Emotions are amplified at Christmas and for many people it’s a stressful and challenging time. So this week, I’ve created a moment of calm, a reflection piece, words and music to help quieten the mind and soothe the soul. If you get overwhelmed by everything that clamours for your attention at this time of year, if you’re carrying the loss of a loved one, or if you simply want a moment of respite in the midst of the busyness, then I’d like to think you’ll find this episode worthwhile. This week also marks the 150th episode of my podcast, so my heartfelt thanks to everyone who tunes in each week.

This week, I’m speaking about my favourite books of 2023, so this is an episode for the books lovers. I’ve narrowed down everything I’ve read over the last 12 months to my top 10 books. There should be something for everyone, from insightful biographies of figures I admire, page turning novels and of course some personal development books that generated plenty of ‘aha’ moments.

This week’s I’m focusing on a topic that is gaining more traction when it comes to general well-being and that’s awe. It’s a tiny word, but a vast concept. Awe is a deep, rich feeling, that I believe we all crave. We want to feel the wonder of the world, not the weight of it. I speak about how awe benefits us, the humility, compassion and creativity it stimulates, as well as the ways we can open ourselves to experiencing more awe in our lives. I also share my experiences of awe, those moments that stopped me in my tracks and more often than not, brought a lump to my throat.

This week, the tables have been turned as Nichola Flood, aka the Queen of Health, interviews me about my experiences of burnout. This conversation was first broadcast on Nichola’s YouTube Channel (where you can see us as well as listen to us!) In our open and honest chat, I speak about my health challenges, the symptoms of exhaustion I experienced and how I’m navigating a path forward. 

How do I know it’s time to change jobs? It’s a question most of us have asked ourselves at some point. This week I’ll take you through the different motivations for changing jobs, the  push and pull factors, criteria to consider and the pitfalls to avoid. I also pose some coaching questions to help you gain clarity on your specific situation. 

There are 1440 minutes in the day, and this week I’m ensuring that we take just 5 minutes for ourselves. This is a new type of episode for me, as it’s a reflection piece, a combination of words and music that hopefully encourages some introspection. Most of us are busy managing responsibilities and juggling commitments that we rarely have a chance to pause, reflect and remind ourselves of how far we’ve come and what’s truly important. 

A conversation with a man with 100K unanswered emails and a woman who realised she couldn’t be in two places at once, were the joint inspiration for this episode on time management. We all know the fundamentals of effective organisational skills, so this week I’m focusing on 5 key distinctions that make all the difference when it comes to being focused, proactive and productive. These tips gives us an enhanced sense of control over our workflow and are a counterbalance to feelings of overwhelm, which for me, makes organisational skills a key part of my self-care routine.

This is the time of year when trees shed their leaves. It prompted me to think, what can I shed? In this week’s episode, I suggest 5 areas where we can contemplate what we can drop, including goals or ambitions that no longer serve us, as well as habits and routines that may be beyond their sell-by date. By pondering the question – what I can shed, or drop we are aligning with the cycle of nature.