KCL Blog- Working On Wellbeing

The 2nd Edition of our New Blog on KCL features some great tips on Wellbeing.

During the past year it’s become easy to put our self-care and wellbeing last. 

With kitchen tables becoming work-from-home desks and added pressures to daily tasks like food shopping, there’s been a larger focus on perseverance rather than making sure we’re actually ok. We’ve taken more precautions to look after our physical health, but we also need to remember our mental health.

Some simple tips on helping your wellbeing

1. Put your phone down. As great and handy as they can be, our pocket-sized devices can lead to us feeling overwhelmed and tired, not only due to the effect of UV light on our eyes, but also the constant overload of news updates we have readily available to us now. Endlessly scrolling through Instagram may seem relaxing, but it can become a vicious cycle and tire your brain out more than you know.

1. Get outside if you can. It can feel relentless being trapped at home all day, maybe even claustrophobic, so try and stretch your legs even for half an hour a day. A bit of exercise, no matter how gentle, can be very beneficial.

1. Sleep! Everybody is probably guilty of staying up to finish that Netflix episode till their eyes have gone square, but that leads to poor sleep. Switching gadgets off ½ an hour-1 hour before bed helps the mind wind down, eyes to relax and leads to a better night sleep. A good night’s sleep is very underestimated, and can not only help you become more productive, but helps with physical health too.

1. Take 5. Just taking 5 minutes to unwind with a guided meditation, or simply some good music on and a cup of tea can help to release some of the day’s stresses, and lead to better productivity during tasks.

Activity suggestions 

Here’s a little list of some simple activities that can be used to focus on your wellbeing and encourage you to carve out a bit of time to dedicate to something other endless work at home tasks. There are plenty of things you can do to unwind and entertain yourself, but here are just some suggestions. 

1. ½ an hour of physical activity.
   Whether you want to test your muscles with a HIIT workout or unwind with some yoga, there are so many resources out there now to help guide us through a small period of activity to just get you moving and release pent up energy. Joe Wicks has an app with some great plans, but if you’re looking to save some ££’s then there’s loads of free workout on his YouTube channel, where you will also find plenty of free guided exercise classes depending on what you fancy. It can help the mind just as much as the body.

2. Mindfulness.
   Apps such as Calm or Headspace are great for taking you through short and sweet guided meditations, breathing exercises or just listening to some calming sounds. Closing your eyes and listening to the sound of rainfall for 20 minutes may be just what you need.

3. Music.
   Whether you’re a musical maestro or prefer to sit back and listen to your favourite tunes, from playing some chords to listening to your favourite album, this can leave you in a better mood and maybe even help you to relive happy memories. A little dance around doesn’t hurt either.

4. Talk to a friend or family member.
   Just picking up the phone for a good old-fashioned chat can help you re-connect with those you may be feeling distant from at the moment.

5. Write in a journal.
   Noting your thoughts and addressing them to yourself can really help put things into perspective.

6. Playing with or cuddling a pet (or any animal that will let you touch it and you have permission to do so).

7. De-cluttering and tidying.
   It may seem a chore, but you’ll be amazed at how much better you can feel in a de-cluttered room where you feel you have space to think properly.

8. Bake
   Even if you’re not the next Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood, giving the mixer a whirl can leave you with some time to gather your thoughts and leave you with something to enjoy- well, sometimes…

9. Self-care.
   Whether it’s lighting some candles, reading your favourite book or doing your face-care routine, something that relaxes you and helps take care of yourself often leaves you feeling refreshed.

10. Or maybe it’s time for a drink.
    At the end of the day after a hard day’s work, there’s nothing wrong with popping open that gin, wine or beer and enjoying your favourite tipple.
    

So, there’s just some examples. It’s not some ground-breaking set of suggestions ready to change your life, it’s simple.

By taking on short and sweet tasks and activities throughout the day, we can help settle our minds and put those restless thoughts at ease. It doesn’t require tons of discipline, just the willingness to want to help yourself take control if you feel overwhelmed with it all. 

Next time you find yourself wanting to hide under your duvet or drown your sorrows into a family pack of chocolate, or if your mind is just simply in override and can’t handle anymore, pick an activity or randomly select one, and just concentrate on that. Let your mind dust away the craziness of life for as little as 10 minutes and let yourself breathe- we all need to.

Gabi Page

Send in the Suits

Steve Johnson is a regular contributor to Keep Cardiff Live but is also a stalwart of the Cardiff music scene, perhaps best known for his role as frontman with Cardiff’s Anonymous Iconoclasts. 

 A conversation with an old friend, ‘Big Al’ Davies led to his submitting a track for ‘Miniatures 2020’. ‘Send in the Suits’, is one of 124, 60 seconds-long, tracks on this highly unusual compilation, released on March 15th, by The 62nd Gramophone Company.

KCL will be posting a feature on the Album Monday 15th.

New Music -Help Me - Danielle Lewis

Spectral folk/pop with a tender Welsh soul, “Help Me” is the stunning new single by DANIELLE LEWIS.

Drifting on misty melodies that recall the atmospheric works of Julia Holter, The Weather Station or Weyes Blood, Lewis’ beacon-bright vocal shoots through the soundscape with illuminating character.

Written on a chilly afternoon in Cardiff in 2019 after Lewis had just returned from a UK tour, gazing out at the January gloom beyond her window she was gripped by what she describes as a “sudden and cathartic moment of journaling”. Falling as naturally into place as the frost that clung to the frozen ground below, the words and music of “Help Me” came from within to capture a mood and moment in intimate detail. As Lewis says of “Help Me”:

“On reflection of 'Help Me', the lyrics shed a light on my inner dialogue at that moment in time, perhaps even another aspect of myself. It's a reminder of the importance of self love that ultimately starts from within.”

Channelling these humbling spiritual observations through Lewis’ own unearthly vocal, “Help Me”’s startling potential was immediate. Reaching out to TJ Roberts, frontman of the eponymously titled Welsh indie/americana quartet, he added the brittle starkness of his acoustic guitar to crystallize a track of haunting, breathtaking beauty.

“There's an underlying sense of power and drive from TJ Roberts’ beautiful guitar playing” says Danielle. “I felt the track warranted an acoustic and stripped back feel, almost as if it could be recreated time and time again. 'Help Me' ended up feeling despairing and enlightening all at the same time.”

Written by Danielle Lewis and produced by Secondson (who also contributes acoustic guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer here), “Help Me” was recorded at Sail Loft Studios (Cardiff). Mixing & Mastering was contributed by Leon West at After Life Studios (Cardiff), with additional engineering by Thomas V Westgård .

Originally hailing from the West coast of Wales, Danielle Lewis crafts ethereal folk with saintly vocals from another world. Her writing is raw yet unfiltered, with a voice that has a haunting grace and momentous power.

Breaking-out with her 'Live Forever' EP in 2018, its bold authenticity began to attract attention on a wider scale, including that of Super Furry Animal Cian Ciaran, who even offered to remix its title track. Returning in 2019, the singer grew her reputation with the acclaimed single ‘A Woman Like You‘, an empowering track that expanded into the realms of dream pop and drew warm comparisons to Karen Carpenter. With her live plans shelved in 2020, Lewis took the opportunity to release two further tracks: “Life of Worth” and “Flower”, each of which find the singer delving into new sonic territory.

Planning her debut album for release later this year, expect much more to come from this promising talent, with art direction by the esteemed Mark James Works (Super Furry Animals, Gruff Rhys, Gilles Peterson, Abbey Road Studios).

Cardiff City V Real Madrid Fifty Years On.... I was There

Images Subject To Copyright

When Cardiff City played Real Madrid 50 years ago today I was 10.

Pocket money permitting I was already a Cardiff City regular though mainly restricted to Saturday afternoons rather than gloomy dark midweek fixtures.

My memories of this rather historic encounter are sketchy at best. I remember the vastness of the crowd, the excitement was tangible, ticket gripped in my hand and the constant checking on the bus trip to Canton, to ensure it was firmly in my pocket.

My brother, 3 years older than me had been pressed into making sure I got to the ground and returned home safely and wasn't best pleased to have me tagging along, but it was part of the deal when my Mum got the tickets.

Once in the ground, Enclosure ticket, I was free to roam and found myself pressed up against the Enclosure wall on tip-toe most of the game, barely seeing much action and wishing I'd brought a ladder !

I can recall the goal quite well, Nigel Rees bombing down the wing and crossing for Clarkie to score and bedlam ensued, the surge of the crowd jumping and back-slapping still brings a grin to my face, especially at the dire times over the years that our faith in the club dipped like a wonky rollacoaster.

A few years later found me playing as a teenager for Cardiff City Supporters in the Cardiff Sunday League. The shirts, well-worn were donated by the club and incredibly were from that 1970-71 season.

Not quite appreciating the significance the shirts were replaced by another donated set this time from the 1975/76 season with the classic blue and white stripe.

It's hard to think that, probably on some tip somewhere is buried a set of shirts worn by those giants ! If only I had kept a few !

Tony Woolway

My First Music Memory

At home, we’d always have music on, and my taste now has greatly been influenced by my dad’s music, which is a mix of 80s with elements of pop-punk and all-around upbeat songs.

However, my earliest memories around music are definitely to do with musicals, especially the Disney Channel Originals.

My dad being the person to introduce my younger sister and me to these.

My memory isn’t the best and is foggy so I will be looking back on a couple of small memories I have from around this time.

One of the first memories was of a High School Musical 2 toy, It was a small, grey, plastic phone filled with a selection of the songs from the film.

The songs themselves were separate from the ‘phone’, each song was on a clear piece of plastic that had the character who sang the song on, the easiest way to remember what song each piece of plastic played.

As this was only a kid’s toy, it wasn’t full tracks only snippets of certain songs.

I vividly remember traveling down to Newport on the bus and sticking in my earphones and listening to ‘Bet on it’ on repeat for the 30-minute journey.

Unfortunately, little me was heartbroken when I dropped it in the bathtub and it broke, to this day I miss that little piece of plastic.

The second memory is a short one however I doubt I’ll ever be able to forget this one as it was recorded on my mum’s phone.

My younger sister and I shared a room which meant that I had access to her cd player and cd collection.

One of my personal favourites to borrow was the Camp Rock 2 soundtrack.

Facing the window, I would perform the song, with the correct choreography, to the ‘audience’, the teddies that were on the window sill and outside.

I can see the one specific time vividly, I was dancing and singing along to ‘Brand new day’ from the soundtrack and my entire room was a mess.

As I was facing the window,my back was to the door and I didn’t realize my mum had come in and recorded the whole thing.

I was so embarrassed but to this day I dance around my university room and dance and sing to musicals.

Since then my love for musicals has grown and even sparked my interest in Drama, later taking it for GCSEs.

These kid movies hold a special place in my heart and whenever I go back to re-watch them or listen to the soundtracks, I’m left with a feeling of nostalgia and they always manage to brighten my day.

Katherine Witts

Cover of The Week

The Classic Rock Show is performed by highly talented musicians and singers that have a wealth of experience in the music industry and entertainment world and are always in high demand! Together they recreate live, the biggest and best classic rock anthems with outstanding energy and stunning accuracy!

Having performed to a huge array of major clients in concert halls and venues across the world, they never cease to amaze audiences time and time again.

Originally formed in 2005 The Classic Rock Show rapidly gained a reputation as one of the most sought after and entertaining classic rock tribute shows.

Send your Cover Video/Links to us for Consideration at infocardifflive@gmail.com

Keep Calm and Read the Keep Cardiff Live blog

Hello and welcome to our new Keep Cardiff Live blog! 

This will be our new regular feature, helping you to start your week every Monday with a range of different topics. From music, to motivational tips, drink and food to fitness and wellbeing, mental health to opinion pieces and music memories. Post-pandemic this will hopefully expand to events around Cardiff and what’s going on in the city- we can only reminisce and dream for now…

These times have tested us- those breathing a sigh of relief for the end of home-schooling will know. But it has also unlocked passions for others. Kick starting a workout routine with Joe Wicks or mastering the perfect Sourdough, it’s given us time to lend a hand to things we may not normally have the chance to do. 

As we emerge from the longsome lockdown, there are some lessons that we may have learnt. Maybe learning the art of patience after having countless minutes lost to Zoom buffering, or the fact that we used to take seeing family and friends for granted and will now cherish those moments. The simplest of things such as coffee with a friend will turn into treasured moments with loved ones.

We know that life can be tough at the moment, with ever changing restrictions and rules guiding our lives every day, but there is hope and ways to help how we’re feeling. Whether you lose yourself playing an instrument or find whipping up yet another loaf of banana bread your perfect way to unwind, there is no right or wrong way. Hopefully you’ll find a bit of inspiration within this blog, as well as finding some escapism from the chaos.

So, keep your eyes peeled and join us every Monday for the new Keep Cardiff Live Blog!

Don’t forget to let us know if there are any topics or areas you’d like to see in the posts, as we’ll keep it varied weekly. 

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