Louise Carleton


A freelance writer with a natural flair and passion for creating engaging and compelling content. Interested in lifestyle, culture, wellbeing, and women's health & beauty.

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Metro •

Is your screen making you sick? Here's what to do

Is your screen making you sick? Here’s what to do Is your screen making you sick? Here’s what to do Backache, headaches, tired eyes, trouble falling asleep… sound familiar? Your screen might be to blame. We’re officially a nation addicted to screens, with some reports suggesting we spend a whopping 34 years of our lives staring at our phones, laptops, and tablets. Worryingly, 40% of adults in the UK admit they check their phones within the first five minutes of waking up… that’s before even
Metro •

'We're secret digital nomads - our bosses have no idea we're working abroad'

‘I blur my Zoom background and keep an eye on the weather back home – if it’s cold in the UK, I put on a jumper and don’t sit where it’s obviously really sunny.’ Anna* is a secret digital nomad – someone who’s moved abroad and works remotely… while her boss believes she’s still in the UK. A breakup prompted her move to Barcelona, with a quick trip turning into a long-term stay when Anna realised she didn’t want to go back home. ‘I had to move out of the flat we shared and I was a bit of a los
Refinery29 •

Should We Get Paid To Do Job Interview Tasks?

Once a task has been submitted, unless explicitly stated otherwise, there’s nothing to stop a company from using your work or implementing your ideas. Essentially, when you complete a task you could be working for free – giving your time, energy and creative output for a position you might not even get. Of course, employers must have a way of vetting us and doing a task they assign is a good way to demonstrate our credentials and appropriateness for the position. But what if work you submit as p
Zero Waste Club Wholesale •

How to start a zero-waste store in the USA 🇺🇸 —

Thinking about setting up a zero-waste store? Then read this first. If you’re thinking of starting a zero-waste store knowing where to start can feel pretty daunting. With lots to consider you might be wondering what you should give your attention to first. But never fear, we’re going to share some wisdom and advice on some of the things you’ll need to consider if you’re thinking about setting up your own package-free shop. Before we start it’s worth mentioning that starting any business isn’t

How to manage cold weather food cravings - Habitual

Winter is well and truly here and for many of us, the dark nights and cold weather mean cosy nights spent snug indoors. As you start reaching for more jumpers, lighting the fire, and regularly nurturing a hot drink, you might find yourself craving different foods as well, like jacket potatoes piled high with fillings, platefuls of cheesy pasta, or big bowls of apple crumble. If all that sounds familiar, rest assured you’re not alone. When it’s chilly outside, many of us want to do nothing mor
Zero Waste Club Wholesale •

Let our new laundry sheets help lighten the load — Zero Waste Club Wholesale

So, how do they work? We know doing laundry can be a bit of a chore; from finding a product that doesn’t smell overpoweringly synthetic to needing Olympian strength to lift bulky boxes of laundry powder to the machine, it’s no wonder our laundry baskets tend to overflow. Until the laundry fairies make themselves known we’re pretty sure our laundry sheets are the next best thing. They couldn’t be easier to use; all you need to do is pop a sheet (or 2 if you’re doing a bigger load) into the drum
Zero Waste Club Wholesale •

Introducing our all-natural cleaners —

Natural cleaners, or enzymatic cleaners, are cleaning products that use bacteria (don’t worry, the good kind) to clean surfaces, break down dirt and deodorise funky smells; in short, they literally eat dirt - yummy. Made in sustainable ways that are kind to the planet, natural cleaners add to the environment rather than taking away from it. When you use a natural cleaner it gradually leaves behind what is called a biofilm, this refers to the increased amount of good bacteria which helps the goo
Zero Waste Club Wholesale •

3 Easy ways to make your office space eco-friendly —

How sustainable is your company? Have a good long think about it; the chances are you’ve got recycling bins, you’ve also probably cut down on the amount of paper you use or perhaps you've got some air-filtering plants dotted around the office. But what about all those other bits? The things like the coffee filters, tea bags, dishcloths and sponges in the kitchen - are these sustainable? Or what about gifting? Do you say thank you with sustainable, eco-friendly gifts or has this idea only just po

Five things you can do after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis

If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes it’s natural to feel worried; no doubt you have a lot of questions, fears, and concerns, and knowing what to do next can be like a daunting task. That’s why we’ve put together this list of five things you can do immediately after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. These steps will not only help you understand your diabetes diagnosis but will also help reduce your symptoms, alleviate your fears, and put you firmly back in charge of your health and

Everything you need to to know about gestational diabetes

Hormones have a lot to answer for, particularly when it comes to pregnancy. As your body prepares to welcome a new life into the world, fluctuating hormone levels can cause a whole host of changes; some are physical, others are mental, some will be temporary, and others might stick around. One such change is linked to the hormone insulin. During pregnancy your body might struggle to produce enough insulin, making it hard to process glucose properly. As a result, blood sugar levels rise and when
Habitual •

How to have a healthy pregnancy with type 2 diabetes

Pregnancy is an incredibly exciting time in any woman's life, but if you have type 2 diabetes it can come with a few extra concerns. While diabetes shouldn't stop you from having a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby, it’s worth reading up on some of the associated risks to make sure you and your baby are well cared for. High blood sugar levels can produce bigger babies, which can lead to complicated and difficult labours. Larger babies are often delivered by caesarean section, a procedure that
Habitual •

Mood-boosting ways to manage your diabetes

Managing type 2 diabetes can be incredibly difficult, and dealing with the physical side effects of the disease can often take a toll on mental health. Changes to blood sugar levels can have a direct impact on energy levels and anxiety levels as well as cloud thinking (brain fog, anyone?). Indirectly, the desire to make changes to your lifestyle may leave you feeling scared and uncertain as you learn new habits or try new things. In fact, a recent report found 45% of those with diabetes suffered
The Treatment Files •

Thinking about getting locs? Read this first

How to start your locs 'Any type of hair can do locs but the length of time it takes for the hair to become blended properly varies from person to person’ explains Deborah. There are three different ways you can start your locs, these are: For comb twisting and hand pressed twists you’ll need to wait 2 to 3 months before you can wash them. They may also look rough in the beginning and while Deborah can speed up the process by blending the hair with a locs machine, patience is key. As you start
The Treatment Files •

Lockdown restrictions are lifting and this is what we’re looking forward to doing the most

Worried about a second lockdown? This is how to lockdown-proof your locks That little bit of extra freedom was nice while it lasted but talks of a second lockdown are mounting. The country is already in tiers - and tears if hairdressers have to close their doors again. The first lockdown went from 0-to-100 reaaal quick, there was no time to squeeze in a last-minute haircut (what with all that hunting for toilet rolls). This time, we might not be certain it’s going to happen but that doesn’t mea
The Treatment Files •

How to avoid gym skin (yes, it’s a thing)

Gyms are set to open on the 12th of April and we’re more than ready to get back into working out regularly. But have you ever noticed that sometimes as your gym visits increase your skin starts to suffer? From rashes to spots to dull, tired-looking skin it could be your gym habits causing you to break out. Here are six things to bear in mind to keep your skin healthy while at the gym. It might sound obvious but make sure you shower immediately after you’ve sweat. Dry sweat can clog your pores c
The Treatment Files •

Afro hair - getting ready for your first appointment after lockdown

Think about what treatment you’re booking Your first visit to the salon is probably going to look a bit different and your hair might need something a little more than what you usually book. If your hair is feeling particularly dry and damaged or if you’re suffering from a dry, itchy scalp you should add an intense mask treatment to your appointment. Your hair might also need some extra protection so think about getting a protective style. Debora suggests African threading which helps to stretc
The Treatment Files •

Growing out your eyebrows ahead of salons reopening? Here are 3 things that will help

We’ve let our unruly brows run riot in lockdown, so an eyebrow shape is top of the list when salons reopen – there’s not long to go. Some of us have taken matters into our own hands, getting pretty good at shaping our brows (or doing just enough to keep the monobrow at bay). With just over a month to go now is the perfect time to put down the tweezers, leave the wax strips to one side and let those brows grow. A grown-out brow will give your therapist lots to work with and help you achieve a ne
The Treatment Files •

5 oils you should be using on your hair

If your hair is in need of some TLC try incorporating oils into your routine; this is a quick and easy way to keep your locks healthy and restore your mane to its shiny glory. Our hair goes through a lot; things like pollutants, the weather, over-styling and product build-up can wreak havoc on our hair, causing damage and making it look dull and lifeless. The gold standard when it comes to hair oil and likely the one you’ve heard lots about. Argan oil is rich in essential nutrients, vitamins a
Hormona •

Everything You Need To Know About Painful Periods

The dreaded time of the month; where we battle mood swings, bloating, eating our body weight in sugar and, worst of all, pain. The lucky ones amongst us might experience a bit of cramping, maybe a sore back but nothing a couple of painkillers can’t cure. For others it’s a different story with painful periods having us holed up in bed, feeling like the end is nigh. Why Do Our Periods Hurt? OK, so it sounds like an obvious question but have you ever thought about what’s really happening to your
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