The change in season affects us all differently. For some, it's the long awaited chance to cosy up in knitted jumpers, sip fancy coffees and kick through golden crunchy leaves. For others it's the season of change: where the new school year, looming holiday season and tiredness from picking up after others who were off on holiday over the summer all begins to stack up. 

We’ve all heard the age old adage; “if you go looking for something you don't want to find, chances are you’ll find it”. 

 

It’s true, if you go looking for red flags and deal breakers in a new relationship, you’re almost guaranteed to find one. But, when we’ve been hurt by relationships in the past, it’s difficult to not be extra cautious and/or vigilant when taking that brave step back into the dating game. It's especially hard if the last one ended because of a red flag that went overlooked for longer than it maybe should have. 

 

So, is it possible to be vigilant without making it your personal mission to hunt out these red flags? 

 

Well, yes! And here’s how… 

Taking that leap back onto the dating scene after a breakup or divorce is a courageous step. 

 

It’s taken a lot of time to rediscover yourself again and get yourself back to a place where you feel confident. But this often means there’s a sense of apprehension that comes with opening yourself up again to the dating game. 

 

So, what steps can you take as you reenter the dating game to protect yourself and your sense of self? 

For many of us, it's felt like a long time coming… 

 

A whole week of no emails or calls from clients, no urgent jobs that need to be completed yesterday and no more gazing at the sun from your office window. Imagine! Just the warm sun, a cool pool and an all you can eat breakfast buffet. 

 

As August rapidly approaches, the prospect of a holiday abroad is finally becoming a reality for many. 

 

But, after a turbulent few years, the unwelcome anxiety induced by thoughts of returning to work can have a habit of putting a damper on your last few days of holiday. 

 

So how can we stop this from happening so you can enjoy every last second of your time away? 

Does it feel like you’re spending the majority of your time at work or home under the bus? 

 

Like, no matter how hard you try you’re being set up to fail and that none of your achievements will ever be good enough? 

 

Being scapegoated in either a workplace or family situation is never a good feeling. It can feel like you’re being blamed for everything that goes wrong or that your successes and achievements don't mean anything. 

It’s impossible to care too much! 

 

Over caregiving is one of the easiest actions to justify to ourselves. We rarely see these behaviours as intrusive or negative because they all come with the best intentions. 

The business can still run without you! 

 

But what if that’s what I’m afraid of? 

 

In a world where everyone lives online and on their phones, switching off from work is no longer a case of just not coming into the office that day. Resisting the temptation to quickly check your emails and the team WhatsApp group “just in case” is getting less and less easy. 

Whether you’re counting down the days until the long weekend or you are dreading another long enforced break from working as you are unsure what you are going to fill it doing, bank holidays are an essential break for many in the UK. 

 

The Book Chained to the Desk by Bryan E. Robinson describes workaholism as the ‘best-dressed and least-recognized addiction’. The bank holidays can at times feel like a disruption in our weekday routine and workplace rhythm, but they are so important for our mental health. And here’s why… 

There’s a common misconception, that in order to be in a codependent relationship, you need to be romantically involved with the person who’s manipulating you. But the truth is, codependent relationships can take many different forms. Any relationship can be manipulated by narcissistic desire and caretakers who feel the need to protect them. 

 

Even in the corporate world these relationships are everywhere. And, if the codependent personality is being guided by a nurturing leader, they can be an absolute asset to your business. But, if this person is a narcissist, it can have a detrimental impact on; 

 

When I was working in offices, creating a culture that cares seemed far less complicated than it does now. Checking in on people and asking how their evening was as they came into the office, impromptu chats around the water cooler and picking up on those little signs in behaviour when people were having off days. 

 

But now that people are working here, there and everywhere and most catch ups being held over Zoom, it can feel like these little moments that connect us and create opportunities for maintaining that caring culture are few and far between. 

 

Arranging a virtual coffee over Zoom just doesn’t seem to have the same open and spontaneous feel to it. 

 

So, is there a way to maintain a caring culture in your organisation where most people are hybrid or remote working? 

Becky* has been with her current employer for 11 years now. She’s worked her way up in the company and now manages a small team in a large firm. 

 

She’s the first to offer help when it’s needed, first to take on those horrible tasks that have been put off for a while because no one wants to do them, and first to jump in and cover when someone's sick. 

 

But behind closed doors, Becky is totally overwhelmed with her current situation.