In this episode we are joined by Jeff Mckeon from Neurocapability.com.au. We chat about how and why you need to understand your own brain, and how if you aren't aware of your own self-regulation, leading well is chellenging. This is an episode filled with strategy and science, and a must listen for all leaders. From Our Guest Jeff Mckeon: Have you ever thought about the legacy you are leaving behind? I know I have because on the 17th of Feb 2019 I survived a heart attack and got to ask myself 3 simple questions - Did I live, Did I love, Did I matter? I am grateful that my medical intervention and outcomes were extremely positive but this life affirming moment took me on a path of self-discovery, education and awareness of the gift of life, So now I'm on a mission to help share my knowledge and wisdom. How can the latest in neuroscience help you be a better leader? Well that's where Neurocapability offers a range of programs that help unlock the latest science has to offer. There is a gap between what science knows and what business does and we are here to fill the gap. We are committed to changing the world one brain at a time.

Find out more about Jeff and Neurocapability here: Neurocapability.com.au Daily posting on LinkedIn by Linda Ray & Jeff McKeon

I am often asked how we can find work/life balance, and this is my answer, you can't. It's not hidden somewhere, under a rock or around a corner. It's not a secret recipe some know and some don't. It is instead something you create.

In this episode I talk you through what I had to do to create and bring to life my own version or work/life balance, how I did this, and what it looks like.

Dr Rebecca Ray joins us to discuss how we can navigate the stresses, experiences, and decisions we encounter to help us better live in line with our values and boundaries. We also dive into the sphere of control and connection and relationships with difficult people.

Dr Rebecca Ray is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author and speaker who helps big-picture-thinking people reframe their experience to reach their potential. Over the course of two decades of consultations, speaking events, books, and audio, she has encouraged thousands of humans making an impact on the world to live a life that’s fulfilling, unapologetic, and free.

Beck’s expertise as a professional zig-zagger sets her apart as one of Australia’s most in-demand and authoritative voices in the personal development space. Her science-backed, hard and heart truth approach is uniquely informed by her pivots from pilot to psychologist, from dating men to marrying a woman, and from being burnt out to bestselling author.

Beck is regularly featured across Channel 9, ABC, and News Corp. She is the author of six books including Be Happy, The Art of Self-Kindness, The Universe Listens to Brave, Setting Boundaries, Small Habits for a Big Life, and Difficult People.

She lives in the soul-fed hills of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland with the great loves of her life: her wife Nyssa, son Bennett, and Jetfire, her rescue Irish Setter.

Find out everything about Dr Rebecca Ray here: https://rebeccaray.com.au/

Welcome to this latest podcast episode, where we dive deep into the science and strategies for a healthier, happier life. In this episode, we're tackling a fundamental pillar of wellbeing: sleep. Join us as we explore top sleep tips and hacks that can revolutionize your nightly routine and transform your days.

Drawing from the insights of leading sleep experts like Dr. Andrew Huberman (Huberman Lab) and Matthew Walker, author of 'Why We Sleep', we'll uncover the secrets to achieving quality sleep and maximizing its benefits. From optimizing your sleep environment to mastering relaxation techniques, each tip is backed by science and designed to enhance your sleep quality.

Whether you struggle with insomnia, want to improve your sleep hygiene, or simply aim to unlock the full potential of your rest, this episode is your ultimate guide. Get ready to reclaim your nights and awaken to a brighter, more energized tomorrow.

In this episode, we are joined by the phenomenal Lizzie Williamson. Dubbed by the US media as ‘the excuse-buster from Down-Under’, Lizzie Williamson is the founder and author of Two Minute Moves and The Active Workday Advantage, TEDx speaker, keynote speaker, fitness presenter and certified personal trainer. She is a regular on morning television and in global news publications with her work featured on Good Morning America, Studio 10, the Today Show, Women’s Health and Prevention Magazine. Through her fun, interactive keynotes, workshops and videos, Lizzie motivates workforces around the world to achieve a more energised, engaged and happy workday by making it easy (and fun) to be more active. She has got hundreds-of-thousand attendees around the world stretching, moving and dancing at conferences featuring President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Arianna Huffington and the Dalia Lama. Though nothing beats dancing round the kitchen to Taylor Swift with her two teenage girls. WE HAVE A COMPETITION FOR YOU!!! The first 3 people to share this podcast will receive a free copy of The Active Workday Advantage book. Be sure to tag @energizewithlizzie and @_thewellnessstrategy

Check out this wonderful Today Show clip featuring Lizzie from Two Minute Moves.

Grab Lizzie's book here.

CALLING ALL STAFF WELLBEING CHANGE AGENTS

Leading Staff Wellbeing Guided Inquiry is a hybrid professional learning opportunity that builds the capacity of wellbeing leaders, takes them through the key steps to undertake a guided inquiry into what staff wellbeing looks like in their setting, and empowers them to work alongside their colleagues to positively impact staff wellbeing and culture.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

Let's talk about...Energy

Are you feeling like coffee is the only way to get through the day, when you long to feel ready for the day, healthy, and like the energiser bunny?

ENERGY IS EVERYTHING

Energy is what allows us to feel and function well. It is the difference between being present and being on auto-pilot. Energy however is not exclusive to our physical health, but directly impacts our mental and emotional health as well. Energy supports our cognitive function, which means it influences our ability to do all sorts of things... make decisions, regulate emotions, think clearly, be resilient, collaborate, concentrate on work tasks, and work productively.

When we only connect energy to our physical body, we fall into the trap of thinking it is all about diet and exercise, yet this is not true. Yes, it may be a part of physical health and building energy, but what is more important is knowing what charges and depletes your energy. With this, you also need to know when you need a full battery, compared to when you can function half full. This is different from person to person. We all need different things to help us feel energised and recharge our energy.

Whilst we often focus on building energy we too need to know what depletes our energy. We are built and designed differently, what one person finds draining or challenging, someone else may not. You may love creating resources, but your colleague may not. Your colleague may love spreadsheets, and you might prefer to watch paint dry. Either way, these things give us or deplete energy.

Along with working to your strengths, there are 5 main things that contribute to energy and how you function which are different from person to person:

1. Nutrition - this is not a diet, this is eating for energy.

2. Water - you need more than you think.

3. Movement - is not the same as exercise, but can include exercise.

4. Rest - doing nothing is not the only way to rest, there are many more and we need all of them.

5. Sleep - perhaps the most underestimated thing we can do for our overall health and wellbeing.

These may sound simple, but if that were the case we would all be doing them, and we aren't. We need to take personal responsibility to build our personal resources and skills in these 5 areas.

Looking for a safe, supportive space to learn about these things in a way that is contextualised to teaching (because let's be honest, it is a job like no other), then join us in 2024 for the TEACHER WELLBEING MEMBERSHIP where we will help you achieve this and much more.

This time of year can feel a little bit daunting. We have so much to do, exciting things ahead of us, and new ventures to begin. One thing that often escapes us now we are back in the swing of work is time. So, to kick the year off...

Let's talk about time

It can be common to feel like there is always something to do and never enough time. As the year begins, this can happen much faster than we like. We long to feel calm, organised, and prepared, but somehow these feelings can escape us and by February we feel like we haven't had a break at all.

This year, I want you to start the year thinking a little differently about time.

Some of what I say here may be hard to hear, but hang in there, you need to know this...

As educators, we have a considerable amount of time where we have a lot of choice over how we spend it. Noncontact time, time before and after school, and term breaks (AKA school holidays).

These moments often exist for us to work on whatever we need, but come with very little structure or guidance.

We also have a lot of flexibility and opportunities to spend time as needed. This actually gives us a significant amount of autonomy in how we design our day.

When we don't have meetings, many of us can leave when we choose, allowing us to work off-site or do something else like exercise and then work in the evening or early the next day. We often have non-contact time to work on things we decide to be most important. We can use term breaks to work from home, meet with our team when and where we choose, or work from a holiday destination. We can also use term breaks as a rest period if we do all that's needed for the next term before these breaks begin.

With so much unstructured, unguided time, we need to get really good at mastering how we spend the time we have.

This requires 3 things:

1. Knowing where your time to work exists (you can do this through a time audit).

2. Learning when you work best e.g. mornings, after school hours, in the evenings.

3. Time blocking - building your own schedule and structure rather than getting to these moments of time and wondering what to do (this is often when time is wasted).

These are not things that just happen, they take planning, require intentional decision-making and action, and commitment.

Want to know more about how to do this well?

Join us inside THE TEACHER WELLBEING MEMBERSHIP.