I’ve lost hope before. When I’ve been ill. Alone. Broke. Sad. Angry. Grieving. I realised recently that as I made my way through those times and came out the other side, even though I may have given up hope at times, it was still there. It's really not easy to see when you're in the thick of it. Maybe you've given up. Perhaps you're in ... [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]
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]
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]
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]
Resetting After Lockdown – Free Online Class
Exhausted after lockdown? Lost your mojo or drive? Want to fill your tank again? Catch my free online masterclass to help you get back on track. SIGN UP NOW ▲ If your motivation or energy levels are dwindling, or if you feel like crawling under a rock at the moment, you are not alone - this is happening for many people right now, ... [Read On]
What’s your idea of an ideal week?
I have Wednesday’s off. With the odd exception, Wednesday is a completely non-work day for me. I’m a big fan of the four day week. It’s a shift I’ve seen a number of clients make over the years. I have a number of clients who have gone from a very strict 45-hour week running 8am to 5pm or thereabouts, to flexing their hours between work and ... [Read On]
Anyone else not ready to jump into busy-ness?
Are you feeling like you’d love another few weeks to play, hike, windsurf, go beaching, curl up with a book, hang out with loved ones, watch old movies (or binge Netflix) or my fave - lie on the grass under a tree? Or are you just taking a little while to step into the year or work with full gusto? I typically spend the 1st of Jan ... [Read On]