Managing our mental health and wellbeing when anxiety kicks in

Many if not all of us suffer from anxiety at some time of our lives, and for various reasons. Sometimes we recognise the signs we have anxiety and do something about it, whilst other times we don’t recognise it, or ignore it, and we feel much worse. The symptoms are there but often we put them down to something else or try and rationalise and flick away. What are the symptoms? Symptoms are variable, but can include: Trouble concentrating or making decisions Feeling irritable, tense or restless Experiencing nausea or abdominal distress Having heart palpitations Sweating, trembling or shaking Trouble sleeping Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom We can all find it a challenge sometimes to keep our heads above water. We might have a successful business and struggling with our personal life. We might have a happy personal life but find running a business or managing

How Often do you Prioritise and How Often Should We Prioritise?

How often do we slip back into our bad habits and feel like we are not productive, only do the jobs we like rather than what we should be doing and then feel ineffective and inefficient. How often do we say we will change our habits and develop new ones and start prioritising with what is important to us personally or professionally and then never do it? How often should we prioritise and reflect on what we are doing and how we are doing it? Here are five great steps: Regular Check-ins: Schedule regular check-ins with yourself to assess your current priorities and actions. This could be a weekly or monthly reflection session where you review your goals, tasks, and overall direction. Define Clear Objectives: Clearly define your short-term and long-term objectives. Regularly assess whether your current activities align with these objectives. This helps ensure that your efforts contribute meaningfully to your

Do you Feel Guilty When You Take Time Out?

There are some of us who have absolutely no problem whatsoever in taking time out or off, and relaxing and chilling and realising that doing this keeps stress at bay, manages a great work / life balance and helps us maintain motivation, energy and our mindset, let alone our health and wellbeing. However, for the most part, people will take ‘time off’ but feel so guilty that the time off or out is marred by those feelings of ‘I shouldn’t be doing this’. If we are thinking this, then the time out isn’t going to be as productive. Below are four great tips to help you not to feel guilty taking time out or time off from work, career, or business and relaxing. Consider the four tips to help you manage any potential guilt when you want to take time out: Recognise the Importance of Rest: Understand that taking time for

How to Manage What People Think of us Personally or Professionally

It can be very hard managing what people might think of us, particularly when some of what we think is often assumption and far from the truth. There are some who say they don’t care what others think, and they really don’t. However, I would guess, these are more in the minority. We can often say we don’t care, but in reality, we do. And of course, what happens? We reflect on the worst thoughts at night-time, and this can affect our sleep and how we manage the next day. Below are six great tips to help you manage what people think personally and professionally, and hopefully in these there are some takeaways you can use going forward. Authenticity: Be true to yourself. Authenticity builds trust and credibility, both personally and professionally. People appreciate genuine individuals, and aligning your actions with your values creates a positive and lasting impression. Effective Communication: Clearly

Great Reasons Why an Accountability Buddy (Coach) is Helpful

You may have had a coach before, personal, business or other, you may not have done, for perhaps justified reasons. However, there are some really helpful reasons why having a good, qualified accountability buddy (coach) is helpful for everyone, both personally and professionally. Below are five key reasons why having an accountability buddy can help just in case this is something you are or may have considered. Maintaining Focus and Commitment: An accountability buddy, whether personally or professionally, helps you stay focused on your goals. Knowing that someone is aware of your objectives creates a sense of commitment, making it less likely for you to deviate from your intended path. Being on the journey with you can be motivational and inspirational too. Providing Support and Encouragement: During challenging times, having an accountability buddy offers emotional support. They can provide encouragement, offer perspective, and remind you of your capabilities, boosting your morale and

Difficulties in Career Changes – Things to Consider

Sometimes when you’re either in a job or have a business and whichever industry you’re in, there are times when a change in career is considered, however, for lots of reasons, choosing to do nothing is often the easy option, but not necessarily the best one. Changing careers is fraught with difficulties and there are some key things that need to be considered. Check out the five points below to help you navigate through these potential difficulties: Fear of the Unknown: Transitioning to a new career often involves stepping into unfamiliar territory. The fear of the unknown can be a significant barrier, causing anxiety and hesitation. Skills and Qualifications Gap: A shift to a different career may require new skills or qualifications. The gap between your current expertise and the requirements of the desired career can be a challenge to overcome. Financial Concerns & Preparedness: Changing careers might come with financial implications. There

Great Tips to Keep Motivated

Trying to be and stay motivated is and can be a challenge for all of us. There are some things we love doing, like doing, and those we avoid like the plague which can have consequences personally and professionally, and of course when this happens, it can be a de-motivator. When we’re tired our motivation drops, when we are feeling good our motivation increases, but it can be like a roller coaster with no even ground to keep us on an even keel and keep steady on an ongoing basis. Motivation is the driving force behind achieving goals and overcoming challenges. To be and sustain motivation, consider these four key tips: 1. Set Clear Goals: Define your objectives with clarity and specificity. Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable tasks. This not only makes the journey more manageable but also provides a sense of accomplishment as you progress. Having a roadmap

Managing work life balance

Aarghhh!!! How often are we hearing the importance of work life balance! Most of us know what we should be doing, but often have various excuses why our work life balance isn’t balanced. Some of convince ourselves we will ‘fix’ it or ‘sort’ it next week, next month, next year; soon… The trouble is time just disappears and before we know it we are heading into burnout! We live in a 24/7 world where expectations are high, demands are even higher, and we can often feel pressured about ‘doing’ more and doing it now! We feel we need to respond to that email right now even when we are working on something that is a priority! For some, a career change is what is called for, and when it takes place, we end up in the same situation. We may reduce our hours in work, but often still find ourselves

Managing your mental health and wellbeing personally and professionally when anxiety kicks in

We all struggle with our mental health from time to time, and sometimes when things are a little wobbly, we can become anxious which can affect our work, business and affect us on a personal and daily basis. Whilst mental health is more open nowadays, some of us still struggle with being open about it and asking for help. Having someone to talk to is important, however, it’s also important for us to have some strategies we can draw upon to help us whilst we are going through these dips. Below are five tips to help manage your mental health and wellbeing personally and professionally when anxiety kicks in. Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or meditation to centre yourself and manage anxious thoughts, both in personal and professional settings. Establish Boundaries: Clearly define boundaries between work and personal life to prevent burnout. Allocate dedicated time for self-care activities and

Six great steps in managing a successful business

Are you running a business? How effectively are you managing this? Are you perhaps considering buying or setting up a business? Are you wondering what aspects you need to help you with this? Either way, managing a business effectively requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses various aspects. Below are some aspects that might help you in doing this. Here are six key steps to successful business management: STRATEGIC PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING Define Clear Objectives: Establish a clear vision and specific, achievable goals for the business. Ensure these goals are aligned with the company's mission and values. Develop a Strategic Plan: Create a roadmap outlining the steps, timelines, and resources needed to achieve these goals. This plan should include contingencies for potential challenges and changes in the market landscape. EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND TEAM BUILDING Strong Leadership: Lead by example and inspire the team by fostering a positive company culture, setting clear expectations, and