If you’re like most humans, you start the year with the best of intentions, and even start off quite well; taking action towards your goals or practising the new work-life balance you want. And it probably went quite well, until March at least (which is when, for many people, one wheel starts to wobble slightly), or until June-ish when winter kicks ... [Read On]
Need to fill your tank? How to retreat, rest and replenish this winter
If these cooler months here in New Zealand have you slowing down and feeling like hibernating then you’re not alone, and you are sensing exactly what your wondrous body and Spirit likely desires at this time. Think of the bear hibernating for the whole winter and it’s easy to recognise what our body might be craving: rest, quiet, solitude. ... [Read On]
Could you be getting caught up in “I’ll try” thinking?
How easy is it to get caught up in “I’ll try” thinking ?? Do you hear yourself say it to people? “I’ll try and get that to you by this time.” “I’ll try and be there.” “I’ll try and do it.” “I’ll try” can mean I’m going to do this, but really I’m not that keen or enthusiastic. Or it feels too much on top of what I’m already doing. Or I’m ... [Read On]
Is it time for a digital holiday?
As Easter approaches I'm diving into a week-long digital holiday. I haven’t actually done a proper digital holiday for a couple of years, but my whole being has been screaming for it, and it seems like a very good time to switch off and unplug. Being in nature is really all I’m in the mood for right now, and in amongst a bit of wet weather, I’ll be ... [Read On]
Are you taking good enough care of yourself right now?
Okay, so there’s a lot going down right now on the home front and around the world. Whether you’ve got a bunch of Covid cases in your workplace, are waiting with bated breath for mandates to be dropped, or concerned for Ukraine, it’s enough to put us a tad off kilter. I’ve had a few days of feeling a bit out of my usual flow and really needing to ... [Read On]
Are you being compassionate enough with yourself right now?
Wow, it’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the penultimate month of the year. And what a situation we find ourselves in. I’m feeling very aware of the multiple stressors that people are facing right now, and that they are not only many but also varied, especially for those in lockdown areas or those being severely affected by mandates ... [Read On]
These ain’t normal times, peeps (watch out for subliminal stress)
This week, one of the coach directories I belong to, Get Coached, posted a poignant message: You are not ‘working from home’. You are at home, during a crisis, trying to work. While I’m not a fan of dramatic words like ‘crisis’, it’s hard to argue with it right now. We all have a lot on our minds. There’s a lot going on, a fair amount ... [Read On]
I don’t believe in stress management
Although I specialise in stress and resilience, among other things, I actually don’t believe in managing stress or stress management. That’s a bit of a mind-bender for some, but this nuance in semantics is actually pretty important. These terms presuppose we’re going to have stress and it needs to be managed, which is buying into the paradigm ... [Read On]
Sometimes the practical tools are just not enough
I’ve always been quite a practical person – able to fix a blown fuse or repair a piece of broken china, or organise a kitchen to work well for the cook. And when I think about it, this actually pervades my approach to personal and professional change and stress transformation. As soon as I started specialising in stress and resilience for instance, ... [Read On]
Stripping things back to the essentials
For me, June has been a month of enjoying the simplicities of life; enjoying a thermos of fresh ginger tea on cold mornings, lighting candles in the early wintry evenings. With all the rain we’ve had here, I’ve been chasing the sun on the days it has appeared and soaking it up. I’m feeling like my solar battery has been filled up again. Sunshine is ... [Read On]