Innehållsförteckning för September 2021 från Psychologies

ANNA MATHUR ‘Life is a struggle between knowing what we need and being told what we want,’ writes therapist Anna Mathur. ‘I need to feel connected… Sometimes a text does the trick, but it never offers the quality connection of a proper catch-up over coffee.’ Anna offers tips for more balance on page 55 LUCY MANGAN ‘We are more at ease talking about almost anything other than money,’ author Lucy Mangan declares. ‘How do we break this absurd cycle? We begin by talking to our children. We literally change the conversation.’ Learn how to do that on page 50 HONEY LANGCASTER-JAMES ‘Slowing down gives you time to make stronger connections,’ says psychologist Honey Langcaster-James. ‘This is helpful if you are drawn to incompatible partners as it encourages you to be…

Choosing your holiday read is child’s play Our favourite children’s books play a formative part of our youth, inspiring our imaginations and introducing us to complex topics and emotions, such as fear, love and loss. But returning to these stories as adults can also be beneficial, reconnecting us with our inner child and bringing a fresh perspective to the trials and tribulations of life. Katherine Rundell, a children’s author and academic, calls them ‘literary vodka’ – a distillation of essential truths we could do with reminding ourselves of periodically. So, whether Harry Potter, Matilda or Paddington is your childhood literary poison, dust off that old copy and drink them in – with a lashings of ginger beer, of course! GROW WITH THE TIDE Forget about a beach body – focus…

My mind keeps replaying conversations I’ve had with my children recently. They have spoken animatedly of their hopes and fears about the new school year in a few weeks’ time. They are keen to learn new things, make new friends and have new experiences. For us adults, disappointment as summer starts to fade – and that it wasn’t the four gloriously sunny months we’d dreamed of – is common. But my kids have reminded me that this time of year is a chance to regroup, recentre and grow. Here are my tips to breathe vitality into your life as we head towards the tail end of summer. Let’s learn from the attitude of children and treat September as a time for sparkly fresh goals and uncharted, glorious horizons. 1 Write…

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Harvard Medical School compared the brain of a Tibetan Buddhist monk with people in the general population and found that the monk’s brain was ageing at a significantly slower rate.†† They concluded that the reason for the slower ageing was his intensive meditation practice, which involved both mindfulness and loving-kindness. Scientists imaged his brain four times over a 14-year period and compared his scans with those of 105 non-meditating people aged between 25 and 66. Using machine learning data analysis to accurately compute the rate of brain ageing, they discovered that at the age of 41, the effective biological age of the monk’s brain was only 33. Join ‘Psychologies’kindness tsar David Hamilton live on Facebook @Psychologiesmagazine for his free kindness challenge and monthly…

“I want to go back to my homeland but my family isn’t keen” MARY FENWICK is a writer, speaker and executive coach; she’s also a mother, divorcee and widow. GOT A QUESTION FOR MARY? Email mary@psychologies.co.uk, with ‘MARY’ in the subject line. FOR MORE about Mary’s work in leadership and team coaching, her ‘Writing Back to Happiness’ programme and free resources, go to maryfenwick.com Q I left Wales at the age of 18 and later met my husband, who is not Welsh, and we have lived all over the place. Twenty-five years after leaving, I would like to return to the land of my birth. My husband and two daughters don’t like the idea but I want my parents to enjoy their grandchildren before it’s too late. Should I put…

1 Reach out to others You don't have to take on the world by yourself. People may want to help you, themselves and society – as well as the recipient of your good deed, so you don’t have to fly solo. 2 Be realistic Even small challenges take courage and energy. You don’t have to do something massive to raise money for a good cause. Choose an event or challenge that’s realistic, given your work, time and family constraints. 3 Practise self-care Don't be a martyr when it comes to accomplishing your challenge. Excessive sacrifice can lead to resentment and the possible loss of drive and focus.…

Rose Stokes, a writer, says: ‘Being at home with spare time allowed me to see the relationship mistakes that I had been making in the past more clearly. I was able to work out what I really needed. ‘When I met my boyfriend in the first lockdown, I had no expectations. We didn’t touch each other for weeks but in a way that was beneficial because it lessened the risk that it would burn out fast. A slow start allowed us to develop a solid core and get to know each other properly. We check in to talk about our relationship regularly and find out how we’re both doing, which we will continue to do as our lives get busier.’…

Do you shop online for items that you don’t want or need – things you sometimes don’t even get around to unpacking, wearing or using? Do you forget what you have ordered? Does spending give you an instant high and temporarily alleviate uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness or loneliness? We can all fall into this trap, but if this feels like a problem for you and you would like to manage your comfort spending, try the following approaches: • Ask yourself if you need it or want it. There is a difference! Before you buy, have a look around the house to see if you already have similar items. • Spend a day organising your possessions and clothes so you can easily see what you already have. • Wait for…

If you can t afford more pocket money that. Don , say ’t feel guilty or ashamed – these are feelings we want to uncouple from money” WHEN I WAS GROWING up, ‘no’ and ‘because’ were complete sentences: ‘Can I…?’ ‘No.’ ‘Why can’t I…?’ ‘Because.’ I can see now, as the mother of a nine-year-old, how labour-saving this was for grown-ups and parents and, in many ways, I mourn that loss. Or I would – if I had the energy. But, in other ways, I can see that the modern way – explaining your reasoning and contextualising the decisions that have led the pair of you to this moment of – usually – denial, is a better way of doing things. Ignorance is never bliss for the one shrouded in…

1 Coaching has given me the courage to face challenges head-on and make the really tough decisions, even if it means taking a fresh direction. Karen is like a mirror – she helps you look to yourself for answers. I have learned to reflect and nurture myself, so that each business – and personal – transformation is solid. 2 I am more self-aware, which has enabled me to find and follow my true path in life. I have exceeded all expectations and gained a level of self-respect that I never thought was possible. It all started with a meeting with Karen where she asked me the right questions to get me thinking about the right answers. 3 Through coaching, I have become a person who is willing to accept…

FOR MANY OF US, THE LONG STRETCH where we were required to ‘work from home where you can’ is being replaced by at least a partial return to the workplace. But, if you are feeling socially awkward and anxious, or if the return to normality feels too abrupt, this can create stress. ‘First and foremost, don’t be too hard on yourself. Now is a good time to be honest with your boss – they have a responsibility for your health and wellbeing,’ advises Amy Perrin, founder of the charity Marmalade Trust. She suggests that you take a proactive stance and brainstorm ideas about how to make things easier. Are there shifts you could work that might mean fewer people, for example? Could you arrange to work alongside colleagues with whom…

IF YOU SCORED MAINLY ♥ Perfectionism If perfectionism is your default mode, you may have always given more thought than most to how you come across to others, perhaps ruminating after social events about whether you said or did the right thing. In the age of social media, those with perfectionist tendencies also have a way to ‘compare and despair’ at their fingertips, fuelling social anxiety. Part of you may know that scrolling through aspirational images is undermining your confidence about your life – but it’s addictive and an easy way to numb yourself if you’re not feeling great. You may also put effort into posting carefully curated images, only to worry that the real you will disappoint. Comparing yourself with others is a natural instinct that helps give us…

Mindful Health Club One of the all-time memorable interviews of my career was with a wise doctor and mindfulness expert from India. You you may have heard of him – Deepak Chopra! This is a short morning ritual for awakening inspired by his work. Best repeated every day, these questions can be asked within a meditation, allowing a pause for each answer to be revealed, or during a journalling session. I like to meditate over my questions while walking. The idea is that answers buried in your subconscious and, over time, lead to a state of awakening. It’s a glorious thing to do of a morning while your mind is quiet and the day hasn’t interfered with your mental state. 1 Ask yourself: Who am I? Allow your thoughts or…

Desri Goodwin, nutritionist and life coach at Haven on Earth ‘I have withdrawn into my home or another space many times to heal or find acceptance of situations. One of my most memorable was when I stayed in a teepee in Wales for three weeks with my husband. It was early summer, so mornings and evenings were cool, and there was a wood burner inside that I watched as I snuggled down to sleep. I felt the pull of my Welsh roots and a definite homing instinct. I heard no news, used no social media, interacted very little with people and found an incredible, profound and blissful peace. ‘On the way there, I had been drawn to a craft shop and was tempted by piles of coloured fleece, which inspired…

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A top regret of the dying is ‘I wish I’d let myself be happier’ and a critical factor in experiencing contentment is, in my opinion, to do a job that you love. If you’re stuck waiting for approval from someone, picture your last day on earth, and imagine meeting the person you could have become if you had stepped into your potential. Everyone is torn between passion and fear and the quality of your life comes down to which you listen to and act upon. You’re worthy of creating a life you love and, remember, the only person who can give you the go-ahead is you.…

THE NEW PODCAST FROM SELF-HELP guru Glennon Doyle unexpectedly upset my apple cart. In an episode of We Can Do Hard Things, she focuses on boundaries and how important they are for our mental wellbeing. If you’ve read this column before, you will know that I heartily agree with her, because saying a polite but firm ‘no’ is one of the basics for a happy life. I was, however, intrigued when she raised the idea that perhaps, as well as learning when to assert our boundaries, we also need to stretch them. When does a boundary stop being a fence that protects us and become a cage that locks us away? Isn’t it always the case that just as you think you’ve got an area of life nailed, somebody comes…

Archie, my grandfather, left school at the age of 14 between two world-ravaging wars and worked as a butcher’s boy to support his poor family. At the end of a back-breaking day for pennies, he loaded the basket on the front of his bicycle with discarded bones, which his mother would boil to make broth. Despite being deployed to South Africa, meeting his sweetheart and, through hard work and a sense of duty to his brood, creating a life of plenty in comparison, we would find him unashamedly picking the mould off old bread before spreading it with dripping and eating it with unbridled delight – a wartime snack for a wartime mentality. While ‘waste not, want not’ is commendable, Archie seldom spoiled himself, even when his wallet was full.…

LAST WEEK, I STOOD BEHIND A WOMAN IN the supermarket who took several long moments to wipe down most of the surface area of her trolley compared with the split second I took to sanitise mine. A few days later, I overheard a conversation where the person was explaining how they had to find a builder for a project, despite having a close family member who is experienced in that trade and usually does building work for them. Their relative had not left the house since we first went into lockdown because of their overwhelming fear of Covid. Anxiety can be subtle – or glaringly obvious. If you are struggling, one way to check in with how you are feeling is to use scaling. Let’s take a scale of 1-10,…

Read Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles’ book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret To A Long And Happy Life (Cornerstone, £12.99). Helping you focus on your core purpose without distractions, you’ll be ready to leave multitasking behind for good. With different guests every week, Honey Langcaster-James’s new podcast, Life And How To Love It, explores the ways we can learn to appreciate things across all areas of our lives. honey langcaster-james.com/blog If you’re still having trouble releasing yourself from the hamster wheel of working life, Eleanor Ross’s book Good Enough, The Myth Of Success And How To Celebrate The Joy In Average (Hodder & Stoughton, £16.99), is an empowering read.…

For many people, seeking psychotherapy is the hardest part. Those who reach out and on journey often find the transformative nature of psychotherapy an awakening process in their lives, which is why so many UK Council for Psychotherapy members start off as clients. In this special Q&A with Sarah Niblock, the chief executive of UKCP, we find out about her experience of psychotherapy and what advice she would give those wanting to take the potentially life-changing step of accessing psychotherapeutic support. Q Do you think the perception of therapy is changing? There is still a stigma, which we know from surveys with the public we have conducted during lockdown. There are numerous reasons for this, including the medicalisation of emotions, the lack of parity between mental and physical health in…

Don’t decide hungry Hanger is real: ‘Our brains use 25 to 30 per cent of what we eat and can’t store fuel for later – and decision-making relies on fuel,’ explains neuroscientist Tara Swart. A study of more than 1,000 decisions by judges found that the first three cases seen after a meal were far more likely to result in release than the last three cases of a session. Practise choice reduction What can you do to minimise unnecessary choices? Could you keep your desk clear, set up a weekly grocery order or build more routine into your day, so you know you always go for a walk at the same time, without having to think about it? Everything you do to simplify minor decisions helps conserve energy for the…

I FEEL THE HUNGER PANG RISING in my stomach after a morning of work. I have two options! My first option is to grab the bag of sweets sitting temptingly beside me. Not only will they silence the growl in my belly, but they’ll provide a glorious, short, sharp sugar boost. Option two is to leave my desk to make a plate of roast chicken leftovers and a baked potato. It requires more effort, but would fill me up for a few hours. Slow and steady. We face these types of decisions all the time. Do we do something we know will be good for us, but requires more energy and input, or do we find a way to quickly meet or silence the need momentarily? My clients spend a…

FIND Psychologies’ partnership with Barefoot Coaching gives you the tools to find a coach who meets your needs. Barefoot Coaching has been at the forefront of coaching and coach training for 25 years. It has a proven track record as a provider of high-level coaching and coach training to organisations and senior executives, nationally and internationally. TRAIN Train as a coach: The Barefoot Coaching (ICF) ACTPaccredited PG Certificate in Business and Personal Coaching is one of the most well-established coach training courses in the UK. Barefoot runs regular, free introductions to coach training throughout the year. BOOK NOW! VISIT Barefootcoaching.co.uk/taster-mornings…

A vital skill that many of us take for granted is employed during those seemingly inconsequential interactions with people in our community as we go about daily life – the banter with the man in the corner shop or the local barista, or the brief ‘hello’ to the dog walker you pass on your morning run. ‘Those quick conversations are like a mini workout. A little “how are you?” hones social skills and boosts confidence,’ says psychologist Sophie Mort. These ‘weak ties’ provide valuable interim conversations between the big conversations we have with people closest to us. ‘It can feel like a big leap to go from speaking to no one to speaking up in a large group. Communication is a skill and some of us need to relearn it,’…

Reach for the sky It’s the advice our mothers parroted so many times when we were growing up: stand up straight! But it seems they were right – and it’s not just when we’re motionless that we should remember good posture. Scientists have found that keeping an upright position is also the way to be more efficient when running, and reduce the risk of injury.* Researchers say that if you lean forward while you jog, you are more likely to overstride, intensifying the impact on your joints and increasing the chance of knee and back pain. So, keep that back straight and run like the wind!…

“Try not to get hung up on trying to achieve the ‘perfect diet’ or even the perfect gut or body for that matter – it simply doesn’t exist ” With such a cacophony of voices in the area of nutrition and gut health, it is no wonder that we might be confused over what we should or should not be eating. However, shunning certain foods can, at best, leave us with fewer options on the menu and, at worst, lead to nutritional deficiencies that can have a bigger impact on our health and wellbeing. Limiting entire food groups, such as carbohydrates, can reduce both our physical and mental energy. It can even lead to a gut microbiota that is ‘starving’, as our gut microbes feed predominantly on the fibre found…

Louise Chester, founder of Mindfulness at Work and Witherdens Hall spa retreat in Kent, says: ‘My working life takes me away to the busy business world, so I always designate August as my time to retreat within – at home with my family. ‘This is my chance to remind myself of the beauty of simple things – to pay attention to the soothing cadence of the natural light-led day, the pleasure of a slow meal, the awe induced by a weed piercing through hard-baked earth, the icy tingle of the sea or a conversation taken deeper with my daughter. ‘I invite rituals to develop, rather than impose them as structure on my day. I notice that my body prefers to stretch and swim before I settle down to meditate;…

WRITE with Arvon at Home Whether you sign up to a writing week or masterclass, or tune in every Wednesday night for a live guest reading, this could be the summer that you find inspiration, kick-start your creativity and make your writing dreams a reality.arvon.org/arvon-at-home ENERGISE with Haven on Earth Discover how to work with your life energy and unleash the power of the universe to heal your traumas and improve your life.haven-on-earth.com/ online-virtual-wellness-retreats CREATE with Artful at Home You won’t learn to draw or paint on this retreat, but you will learn to use clever art therapy techniques to help you check in with where you are in life, and where you want to go.artfulretreats.com/art-therapy-onlineFor more virtual retreat ideas, go…

I AM NOT A FAN OF HORROR but, at the risk of a terrifying my readers, I must refer you to what I, personally, think is the scariest book on this planet. Stephen King eat your heart out! Penguin Books published Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep in 2017 and, when I first read it, I really sat up and took note. In answering the question of why we sleep, Walker reveals the long-term, irreversible physical and mental damage done to our bodies as a result of sleep deprivation, which goes far beyond the usual things we are told about not getting a decent night’s sleep. So I vowed to reread this book regularly as a reminder, lest I lose sight of the consequences of insufficient or rubbish sleep. The opening…

Well, it’s been a summer like no other – again! The other day, I received an out-of-office email declaring that its sender was away ‘exploring the wilds of Kent’. Another friend explained that she had taken a train, a boat and a plane to reach her summertime haven, and she hadn’t even left the British Isles! So, if you’re perusing this issue from somewhere rather different to your usual holiday destination, don’t worry, we’ve got plenty to warm you up and inspire you right here. First, learn how slowing down can turn up the heat in your love life on page 36. It’s a homage to taking things easy, and the perfect antidote to the instant swipe left or right culture that was becoming the accepted way to find love.…

my mother-in-law, Evelyn, I would like to thank you Evelyn, my mother-in-law of 46 years, for the support and love that you have given me. We have never had a cross word and that is because you are not judgmental and you see the good in all those you deal with. You help, you don’t interfere. You are patient, you are kind and I have been very fortunate that fate, via your son, brought us together. Thank you for all your help with your grandchildren (the boys) in the early years; for being there for them and for us. You are my friend. You are my role model. You are an amazing woman. Thank you for being in my life. This month’s gratitude letter, star letter and chosen photo win…

We know creativity is a tonic in troubled times so, during lockdown, the Southbank Centre in London prescribed a course of arts to ease loneliness. Art by Post sent monthly poetry and visual arts activity booklets to 4,500 people, many of whom were shielding and isolated. The free scheme is part of the growing social prescribing movement that champions community activities to improve health and wellbeing. An exhibition of 600 pieces created by participants – aged 18 to 103 – will open at the centre on 20 September before touring the UK for five months, giving a unique snapshot of life during the pandemic. For more, see southbank centre.co.uk/artbypost…

A splendidly British comedy heist movie that pairs the brilliant Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren and neatly does away with the idea that ‘they don’t make ’em like they used to’ to deliver a tale reminiscent of the classic How To Steal A Million. It’s Newcastle in the 1960s and Kempton Bunton is a man fighting for social justice, namely that a pensioner should get a free TV licence! Impulsively, he steals Goya’s Portrait Of The Duke Of Wellington and issues a list of demands. This enjoyable and heartwarming film has a charming and understated quality, with a nostalgic mise en scène using a lively soundtrack and footage of vintage England. It has a light tone but does not shy away from weightier issues, such as grief and prejudice. Expect…

EVERY WOMAN NEEDS a Giovanna Fletcher in her life – non-judgmental, always with a willing ear and compassionate, wise words to turn negatives into positives. Most of us don’t personally know the mother of three, vlogger, author and YouTube star, but anyone who has listened to her acclaimed podcast, Happy Mum, Happy Baby, based on her bestselling book of the same name (Hodder & Stoughton, £10.99), feels as if they do. In its seventh series, in just four years the podcast has been downloaded more than 14 million times – and the draw is crystal clear. Relatable, warm and delightfully honest, Fletcher is also brave. She insists that she is not shy to tackle any topic of motherhood-related conversation and has covered the whole gamut, from the loss of a…

• The UK Council for Psychotherapy(UKCP) is the leading research, innovation, educational and  regulatory body working to advance psychotherapy for the benefit of all. We have a register of more than 8,000 members, who offer a range of therapy approaches for couples, individuals, families and groups. We also have more than 70 training and accrediting organisations for those who wish to become psychotherapists. • To find the right therapist for you or learn how to become a therapist, visit psychotherapy.org.uk…

Read this: In his in-depth article in The New Yorker, ‘The art of decision-making’, Joshua Rothman explores the tendency of big decisions to make themselves.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/21/ the-art-of-decision-making Listen to this: Hidden Brain: The Choices Before Us, a podcast with psychologist Sheena Iyengar, focuses on making better decisions and the relationship between choice and control. Watch this: It’s an oldie but a goodie: Psychologist Barry Schwartz’s 2005 Ted talk, ‘The paradox of choice’, on YouTube, unpacks the way the explosion of choice in the West can be immobilising. He suggests creating a metaphorical fishbowl of choice reduction to improve happiness and make decision-making easier.…

Karen Chambers In 2002, I met Kim Morgan, the founder of Barefoot Coaching, at her seminar ‘How to Change Your Life Over Lunch’ – and it literally did! It was my first experience of coaching, which led me to achieving an unfulfilled dream of taking my young nephew and niece to Disney World in Orlando. I wanted to understand how coaching worked, took Kim’s postgraduate course and discovered that I loved coaching others as well as being coached. I’ve been coaching ever since. Melanie Allen For the past 20 years, I’ve run a learning and development business. I was asked to provide coaching for senior leaders, but didn’t feel I could do it without qualifications. So began my search for a coaching programme that was recognised by a coaching body,…

“Validate your feelings by writing a compassionate letter to yourself that understands and accepts a problem” It’s easy to attack yourself for the changes you may be experiencing, but not very helpful. Research shows that practising self-compassion instead and looking after yourself releases calming hormones that interrupt the fight, flight or freeze response that’s been activated by the pandemic [see page 62]. Develop self-compassion by noticing and managing your inner critic. Validate your feelings by writing a compassionate letter to yourself that understands and accepts a problem or unwanted situation. Describe why you feel disappointed, hurt or angry and show sensitivity and awareness of where those feelings may be coming from. Try to avoid offering solutions, as often this is where your inner critic, acting as a driver, reactivates itself.…

1 After a social event, you tend to: ♥ Post a happy picture on social media ◆ Wonder why you dreaded it so much • Realise others are more sociable than you ■ Follow up to make sure everyone’s happy 2 Right now, you feel better after seeing people who: • Made an effort to get in touch ■ Seem to appreciate your efforts ♥ Don’t feel they have to impress ◆ Make you laugh and take life less seriously 3 You’d socialise more if it didn’t leave you feeling so: ♥ Inadequate • Drained ◆ Exhausted ■ Resentful 4 Generally, your biggest barrier to self-belief is: ■ Overthinking everything ♥ Comparing yourself to others ◆ Feeling as if you can’t cope • Feeling like an outsider 5 Your ideal…

WAKE UP TO POSSIBILITY Sunshine-filled mornings and balmy nights; there’s something magical about August that’s akin to Christmas! It’s a month to slow down and check out of work into a state of relaxation – if only for a short while. Mornings feel extra magical: bright and full of promise. I take a walk before settling down to work for the day. I pop in my headphones and press play on a podcast… but often I don’t take in the information and settle into a peaceful state of reflection instead! On these pages, I offer a little structure for awakening slowly and mindfully. Beautiful foundations We know to look after the microbiome in our gut with pre- and probiotics, but we also need to look after the microbiome of our…

♥ WE LOVE YOGA Discover the unique holistic health benefits of each asana HEAD-TO-KNEE FORWARD BEND Janu sirsasana This calming pose helps relieve mild depression and anxiety, while stretching the spine, shoulders, hamstrings and groin. It stimulates the liver and kidneys, improves digestion and relieves fatigue, headaches and insomnia. • Start in a seated, cross-legged position. Stretch your left leg out straight in front of you at a slight angle. • Draw the sole of your right foot in towards your left inner thigh, as close to your groin as possible. • Reach your arms up above your head and look up, before reaching forward towards your left shin, ankle or foot. • As you reach, keep your spine straight and chin lifted for as long as possible,…

Any green will do If you’re a city dweller on a tight schedule, heading off into the green and pleasant lands for your mood-boosting dose of nature might be a tall order sometimes. But research proves that even the simple greenery of a small urban park or the bristly beauty of a living wall benefit your mental state, reducing stress and lowering your heart rate.* So make the most of sunny days and get out and enjoy whatever green space you can, because it all helps!…

BLACK BEAN TACOS Animal rights activist Linda McCartney’s cooking was influenced by her love of Mexican food and these tacos make a great informal feast. Eating plant-based meals is a compassionate step that helps prevent cruelty and suffering in animals, so choose pulses, such as black beans, to meet your protein needs. PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes COOKING TIME: 30 minutes SERVES 4 • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling • 1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped • 5 medium garlic cloves, peeled and crushed • 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 tbsp sweet smoked paprika • 2 x 400g tins black beans, drained • 200g ripe tomatoes, chopped • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste TO SERVE • 8 tortillas • 150g…

‘These duvets are top of the line but you also get an eco-friendly product. It’s good to know that I’m sleeping under the wool from contented sheep’, says satisfied customer Mark. ‘Southdown Duvets also provides attention to detail in the preparation of the wool and final product, great customer service and a generous returns policy – but you won’t want to return it!’ Owner Jessica says: ‘All credit goes to the Southdown sheep who provide this miracle fibre in the first place. I just do right by them and my customers.’  southdownduvets.com 01404 861 117…