Articles written by Dianne Murphy-Rodgers

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About me - Dianne Murphy-Rodgers

I have been raising two awesome daughters for 12 years as a single parent.

During this time I have dated, worked in various jobs, gained a BA and an MA in English Literature and Cultural studies, had surgery on one of my discs, created a garden, had a total

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Health & Fitness > Emotional Health & Wellbeing Easy ways to deal with stress: 1 of 28

Stress Management We cannot eliminate stress from modern life, but we can manage it so that the effects don't become debilitating. Effective stress management depends on determining the type of stress - its causes and effects. Stress management might be as simple as writing a letter or attending an appointment we have been a...
Relationships & Family > Communication Skills Words to avoid in order to stay positive: 1 of 20

Being positive is a state of mind and the human mind is awesome. It forges a new pathway between neurones every time we think, say or do something. If we repeat the thought, word or action, our mind engraves these pathways, making it easier to do in the future. If we avoid certain thoughts and actions, the neural pathways wi...
Health & Fitness > Nutrition & Health Issues How to feed your family well on less: 1 of 18

Just a few simple strategies will help you feed your family well on less, whether this means less food, less money or less time. Feeding a family well is not just about preparing, cooking and serving food. It begins with deciding what to eat and collecting the ingredients. The eating is as important as the cooking. Feeding a...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Tips What will happen to our society if the structure of family breaks down?: 2 of 32

There is no single structure that defines family; family structure has evolved over centuries, adapting to changes in society. Changes in living patterns have led to dramatic shifts in family dynamics over the past two hundred years. The move from rural to urban living in the early 19th century meant a change from extended f...
Hobbies & Games > Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts Making a nature journal: 1 of 16

What is a nature journal? A nature journal is like any other journal, but is grounded in observations of nature. Making a nature journal is a very personal thing; each journal will be (should be) unique. Some may take the form of brief field notes, others will lean towards the literary, or be a combination of the two. Some w...
Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness Easy ways your family can "go green": 24 of 219

There are lots of easy ways your family can go green. Going green is not about huge sacrifices or expensive products and technology. It's about conservation (of energy, natural resources, water, paper, the environment, the flora and fauna we share it with) and small changes will often make a big difference, benefiting your f...
Relationships & Family > Break-Ups & Exes How to survive a break-up: 4 of 33

Break ups are horrible. Everything reminds you, everything hurts. Mornings are unbearable when the day starts with thoughts of someone you miss. Nights are long and lonely. But this too will pass. It really is just a matter of time, of healing. At first, you might only escape the misery for one day out of ten. Soon, it will ...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Problems Parents Face Effective strategies for parenting spirited children: 1 of 7

As a Mum blessed with two highly-spirited teenage daughters, I have spent almost two decades being challenged and stretched as a person, meaning I have learnt much about life and myself. Along the way, I have discovered some useful strategies. Perhaps the most effective strategy my girls have taught me, is to celebrate spiri...
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Getting over writer's block: 18 of 113

All writers will encounter writer's block to varying degrees and for different reasons. Writer's block can be the result of too many ideas, or of none. It can be due to lack of confidence, or to perfectionism. It can arrive with too much pressure, or not enough. Every writer is different. The way to get over writer's block i...
Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) Health benefits of gardening: 2 of 12

The therapeutic benefits of gardening have been recognized since humans first cultivated plants, but there is now a growing professional practice linking gardening to numerous, wide-ranging health benefits. 'Horticultural Therapy' is based on the physical, mental and emotional healing that is possible from regular interactio...