Mindfulness at Work

Relaxation: learn to remain still

Stillness is very powerful.

Mindfulness is a commonly used term these days. However it is true that meditation or just being still brings calmness which enhances your concentration, lowers blood pressure and aids sleep quality. All are good for enhancing your performance at work and improves your well-being.

The simplest way to induce stillness is to take deep breaths.

3-4-5 breathing is a simple exercise devised by @Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

1. Breath in for 3 seconds.

2. Hold your breath for 4 seconds. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Relaxation: eat a meal at a table

For many of us today is the first day back at work. How did you get on with ensuring you got 15 minutes downtime? If you have not managed it, there is still time this evening – perhaps a lovely bath or listening to a favourite piece of music.

Do remember this time is for you and should not be done alongside a task like making dinner….

Here is another suggestion for relaxation   – eat a meal at a table with a friend, colleague or loved one.

Humans are social beings and have greater feelings of well-being when they feel more connected to others. As you are sitting it helps your body to move out of the ‘fight or flight’ mode and your digestion improves. You will be inclined to eat less which helps all of us who are watching our weight. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Your Soul Family – one year old

Your Soul Family – one year old!

Next week it will be a year since I left my corporate job to pursue Your Soul Family (YSF). My aim is to help others find a calmness and sense of completeness for a happier life using YSF techniques.  YSF helps you to take an honest look at yourself, to explore your inner wisdom in order to guide where you want to go.

I left work with what I thought was a publishing ready book and a publisher showing interest in it.  My year has taken many twists and turns with some highs and lows… It certainly has not been boring; in fact I have learnt so much and am continuing to learn.  This really is a whole new career. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Are you a confident person?

Are you a confident person?

A lot of people ‘fake’ being confident but sometimes their language can give them away.  An interesting article by Bernard Marr highlighting the language of less confident people.  It has received a lot of interest.

10 Phrases truly confident people don’t use by Bernard Marr

While I agree with Bernard Marr, I have also noticed that people who are very direct sometimes use this style of language to try to soften their messages. What have you found? read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Life Lessons: 3 key lessons to appreciate your team

Life Lessons: 3 key lessons to appreciate your team

Much has been said about Theresa May over the weekend by people more eloquent than myself.  My observation is that she is having to learn some hard life lessons in a very public manner about the value of working as a team.  No matter what your political views may be, Theresa needs our compassion as she learns these lessons.

In the middle of leading a large change programme, I was unexpectedly widowed and survived that period in my life through acts of kindness at work and at home. Over night my whole value base shifted to fully recognise the importance of people.  This was not just for my husband, who sadly I had lost, but also for the value the other people in my life brought. These are the values I believe we need for innovative, creative leadership to be successful. They are ones Theresa May is having to learn very publicly – the value of a team working together, the different individual contributions team members can make and learning to listen to people. read more

By Alison Wem, ago