joseph Franks @svenskttenn 
Bed linen in liberty Margaret Annie @cocoandwolf 
Kantha bed throw by @matthewwilliamson at @johnlewis 
Bed bolster in Casper Seagreen @linwood_fabric 
Cushions @finecellwork 
Wire Shelf @cotswoldco 
seletti bird lamp @amaraliving 
Armchair is vintage 
📷 @aluncallenderphoto 

#bedroom #boysroom #kidsroom #banthebeige #colourlover #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhome
Happy jubilee! It has been a weekend of parties an Happy jubilee! It has been a weekend of parties and celebrations and a much needed 4 day break! I felt like a queen in this @needleandthreadlondon gown for the school jubilee ball and am wearing it again tonight for the @thefeverclub jubilee shenanigans. Dancing is so good for the soul, I’ve not done enough of it for too long! Feet are feeling it though so I’m ditching the heels and wearing the air max  with this dress tonight! How have you celebrated this weekend? 

Ad @needleandthreadlondon dress bought with press discount. 
#schoolball #ballgown  #costperwear #redress #jubilee #platinumjubilee
According to some recent research 24% of us look t According to some recent research 24% of us look to friends and family for design Inspiration, 21% to makeover tv shows and 18% to instagram. But while it’s great gathering ideas and opinions, ultimately creating a stylish home has to come from you if you are going to love the home you live in. The extraordinary Colour Psychology framework helps you unlock the colour palette that is perfect for you and gives you the superpower to create rooms that feel as good as they look. Suddenly other peoples opinions, trends, and influencers no longer hold sway. Creating a home is deeply personal, an exploration of what makes YOU happy. For me it’s all about the pattern, texture and plenty of intense colour. Tasteful grey interiors leave me feeling flat, I love the energy of a colour clash! If you want to understand your relationship with colour and how to design schemes that affect your emotions in a positive way, this is the last weekend to enrol in my online course, Colour Psychology for interiors. You can find the link to learn more up in my bio. It’s my most popular course to date and has transformed the way thousands of people feel about their interior spaces. 
Let me know what your happy colours are down in the comments below. 

Tap for credits 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto styling @katemcphee #colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #banthebeige #ihavethisthingwithcolour #myeclectichome #patternclash #maximalistdecor #colourcourse #mycolourfulinterior #punchyhome #cosyhome #countryliving #bedroom
Did you know 50% of people use social media to fin Did you know 50% of people use social media to find inspiration on how to decorate their living rooms? I’m definitely one of them! That’s according to a study by Sky Glass, the streaming TV from @sky_uk . I’ve been investigating the latest interior trends we are lusting after, and how our living rooms are changing- as we say goodbye to three piece suites, and hello to sustainable vintage furniture, statement rugs, wall prints and cosy-ing up the sofa with throws and cushions. As you can see I’m all over the trends! If you head over to the @sky_uk channel today, I’ll also be answering some interior design questions all about styling your TV. Would love to hear what you think are the living room trends to watch. 
 #skyglass #ad 

#banthebeige #colourlover #livingroomdecor #livingroom #maximalistinteriors #livingroomdecore #livingroomdecorideas #homestyle #instahomedecor #chintz #colourmyhome #colourmehappy #cushionlove #styleithappy #florals #gallerywall #berberrugs #ihavethisthingwithpatterns #ihavethisthingwithcolour
Ah @the_rhs Chelsea! What a feast for the eyes! In Ah @the_rhs Chelsea! What a feast for the eyes! Inbetween biblical downpours, thunder and lightning, it was a wonderful day of colour, design and chatter with some wonderful women! I’m slowly falling in love with gardening and my phone roll is full of inspiration after being immersed in natures finest. Thanks @michelleogundehin and @hazelgardinerdesign @thesohoagencyuk for the company. And a big congratulations Hazel on this stunning floral installation. And don’t forget if you want to hang out and be inspired by all things colour then my FREE live webinar is on tonight (25th) at 7pm tonight! Hop on to my profile for the link to sign up. Cannot wait to share some inspirational colour filled time with you all 

#rhschelsea
This is the first room we decorated after our reno This is the first room we decorated after our renovations. The entrance to your home creates the first impression. It’s also the room you walk into first thing in the morning and when you return home at the end of a long day. It needs to create the right welcome and what that feels like is hugely personal. For me I chose my favourite colours, this powerful cobalt  blue has always been a colour I’m drawn to. My wardrobe is full of it. And the bright pink is another one that always makes me instantly happy. Together they are a striking combination and I think anyone who walks through my front door, immediately gets a sense of what I’m about. I’m passionate about creating interiors that authentically  reflect the people who live there. Studying the psychology of colour made it so much easier for me, giving me a deeper understanding on the affects of colour and streamlining my process. If you’d like to know how to unlock your colour super power, join me for a free webinar this Wednesday evening (available to up for 48 hours after). It an introduction into colour psychology for interiors and my hope is it inspires you to have the courage and conviction to know what’s right for you.  And for a deeper dive my online course Colour Psychology for interiors has opened for enrolment. All links to sign up are in my bio on my profile @sophierobinsoninteriors 
What does your hallway say about you? 
📷 @aluncallenderphoto 
CREDITS walls in lazuli by @zoffanyfw stair runner @roger_oates floor tiles @claybrookstudio door painted in rose ash @sanderson1860 

#colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #banthebiege #punchyhome #hallway #boldcolourinteriors #colourlover
Load More… Follow on Instagram
Sophie Robinson
  • © 2017 Sophie Robinson

    /
  • Contact/
  • About/
  • Design by MW

Don't forget to join!

You're almost inside!

Leave me your best email to sign up for the Webinar