Welcome to my blog
There is a lot of information around on the importance of looking after our health, like maintaining a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. This is all well and good if your aim is just to keep your body healthy. But what about your brain?
From chocolate to coffee and sleep, to sharper smarter thinking, join me for an article or three as I share insights, tips and ideas on what it takes to keep your brain operating at full speed, so you can wake up feeling refreshed, happier and healthier every day.
Welcome to my blog
There is a lot of information around on the importance of looking after our health, like maintaining a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. This is all well and good if your aim is just to keep your body healthy. But what about your brain?
From chocolate to coffee and sleep, to sharper smarter thinking, join me for an article or three as I share insights, tips and ideas on what it takes to keep your brain operating at full speed, so you can wake up feeling refreshed, happier and healthier every day.
The one thing that makes for a happier, longer life
Back in 1938, a group of researchers began a longitudinal study to answer the question,
“What makes a good life?”
Was it being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, having a good education and finding a well-paid job? Was it enjoying high social status and all the freedoms wealth can bestow?
Or was it something else.
They discovered the answer.
Is there one thing that might determine how likely it will be for you to live well in your hundreds, happy and well (and with your brain intact)?
Again, research suggests there is.
Are you having the right conversation?
It’s awkward right?
You’re having a conversation with a colleague, a friend or your partner and they share with you that things are not going well.
They’re worried, tired beyond tired, unsure they can keep going for much longer and feeling very depressed.
How do you respond?
Do you nod wisely and say “that sounds tough” before changing the subject?
Do you raise your hands in horror and say “OMG, you’re not going to do anything STUPID are you?”
Do you sit in panic wondering “what’s the right thing to do here?”
Loving Me, Loving You: Why is loving ourselves so hard to do?
How much do you love yourself?
Self-love is something many people struggle with, but it’s nothing to do with narcissism.
The narcissist sees themselves as being superior to others, they take no responsibility for their mistakes and seek constant recognition and validation for their brilliance. They show no consideration for others and are devoid of empathy.
Trust me, you’ll know when you’re in the presence of a narcissist and so will everyone else in the room.
Self-love is about self-acceptance despite our flaws and imperfections. Self-love grants us permission to embrace all our jiggly bits and to show ourselves compassion when we stuff things up. It’s essential to our own health and wellbeing and to be able to fully love another.
The Power of Vulnerability
How does vulnerability make you feel?
Is it something you shy away from?
Do you see it as a weakness?
Do you believe vulnerability is best kept behind closed doors?
While being vulnerable can be unpleasant sometimes, it is also an invaluable gift.
It reveals you as the human you are. Flawed, imperfect and capable of stuffing things up big time, just like everyone else.
It’s a gift because it helps others know that they are not alone, in how they feel and that despite the pain or suffering, you can recover and learn from the experience.
How to Overcome Workaholism and Flourish
The level of burnout and mental mood disorders at work has been rising rapidly, exacerbated by Covid. But the underlying problem was present long before we experienced the global pandemic.
A culture of expectation has evolved, where to be seen as committed, hard-working, a high achiever, high performer and successful you would always go the extra distance, working harder and for longer than everyone else. This is no place for slackers or going home on time.
If you’re climbing the corporate ladder, it’s expected you won’t complain about being asked to come in early, stay late, or take home the additional work to finish during the evening or weekend. Especially if you’re the boss leading by example.
It’s expected that you’ll have to make sacrifices. You won’t be able to attend your children’s concert, drama production, sport’s day, speech day or graduation ceremony. You will have to pull out (again) from that long arranged social event, long weekend away with your partner, family holiday or anniversary dinner. Even if you can go, you’ll still have your work mobile phone and laptop in case you need to be contacted, or an urgent meeting requiring your presence is needed.
The worst thing about work addiction is that it is socially sanctioned.
Is Coping Stopping You From Thriving?
You’re probably pretty good at coping. Goodness knows we’ve had a LOT to cope with over the last year or so.
Coping enables us to survive, to pull through, to keep going when the going gets tough, to not succumb.
I’ve always thought of coping as a good thing, a positive virtue and an essential part of our resilience skills until a recent conversation I had with a fabulous Professor of Paediatrics based in the States.
We were talking about anxiety and she advised how coping can actually hold us back from truly thriving.
And she’s right.