Wise Wednesdays

Ever wondered what other people’s New Year’s resolutions are? Bearing in mind that £37million is wasted on unused gym memberships in the UK and that most people have given up on exercise by January, it may not be encouraging to know. But awareness of the odds against you might increase your likelihood of success. [Read on or watch the video below] A YouGov poll last year found that the most commonly made (and broken) New Year’s resolutions are: 1. Losing weight (48%): Particularly popular after putting on some holiday weight 2. Getting more exercise (41%) 3. Saving more money (32%) 4. Eating more healthily (37%): With so many diets and recommendations it’s difficult to know how these days. A good rule of thumb is to see food as nourishment rather than distraction or comfort. 5. Pursuing a career ambition (15%) 6. More time with family (14%) 7. Learning something new (11%): Learning a new language or skill requires time and effort so momentum can dampen once the i...

It’s the season for overwhelm! Finishing projects, getting things organised making sure everyone’s happy while trying to eat, sleep and breathe can be a challenge. Especially if you’re an over-giver or people-pleaser. You’re going to sacrifice yourself first at the expense of your health and wellbeing. Self-care might seem like a crime when there's so much to do... The problem is that the less functional you are, the lower your ability to help constructively. As a result, no one really benefits. Burnout is extremely common among people in the helping professions, and while the research is still in its infancy, predictive factors are excessive workloads and poor relationships. So what can you do? YOU FIRST Remember what they tell you on the plane? Put your oxygen mask on first! This is an excellent metaphor. A parent’s instinct might be to put the mask on their child, first. But the fact is that you might only have seconds at high altitude before you lose your ab...

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”  - John Lennon. How many times have you had a brilliant idea, inspiration or enthusiasm about something but didn’t take action on it? Then, the window of opportunity was lost and you regretted it? Perfectionism is one of the reasons this happens. Especially if you have imposter syndrome. You’ll tend to stick to what you already know and do well rather than face the risk of failure trying something new and different. One of the ways we can disguise our fear of failure is through endless planning and waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect opportunity, the perfect level of confidence, etc. And, life passes by. Ultimately, there’s no other way to live fully but to step towards the unknown – with its possibility of failure and loss.  [Watch the video or read on]. https://youtu.be/lww8-YQ5OS0 Last week, I watched the movie “Don’t worry. He won't get far on ...