We all have pressures we face in our day-to-day lives, but sometimes they can build up without us knowing.
Then, when we’re not feeling our best, bad habits and unhealthy routines can creep in which begin to have a detrimental impact on our physical and mental wellbeing.
Identifying that you’re not feeling quite right as early as possible can therefore play a huge part in you stopping those bad habits early, before things get worse.
That’s where our Kickstart Programme comes in. We introduced it for anyone wanting to shake up their lifestyle and get into a healthier routine.
And one beneficiary who says it benefitted her is Caroline Saunderson, a Watch Manager working for Control with Northumberland FRS.
Caroline had gone through a change in job role and a family bereavement and felt she was keeping everything together whilst just treading water. She says she slipped into a poor sleep routine and eating habits, while struggling to find the time to exercise around her busy work schedule.
“I saw a post on Facebook saying the Kickstart Programme would be good for anyone who feels they’re in a bit of a rut and needs help getting back into exercise and good nutrition,” says Caroline. “For me, it was more my physical health, a chance to reset my routines and overall health and wellbeing.
“With changing my work routine and sometimes covering other shifts I felt as though I was trying to fit everything into my weekends. After working 19 years of shifts it’s quite difficult to change to having weekends off and before I knew it, it was time for work again.
“I just felt it was time to be a bit selfish I suppose and force myself to take some time off to look after myself.”
Caroline was invited to Jubilee House in February 2023 on the programme and says, despite feeling some anxiety beforehand about what was to come, it was just what she needed.
“It was all about me. I was in a group, which was good, but it all felt it was tailored to me,” says Caroline. “They gave me a health MOT when I got there and we talked about what I wanted to get out of it. I did ask not to take part in the swimming, I wasn’t feeling comfortable with it, and they told me not to worry about it – it just wasn’t an issue. I never felt any pressure.
“A lot of the people I was with were working on getting back to work and to be honest, I felt a bit of a fraud at one point! But everyone was there for their own reasons, and mine were improving my personal health and wellbeing.
“We all encouraged each other. And even the workshops that were more focused on mental health were useful for everyone.
“I’m feeling brighter in myself.”
Caroline Saunderson
“I live on my own and even not having to make my own tea and packed lunches for a week was amazing. It forced me to relax.”
Caroline has since taken many of the tools she learned on the programme away with her, and is adopting them in her daily life.
“The time away and the topics covered have definitely changed my mindset and I am determined to continue with the refreshed outlook and have already planned a walk in my lunch breaks,” she adds.
“I’m also having my tea earlier… I’d got into a pattern, for nearly 20 years really, of eating at 9-10pm at night, just because of work and commitments. But I’m having it earlier now and sleeping so much better. I’m feeling brighter in myself.”