Amy C. Fitzjohn's Blog, page 10

Living Self-Sufficiently: What Green Habits Will You Adopt?

Living self-sufficiently – World events have forced many of us to start taking sustainability seriously.

The looming threats of further lockdowns and future pandemics. The (UK) government’s lack of action and funding on climate change – in fact, recent parliamentary actions are actively reducing food safety and security when we most need it! International lethargy when it comes to a real commitment to climate change and greening the global economy. Food prices increasing, loss of habitat and biodiversity and economic uncertainty… It makes for depressing reading.

 

Lots of Little Things

In a pledge to live self-sufficiently, we can make big sweeping statements like ‘ become vegan’ or ‘zero waste’.

We can say the single biggest thing we can do as an individual is ‘eat plant based’ or ‘don’t have children’ or ‘don’t fly’ – and while it’s true there are life changing decisions we can make, in reality, selling the things that people ‘can’t do’ as a panacea for reversing climate change can be counterproductive.

They can either leave people feeling powerless, or give them an excuse to say “fuck it” and then carry on regardless.

Living more self sufficiently is something we can all do. But it is not going to happen overnight with one massive sweeping change. Little and often, that’s how change happens.

 

A new revolution is quietly taking place.

It’s happening in back gardens, in community spaces, on windowsills and rooftops – multiple small things to live more self-sufficiently and sustainably.  To bring back that biodiversity essential to our survival, even in a small way – urban green spaces and gardens are becoming more and more important.

Knowing we can’t rely on the powers that be to create the changes we need, it’s taking individual action to make a difference. We are taking matters into our own hands.

This article in The Guardian, inspired me to sum up my own sustainable swaps and to add to my ‘to do list’ of environmental aspirations.

 

Little Life Changes

We’ve all had our resilience and self reliance tested in 2020.

Living more sustainably and self-sufficiently has always fascinated me. Everywhere I’ve lived I’ve always grown something edible – even if it’s just a few culinary herbs and potatoes!

But in 2009 my husband and I took it to a whole other level.

We sold everything and bought a property in Bulgaria.

We lived there for just under two years, trying to live as self-sufficiently as we could off the land. The trouble was, we had no real plan and no source of income, so inevitably, we ran out of money and had to return to the UK in 2010.

Making a massive life change was a radical, and ultimately foolhardy venture (but it was bloody good fun and life changing! So, no regrets).

We moved to Bristol. We started again. Eight years ago we finally got back on the property ladder in the UK and bought a house in South Bristol.

We have an urban garden. However, while both of us have been working full time and enjoying urban living, it wasn’t until lockdown that I realised how far away we had drifted from those self-sufficiency dreams we had shared in Bulgaria.

I have a veg plot in our little garden and grow a variety of produce with limited success, as well as a pear tree and an impressive raspberry hedge that gives me masses of gorgeous plump fruit from June to November.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but one regret of living in the city is not signing up for an allotment sooner. I’m on the list now, but it could be years before I get one. If only I’d done it 8 years ago? But at the time, I was worried I would never have the time, or motivation, to tend to it. So much for that!

I’m now planning my garden veg plot for next season and will taking back half of my front garden, too, to grow more. As we now only have one car, the rest of the driveway can be for plants.

 

My Living Self-Sufficiently List

I’m not trying to make out that I’m some sort of environmental saint, here. I’m not – that buzzword of the moment – ‘Virtue Signaling’.

There are things I have, will continue to and want to do to live more sustainably and self-sufficiently.

There are also things I’m not prepared to do. Compromises that are a step too far.

I’m never going to become a vegan. I’m just not. Especially while I have my own free range chickens giving me little gifts from their magic backsides on a daily basis! I am, however, committed to eating more plant based food and less meat.

I’m not giving up overseas holidays. I’m wishing and hoping that I can travel again next year. Travel is the best education any of us can ever have. There is so much wonder in the world, why would I spend my whole life stuck in one place?

In fact, I believe that everyone should live overseas at some point in their lives. Perhaps then they would accept and appreciate that everyone is different, but also similar in so many ways – and that’s a wonderful, glorious thing!

There are big things, too, that may be financially out of reach for me; like grey water recovery systems, my own farm and a wind turbine!

I’ll still buy food that isn’t organic or is wrapped in plastic because sometimes there isn’t a choice.

And I’ll still shop in the supermarket because sometimes it’s just easier and is often cheaper.

The point is, there are no absolutes here.

We all need to make choices for ourselves.

 

It’s OK to not do all the ‘right things’.
What’s not OK is to do nothing.

 

By listing a few of my ideas here I hope to give others ideas. I’m also looking for new ideas. Plus, the very act of listing these things helps me to not only see the progress I am making, but where to focus my energy in future.

One thing the calamitous nature of 2020 has gifted us is the opportunity to reflect on and rethink the way we live our lives.

These are some of the things I am doing, have done and plan to do in the future to live more sustainably and self-sufficiently.

 

What Am I Already Doing

 

Sustainable, Local Shopping

We’re fortunate to live in such a cosmopolitan, diverse and independently minded city. We already actively avoid eating and drinking out in corporate chains, preferring to support local food producers, brewers, bars and restaurants. We would have struggled to do this had we still been living in rural Somerset! I’m not being flippant when I say that supporting local business is important to me, it’s in the nature of the work I do mentoring start-ups and is core to my values. I want to see vibrant and healthy high streets and communities and that starts with using them!

During lockdown, this was a lifeline for us.  Since lockdown, we now get regular fruit and veg boxes from local producers and use local shops. What I can’t grow myself, I source locally where I can. I know when it’s been a while since I visited the local corner shop as a the owner asks after me and comments he’s not seen me in a while, it always makes me feel guilty for taking my eye off the ball!

That’s not to say I don’t use bigger retailers, but I am mindful of my choices. Even Amazon, although they are huge, can only supply as many products as they do by opening up their fulfilment practices to millions of independent sellers around the world.

 

Doorstep Deliveries

Milk deliveries –  we have milk and fruit juice delivered to our door in returnable reusable glass bottles three times a week. We also top up our regular deliveries with local butter, cheese, cream and other sundries from Milk And More. 

There is less plastic, it’s sourced locally and it’s convenient. An all round win! I’m so glad we were using the service before lockdown as they were so swamped with enquiries they couldn’t take on any new customers, we could even get compost delivered when the shops had run out.

 

Bulk Buying

By getting non perishables for the pantry in bulk we save on waste. While the upfront cost is higher, the price per kilo is less and there is less packaging. By getting a sack of rice, for example, we only have one large bag to dispose of instead of several small pieces of cellophane. I recently discovered Real Food Source. Brilliant for kitchen cupboard items like nuts and seeds. Good value, delivered to your door and minimal packaging.

The bigger plastic bags are also easier to reuse.

 

Avoid Buying The Plastic Packaged Version

Where possible, I will always try to buy things packed in anything other than plastic.

Watching ‘War On Plastic’ blew my mind. Seriously, if you can watch any of it, do. It will radically change your perspective. It’s shocking stuff!

I was horrified that when we think we are ‘recycling’ our plastic waste, in reality much of it is being shipped off to be dumped. It ends up polluting the environment. The whole production, transportation, energy needed, supply chain and disposal of plastics is arguably the biggest planet killing industry out there. It’s used in and included in almost everything, polymers are even used in clothing.

Everything wrong with our global economy is built on plastic!

 

“It’s Only Single Use If You Use It Once”

I’m quoting Monty Don, there! Inevitably, try as you might, you will always end up with some plastic waste. If I think I can find a use for some plastic I’ll store it instead of binning it. For example, larger bags (i.e. from bulk buying) are much easier to reuse than smaller ones, even if it is just as a bin liner! It always seems slightly mad to me to buy bin bags – buying a roll of plastic simply for the purpose of throwing it away?!

The Bemmie Brood

In July we adopted three rescue chickens. Because they are retired battery hens, they’re scruffy little girls. They seem happy enough with us, even though our garden is small, it’s still much bigger than a cage!

We live in Bedminster, a district of Bristol affectionally known by locals as ‘Bemmie’. Our little brood run free around our garden and produce 2 to 3 eggs every day – We are easily self sufficient in eggs!

It’s not enough to sell the surplus but our friends and neighbours get regular boxes given to them!

Meet Henrietta

 

Their hutch was built out of scraps of old wood and pallets and their bedding is cardboard from deliveries and packaging; our waste paper gets shredded and added to their straw.

The hutch is even insulated with polystyrene from packaging.

Their favourite food is canned sweetcorn and cold rice or pasta, they get given layers pellets and chicken feed, although they would much rather eat our leftovers!

 

 

Homemade Cosmetics

Making my own cosmetics – read my blog on Homemade natural Deodorant, HERE

 

Making my own bread

Both with my bread machine and experimenting with sourdough. A basic bread mix is flour, water and salt – plus yeast, if it’s not a sourdough. Read my blog on breadmaking HERE

I buy flour and salt in bulk. Not only is breadmaking simple, satisfying, delicious and often cheaper than buying bread, it also reduces plastic waste, food miles and you can get creative and experimental with your bread, using up leftovers etc.

 

What I Will Do Next

Try out more ways to make my own cosmetics

I’ll share my recipes and successes and failures. For what I don’t make myself, where possible I will buy from another maker.

I love these shampoo bars made and sold locally.

Image from: www.wildgrove.co.uk

I bought them directly from the maker at the Tobacco Factory Sunday Market.

But they also sell direct from the website…

PS: This isn’t an affiliate link, I just love this stuff!

 

 

Diligent Avoidance of Plastic

It’s hard to avoid plastic, it’s everywhere, but I am determined to persevere at avoiding the single use stuff!

 

What Are My Aspirations
Solar Panels

I’ve looked into it previously, I need to look again to see what incentives and deals there are to be had.

 

Electric Vehicle

We don’t use our car much as it is, preferring our feet or public transport where possible. One of the perks of living close to the city centre. However, we have family in rural areas and when it’s not possible to get public transport for an activity or event, or if we are buying bulky items – when our little car does go to the great-scrap-yard-in-the-sky, I want our next vehicle to be electric, or at least hybrid.

 

Keep Bees

I’m reading ‘Beekeeping for Dummies‘. I have no idea where I could put a bee hive but it’s something that has fascinated me for a while. I’d like to learn apiary skills and keep my own bees.

 

Land or an Allotment

I’d love to have more space to grow. My own small urban space quickly fills from spring onwards. If I am going to grow any meaningful amounts of food I need more land to do it. An allotment would be a good place to start and I’m on the list. But I am also working on a business idea to re-green a brownfield site and turn it into a community market garden project where I can grow produce and also employ myself by helping others with their ‘green enterprise’.

 

 

On Reflection & Conclusion

It’s been interesting writing this. Simply forcing myself to sit and think about how much I am already doing, and what more I can do has been a real eye opener. It’s all a little overwhelming, which is why I’ll keep plugging away making little changes and doing it often.

I hope this inspires you to make some sustainable swaps and be more creative in how you live more self-sufficiently.

 

I’d love to know what things you would or have added to these lists!

 

Tell me in the comments, what have you done to live more self-sufficiently?

 

 

 

The post Living Self-Sufficiently: What Green Habits Will You Adopt? appeared first on Amy Morse.

COVID-19: Is Your Business Prepared for a Post-Pandemic World?

As the end of 2020 approaches we are starting to think about what comes next. This article by a contributor offers some suggestions to help you and your business move forward.

 

Preparing Your Business

Following the restrictions placed by different governments around the world on people’s movement, it has become necessary for people to adapt to working from home. However, the uncertainty lies in how businesses are going to get back to operations after the pandemic.

Image via Pixabay

 

While there may be a lot of uncertainty on when business operations will return to normal, there are plenty of measures you can put in place in preparation for the post-pandemic world. Here are a few to take note of.

Smart Investments in The Digital Landscape 

The stay at home orders as a result of the pandemic has forced a lot of people to spend most of their time online. But, you should be cautious about how you invest in growing the digital landscape of your business. If your business is solely brick and mortar, you should consider splitting your business plan. This means that you should consider ecommerce or digital options that feature any of the top 10 best live chat software.

You should also not forget to include post-pandemic offers that your clients can take advantage of when you are finally ready to meet them face to face.

Invest More in In-Demand Skills

It is uncertain what the new normal will look like, but one thing is for sure, relationship-building and communication skills will be an important consideration that businesses have to take advantage of. If businesses should see any success after the pandemic, they should be in a position to promote teamwork and collaboration.

If any of your colleagues had to work from home because of the current pandemic, it’s best to check up on them and see how they’re doing. Being empathetic and mindful of your colleagues is a crucial consideration in the post-pandemic world because you’ve got no idea what they may have been going through.

Nurture a Culture of Self Care

If your place of business had to indefinitely shut down, there is a need to consider strengthening your non-tangible assets. One of the ways you can go about this is by investing in your employees’ mental well-being so that they can get back to work in great shape.

Consider revisiting your company’s mission by reminding your colleagues what it is that makes your company’s culture unique. This should be done at least bi-weekly or monthly through zoom calls, chats, or email. It’s also a great idea if you occasionally organize a virtual get together with your employees.

Restructure your Marketing Efforts

When entering the post-pandemic world, it may be necessary to figure out how to expand your target audience. If your marketing campaigns narrowed down the demographics of your prospects, you should consider loosening them. It could also be time to figure out how best to target your ads to other regions, especially if you are offering virtual services or products.

Wrapping Up

The coronavirus pandemic has brought about a “new normal” in business operations. But when things finally get better, business won’t be as usual. Digital marketing will be one of the top priorities for businesses.

 

The post COVID-19: Is Your Business Prepared for a Post-Pandemic World? appeared first on Amy Morse.

We’ve Already Invented A Time Machine

 

I’m a sci-fi fan.

And a Trekkie.

One of the most memorably brilliant books I’ve read in a long time is ‘Time and Time Again’ by Ben Elton.

It’s about time travel. Travelling back and righting a wrong in history to change the course of the future. The twist at the end is brilliant, too!

What If You Could Go Back In Time?

If you could go back in time to any point in history, where would you go and what would you do?

It’s one of those existential questions we’ve asked many times.

As it stands, we currently don’t have a machine we can climb into and transport a person back to another point in time.

Whether we ever will have such technology is probably well beyond this current lifetime.

However, we do have a time travelling technology. And I don’t mean TV digiboxes!

It’s something far more mainstream. Something so mundane, so unobtrusive and so instinctive to us we barely appreciate its significance…

…Writing

Most of us write without really thinking about it. Every day.

World literacy rates are the highest in human history. It’s something so simple and accessible, a child does it.

But if you stop to think about it, you would realise just how magical it is to communicate the contents of your brain  to someone else.

We’ve written and published more in the past 10 years than in the entirety of human history. Everyday millions of us are writing billions of words and publishing them immediately.

Our words will long outlive us.

 

Our words  are our legacy.

With them, we can communicate across space and time, potentially,  over thousands of years.

What you write now exists into the future, just as what was written before us allows us to know our ancestors, know our history and continue to learn and grow as a species.

 

Something Diverting to Watch

The history of writing is a long and fascinating one.

If you are looking for your next binge-worthy boxset, there is a three part series on BBC iPlayer, The Secret History of Writing.

I highly recommend it for an edu-taining watch.

The mind-blowing moment for me was in Episode 2 –  the realisation that the invention of the printing press and the ease with which the Roman Alphabet can be reproduced in print kickstarted the westernised world we know today.

When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in Germany in 1440 he could never have dreamed of the huge impact he would have. You could argue one of the single biggest technological innovations in human history.

Watch it here: The Secret History of Writing, while you can. 

 

Now It’s Your Turn

Writing is something anyone can do.

You don’t need any special technology. Just a pencil and paper.

But most of us have a mini computer, disguised as a phone, in our pocket with more processing power than the machines that sent humans to the moon.

You don’t even have to physically type. You can voice type.

 

Voice Type


 Open an new email on your phone


Address the message to yourself


Tap into the message body


Tap the microphone icon on the keyboard


Speak


Send

 

I recommend doing it on an email to yourself rather than a note or app because you can then send it to your inbox to remind you to do something with it. Let’s be honest, if it’s stored in an app somewhere you’ll probably forget about it.

This is a great way to capture your thoughts and ideas as you have them and also to write quickly. If you have an idea in your brain, often our brains, or our mouths can process it much faster than we can type, but unless it’s written somewhere it will never go any further.

We won’t be remembered for the things we thought about doing!

The only person stopping you writing what you need to say is yourself.

 

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Are you getting in your own way?

 

Book a FREE 30-minute Inspiration Call with me. Let’s see what we can do together!

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Essentialism: Inspiration and A Book Review

 

Remember Marie Condo?

Her decluttering methodology was so 2019.Her approach to clearing out your wardrobe was to only keep the clothes that ‘spark joy’, then thank the rest of your clothes before putting them in the charity bag.

I bet there are thousands of people regretting putting that fluffy onesie in the charity bag now? Nothing could spark joy on a cold day in lockdown like a fluffy onesie!

Decluttering your wardrobe is the metaphor used in the book I’m currently reading – Essentialism by Greg McKeown.

Essentially, it’s about only doing the things that are essential; only keeping the things in your wardrobe that spark joy.

He proposes a four-step essentialism process to eliminate the trivial many and focus on the vital few.

Essence
Explore
Eliminate
Execute

In theory, it makes a lot of sense.

In reality, however…
I’m about halfway through the book and looking forward to the 4th stage ‘execute’ to see what practical techniques and activities he suggests.

As a business book, it’s readable, concise and well structured, if a little simplistic – there is a heavy scent of ‘this system is the silver bullet to solve all your problems’ about it. Because I’m imbued with the innately British trait of deep cynicism, I am sceptical of anything that seems too good to be true!

However, I will share a few nuggets and learning points that I hope inspire you.

Reading Notes on the Essentialism Philosophy:
“Living by design not by default”

This quote is right up my street. As a passionate supporter of micro-enterprise and a start up mentor, this simple phrase reminds me of the power of following your own path. It’s the reason I never want to rely on an employer for my livelihood again.

 

“If you don’t prioritise your life someone else will”

We all lead busy lives with demands and expectations on our time. Sometimes you have to prioritise yourself, being a people pleaser can leave us feeling unfulfilled, exhausted and taken advantage of.

 

“The vital few from the trivial many”

This is the core of the book. A simple idea, a tough one to implement. However, when working with start ups, I actively encourage my clients to tackle one thing at a time. To focus their energy on a vital few. A prime example is when marketing through Social Media. It’s far better to be really good and consistent on one or two platforms than to be distracted by the new shiny-shiny and spread yourself too thinly over multiple channels. Pick a channel you are comfortable with and that is right for your audience and learn to use it really well.

 

“The undisciplined pursuit of more”

This is a such an easy trap to fall into when you work for yourself. Our fear of ‘not enough’ means we say ‘yes’ to things too quickly.

 

“The volume of choice has outstripped our ability to manage it”

It’s easy to mistake information overload for opinion overload. Especially at times like this, spending more and more time online and relying on it for our social and business interactions. The boundaries between fact and information and opinion are increasingly blurred. “We are so hyper-connected it is overwhelming.”

 

“Deliberately setting aside distraction free time in a distraction free space to do absolutely nothing other than think”

Thinking time is underrated. We feel guilty if we are ‘not busy’. The scourge of busy means that all too often we are on the go. Acting without purpose or priority. Filling that most precious and finite of commodities we have – our time – with minutia. One of the positive outcomes from a year of lockdowns and uncertainty has been access to more of our own time. Time to simply think, breathe  and reflect.

 

“When many things are a priority nothing is”

It’s up to us to set our intent, choose where to focus our energy. If we don’t take responsibility for our own time, others will.

The ‘Fun Window’ is a useful model to help you decide what to spend time on and when to do it.

Like + Can Do

These are things you enjoy and come naturally to you. This is Maximum Fun. Do more of this!

Don’t Like + Can Do

This is where being a pen for hire comes in for me. I am able to do it, but I don’t like it.

These are things that you may find you do in the short term to reach another goal, but please don’t make them core to your plans. This is really Unfun!  These are the things to say ‘no’ to, or delegate, or only do as a last resort and only temporarily.

Your intentions should always be to enjoy what you do!

Like + Can’t Do

These are your plans for the future. Things to work towards, the things to take on as part of your continuous professional development. They are enjoyable activities and you get a huge sense of satisfaction from having learned a new skill.

This is where many of my clients are. They are in the early days of their writing journey and it’s hard, but with time, effort, focus, feedback and practice, soon the skills they learn will come naturally to them and can become Maximum Fun!

Don’t Like + Can’t Do

These are Zero Fun. They are miserable and hard. Best avoided!

 

Essentialism – A system for the butterfly brain

If, like me, you’ve always got lots of things flitting around in your head like ‘butterflies in your brain’, this book is worth a read. It may just help you find clarity of purpose and some techniques to make better use of your time and energy.

We can do anything, but not everything. And we can be selfish without being self centred – that’s essentialism.

My one criticism: the problem with the essentialist way is the purely logical nature of it. If we all followed this philosophy, no one would ever do anything for the greater good of their community – unless of course they made that their priority!

 

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Struggling to find your writing mojo?

 

Book a FREE 30-minute Inspiration Call with me and learn to write with courage, confidence and creativity!

For instant updates when I publish a new blog post, Follow me on Bloglovin’
For extra goodies and exclusive new information, join my mailing list HERE.

 

The post Essentialism: Inspiration and A Book Review appeared first on Amy Morse.

Simple Ways to Make Your Business Look More Professional

Professional first impressions count.

You need to look and behave professionally to have a successful business.

Back in the spring, I needed a roofer to fix a leak. As so many of us do, I took to Facebook and asked for recommendations.

One came back and the roofer was trading on a personal Facebook page. I was immediately put off.

 

Give Us  A Reason To Trust The Business

Firstly, I didn’t know him, so I certainly didn’t want to have to friend him on Facebook to communicate with him – I keep my personal and business lives separate there. My ‘friends’ are not my customers.

Secondly, there is no function to leave review on a personal page or any of the other content tools to build up a picture and tell the story of the business – I had no idea of their track record.

Thirdly, if they couldn’t be bothered to even get the basics right with their online presence and marketing, I wasn’t about to hand over hundreds of my hard-earned-quid and set him loose on the roof of my house! Just image what other shortcuts he would take? Was he insured? Was he qualified? Was he even operating legally, so I would have some recourse if things went wrong?

So many alarm bells. In the end, I chose a recommendation for a business who had a Facebook page and a website, so I could do at least some due diligence on them first.

A cowboy builder could have ended up costing thousands in the future to rectify bad work or replace water damaged property.

 

You may be excellent at what you do as a business, but if people can’t see that and have no reason to trust you, you’ll have no business.

In this article by a contributor, we look at why creating a professional impression is so important for the reputation and survival of your business and some quick tips to up your game.

 

Simple Yet Professional

Whether you are running a small business or a larger one, looking good is important. Your brand matters and you can only clean up your image by looking at the ways that you can make your business as professional as possible. Whether you are running a blog or you are opening a shop, image matters as it’s the first thing that people will see when they walk into (or click on) your business.

 

You want your business to stand out among the rest, so if you want to ensure that your inspiring window displays are seen by everyone, you need the following tips to make sure that you make your business look as professional as possible. Let’s dive in!

 

Image Source: Pexels

Get A Proper Phone Number.

Your business needs to have a phone number separate from the one that you use for personal moments. A dedicated number will ensure that you can give out your contact details without fear of anyone ringing you on your personal phone repeatedly. You can get a cell phone, but it’s best to ensure that you have a VoIP if possible!

 

Dress Your Store.

Whether you are running an online Etsy store or you have a walk-in one on the high street, you need to think about how you dress it up. Dress the window displays and get your online site looking pretty, too! You can dress it up and ensure that people are happy when they are looking at your business and interested in what you have to offer. The more you impress people with the way it looks, the more professional you can make it look.

 

Choose A PO Box.

A mailing address where your customers can reach you is an absolute must if you have a business that isn’t on the high street, but a PO box is going to give you some space from business mail arriving at your personal address.

 

Upgrade Your Website.

If you have been using a blogging site like WordPress, you need to buy your domain name so that you are looking professional and in control. You can get a free domain name but you’ll always have a name that includes the blogging site. So, get your domain name sorted early.

 

Order Business Cards.

If you sell products, always include a business card! You can encourage people to continue to buy with you when you have business cards included in every package. They will be able to see your details, know where to contact you and it just looks professional to have a new way to contact people. 

 

Use A VA.

A Virtual Assistant is the perfect way to have a professional business image, because they will be taking your calls and managing your admin flow for you. A virtual assistant will give your business a front and will also filter out all of the calls that you don’t want to take! 

 

Making your business look more professional doesn’t have to be difficult, and these tips prove it!

The post Simple Ways to Make Your Business Look More Professional appeared first on Amy Morse.

Medical Practices That Have Made A Move Online

As life relies more and more on digital, a contributor explores how this has impacted medical practices…

 

Medical Practice Moving Online

Our world was well and truly heading towards an extremely digitalized way of life anyway, now, with Covid-19, a lot of this progress had had to move more quickly. From working from home, learning from home, ordering shopping to your home, to streaming online. Many things have made the move to the online world, and some medical practices have followed suit. 

 

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay 

 

Let’s have a look at some fo the medical practices that have now moved online: 

Doctors Appointments

There were already ways for is to speak to a medical practioner online before Covid-19, however, it wasn’t used by many, and going to the practice in person was still the number one way to get the medical help you need. Covid-19 has seen many doctors surgeries temporarily shut, or highly reduce the number of patients that have been seen in person. Now a lot of patients are been spoken to on the phone, via video chat, are even providing photos of visible symptoms through online portals. Could this be something that will continue even after we get back to normality? Although normal routine doctors’ appointments in person will sometimes be needed, a digital approach could help to take the demand from the surgeries in busy periods. 

Prescriptions 

This is something else that was slowly moving towards been online, however, it was still a necessity and even a requirement for some people to still see their doctor for a new or repeat prescription. Many patients are now accessing their prescriptions online and using them to preorder their medication or glasses from Eyeglasses.com. This has enabled a lot of pressure to be taken away from doctors’ surgeries, which has provided more resources where needed throughout this terrible time. Prescriptions can now also be ordered online, in advance, and then be delivered to your door, this makes it extremely useful, especially for those who are vulnerable and can’t get to their pharmacy or are in isolation. 

Therapies 

Mental health has always been a massive focus, however, a close watch has been needed on the mental health of people throughout coronavirus. This is again something that was starting to happen online more and more, but because of Covid-19 has been hurtled forward to ensure people have access to the help that they need. Being able to access therapies online also has the benefit of being able to assist those who maybe wouldn’t reach out if they felt like they couldn’t speak to someone in person but felt more comfortable to do it using live chat or messaging. Whether it’s child counseling, couples counseling, speak therapies, special needs diagnosis, or individual counseling for things like depression, all these services can be accessed online using many different platforms. You can even access them using your mobile phone or tablet. 

 

These are just three of the medical practices that have moved online and more quickly because of Covid-19.

 

Do you think this is a positive move or do you prefer in person? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. 

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Homemade Natural Deodorant That Really Works

I can’t help but wonder what nasty chemicals go into the deodorant I slather onto my sweaty armpits every day.

Often packed in single use plastic, I’ve tried to use mostly deodorant in glass bottles – but that’s still creates recycling.

Living more sustainably has always been important to me, but no more has it been highlighted than during 2020 and the coronavirus crisis. The lack of availability of goods and services, the fracturing of lengthy supply chains, has made me realise how dependent I’ve become on convenience.

With the lack of security over food and goods, rising prices due to demand outstripping supply, the more we can create ourselves and the more we can source locally the better.

As an experiment in not only reducing my plastic waste, but also reducing the number of noxious chemicals that I put on my body and that are released into the environment as a result of the mass production of every day items like deodorant, I had a go at making my own.

 

Why DIY?

By making your own cosmetics you know exactly what ingredients have gone into what you’ve created. If you are concerned about what you put into your body through your mouth, you should be concerned about what you put into your body through absorption from your skin.

When you make it yourself, you can be sure that it’s all natural.

You minimise the supply chain – carbon footprint and ‘food miles’ – from manufacturing and shipping goods around the world.

Minimising the creation of unnecessary waste – Using as little single use plastic as possible is one thing that we can all do to combat climate change.

And when it’s homemade you have a freedom to get creative and playing with your favourite combinations of scent.

It’s very satisfying, especially when it works. Honestly, I am such a sweaty-Betty and this recipe really works. Better than shop bought deodorants that claim to give 24 or even 48 hours worth of protection! And, no white powdery marks on your sleeves.

 

 

Repurpose and get creative

When I made my first batch, I let it set in a pot with a lid. However, application of the finished product was a messy affair.

 

 

Cosmetics manufacturers spend millions on R&D to develop their products and packaging. Why not take advantage of that?

It’s only single use plastic if you use it only once, so I started by buying a deodorant in a plastic dispenser that I could reuse.

 

I used up the product then took apart the dispenser, removed the label, etc.

But you can actually buy the empty dispensers. If I was making a batch of these, perhaps to sell or give as gifts, I may consider this route.

 

I do appreciate that this is a plastic product, however, if you reuse it…

 

Glass dispensers are also available, but I don’t think this recipe would be runny enough. It could be made runnier by adding more coconut oil or shea butter, I suppose?

 

The Deodorant Recipe

I didn’t invent this recipe.

When I want to a recipe for something, I turn to Pinterest.

There are a few alternatives, but the recipe I found has 5 ingredients:

Arrowroot powder
Shea butter
Coconut oil
Baking soda
Essential oils

Arrowroot is available in the baking aisle of most major supermarkets, as is baking soda and coconut oil.

  

Incidentally, arrowroot powder is also used as the base for homemade talcum powder or dry shampoo (recipes for another blog).

 

 

Essential oils and shea butter can be ordered online:

 

 

The Method

Put 3 Tbsp shea butter and 2 Tbsp coconut oil into a mixing jug and zap in the microwave for 10 – 15 seconds, or until it has melted. Alternatively, melt in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.
Add your favourite combination of essential oils, around 15 drops. I used Tea Tree which is fresh, cleansing and antibacterial and lavender. For a more masculine or musky fragrance, use Patolli.
Stir in 2 Tbsp baking soda and 3 Tbsp arrowroot until it’s well combined
Pour the syrupy liquid into the dispenser
Chill in the fridge for 2 hours

 

You don’t need to keep it in the fridge once it’s set, use it and store it as you would your regular deodorant. It has the consistency of a thick cream deodorant rather than a solid stick. For a more solid stick, melt in a little beeswax.

These quantities have worked well, and with a selection box of essential oils I’ve played around with some different scent combinations.

Why not give this a try?

It’s super simple, sustainable and satisfying.

 

 

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Should Shaming: What Expectations Are Holding You Back?

“You’re not a failure for not being where you think you ‘should’ be”

Seeing that quote shared on Social Media reminded me of this blog I wrote a few years ago. It’s just as relevant today as it was then.

 

 

Are You A Should Shamer?

I was at an an Escape the City event in Bristol on World Escape Day in 2015.

Bristol was one of 22 cities who simultaneously celebrated the event. Escape the City is an international movement to help people escape unfulfilling jobs and transition into the new world of work.

 

In the room, at the Famous Royal Navy Volunteer, were people wanting to escape for various reasons, as well as people who had already escaped.

As an entrepreneur, I was one of the ‘I’ve already escaped’ and found myself talking about my experiences and tips for escaping to the world of self-employment.

At the event, we grouped together and shared our challenges and what was holding us back.

In the group I was in someone said ‘should shaming’.

This intrigued me and it’s something we probably all feel at some stage in our lives. Even the alliteration – the combination of ‘sh’ sounds is like being berated.

‘Should shaming’ is the sense that you should be doing something or not doing something and if you don’t then you should be ashamed.

There are 3 big instigators of should shaming in our lives:

1) Ourselves

Telling ourselves what we should have achieved by now then being ashamed of ourselves because we haven’t done it. We are often our biggest critic.

I’ve had many conversations with people in their 30s and 40s lamenting the fact that they haven’t done the things they ‘should’ have done at their age, like get married or buy their own home.

Being self employed can be tough. My levels of positivity and negativity about what I do can fluctuate across the scale in the space of minutes!

One minute I’ve had a great call with a client and can confidently say to myself, “Yes. That was great. I’m bloody good at this!”

The next I’m justifying myself to someone else while Imposter Syndrome in my head tells me, “They’re right you know. What do you actually know about business?”

 

2) Other people

Other people have expectations about what we should have done and make us feel shame for disappointing them.

Friends and family often do this without malicious intent; but because they care about us and they can’t help but project their own values on us because that is their understanding and experience of the world.

Many of my friends and family have no experience of self employment and just don’t understand what I do. I regularly deal with doe eyed looks of sympathy because in their eyes, I’m ‘unemployed’. Constantly being asked if I have any work or being advised to “go get yourself a nice little part time job.”

 

 

3) Society in general

Society puts expectations on us then shames us for not conforming.

(I’ll avoid getting into the politics of the ruling elite’s necessity to have compliant citizens. As well as deep held cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs that dictate the traditions we live by.)

Instead, here are some of the typical ways we are told (or tell ourselves) we should do something:

You’re in your thirties if you’ve not married there’s something wrong with you.


You’re a woman of childbearing age you should have children (this one especially is close to my heart, as a woman who has chosen not to become a mother. I’m constantly judged for this, even feared that I am somehow some kind of child hating monster!

You should…

Be a home owner

 

Have a career plan

 

Earn a certain amount to be of any worth to society

 

Be ambitious

 

Work for someone else

 

Have a job to go to before leaving a job

 

Be thin and beautiful

 

Always be fashionably dressed

 

Be normal 

 

I believe, there is only one should:

‘Do what makes you happy’ – set your own goals and expectations for yourself and never be ashamed of the person you are.

 

Too often, we compare ourselves to others – but you are comparing your insides to other people’s outsides – that’s hardly a fair comparison!

People present the best side of themselves in public, you have no way of knowing what is really going on inside that person you are comparing yourself to.

Comparing yourself to others will only make you miserable (Tweet This)

Here’s one top tip to banish that should shaming voice inside us:

Change the should to could and the shame to pride:

You could get hung up on being single in your thirties or be proud to have escaped that harmful relationship. You could be proud that you are your own person and don’t need to be in a couple to define yourself. You could be proud to be independent.


You could have children or be proud to make your own choices and proud to not give in to the pressure to procreate. You could choose not to contribute to the overpopulation of the world and be proud that you are taking steps towards a sustainable future.


You could save up and buy a house or be proud that you have the freedom to change location and don’t have all that debt and responsibility.


You could be ambitious and have a career plan or be proud to try new things and enjoy the journey instead of only thinking about the destination.

You could stay in that  job you hate, or be proud to have the self-belief and freedom to make your own way in the world. There is more to life than having a company pension in 30 years’ time. You could wait until retirement to start enjoying your life, instead be proud to live in the moment.


You could starve yourself to be thin and impress other people, but instead be proud to love the body you’re in.


You could be ‘normal’ (whatever that is) but instead be proud to be different and to just be yourself

Just be…

 

 

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Are You Brave Enough To Say No To A Job?

I turned down a job.

I won’t bore you with the details of how I ended up in a car park in Easton in Bristol being asked to confirm a start date for a job I had neither applied for or accepted.

I agonised over the circumstances of the job offer for a couple of days, out of loyalty to an old friend who had recommended me to one of their friends.

In the end, I had a moment of pure clarity.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want that job, it was that I didn’t want any job at all.

I have a job, I made it for myself. I have the capacity to do more work, yes, but I like my job; why would I give it up? 

 

Five Minutes of Pain or a Lifetime of Regret?

It was a tough conversation with a friend I respect deeply, but that 5 minutes of awkward conversation was far better than the ongoing regret and resentment of taking a job for the wrong reasons – because I hadn’t had the guts to say ‘no’ when I should have.

 

I felt so much better afterwards. Suddenly, I appreciated my freedom all over again.

I came dangerously close to giving away at least 2 or 3 days of my life, every week!  A lucky escape – phew!

 

 

Doing A Little To Help A Lot

As a Business Mentor, I work with hundreds of micro-businesses every year, being there for them for that hour or that workshop when they need me.

This particular job involved going into a business that had rapidly grown, having won a big contract and not yet having systems and processes in place to cope with the influx of extra work.

Essentially, they needed someone to join their team as an Office Manager, working within the business to get them organised, to set things up and put processes in place.

My friend had really talked me up as the solution to the problem.

But I’m not.

I am capable of doing the job; I’ve had similar roles in the past.

But I didn’t want to do it.

I chose self-employment because I didn’t want to get sucked back into the minutia of an individual business.
I want to empower and impact lots of businesses, even if it’s just in a small way.

When I chose the freelance route in 2015, I vowed I would never work for anyone ever again.

I feel this way more strongly now than ever.

Of course, I will do bits and bobs of employed work in the future as necessary, but I never want my career and future dictated by a single employer ever again.

We’re all facing challenging times with ongoing COVID 19 restrictions.

In the UK, we’re in an economic recession and we are facing the looming threat of severing ties with our biggest trading partner, the EU.

Many would think me mad for turning down a job that quite literally fell in my lap.

However, it’s these tough decisions, in tough times, where you need to trust your gut.

It’s OK to say NO.

And ‘No’ is a complete sentence.

 

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Book a FREE 30-minute Inspiration Call with me. Let’s see what we can do together!

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5 Actionable Tips On Attracting New Clients To Your Freelancing Business – A Guest Post

 

Welcoming freelancing Writer Heather Redding back to the blog this week, sharing timely tips on attracting next clients.

Predictably, my favourites are points 3 and 5: Networking and starting a blog.

Over to Heather…

 

5 Actionable Tips On Attracting New Clients To Your Freelancing Business

Pexels

These days, it’s easier than ever to bring your own business to life in the digital world. Anyone can start a website and advertise their services.

However, it takes time, focus, and strategy to turn your digital venture into a money-making opportunity.

Whether you’re pursuing a new career as a freelance writer, a graphic designer, or an online consultant, attracting new clients is likely to be the biggest challenge you’ll face.

The web is full of other professionals like you constantly competing for clients. If you don’t have a system to attract new clients, you’re bound to fail.

The good news? We have some tips you can use to attract new clients to your business.

 

1.  Build a Fantastic Portfolio

As an online freelancer, there’s a good chance you’re selling a specific service. That means you need to sell yourself as a professional and a thought leader in your industry.

A good portfolio is one of the first things you’ll need to show off your skill and begin building your professional brand.

Your portfolio highlights the work you’ve done before, and how it’s paid off for your customers. It’s also evidence for any future clients that you have experience delivering the results they need.

You can either build your portfolio on a dedicated portfolio website or create a simple website and host that instead.

Include as many different samples of your work on your portfolio as possible. This shows your clients that you have a wide range of skills.

 

2.  Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Alongside your portfolio or website, your social media presence is another key tool in marketing yourself online. These days, many recruiters and HR representatives start their search for skilled individuals online, using tools like LinkedIn to find commendable pros.

LinkedIn profiles show up high in the Google search results when people google your name, which adds more credibility to your image as a professional.

LinkedIn is also a chance to build on your social proof with reviews and recommendations from other market leaders.

Improving your LinkedIn profile with up-to-date accomplishments and work information makes you stand out from the crowd. Make sure you have a clear and high-quality photo.

Plus, don’t be afraid to join LinkedIn groups dedicated to your niche so you can find extra networking opportunities.

 

3.  Start a Blog

One of the best ways to highlight your position as a thought leader in today’s digital world is to create plenty of valuable content. A blog attached to your website or portfolio page highlights your knowledge in a consumable, and easy-to-find format.

If you’re a web designer or developer for WordPress websites, you can provide handy information about improving website responsivity, or what features to look for in a WordPress theme. Think about the intent your customers have when they arrive on your website.

It’s also worth noting that your blog can be an excellent tool for improving your search engine rankings. Creating educational content does a lot more than provide value to your future clients.

It also means that you can target specific keywords and phrases. The more you work on your SEO standing, the easier it will be for future clients to find you.

Monitor the results of each article you publish. Tracking things like engagement rates and click-through will help you determine which content your audience likes most.

 

4.  Networking

It will probably be a while until conferences and professional events become possible again. However, the good news is that many of such events have been moved to a virtual environment.

In addition to attending virtual conferences, webinars, and such, you can also leverage the power of social media. Find active groups and communities related to your industry. Connecting with other professionals can help you generate some referrals or find new opportunities and clients to reach out to.

Additionally, you benefit from keeping a pulse on trends and demands so you can always offer the highest level of service to your clients. They’ll reward it by returning to you more than once if you exceed their expectations.

 

5.  Build Plenty of Social Proof

This is one of the best ways to land new clients without doing too much extra work. When someone tells you they’re thrilled with the work you’ve done for them, ask for a review or testimonial. Encouraging your clients to give you feedback is an excellent way to show future customers how trustworthy you are.

Today, most clients will check online to see if anyone is talking about you or your services before they decide to hire you.

If you don’t have any positive reviews on your website or recommendations on social media, this might not look great.

If you’re having a hard time convincing your clients to leave reviews after they work with you, try offering them a bonus gift.

Giving your clients a slight discount on their invoice or a gift with their purchase whenever they leave a review is a great way to boost your social proof when you’re first getting started.

Don’t forget to ask your clients to recommend you to their friends too!

 

Keep Attracting New Opportunities

As a freelancer, finding and retaining clients will always be a challenge you have to face.

However, the more you work on building your reputation and professional brand, the easier it will be to convince future leads to work with you.

Getting work as a freelancer is all about building relationships with people, both online and offline. Use the tips above to ensure that you’re always generating new opportunities.

—

Heather Redding is a part-time assistant manager and writer based in Aurora, Illinois. She is also an avid reader and a tech enthusiast. When Heather is not working or writing, she enjoys her Kindle library with a hot cup of coffee. Reach out to her on Twitter.

 

Thanks, Heather for getting involved.

 

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Does your micro-enterprise need support?

 

Book a FREE 30-minute Inspiration Call with me. Let’s see what we can do together!

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