Best Life With Becca

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𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠?

Do you feel you’re not getting the balance right at work? Always feel overwhelmed and exhausted? Lets stop that cycle and create new habits.

How can we focus on creating holistic ways of working where we can thrive as employees but also be respected for our personal boundaries using positive psychology tips? Let’s break down the barriers of “work/life balance” and make it mean something, not just a phrase used to fit the quotas

1. Practice a positive mindset

Work can sometimes feel all consuming. When the pressure is on and a deadline is to be reached, any mistake can feel like the end of the world. Reality is that failure is normal…but that can be a difficult pill to swallow. The difference you can make in this situation is to recalibrate into a “growth mindset” and build self-resilience – it is time to pull yourself out of that fixed mindset state of failure situated consistently in fear mode.

2. Networking

Connecting with likeminded people is essential. Much of our experience as humans revolves around other people and having a social support network can help with reducing depression and anxiety, as well as lower mortality rates. After the difficulties experienced in Covid 19 and the changes to social engagements, it is more important than ever to get back to building and maintaining our networks, even virtually! Don’t underestimate the foundations and safe space it creates to enable you to develop, learn and push yourself. Reach out to your tribe and try to connect with people outside of your immediate work circle to help you see new perspectives.

Also, try and share a piece of positive feedback to the next person you work with, thus no doubt will boost your happiness and theirs – win win!

3. Community engagement

Having passions is easy outside of work, but don’t let that stop you from bringing that energy and goal setting into the workplace. What brings you alive, what makes you smile or gives you satisfaction? Think of ways to inject this into your work and it will transform it into being both more effective and enjoyable. Perhaps setting up or joining a group at work e.g., after work fitness clubs, creating societies that peak your interest (and others). If something is missing…speak up! But be savvy with your time, focus on the areas you can or have the potential to really add value – stretch yourself but ensure you dedicate enough time to complete it.

4. Take the wins – even if they are small!

The sense of achievement no doubt has great satisfaction. Achieving your goals from both external recognition and a personal sense of accomplishment are key drivers for happiness. We need to ensure these milestones are captured and displayed to reconfirm that you are fantastic! Try creating vision boards, both for personal and professional growth – what am I focused on achieving, where do I see my future and how can I take the steps to get there? By using the career frameworks, you can map out where you need to be and set goals to reach them. And don’t be afraid to share these with others who can help you on your growth journey.

5. Purpose driven

How are you staying accountable for the direction your work life is taking? Do you find it to be meaningful?People who claim that they have more meaningful lives often also report being happy and satisfied with their lives. So how can we do this at work? How can we ensure we stay on track? By being clear with our intentions and how we utilise our time. The pomodoro technique is a great way to break up your day and ensure you have time to recentre. A simple tip is also to set a half hour meeting on outlook to 25 mins, allowing for a 5 min reset before going into another meeting – action self-care to ensure you can turn up and give your full self to every meeting.

To summarise, try to evaluate your lifestyle and the choices you make individually. What can you do to improve the situation, how can you use the practices in day-to-day life? Can you use this to help others? Can you use others to help you? The best ways to be successful and stay on track is to believe in yourself. Whatever you focus your intentions on you create, so show the world you are more than just a number in an organisation, you are a valued person who can bring positivity energy – creating healthier wellbeing practices and work culture.

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Cba, we’ll have to change that stance…

Hello all! And welcome back to another blog! I’m so glad you’re here this is a good one.

Cba? Not in the mood? What’s the point? Are these phrases you catch yourself saying… why is that? Is that because we’re programmed to believe if we haven’t achieved all our goals by the end of January then we may as well give up for the year and try again next year.

No no no. That is not the mentality we want to get ourselves into. If you want to see results you have to do something about it. Giving up in the first week is not an option. Even if you do a little something each day to get you to your goal it will seem so much more obtainable.

Okay, so what can we do you ask? Each day we are going to do 5 minutes towards our goals. Whether that is a run, reading, studying or meditating. To truly get something to happen it’s better to start small and build up consistency rather than try and conquer everything immediately.

Time is what we need to utilise, once you’ve done a week of 5 minutes up it again. Write down all the wins of the week and realise how much you achieved.

Small steps lead to big wins. It’s belief, determination and not expecting immediate results.

I’d love to know what you’re goals are that you are working towards! Drop a comment below 👇🏼

Lots of love, becca x

January blues, don’t worry there is good news…

Hello all my lovelies,

I am excited to be back blogging and kick starting my coaching and card reading sessions! 2022 is going to be a big year for us all! Now I know what you’re thinking.. but Becca things aren’t normal yet? No they are not, but that “normal” you are looking for doesn’t exist anymore. That was an old normal. So much has changed now and it’s for the better, even though there has been extremely hard times there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

We are going through the transition period now, like a butterfly soon we will be ready to emerge. But patience is key my darlings. I know that can be hard and in the world we live in we want instant results, but that’s just it. We can’t yet, things take time and everything must work out in accordance of the timelines. But do not fear. Focus on love, light and positivity. What are you grateful for? What experiences are you planning for the year? What are you goals? How can you be better?

Some of you may find this hard and that is completely normal. Here are a few top tips:

1. Sit quietly away from technology for minimum 10 mins and ask yourself “what do I really want that will bring my heart joy?” Ask this 3 times and sit quietly to find the answer inside.

2. Ask your friends and family for feedback, what is going well and what can you do even better- this can help with the goal setting.

3. Finally give yourself the chance to be expansive. Be creative and don’t limit yourself to what you think you should do.. what do you actually want to do?

I’d love to be a part of helping you on this journey. So if you want to book a 1-1 session with me please click on my services tab here https://bestlifewithbecca.com/contact/ and we can start changing your life for the better ⭐️

Love, Becca x

Don’t take life for granted, it’s a gift that’s enchanted…

Hi all,

I am writing this blog having started to recover from an ordeal of a week. I’ve been super poorly and on top of that my lovely cat Tiggy has passed away, heartache and sadness has washed over me. Ive felt numb and exhausted and felt like this feeling wouldn’t end. But slowly it has.

Today I have been on a dog walk with mum and Lincoln and feeling more alive again. Reflecting back. Our health is such a precious asset to us. We shouldn’t take it for granted because it can go in a second. It’s the same with life. We don’t know what twists and turns are around the corner.

So what can we do? We can take life and live it. We can live truthfully and do what makes us happy. We can share memories and experiences and move our body around with love and positive light.

I know it’s cliche and we hear it all the time. But life really is what we make it. We don’t always have to have it figured out but go for things and be grateful for every second your alive.

We can live our best lives – it’s a choice, mindset and belief.

I love you all so much and grateful for your time and energy.

Love, Becca x

Making a plan, it’s time you began…

Hi all,

This week is focusing on planning and keeping yourself accountable. Many times we say we want to try something new or achieve things by a timeline but we sometimes go adrift.

Why is this? Without a clear focus our mind can wander. Clear goals and planning are key for success as it gives you a focal point for all energy.

It’s okay to have off days but try to stick as closely as you can to your target. By setting daily goals it might help the bigger result seem more obtainable.

Don’t be afraid of failure. We courageous and take chances. And most of all believe in yourself.

3 tips – keep organised, keep going and hold the vision.

You can do this.

Love, Becca x

Restless feelings, time for some healing…

Hi all and welcome back to my blog!

This week I will be kick starting my blogs again talking about healing. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve taken a step back. Life’s been a bit crazy and I’ve tried to enjoy a UK summer (weather has been a bit hit and miss!)

But the main reason I came away was I needed me time to reflect, pause and digest. Do you feel like you do this enough? There’s so much noise out there physically and virtually. We rarely take the time to come away from it all.

My top tips for doing the inner healing is simple, go back to basics. Don’t rely on your phone to be your source of happiness and total relaxation. You need to come away from it.

Start a hobby, get outdoors, buy a journal and just start writing everything and anything that comes to your mind. What motivates you? What doesn’t? Why limit yourself there start planning how you can be expansive and abundant.

We’ve come through a tricky year or two and now it’s time to start scrapping away the layer and go back to our roots. Our calling.

What is calling you? Remove yourself from the external chatter and focus on you.

Be you. Be the best version of you.

I believe in you.

Love, Becca x

Having your creative flare as part of your self care…

Hello everyone and welcome to another collaboration post.

This month’s blog post star guest is India, who is a dear friend of mine who has a brilliant passion for art and creativity who now offers paintings and I cannot wait to delve deeper with it through my Q&A style blog. We hope this gives you a some more insight how to use your creative flare.

Please feel free to share with all your friends and family! Here we go…

So India, what got you initially into artwork and painting?

It’s very strange however my sister, when I was around 8 or 7 years old, went to live in Japan and brought back a lot of anime and manga. This was an amazing push to start to learn how to draw and from there I spent a lot of my late hours in experimenting with drawing the human form. I actually went to University to study Architecture for a year and ended up dropping out, but whilst I was applying to go back I realised I needed to change degrees and pursue my stronger interest which was art.

How easy is it for someone to become an artist? Do you find there are challenges

I must admit as much as I want to say it’s easy. It is really hard. I had a very long and intense 3 years at Loughborough University after a foundation degree in art and design. There is a constant battle in your head about whether you are good enough or not. You also have to endure constant criticism as part of the processand development but it can really get to your head sometimes.

What made you decide to crate your social media page and sell your artwork?

I started my social media page more as a sort of reference for myself to keep of pieces that I particularly liked or wanted to remember. Kindly, people started to get in touch for me to work on design projects together and slowly I started to get business in pet portraiture.

Do you feel that being creative sparks other parts of happiness in your life?

Honestly when I am painting it is the only time I get peace and quiet in my mind. I don’t think about anything other than the colour and composition.

Finishing pieces of artwork can be very beneficial to mental health. It can make you feel very productive and accomplished.

How can we find the time to be creative? Are you strict with your time or free flow?

I am very strict with my free time, I only watch tv when I’m painting or working alongside. However, it’s important to take breaks as it can be very frustrating to try and be creative when you’re too stressed. I find that when I’m not particularly wanting to be creative, my work comes out worse.

I still make the effort to make at least 2 pieces per week as I find it really benefits my mental health.

Finally, what would be your 3 top tips for those wanting to use artwork as a form of meditation/ self care?

1. If it doesn’t look good, it’s just development. Try again.

2. Paint/draw what you SEE and not what you see in your mind’s eye when starting off.

3. You don’t always need to focus purely on the artwork, put some music on or a film!

Thank you so much India! What ah insightful read. I love those top tips. We don’t always have to get it perfect it’s about trying and seeing what we can create with our own flare.

Want to know more about India and her artwork

Check our her Instagram @indiasteggallartist

Latest exhibition online catalogue : https://sdcashow2021.lboro.ac.uk/students/india-steggall/

Searching for your purpose, don’t let it feel like a emotional circus…

Hello and welcome to today’s blog which focuses on following your purpose in life. Now that may seem like a deep conversation to have but the truth is we are all here for a reason, a soul mission or to create an impact. This doesn’t mean you have to be a world leader or speak in front of hundreds of people if that is not your thing – so don’t panic!

A person’s purpose in life is what someone is drawn to, that feeling when you feel excited about what you are doing and it gives you a great sense of joy. But sometimes we don’t know whether this can be a career or if it is just a hobby. Why not both?

Searching for your purpose isn’t just a one time thing. You can find multiple epiphanies along the way of what is your passion, what lights a fire in your belly or what really is something you can see yourself doing.

The good thing about passions is we can have more than one! And if something doesn’t fit anymore we can move onto our next dream. The trick is to find your rhythm and flow, stick at it for a while and see how you get on. If it is painful to get up in the morning to go to that job or course maybe that isn’t right for you. And that is ok!

So finding our purpose. How can I do this simply? Let me give you 3 top tips.

Make a list of all the things that you enjoy doing – does anything spark an interest that you would like to pursue but been too afraid – this is your signal to go for it!
Ask your close friends, family or peers what they see you doing and what they notice you gravitate towards, if they are around you often they will be a good sound board to bounce ideas off!
Listen to your heart – cheesy yes, but truthful. Sit with yourself and envision what you would love to do if money wasn’t an object. What would you do with your time that makes a difference somewhere and is a dream job or passion project of yours? Write it down and then start visualising it daily. Create a vision board with pictures that represent that dream and focus in on it like a laser beam.

We can all be happy and follow our dreams, if we only take the initial steps our of our comfort zone.

I believe in you.

Love, Becca x

CV writing and careers can be daunting, don’t worry the experience won’t be haunting…

This month’s blog post star guest is Jen. Jen and I connected whilst working together on a project two years ago in my old job. She has a great work ethic and is really down to earth, with a positive coaching style. She helped me learn and grow whilst working together, amongst all the giggles.

In her business, Career Seed, Jen offers range of services to support you with your career including CV revamps, cover letters and business reports, with her platform giving regular tips and advice! I cannot wait to delve deeper with it through my Q&A style blog. We hope this gives you a some more insight into how to create a stand out CV.

Please feel free to share with all your friends and family! Here we go…

So Jen, what got you into setting up your social media site and business Career Seed?

I’ve always thought that one day I’d like to run my own business and ultimately work for myself, and earlier this year the time felt right so I took the plunge to transform my passion for helping friends and family with their CVs, job applications etc. into my new company, Career Seed. As with most businesses these days, having a social media presence was a no-brainer for me; you’ll find me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

How easy is it for someone who hasn’t got much work experience to have a great CV?

With the right support and guidance, it is possible to create a great CV. Each individual situation is different, so I like to have an introductory call with my clients to draw out the skills and experience that they do have. It’s not really about the amount of work experience you have, or the number of organisations you’ve worked for; the art of writing a successful CV is being able to clearly and concisely demonstrate that you have skills to bring to prospective roles.

What made you decide to help others with CV writing?

My career background is in Human Resources and I have spent a great deal of time working on recruitment campaigns, from adverts and shortlisting, to interviews and selections. I’ve sat on numerous interview panels and seen lots of good CVs and even more poor ones! Over the years, I’ve supported friends, family and colleagues to update their CVs ready for their next career move. I wanted to take this further and help more people to create that stand-out CV.

How can we stand out from the crowd without seeming to have a “big ego?”

Haha! I don’t know what it is inside of us that makes us feel awkward about bigging ourselves up but sharing your skills on your CV isn’t about being egotistical, it’s about being proud of what you have achieved and demonstrating what you’re capable of. There is no shame in sharing what you are good at, and a good CV will always highlight your strengths.

How can we know that we are on the right track with our applications and supporting statements?

I suppose it really depends on where you’re heading. Ask yourself if you are clear about your career next steps, ask yourself if you enjoy what you currently do or if you’re looking for a change. Once you know what sorts of roles you are applying for, you can focus on the content of each application. The best advice I give to all my clients is to tailor their cover letters/supporting statements for each role, addressing the job specification.

Are there any skills / qualities that you think would be crucial for a killer CV?

As I said earlier, everyone is different and it will depend on the type, and level, of role you are going for. However, there are skills that will always be appealing to recruiters, for example communication, analysis, problem solving, leadership etc. Just remember to back up any claims of skills with practical examples and achievements.

Finally, what would be your 3 top tips for those wanting to refresh or start their CVs?

Start with a list of your recent roles (no more than 10 years) and see if you can come up with 2 or 3 things that you achieved during each position.

Find a good CV template and populate as much as you can, being sure to keep it to no more that 2 pages in length.

Adapt your CV to the role you are applying for so that you can hit all of the relevant job criteria.

Brilliant Jen! What an insightful read and really helpful to all of us out there trying to boost our CVs and being proud of our achievements 🙂 great top tips too!

Want to know more about Jen and Career Seed?

If you are looking for support with your CV, get in touch and Jen will be happy to help. You can find Jen at www.careerseed.co.uk and on social media:

Instagram: @careerseed_

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/career-seed-limited

Facebook: @careerseedlimited

Twitter: @careerseed_

Reflection and pause, it will open up doors…

Today’s blog post is about pausing and taking the time to reflect. Do you ever feel like you are rushing around? On go go go mode all the time and never fully switch off? If this sounds like you don’t worry. I got you.

We live in a society that is instant, what we want is a click of a button away and when we don’t get it is can frustrate and annoy us. We have lost the art of patience, for example, we don’t even have to wait for our parcels to be delivered we can get next day delivery. Everything is must have now or else we don’t want it. But maybe we need to take the time to realise what we REALLY want. I’m not talking distractions, I’m talking about real goals, aspirations and achievements.

So what can we do?

1. Take time in nature to breath in deep full breaths and quieten your mind. Take out the headphones and listen to your surroundings. Become aware and then visualise how you truly want to see your life.

2. Journal or leave yourself an audio note of your experiences. Or talk to a trusted person, perhaps a friend/ family member. But share with people who want you to succeed not to bring you down.

3. Relax, I don’t know about you but I can be hard on myself always pushing until my body has had enough and I get a headache or feel poorly. We need to be kinder to ourselves and allow the mind and body to chill out sometimes to receive the messages from our higher consciousness. If we don’t stop the messages can’t get through. My tip is meditate for 5 mins a day and see what comes up for you!

It had to start somewhere and you will have off days. But making a conscious decision to help yourself goes a long way. You can do it.

Love, Becca x