Every month I’ll scratch my head, wondering what to write about in this little monthly email, asking myself if people will actually be interested in the topic? And if my take on it will resonate?
The issues that receive the most praise tend to be the ones where I just pick up the laptop and type out how I’m feeling, sharing personal stories - the good and the bad.
Last month I opened up about coping during the hard times, I talked about a topic that’s really hard for me to discuss, and I shared my tips on becoming more resilient.
We need to normalise talking about mental health, especially in the workplace. And whilst you might be feeling happy right now, could you be doing more to feel even happier?
This month I’d like to talk about four things improving my mental health that I’m really proud of, covering:
Motivation
Moderation
Inspiration
Achievement
1) Motivation
Those that know me personally, know I’m not the biggest sports fan, and in my adult life I’ve never really had a hobby to keep fit.
Just before I left London in August 2021, I’d finally found the hobby for me - Track Cycling. It was fun, fast, and hard work. But sadly, the nearest Velodrome to Newcastle is Manchester, so that passion was very short-lived.
I tried the gym for a bit, and was consistent for a while, but I find it quite boring to be honest. There was no excitement and it felt a bit lonely.
I love combat sports, and when I was 10 years old, I studied Kung Fu and won a tournament, but I didn’t stick it out and it’s always been a big regret of mine.
So recently I decided to put myself out there and get into Kickboxing. I’d been looking at the club’s Instagram as an outsider for over a year, but hadn’t plucked up the courage to go along and get stuck in.
I'm only eight sessions in, but it’s completely changed my life. My recovery time is decreasing with each session, my endurance is increasing, and I’m already feeling the progress.
I love the routine, my sessions are at a set time, and because of the grading, I’m able to track my progress (although I have a little while to go until my first belt). I’m becoming more disciplined, and more motivated in my day-to-day life. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
2) Moderation
Recently I decided to cut down on my alcohol consumption and break the social norm. You don’t need to drink to have a good time, and I can have plenty of fun without it.
I went on my first sober night out, drank a couple of 0% beers and absolutely loved them.
For those that don’t know, I came to NORTH from the brewing and hospitality world. I’m an accredited Beer Sommelier, and I'll always be incredibly passionate about beer. I love the stories behind the brews, the wide range of styles, and of course the flavour profiles.
The innovation in NoLo (no and low alcohol) is incredible, and you can now enjoy a proper beer without the need for any alcoholic content. My favourite brew is ‘Lucky Saint’ - definitely a brand I’d love to have on the NORTH books!
I haven’t cut out drinking all together, but moderation is key. There’s nothing better than waking up on a Saturday morning with a completely fresh head, ready to take on the world.
For those unfamiliar with Rick, he’s a record producer with a ridiculous amount of successful hits and artists to his name. He founded Def Jam Recordings whilst at college, and went on to work with: Jay-Z, The Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, AC/DC, Metallica, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Eminem, and Linkin Park. He was also responsible for the revival of Johnny Cash!
His book covers lots of short chapters discussing the methodology, ideas, and path of being a creative.
Here are a few quotes that stood out to me:
“Living in discovery is at all times preferable to living through assumptions”
“Sharing art is the price of making it. Exposing your vulnerability is the fee”
“There’s a reason we are drawn to gazing at the ocean. It is said the ocean provides a closer reflection of who we are than any mirror”
4) Achievement
Every now and then you have to pause. Take a step back, and appreciate the work you’ve produced. This month I published a new eBook. It’s the biggest piece of content I’ve ever written, designed, published and promoted.
I’d never written any optimised content until publishing my first NORTH blog last June, putting this guide together is a showcase of everything I’ve learnt about SEO Content. I couldn’t be happier with the output.
It’s never too late to learn something new, and you should always be discovering new things and developing new skills, both in work, and in the outside world too.
I’d like to give a big shout out to the excellent blog contributions on our new Pillar Page - ‘SEO Content Marketing: The Complete Guide’. Big thanks to Jodie Simpson, Sophie Smith, Abbie Johnson, and Hannah Bowering. Plus an extra special thanks to Jodie for supplying the on-page copy too, it reads so well!
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