About the Get Up and Go Philosophy

Harnessing the Power of Words. More than a diary. A philosophy for living well.

Known as the creator of "the world's best loved transformational diary", Get Up and Go Publications exists to inspire people to live with intention, courage, purpose and ease - every single day.

Each diary is thoughtfully designed to encourage reflection, spark clarity, and inspire positive action. Filled with uplifting messages and meaningful quotes, it gently supports readers to reconnect with what truly matters most and to move forward with confidence.

Our diaries are designed to be a personal empowerment tool — a daily companion to help you design a life that feels meaningful, balanced, impactful and uniquely, beautifully yours.

With nearly 500,000 diaries, journals and planners sold over the past 19 years, and a growing global community, Get Up and Go Publications continues to support individuals, families, students, entrepreneurs, and leaders in living more intentional, fulfilling and empowered lives.

Words Matter

The words we read, think, share, listen to and repeat, shape how we see ourselves and how we show up in the world. Through encouragement, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and self-belief, we invite readers to consciously choose how they interpret and respond to life — and in doing so, gently change the direction of their days, weeks, and years.

Our Philosophy

We believe that how you start your day shapes everything that follows. Our philosophy is built on three powerful principles:

Forgive the past — let it go

The past does not define you. Releasing old regret and resentment creates new space for growth, freedom, and possibility. One of the most impactful things you can do in your life is to stop dwelling in what was, accept what is, and start creating what can be.

Live the present — the power of now

There is only one now. Your power exists in this moment - what you choose to do today is what shapes everything that follows tomorrow. Possibility exists in the present.

Create the future — thoughts become things

Thoughts influence actions. Actions build outcomes. When possibility and intention meets action, real change happens. Use your thoughts and words to inspire, motivate, and empower yourself — and others — to design and build the life of your dreams. Don't settle for predictable. Make the possible happen.

Leadership

CEO & Co-Founder

Dr Eileen Forrestal

Having spent 20 years as an anesthesiologist putting people to sleep (with drugs), I am now in the business of waking people up (with words).

Eileen Forrestal's journey to Get Up and Go Publications is a story of transformation, courage, and the healing power of words.

A Dublin native who has made her home in beautiful Sligo in the northwest of Ireland, Eileen spent over 30 years as a medical doctor, with 20 of those as an anaesthesiologist. During that time, she discovered The Irish Survivors Diary — a small motivational publication that she used to help her through her own challenges following the breakdown of her marriage. When she learned, in 2006, that its creator, Glenda Devlin, was about to let the diary go out of print, Eileen couldn't bear to see it disappear.

What began as a desire to save something meaningful became a catalyst for a complete transformation of her life. She approached Glenda while fundraising for a charity cycle in Cambodia, and the two women — instantly recognising each other's commitment to empowering people — formed a partnership that would become Get Up and Go Publications Ltd in 2008.

But Eileen's path wasn't always one of confident self-expression. For much of her life, a childhood stammer kept her silent, hidden in the shadows, fearful of speaking. That fear stopped her everywhere — until she discovered through coaching that freeing her authentic voice was the key to her own wellbeing and vitality. A brave conversation with her mother in 2001 healed years of suffering. Co-incidently, 2001 was the year that The Irish Survivors Diary was born!

In 2014, Eileen retired from medicine to devote herself fully to Get Up and Go Publications. In 2021, she published her memoir, The Courage to Shine: Find Your Voice and Discover the Healing Power of Your Words, sharing her personal journey from silence to full, joyful self-expression. Her next book, Embrace the Edge: Life is Bigger When You Say Yes!, is coming soon.

Today, Eileen is an author, speaker, certified coach, mentor, and accredited thought leader on wellbeing, recognised with an AIBF Fellowship for her contribution to the spirit of entrepreneurship in Ireland. She is also a Flow Consultant with Wealth Dynamics and co-creator of the Genius Journal with Roger Hamilton.

An avid global traveller, Eileen counts summiting Kilimanjaro, trekking to Everest Base Camp, cycling the Mekong Delta, parachuting from an aeroplane, flying a microlight over Victoria Falls, and even hypnotising a chicken among her adventures. She also famously appeared on Dragon's Den — proof that saying yes to life opens remarkable doors.

Eileen's mission is clear: to encourage you to live your best one-and-only life, right now. Through the Get Up and Go publications and her Shine Your Light coaching, she continues to inspire people to step beyond fear based, self-imposed limitations and into a world of curiosity, exploration, and courageous self-expression.

"We have one life. We have one opportunity to be who we are born to be and to make the unique contribution we are here to make."

Managing Director

Catriona McGloin

Originally from Kinlough, Co. Leitrim, Catriona brings a deep commitment to people, purpose, and positive impact to everything she does.

Before joining Get Up and Go Publications in 2016, Catriona worked with the Children's Medical & Research Foundation at Crumlin Children's Hospital in senior finance and fundraising roles — work that shaped her profound belief in the power of meaningful contribution and compassionate service.

Catriona is passionate about wellbeing, meaningful work, and creating products that genuinely support people through life's challenges and opportunities. She brings warmth, operational excellence, and a clear vision to leading the day-to-day business of Get Up and Go Publications.

She lives near Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of Ireland's northwest, and believes deeply in the power of connection, acknowledgement, contribution and intentional living.

Welcome to the journey.

Are you ready to live the life you've been dreaming of?

Our Commitment to B1G1: Creating Ripples Beyond Our Shores

"Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine" — It is in the shelter of each other that people live. This old Irish saying holds a truth we've always carried in our hearts at Get Up and Go: the ripples we create matter — not just in our own lives, but in the lives of people we may never meet, in places we may never see. That's why we're proud partners with B1G1 (Buy 1 Give 1), a global giving initiative that transforms everyday business transactions into meaningful impact.

For every diary, journal, and planner that finds its way into your hands, we make a giving contribution that touches lives across the world — whether it's providing days of access to clean water, planting trees to restore forests, supporting education for children who dream of brighter tomorrows, or helping communities build sustainable futures. It's not about grand gestures or performative charity. It's simply this: when you choose one of our products, you're not just investing in your own growth and wellbeing — you're extending a hand to someone else on their journey too.

We don't do this because it looks good on a website. We do it because it feels true to who we are. The village we speak of — the community of people supporting each other, walking each other home — doesn't stop at Ireland's shores. It stretches across oceans and borders, connecting us all in the most beautiful, human ways. Your journal becomes part of something bigger. Your daily reflections create ripples that travel far beyond the pages. And that, to us, is what it truly means to get up and go — not just for ourselves, but for each other.