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
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
Lockdown Resources to Help You Thrive
Dear ones, Here in New Zealand we've found ourselves plunged into a very sudden level 4 lockdown and whilst it was very much on the cards, it’s still very jarring and very disruptive. There are a lot of very’s in that sentence but I guess that’s the nature of the week we’ve had! Here are a range of free resources at Start With You to help to ... 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
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
Worn Out? Stressed? It Could be Covid Stress.
If you’ve not been feeling quite yourself lately, feeling low, stuck in a lot of stress, or have lost your motivation or mojo, welcome to humanity. You’re not alone. And it could be Covid stress or some form of the ‘Covid blues’. We’re in a pandemic. Life has changed. And it’s affecting people in many different ways. Numerous people I’ve spoken ... Read On
Top Hacks for Surviving the Rest of the Work Year
Every year I’m aware of this run-up to Christmas and what are New Zealand's main summer holidays. I find that some people during this time are virtually dragging themselves to the end. It’s a time when the busy year can start catching up with you, and where if you haven’t had enough time off through the year it starts to take its toll. Of ... Read On
Want to start or refresh a meditation practice?
Meditation has become known as one of the most effective ways to relieve stress, find more peace of mind and build mental resilience. It’s also a doorway to spiritual growth for many seekers. For someone wanting to simply make a start, it can feel a little daunting. Where do I start? What kind of meditation should I do? How do I sit for? When ... Read On
Re-Valuing What Matters to Us and Enrich our Lives
There are endless angles we could look at our present situation from, and one that has been present for me is how this is waking us up freshly to what really matters. Just one street down from me is a native forest which I am constantly grateful for. It’s full of walking tracks and during a typical week I walk down there a few times. I know I ... Read On
There is nothing tidy about what we are going through
I’m noticing how differently people are responding to this situation, as we certainly have different circumstances to navigate. There are two scenarios I really want to speak to for a moment that you might relate to. The first is that you might be coping really well right now, you might be feeling clear-headed, able to make good decisions and ... Read On