Switching off on Holiday is VITAL to our Health

Many people do not switch off on holiday

With the rise in home working, hybrid working and the ease of technology – many people find they work every day on their holiday or weekends off.

The lines become blurred between work and home life or leisure time

Some workers do have pressure piled on them to perform and be productive, or can risk being missed off the Rota or bonus incentives.

This can cause huge stress and anxiety – leading to Burnout.

Excessive pressure is actually counterproductive as productivity levels actually fall.

Rising stress levels and tiredness leads to loss of concentration – resulting in accidents, which involves monetary costs, loss of hours through sickness or injury and therefore loss in productivity, and risking losing a good reputation.

Mental and Physical Health can be seriously compromised, not to mention what it does to home life and relationships.

Blood pressure can go up, there can be trouble sleeping and tension at home and not being present when you are there.

Strong argument to switch off, however many do not!

So, despite strong arguments for a total detox by switching off – why is it people don’t? Other than the pressures already mentioned, there is also the pressure we put on ourselves.

Sometimes it is FOMO – the Fear Of Missing Out and that maybe things won’t run as well if we are not there!

For some it is the need to provide, to pay the bills and of course this is important and an absolute necessity, but we mostly find – the more we earn the more we spend!

Time is a commodity we cannot get back.

Maybe we are so passionate about our work that we believe we don’t need a break from it – the saying ‘If you love what you do, then you never work a day in your life’ – Great! However, your life generally does not consist of just You, or if it does then where does that leave you, if one day you turn around from your hours of hard work and find you are alone?  That may sound profound, however ‘No person is an Island’ and everyone needs balance in their life and times where love and support is needed

Holidays = Priceless & VITAL

Holidays – a total switch off & detox from your normal work routine, regardless of what that ‘holiday’ entails really is priceless

We can have pressures to have super-duper holidays that break the bank – which is not recommended you don’t want your holiday to be cause of more stress and feeling the need to work long hours to pay for it. It can take some careful planning and budgeting, but once you have decided on your holiday – then be fully invested in the precious time off.

Time off makes your happier

Having proper ‘time out’ and ‘switching off’ is something you can’t quantify. Recharging your batteries, connecting with those closest to you, and the things you enjoy doing and having good ‘ole FUN makes you a happier, more connected, balanced, productive person.

Connect and be fully present

Connecting with the people closest to you and being fully present, is something you and they will treasure for all their lives. Children especially value having you around and that you value spending your time with them. When you are always in ‘work mode’ the people around you feel they are not important to you.

Recharge your batteries

Have FUN and rekindle old hobbies or find new ones

Create precious memories

Totally switch your mind off gives you space & helps your find solutions or come up with great ideas

You feel Happier and Healthier

Leave work at work

So, decide how important the things that happen in work are while you are on holiday? What difference could you make from your sun lounger – really?

Plan effectively before you go; delegate tasks, or put them on hold, put trust in your staff (if you have them), let clients know you are ‘out of office’ and look forward to connecting with them when you are back – they absolutely get it.

If you are an employer; showing you respect and value your employees’ time off and their well-being – you get loyal more productive staff. Being valued is number 1 for employees.

Have confidence to set your boundaries and recognise the importance of investing in your health & well-being – you will have the best time and come back refreshed and ready to go.

So, go on – switch that ‘out of office’ on for emails and leave the work phone at home – why not? You have earnt it!

Andrea

6 week course ‘Confidence to be your Best You’

I am delighted to be running a 6 week course

The results I have had so far from other courses is amazing and I am so passionate about helping you develop Confidence and feel happier about being YOU and to go forward with what you want to do.

I have published the courses on social media and already had such amazing support and feedback

‘Liz Bylett – This is such an awesome course, I had the pleasure of attending a class that Andre ran which was very similar, yes I am very confident in many areas of my life but I believe we can all learn something new and Andrea’s extensive knowledge in this area inspires and embeds tools and resilience to deal with life’s challenges.

Yes it was brilliant wasn’t it?? Thoroughly recommended! – Julie Quick

I am working with Andrea now and she is amazing . X   – Julie B

Sarah Hawes – This course will be amazing if you’re looking to be more confident and happy.
I can highly recommend Andrea – she has changed my life with her hypnotherapy and is such a lovely person – just right for a course like this!’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a2b-6-week-course-confidence-to-be-your-best-you-tuesdays-tickets-49530037676?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a2b-6-week-course-confidence-to-be-your-best-you-saturdays-tickets-49530581302?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

 

I hope to see You

Andrea

Stress and Anxiety

A lot of people who come to see me are suffering with what they think is Anxiety, when in fact it is Stress and overwhelm.

Mindfulness practice can help, even just taking a deep slow breath, and giving yourself a ‘PAUSE’ to then choose and decide how you would like to proceed – even if it is to take some time out from a situation, even for 10 minutes.

Do you need to be saying ‘NO’  to taking on more than you can cope with? If you want to do a great job for someone – which is also taking on their expectations and standards too, coupled with your own – do you really have the time to do a great job for them?

A great way to say ‘No’ is ‘Let me check I have the time, to do a good job for you‘ – then really think about whether you do have the time, or that you even want to do what is being asked of you. you can say ‘No’ but add,’ it’s only No for now, as I’m so busy and can’t take anything else on‘ or is it maybe time that someone took their own responsibility – maybe you could offer to do part of what is being asked – if they also do their bit!

You can question why you may always be saying ‘Yes’

Questions to ask yourself – which can help you with Stress and Anxiety

‘What’s the worst that could happen – really?’       Think about this question – what is the worst really? in some scenarios it could be that someone is unhappy, even angry, that you are not doing what they want. Can you deal with that? probably you can.

‘is how I feel right now helpful to me and the situation?’ then ask yourself ‘what would serve me and the situation better?’ It takes a bit of practice, but if you forget to ask yourself – you will then reflect – which is all a process of learning – do cut yourself some slack – you’re a human, with emotions, and if you are stressed or anxious, your emotions are heightened.

For Anxiety – a great question is ‘where is my evidence that what I am worried about IS going to happen?’ Anxiety is worrying and projecting that worry into the future ‘what if…’ – something that happened in the past, is not evidence for what has not happened yet! If you are able to think instead of the best possible outcome (you can if you can think of the worst!) then your ‘mindset’ changes – into one of possibility – this then means you approach the situation differently, more positively – so the ‘odds’ of things going better than expected are raised.

So, ‘what if…it goes better than expected? that I meet someone interesting, or have fun, or make a valuable connection, or I am able to make someone smile, help them and make their day better?’

YOU CAN 🙂

please contact me if you want to know more

S is for Stress – 30 tips to help you feel less stressed

Stress is most normally due to an external factor.

We have all felt ‘stressed’ at times, even ‘super stressed’ when for example it reaches house moving day or starting a new job / business, school or college. Or if there are financial problems, work concerns, or a breakdown in relationships, at home or at work, or family concerns.

We generally do get through it though, because there is usually an end to it, and once the ‘pressure’ is off, you can sigh with relief and the state of feeling stressed will dissipate. It can be frustrating if things don’t go exactly as planned, but we do generally cope, once the cause has been dealt with effectively, or a resolution is found, the stress then lessens and normally goes all together

In certain situations that a certain amount of stress and anxiety is expected and can drive us forward, like when taking an exam, doing a public speech, acting, performing in a competition whether sports, or music etc…

In a work situation feeling pressured into accomplishing a job by a certain deadline, can focus your attention to complete the task, likewise with a written assignment or project, and motivate you to do your best.

We all deal with stress differently and usually manage to alleviate it effectively and positively

Stress is a normal part of life and apart from a heightened level of cortisol, it is usually mixed in with a healthy dose of adrenaline, to sharpen our responses, (not quite to the same level of heightened anxiety which occurs in a threatening or dangerous situation – the ‘fight fright flight’ response, which ultimately can save our life). Though there can be similar physical symptoms due to the release of cortisol, and the adrenal glands releasing adrenaline, like a more rapid heart beat and sweating, but stress tends to not to include feelings of impending doom like anxiety, it is rather feelings of being pressured or frustrated, or ‘up against it’.

However, a stressed state can not be sustained day in and day out, it stops being helpful to you if prolonged, and becomes known as Chronic Stress.

When stress takes over, and you start to feel overwhelmed and constantly time pressured. Having unrealistic demands and goals to reach, in unreasonable time frames, set by yourself or others, and cease to find enjoyment in what you do.

Read More

50 tips to help you get your happy on!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50 things seems like a long list, but it will take you only a few minutes to find something that works for you

We all have challenging times with circumstances that we have created* or situations beyond our control.

*Our thoughts, feelings and actions, or reactions, whether intentional, or without proper thought have a cause and effect, and can sometimes create circumstances we feel we have no control over, or fear facing up to.

Either way, we can feel unhappy, with ourselves, with others, or the circumstance / situation. Feeling unhappy does not help our situation. We can also feel that our level of happiness is at the hands of, or the responsibility of others, or that some ‘thing’ will have to happen to ensure our happiness.

However, there is a lot we can do to change how we feel and get our happy on! This in turn can change the way we feel about ourselves, others and the circumstance and situation, and can lead to us dealing with it, or resolving things in a better, more positive way, which of course then increases our happiness levels.

It can be quite a concept to get your head around sometimes, but what happens when you do, is amazing, as any one situation or person, will not affect your whole day, or week, or whether you feel happy.

I have personally spent time getting my head around this, and it isn’t that I don’t ever feel unhappy, I just don’t ‘live there’! I live more in the moment, and spend far more time engaged in what is going on around me, and being present with others, knowing that I alone control whether I think or feel happy, resulting in my overall happiness levels going up 😊

The key is taking responsibility for your own happiness and knowing that it truly comes from within.

50 things to do, to get your happy on!

  1. Listen to uplifting happy music
  2.  Sing at the top of your voice
  3. Dance – maybe look at joining a dance class to learn to dance, or for social reasons or both
  4. Do a silly dance! Great to do with young children, they love it
  5. Go for a walk outside – even 10 minutes can help
  6. Exercise – there is so much you can do: cycling, swimming, running, walking, football, cricket, bowls, go to the gym, aerobics, Pilates, yoga, Zumba, karate, climbing… even better is to buddy up with someone, or join a group.
  7. Get away from your desk – especially do move away from your desk for lunch.
  8. Have a power nap
  9. Write down how you feel and then rip it up – very satisfying and literally gets bad thoughts out of your head
  10. Shout and scream! Somewhere where you’re not going to frighten anyone! I sometimes go to a quiet beauty spot and sit in my car and yes shout!
  11. Eat or drink something tasty and nutritional –  maybe try out a new recipe, and have fun finding the ingredients, an then cooking the dish
  12. Eat something that smells amazing like an orange, or use essential oils. Up-lifting smells have a very positive affect on us.
  13. Watch a comedy, or a funny clip
  14. Think abut something you are proud of achieving or overcoming
  15. Think about the people who love you, and who you love
  16. Be nostalgic – research has shown it helps your happiness levels
  17. Have a hug – touch is unbelievably therapeutic
  18. Be with your favourite people
  19. Stroking and caring for pets, has proven benefits for our happiness and well-being
  20. Do something childish, with or without a child in tow!
  21. Plan something lovely to do
  22. Read poetry
  23. Do something for someone else, or give a compliment, send a nice message or buying someone dear to you their favourite treat – seeing others feel happy helps boost our own happiness
  24. Smile – just the act of smiling reminds us to be happy
  25. or pull silly faces – sounds daft, but the dafter the better – it will make you laugh
  26. Tell some jokes
  27. Treat yourself – this does not necessarily mean a purchase, it could be watching your favourite tv show or film, or reading – uninterrupted
  28. Take ‘time out’ to actually do nothing, day dream, cat nap, just be and relish the silence
  29. Practice mindfulness – the benefits are huge – and a lot of what has been mentioned is a form of mindfulness – though you can sit quietly and become aware of your breathing, notice the chair you are on, things in the room, or if you are outside
  30. Meditation – is a deeper level of mindfulness, and can really work for you
  31. Practice Gratitude – this has an amazing affect, if practiced daily. Try having a note book you write down three things you are grateful for, or that make you smile, everyday either before going to sleep or as you wake up.
  32. Buy some flowers, for yourself or someone else
  33. Watch something ‘cute’ – why do you think animal posts and videos rank top!
  34. Ensue you are getting good quality sleep – have a good bedtime wind down routine
  35. Have a bubble bath
  36. Go for a bracing walk by the sea, or in the countryside
  37. Spend time with family and friends
  38. Look at photos from happy times
  39. Do something you have been meaning to do, like read a book, sign up for a course, do some drawing, plan your next trip
  40. Declutter – it could just be your desk, a draw, or wardrobe / room
  41. Give items you don’t use to charity
  42. Maybe sell some items and make yourself some money for a project, or something you want
  43. Ease off on the pressure you could be putting on yourself, or the need to be ‘perfect. Easing off, actually helps us be more productive, and this then increases our happiness levels
  44. Get into your pyjamas as soon as you get home and put fresh washed bedding on your bed
  45. Makes the best hot chocolate ever, with real chocolate and marshmallows!
  46. Have a break from social media
  47. Ring someone you haven’t spoken to in a while
  48. Forgive someone – forgive yourself. Practising forgiveness is powerful and is about You feeling better. It is not about condoning bad behaviour, but about understanding it possibly, or not, but letting go anyway. Maybe it’s you who need to make an apology?
  49. Being in-touch with how you feel and having a good cry can be just the thing you need to do, to release and let go, so do allow it. It is ok to not feel ok, so long as you don’t then ‘live there’
  50. Practice ‘switching’ your unhappy thoughts to better, more positive ones and ask yourself things like ‘will feeling unhappy help me?’ ‘what’s the worst that could happen – really?’

Andrea