Goodbye 2019, hello 2020!

New Year, a new chapter, a new verse or the same old story? Ultimately, we write it, the choice is ours.

Alex Morritt

Happy New Year everyone!

Apologies for the silence over the past few months, I have taken some much needed time to reflect on my priorities and took some time out for my mental health, I am feeling much better and I’d like to thank those who offered their support.

So without further ado, with a new year comes plenty of new opportunities and with it being a sparkly new decade, I fully intend to make the most of it!

Continue reading “Goodbye 2019, hello 2020!”

Take time to look up once in a while!

“Happiness is a state of mind. It’s just according to the way you look at things.”

Walt Disney

One common question I get asked all the time when I’m talking about my blog is “how do you find inspiration to write about all this stuff?”

Firstly, there is always a deep meaning behind every one of my published blog posts (there’s over 200 of them now!) and whilst it is not intended to be positive vibes everywhere, it is just how it has turned out, being a naturally positive person gives it direction which comes through naturally in my work. Secondly it helps to be passionate about the subject matter, you never know how you might inspire others through your experiences, this is something I never take for granted.

Continue reading “Take time to look up once in a while!”

How to create a positive workplace culture

“Positive culture comes from being mindful, respecting your colleagues and being empathetic.”

As the world of work and business continues to evolve, attracting, retaining and developing the right employees has always been an important factor for business success, but why has it become the latest “trend” in the HR world?

Continue reading “How to create a positive workplace culture”

July reflections

“We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting upon our experiences”

John Dewey

What a month July has been! We’ve seen plenty of sunshine and despite the soaring temperatures, I am continuing to focus upon my development both in my personal and professional life.

Sometimes it is easy to give advice rather than taking your own, and often I don’t reflect as much as I feel I should. So after reflecting on all of my goings on over the past month, it has really helped me to hit the refresh button as I begin to prepare for my CIPD exam in September so August is already looking pretty hectic but I now realise that saying no can sometimes be a good thing!

Reflection is not about beating yourself up or being overly critical, it is about identifying how we can improve things. If we remain static, we are not learning anything and those vital experiences can get lost amongst the busyness of our daily lives, so after a rocky few months, I am finally feeling much more focused and keen to improve in all areas of my life.

Continue reading “July reflections”

Working fathers need flexibility too! Encouraging gender equality in parenting

“Being a father means you have to think fast on your feet. You must be judicious, wise, brave, tender, and willing to put on a frilly hat and sit down to a pretend tea party.”

Matthew Buckley, Fatherhood: The Manliest Profession

The debate around parental leave is one that seems to be ongoing and in light of the latest British Social Attitudes survey, the results demonstrate that despite being in 2019, that there is still a strong view towards mothers taking the lead on parental leave.

Despite the shifting dynamics of UK households, a time where women have a focus upon their career and are quickly becoming the main source of income within thousands of households, it begs the question; what can we do to change the view on fathers taking time out to bring up their children equally with mothers?

Continue reading “Working fathers need flexibility too! Encouraging gender equality in parenting”