“Are you ready for Christmas?” Five words that can raise your blood pressure in a nanosecond. If you say “Yes” – you bought your presents back in the summer sales AND wrapped them, you sound horribly smug.

For some of us, Christmas is the highlight of the year – nothing can compete with the buzz of excitement that the season brings: the colours, the lights, the parties and the presents.

Have you ever felt so inspired by another person’s artistic imagination that you can’t wait to get home and use that as a springboard for your own creativity?

It doesn’t matter if you’re 16 or 60. Hearing that one of your closest friends is relocating, or travelling for an extended period of time, can be tough – even if you’re really happy for them.

How often do you hear people say ‘Oh, I can’t write to save my life’? It seems so harsh. Because the truth is, everyone can write, and writing for wellbeing is something that we can all do, whether we got an A* in English at school, or not.

That melancholy feeling, a sadness you can’t quite put your finger on, and a lack of energy. There’s no mistaking the Autumn Blues.

You’ve got a new job? Congratulations! Whether it’s your first full time job out of college, or you’re already on that career ladder, being offered a new job feels good.

Summer’s the time to take a ‘natural break’

It’s common for most of us to take some kind of break in the summer.

When it comes to exams, it can feel like we’re trapped in an endless cycle. Once you, or your children, hit your teens, there’s always another exam on the horizon. And another set of exam results.

Travelling is good for body and soul. It gives us a chance to power down and recharge our batteries. And you don’t have to trek to the Andes either, or spend your gap year backpacking. Just escaping for a few days in the country, or visiting a different city, is a bitesize travel adventure too.

Falling asleep is like knowing there’s a lovely, comforting safety net beneath you. And all you have to do is let go – and sink into it. But letting go can be easier said than done. The days are longer, the nights are warmer – and summertime can play havoc with your sleep pattern. Especially if you’ve got exams looming and your brain just can’t switch off.

Can you believe that our Zebra Pen Brand Ambassadors have been spreading the word and sharing the love for twelve whole months?! A massive thank you to them for helping us grow the Zebra Pen online community.