Latest news with #SarahJones
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The 6-step plan to beat ‘decision paralysis' – plus the 3 reasons you fall victim
THROUGHOUT our lives, we will face many crossroads – moving home, changing jobs, starting or staying in a relationship – and constant decision-making can be overwhelming. Decision paralysis – AKA finding it so hard to make a choice that we don't do anything – often wins. Other factors, such as anxiety, perfectionism and neurodiversity, can impact our ability to make decisions, too. And for women, deciding what we really want can be even harder. 'Often, we are trying to make other people happy, when it is more important that we make ourselves happy with our decisions,' says chartered psychologist Dr Sheena Kumar. So, what happens in our brains when we're faced with a decision? 'We weigh past experiences, potential outcomes and personal values to arrive at a choice,' says Sheena. But emotions like fear, excitement or uncertainty all have an impact, too. Here, three experts share their six tips for coming to a decision you're happy with. Step One: Pause And Focus First, stop and tune in to what your body is saying. 'When faced with big choices, your nervous system may enter fight, flight or freeze mode, making clear thinking impossible,' explains Sarah Jones, psychotherapist and EMDR therapist. Fight, flight and freeze are evolutionary stress responses to danger – fight prepares you to confront the threat, flight makes you want to escape, and freeze makes you, well, freeze. Do you think you've got ADHD because of TikTok? These are the signs 'When we are in survival mode, our bodies prioritise protecting themselves over problem-solving,' says Sarah. Before analysing your options, take a moment to check in with yourself. 'How does your body feel? Is your chest tight? Is your stomach churning? If so, take slow, deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth, and focus on the sensation of breathing. Repeat to yourself: 'I am safe',' Sarah adds. Calmer? Now you can focus on what's at the heart of your decision. It may sound simple, but Sheena suggests clearly defining the decision, asking: 'What do I need to decide?' Step Two: Free Yourself From People's Opinions Now comes the hard part. 'Ask yourself: 'If no one else's opinion mattered, what would I truly want?'' says Sarah. 'Write down whatever comes up. "Then reflect on whether any of your concerns stem from other people's expectations, rather than your own desires. "Many women have been raised to prioritise others' needs over their own, often without realising it. "Even if you consider yourself independent, societal messaging can still shape your decision-making process.' But that doesn't mean you need to make decisions alone. 'Gather relevant information to understand your options,' says Sheena. For example, try talking to people who have chosen each option, so you can listen to their experiences, then decide for yourself. Step Three: Understand What's Holding You Back Thoughts running on a loop? Writing everything down will help make things feel more manageable, says life coach Kimberley O'Sullivan. She believes the key to good decision-making is identifying ' self-limiting beliefs ' and negative thoughts. You can do this by assigning the word 'fact' or 'fiction' to the thoughts you've written down. 'For example, if you're weighing up a new job offer, 'the salary is £10k more' is fact, whereas: 'I may not fit in with the team' is fiction,' she says. 'Fiction' is often the voice of self-doubt. ' Once you've looked at each limitation and have clarity that what's holding you back is a set of false, limiting beliefs, you are left with facts and data to help make an informed decision.' Step Four Let Go Of Perfection What if limiting beliefs come from a trait or mindset, such as perfectionism? 'Many people believe a decision must be 100% right or else it's a mistake, but this kind of thinking keeps you stuck,' says Sarah. 'Instead of searching for the perfect choice, ask yourself: 'What is a good enough option that moves me forward?' "Also, it's OK to change your mind.' Step Five: Test It Out To put your decision to the test, use the 'future self' visualisation, which involves imagining yourself six months or even a year from now, having made the big decision. 'Picture your day-to-day life,' says Sarah. 'What's changed? How do you feel? "Now, do the same for an alternative decision. "How does that version of your future feel in comparison? "Often, your emotional response will provide valuable insight,' she says. You could even 'try on' your decision mentally for 48 hours. 'Act as if you have already chosen a path,' she says. "If you're debating moving abroad, tell yourself: 'I'm moving abroad', and notice how you feel. 'Does this bring a sense of excitement, relief or peace? "Or does it trigger anxiety and resistance? "Your emotions can offer more clarity than over-analysing ever will,' she says. Step Six: Move things on Once you've decided, let go of the idea of possibly taking the 'wrong' path. 'Make your decision with confidence, take action and reflect on the outcome to improve future decision-making,' says Sheena. 4 'Making any decision is better than staying indecisive. "Remember, you can always reflect and choose differently next time.' Sarah, too, believes that making a bad decision is still better than not making one at all. 'It's important to make a decision and then learn from it, rather than stay in paralysis and let opportunity pass you by, or change your mind if it is not working out,' she says. 'Often, there is no such thing as the 'right' decision – just ones we are happy with in hindsight.' And if you're still feeling worried? Remember that not all decisions are final. When it comes to big decisions over something like a new job, partner or moving to a new location, Kimberley says: 'You can always try something new. "Setbacks and adjustments are all a part of life – you just need to believe you can navigate and pivot your way through anything you experience.' Why Do I Agonise Over it? If you constantly struggle to make choices, it might be a sign that. . . You Grew Up In A Critical Home If mistakes weren't tolerated in your childhood, you may struggle to trust your own judgement as an adult. Instead of seeing decisions as opportunities, they can feel like tests you must pass. You're Seeking Approval If you're constantly weighing up how others will react, or you want to please people, you may struggle to prioritise your own needs. Conditions such as ADHD and autism can make decision-making harder, due to executive-function challenges, sensory overwhelm and difficulty filtering options. The brain can freeze when faced with too much information.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Seven summer side hustles you can start now to make hundreds of pounds
Find out how to max your side hustle income MONEY MAKER Seven summer side hustles you can start now to make hundreds of pounds Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PREPARE now for the expense of summer. July and August are among the costliest times of year. 4 Mum-of-two, Melissa Howard, shares how she's set to make £1,000 Credit: mel hunter 4 Clare Ford makes an extra £100 with her smart summer side hustle Credit: Mel hunter Parents may fork out an extra £1,000 a week over the school summer break. The average price of a family holiday for four is more than £3,600. Childcare alone can add up to more than £1,000, found Coram Family and Childcare. But there are ways to ease the financial pain. Taking a job on the side could net you hundreds of pounds. On average, side-hustling Brits make around £320 per month – and you can do it too. MEL HUNTER explains how to boost your bank balance between now and the start of the summer holidays. SELL YOUR SKILLS One of the easiest ways to make extra money is by using the skills you already have. Are you a whizz at admin? There's a demand for office help as people take time off in the warmer months. If you're good at gardening, get paid to help people look after their patch. Psychic's path to manifesting money and getting rich | Talking Money Head to platforms like Fiverr, AirTasker and Nextdoor to find jobs or advertise what you can offer. Pioneering People matches vetted companies to temporary workers and promises to pay at least £13 an hour. If you've got the skills to help others learn – from biology to ballet – check out tutoring site superprof. RENT OUT YOUR THINGS Tap into the rental economy to make some extra money At this time of year, your garden and camping equipment is in demand at A four-person tent could net you around £15 a day. The web site takes a 25 per cent cut of the rental price. If you have a gorgeous dress, have a go at hiring it out through A £200 Reiss dress costs around £55 to hire for four-days. 4 Mike and Sarah Jones make £6,000 a year renting out their Campervan Credit: Supplied You can rent out almost anything. If you're the lucky owner of a Campervan, caravan or mobile home, you can make money instead of leaving it on your driveway. Mike and Sarah Jones, from Surrey, make £6,000 a year renting out their VW Campervan. They've travelled in the van with children Dan, now 23, and Emily, 20, but when lockdown hit, the van just sat in the driveway. IT manager Mike, 51, says: 'It made sense to sell it. The kids were older, and we didn't have time for trips like we used to. But I couldn't bear to part with it.' Mike found campervan rental platforms Camplify UK and got enquiries straight away. Four years on, the family has rented it out more than 200 times, from £79 a night, and made £24,000. They use the profits to help fund their own family holidays. 'We love the freedom a van offers and we're so glad we can share that magic with other people.' MAKE A DATE The summer season is jam-packed with special events, from small festivals to massive sporting events. Many of them take place before the school summer holidays and are a great opportunity to make some extra money. Jobs vary, from bar staff to set-up crews. Look at the jobs page on festival websites and check out 'festival jobs' on Facebook. 4 If you are a whizz at gardening you can make money from your skills, especially around the summer months Credit: Getty MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR HOME If you've got an empty bedroom, rent it out through a site like or offer it up for storage through Renting out a parking space is also an easy way to make cash. Amy Knight from the finance website Nerdwallet says: 'Summer 2025 is packed with major music and sporting events, giving homeowners a prime opportunity to rent out their driveway. 'Sports fans will flock to the Women's Rugby World Cup, which will take place across the country. 'Registering with a platform like YourParkingSpace or JustPark takes just minutes.' SELL YOUR STUFF It's the perfect time to sell off old clothes, shoes and accessories on sites like Depop, eBay or Vinted. Nerdwallet reckons you could make up to £540 by selling 30 items of clothes, 10 pairs of shoes and 15 toys, and make more from the most popular brands. You can sell old mobile phones at Sell My Mobile or Mazuma Mobile. Books, CDs and DVDs can be exchanged for cash on WeBuyBooks. Sell old tech or furniture on Facebook Marketplace. Even old cables and instruction booklets are bought by eBay buyers. For instant cash, it's car boot season. Setting up an early morning stall could boost your summer coffers. You could also try 'flipping' – buying something cheaply and then reselling it for profit. Melissa Howard, 36, from The Wirral, resells children's and vintage clothes on Vinted and eBay. The mum of two, who runs a creative agency and a photography studio (@itsmelissahoward), buys bales of second-hand clothes from online wholesalers, before photographing and listing them on the resale sites. From a £300 bale packed with 80 items, she expects to make £1,000 profit. She pays up to £50 extra to get them cleaned before they're delivered, and buys up to seven bales over the spring and summer. The extra earnings help pay for days out with her children Grayson, four, and Rowan, two, who also have expensive summer birthdays. Melissa says: 'I work hard for the profits, but I also get a real buzz from it. It also helps as my main businesses are quieter during the summer.' Top tips for selling on eBay NEW to eBay? It's head of secondhand, Emma Grant, reveals how to optimise your listings: Use key words - eBay automatically filters listing titles for key words, so it's crucial to use the terminology people search for - especially brand and product names. Choose the right category for your product - It might sound obvious but it's important to always choose the most specific category to sell in. Pictures are important - Most users will not bid on items they cannot see. For best results, take photos in natural light against a neutral background and be honest about any scratches or damage to the item. Be as detailed as possible - Be honest about the condition of the product and be sure to note any wear and tear. Look at past sold items- eBay has a function that allows you to search for the item you want to sell and then filter the results by sold items. Here, you can view the price the item has sold for and get insight into how others have listed it. Selling Sundays - Get the timing right. The busiest time for buyers is Sunday evenings, so schedule your listings to end around that time. Opt for seven-day auctions to ensure the max number of bids. The longer your item is listed, the more chance of people seeing it, so unless it's time-sensitive, pick seven days. December is the busiest month on eBay. Be realistic with pricing - Try searching for similar items on eBay, to make sure you're going for the right price and always ask yourself "would I pay this price for this item?" Donate to charity - When listing your item, consider donating a percentage of the sale to a cause of your choice – from 10% to 100% - you can donate the funds raised from your item straight from the platform. CUT YOUR COSTS Using tax free childcare could save you 20 per cent on childcare costs over the summer – that's around £300 if you have two kids in clubs for five weeks. It's available for children aged under 12, or 17 if your child has a disability. For the last half of term, if your child's school is one of the 750 piloting free breakfast clubs, enrol them for an early start. It will save you the cost of breakfast, give you an extra hour to earn and it's fun for them too. SEASONAL SIDE HUSTLES Think about the hottest ways to make money during the summer season. Advertise your services to water plants, feed cats or walk dogs when people go on holiday. Look for casual jobs with fruit farms, gardening firms, hotels, tourist attractions and theme parks. Clare Ford, who runs a teen coaching business, adds to her income by doing GCSE and A level exam invigilation in May and June, earning around £100 a week. The mum of two from Ashford, Kent, says: 'I've been doing it for six years and it's a helpful boost.'
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Gregor Poynton MP receives UK Government response on Selms Muir Hydrogen Project backing
Gregor Poynton, MP for the Livingston constituency, has received a positive response from the Government following his letter backing the Selms Muir Hydrogen Project for selection in the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In a response dated 16 May 2025, Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Industry at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, thanked Mr. Poynton for writing in support of the project and confirmed the Government's continued engagement during the next stage of the HAR2 process. The Minister outlined that HAR2 is a highly competitive round, with 87 initial applications competing for support, of which only 27 projects across England, Scotland and Wales have been shortlisted. The selection process has focused on project deliverability, portfolio diversity and value-for-money factors, with particular consideration given to cost, scale, location and supply to hard-to-abate sectors. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Commenting on the Government's response, Gregor Poynton MP said: "I'm pleased to receive this positive response from Minister Sarah Jones MP regarding the Selms Muir Hydrogen Project. While the competition is fierce with 87 applications for just 27 shortlisted projects, I'm continuing to make the case to Ministers for this tremendous local project. Gregor Poynton MP is backing UK Government investment in the Livingston constituency. "The Selms Muir project represents exactly the kind of innovative, green technology investment that West Lothian needs. With its potential to produce six tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen daily and support decarbonisation across West Lothian's transport and industry sectors, this project could bring significant jobs and investment to our constituency. "I welcome the Government's recognition of hydrogen's key role in delivering our Clean Energy Superpower mission and net zero commitments. I'll continue advocating strongly for Selms Muir throughout the process, as I believe this project demonstrates the deliverability, value for money, and strategic importance that the Government is looking for." The Selms Muir Hydrogen Project, a partnership between hydrogen developer Hygen and renewable energy leader European Energy, will deliver a 20MW electrolyser hub co-located with the Selms Muir Solar Farm. The project has the potential to power buses, construction equipment, and heavy vehicles across West Lothian, supporting the UK's ambitious goal of 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030. The project is now undergoing the due diligence and cost assessment phase, where projects must continue to demonstrate deliverability, affordability, and value for money throughout the process.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
'Positive response' from Minister to Livingston MP's letter of support for hydrogen project
Competition is fierce with 87 applications but just 27 shortlisted Livingston's MP received a 'positive response' from the Minister of State for Industry to a letter he sent backing the Selms Muir Hydrogen Project. The project was one of 87 applications to the UK Government for selection in the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2). From those only 27 projects across the UK are shortlisted. Gregor Poynton MP received a response from Industry Minister, Sarah Jones MP at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, thanking him for writing in support of the Livingston project and confirming continued engagement during the next stage of the HAR2 process. The Minister outlined that HAR2 is a highly competitive round, with 87 initial applications competing for support, of which only 27 projects across England, Scotland and Wales have been shortlisted. The selection process has focused on project deliverability, portfolio diversity and value-for-money factors, with particular consideration given to cost, scale, location and supply to hard-to-abate sectors. The Selms Muir Hydrogen Project, a partnership between hydrogen developer Hygen and renewable energy leader European Energy, will deliver a 20MW electrolyser hub co-located with the Selms Muir Solar Farm. The project has the potential to power buses, construction equipment, and heavy vehicles across West Lothian, supporting the UK's ambitious goal of 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030. Gregor Poynton MP said: 'I'm pleased to receive this positive response from Minister Sarah Jones MP regarding the Selms Muir Hydrogen Project. While the competition is fierce with 87 applications for just 27 shortlisted projects, I'm continuing to make the case to Ministers for this tremendous local project. 'The Selms Muir project represents exactly the kind of innovative, green technology investment that West Lothian needs. With its potential to produce six tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen daily and support decarbonisation across West Lothian's transport and industry sectors, this project could bring significant jobs and investment to our constituency. 'I welcome the government's recognition of hydrogen's key role in delivering our Clean Energy Superpower mission and net zero commitments. I'll continue advocating strongly for Selms Muir throughout the process, as I believe this project demonstrates the deliverability, value for money, and strategic importance that the government is looking for.' The Selms Muir Hydrogen Project is now undergoing the due diligence and cost assessment phase, where projects must continue to demonstrate deliverability, affordability, and value for money throughout the process.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Minister visits Cornish mines ahead of minerals strategy
The minister for industry has visited mining sites across Cornwall ahead of the government's upcoming strategy on minerals. The Critical Minerals Strategy aims to create a secure domestic supply chain of minerals like graphite and tin, which are used in the production of electronics like mobile phones. Industry Minister Sarah Jones said the purpose of visiting sites including Cornwall's South Crofty Tin Mine and Camborne School of Mines was to "really understand what the need is"."There is huge potential here, we know that government has a role, we need to work out what the role is going forward," she said. The need for critical minerals will be four times higher by 2040 due to their use in clean energy technologies, according to the policy paper for the strategy. The paper describes the current supply chain of minerals to the UK as complex, volatile and dominated by China. "In a changing world, it's never been so important to have strong supplies of critical minerals. Without them we can't have renewable energy, AI or a thriving car sector," said Jones. "That's why we're working with industry to develop a landmark Critical Minerals Strategy that will support the industries of tomorrow and deliver for business."She added: "Seeing Cornwall's thriving mining cluster was vital to help me develop the new strategy which will deliver good jobs and a stronger economy." At Camborne School of Mines, Jones met representatives from the University of Exeter to discuss the skills needed to support the strategy. Prof of Applied Mineralogy Frances Wall said she wanted to know the government targets and how they would be funded. "If you want to be able to mine, to refine, use the metals and to recycle them and keep them in circulation, that will need some intervention in most cases from government," she said. "The bottom line eventually, it will mean money as well as good will." The government invested £28.6m in Cornwall's South Crofty Tin Mine in January as part of a £56m fundraising bid by its owners Cornish Metals to begin production within three years. Chief executive of Cornish Metals, Don Turvey, said going forward it needed continued support. "We already have the permits in place to build the mine," he said. "So from that perspective, if one wants to keep the tin in the country, that's a different discussion."The government's Critical Mineral Strategy is due to be published later this year.
