Many of my work practices are based on how they affect my well-being. Considering well-being is my business, this is no surprise, and I’m in a position where I can test them out. Over the years, I have developed a few ways to manage workload and would like to share two of them with you.

Lacking time? Rather than feel wretched because you can't create more time, work on other dimensions instead, namely space and energy. Create more space for yourself: get rid of clutter, stuff, and distractions. This helps with clarity and is one of my favourite ways of feeling better in work. Then, create more energy for what you are doing. This will help you to focus, to say no when necessary and get to better return of investment on time you have used up.

How possible does this seem to you? I’d love to hear what you think. ​

On Sunday, I went to a fascinating lecture by Dr Paul Batman on non-exercising activity thermogenesis (NEAT), which describes the energy expended for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating or sports-like exercise. It ranges from the energy expended walking to work, working in the garden, doing housework and DIY and fidgeting. In other words, getting benefits from moving more all through the day, rather than doing one exercise class/gym session and sitting idly for the rest of the day.
I love to potter around the house and garden and find that this really suits my body: constant up/down and side-to-side movements of gardening, putting things away, and cooking are all ‘activities’ that mean my body is not stuck in one position for too long, nor is it under too much strain or stress. It is how we are built to move. Therefore, this week I am advocating the Pottering Principle, a phrase I coined whilst listening to the lecture. I regularly talk about how many of the movements we do in my exercise classes can be incorporated into everyday life (while brushing teeth, waiting for the kettle to boil, watching adverts, etc.) but the PP goes one step beyond that: making sure you move more and between positions, using multiple muscles, while reducing your sedentary time. 

Movement is a privilege, not a chore. How will you potter more this week? I’d love to hear from you. 
​
For more information about NEAT, click here.​

Are you a procrastinator? I can be, and have found that it is not only the thief of time, it is also the creator of subtle inner tension. You know you are cheating yourself.

There are three secrets to overcoming procrastination.

1. Don't wait till you feel like doing it - the feeling will come only when you start doing it.
2. List all the things you have to do and then prioritise the list.
3. Create a vision of the result and be motivated by the vision of the outcome, not the thought of the process.

And the options to those ideas? One - ask for help. Two - completely forget about it, you don't have to do anything! Three - if there is anything you can learn from the process then see it as action learning.
​
Six ways to overcome procrastination... Do you have other ideas? Let me know.