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.
Mental wellbeing. What’s empathy got to do with it?
What has been happening in Afghanistan is truly horrible. Watching the news bulletins of the chaos, the fear and an increasingly desperate situation, it’s hard not to be touched by the human suffering.
Are you an empath?
Are you a person highly sensitive to the emotions of others that, courtesy of your mirror neurons enables you to feel what they feel as a shared experience?
Or do you see it as just another example of woo-woo, irrelevant touchy-feely stuff and found only in “Petals.”
Empathy matters because it is essential to your mental wellbeing, and studies have shown how empathetic leaders are seen as more trustworthy, and fair.
The problem is, our ability to show empathy is becoming endangered courtesy of a hostile environment and even some of the medications we use.
But like other aspects of wellbeing, empathy can be learned and strengthened.
What do you do to stay empathetic to the needs of those around you?
Burnout and Depression Are Not the Same. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Are you worried you’re burning out but not sure what to do about it?
Or, maybe you’re beyond exhaustion but you’re being told by family and friends, it’s probably depression.
Burnout is real, it’s becoming increasingly common but it’s inherently preventable and very manageable. In this article I examine what burnout is and why it’s not the same as depression.
Why Our Approach to Mental Health Desperately Needs to Evolve
Hats off to Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles for having the courage to speak out about their recent mental health challenges. Thank goodness. Because the more we speak out about our struggles (and if you’re human there’s a good chance this might include you) the more we...
Five Ways Possibility Thinking Can Get You Unstuck
OK. So, here is the news. Brace yourself folks. Last year (2020) we witnessed the beginning of a global pandemic. From that time, we have been bombarded with a constant stream of updates about the horrors inflicted by the virus, the misery, the deaths and the...
How to Deal with Too Much “Bleh”
Not happy, not sad, just “bleh”? It’s a sign you’re not flourishing, and if not addressed could put you at higher risk of a mental mood disorder like anxiety or depression.
There is no ONE solution rather it’s often a combination of those activities you’ve discovered from past experiences that cheer you up and make you feel better. None are right or wrong. This is about what works for you.
Quiet! The Restorative Sound of Silence
Noise is a stressor. Our brain longs for quiet. It helps to alleviate stress, restores cognitive function, boosts brain health and elevates performance concentration and insight. Celebrating silence is something we often avoid, it can make us feel awkward when there is a lull in the conversation, panicky when exposed to silence in an unusual format or even lonely.
In an increasingly nosy world knowing how to find enough quiet can be tricky, but there are a number of things you can do.