Oh God, it's another flippin' New Year!

2023 - The Year of Movement!

When I'm asked if I've made any resolutions for the year ahead my mind invariably goes blank. Given what I do for a living, I feel like I should have some revelatory goals up my sleeve that I can trot out to inspire people and make them gasp in wonder at the awesomeness of my plans for the coming year, but, the reality is that one of my core beliefs is that making New Year resolutions invariably just sets a person up to feel defeated and disappointed with themselves when, after a couple of weeks, they part company from their well-intentioned plans.

That said, my aim (definitely NOT a resolution) is to move a bit more this year and to encourage others to move a bit more too. By 'move' I don't mean 'move house', 'move country' or 'move on up' (as Curtis Mayfield would say), I just mean small, simple, easy and frequent movements.

So below is a short list of 'easy wins'. Things, concepts, mindset shifts, call them what you will that can help navigate you through life a bit more easily. No 1 is about movement, the rest are just a scattergun mix of popular, effective things that may help you through the next few weeks and months.

1) Move On Up - OK, Curtis you got me. 🔝

Try this, if you know you're going to be sitting down for any length of time just set a timer on your phone to make a noise every 28 minutes, then spend 2 minutes moving.

What kind of moving? It really doesn't matter, but ideally, something that gets your heart pumping and your blood flowing. Stand up, sit down, repeat. Go up and down stairs. March on the spot. Clap your hands together twice, say 'Very Good' with each clap and then throw your hands upwards and shout 'Yaaay' at the top of your voice. Repeat 5 times. It sounds nuts, but IT DOES THE TRICK.

2) Let go of approval and go for results instead. 

You're on a hiding-to-nothing if you want everyone to like you, like what you do, or how you live your life. In general, people are way too busy to give you that much thought, so don't worry about trying to keep everybody happy and win everyone's approval. The people who matter to you, your inner circle, they're the ones you do what you do for and they're the ones who'll love you for it.

3) Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. 

In other words, embrace personal development. If you think you can navigate your way through the complexities of the modern world using only the educational qualifications you may have gained in school, college or university you can kiss goodbye to the rewards and pleasures of a happy, meaningful life. You, your attitudes, your mindset and your ability to transcend your circumstances are the key to having the life you want.

Millions of people have similar skills, experiences, qualifications and abilities as you (are you feeling special yet?🤣), but what differentiates you from them is the work you put into yourself. Read some books, watch some YouTubes, go on some courses, find someone or some process that you can relate to and embrace it, live it, commit to it - and don't forget No 2 above because whatever you do to improve yourself will almost inevitably activate some cynicism, jealousy or disapproval in people around. Why? Because if you advance and develop, it shines a light on the fact that they may not be advancing and developing and some people don't like that.

4) Love and trust others...

...but don't expect them to sort your life out for you - that's your job!

To quote Sigourney Weaver in the 80's classic 'Working Girl' as she pep-talked Melanie Griffith into asserting herself, "Who makes it happen? YOU DO!" 

Melanie's character then goes on to say to Harrison Ford 'I have a head for business and a bod for sin, is there anything wrong with that?' which is cheesy in the extreme, but you get the idea.

5) Learn and practice a daily form of relaxation.

I know, I know, boring, I get it - but being able to switch off is an absolutely vital life skill. Relaxation doesn't have to involve sitting cross-legged for hours contemplating your navel.

It can be anything that takes you away from 'DOING' into a state of 'BEING'. Painting, writing, a hobby, singing, 7:11 breathing, gardening, playing the uke, doing a 1,000-piece jigsaw, learning to moonwalk with your kids, any sport you enjoy, salsa, a stroll along the beach - you get the idea.

Don't sacrifice these things on the altar of long-working hours as they give more meaning to life than any job.

6) You get what you focus on. 

If you spend your time looking for negative things, in your life, in your job, in your relationships, on the news - guess what - you'll find plenty to moan and worry about!

Much better to put your effort into looking for the positives; about yourself, about your circumstances and about the people around you. It doesn't mean negative stuff doesn't happen and that horrible people don't exist - but why waste your time actively looking for these things? Haven't you got something better to do, like noticing all the good things going on around you?

Life is bitter-sweet, but let's see if those two contrasting elements can produce a flavour we can live with.

7) Givers Get!  🤝

So simple, so true, and so hard to do sometimes, but if you haven't already embraced this I'd urge you to give generously the things you can easily afford to - your expertise, your wisdom, your humour, your kindness, your values, your patience, your attention, your time, your connections, your love and even your money - you can't take any of it with you when you go - so give with no expectations in return, watch the magic happen and feel good right down in your bones.

I'd love to know if any of the above works for you or if you've got some quick fixes of your own.

Is there something you do, you could share with me that I could pass on to others?

DATA, DATA, DATA it's all about the DATA

I can wholeheartedly recommend a simple but very clever Wellbeing App that empowers the employees in your company to regularly score the different aspects of their wellbeing via the App.

It also provides an easy way of delving deeper into what issues they're struggling with, what the barriers are to them dealing with those issues, and what solutions they would most like to have access to that you and I, working together, can provide for them - many of them zero cost options that can be organised internally.

The anonymised data provided by your employees drives the process and makes mental health part of the conversation in your organisation so that wellbeing becomes an everyday reality for you and your colleagues.

It's simple to set up and could be helping you to improve your colleagues' wellbeing and mental health within days and the ROI is brilliant as it costs less than the price of a fancy coffee per employee per month. ☕️

Talking of coffee, if you'd like to know more why not arrange a 15-minute Coffee Break Catch Up with me by clicking on this link: Chat with Jon

Who is The Wellbeing Guy?

My name's Jon Bockelmann-Evans and I've been an international speaker, thought-leader, trainer and clinician for nearly 25 years, helping people (and the organisations they work for) to cope, thrive and succeed despite the many challenges life sends their way.

In my 20s I was a musician in Wales' only ever Welsh language heavy metal band (I don't even speak Welsh) and we toured the world (improbable but true). I trained as a physiotherapist when I was 30, then shortly after as a psychotherapist and so began my love of mind/body medicine as I helped clients recover from stress-related conditions in a specialist clinic in the NHS.

In 2,000 I started running training courses. Two years later I left the NHS and formed JBE Health. Then shortly after buying a house with my girlfriend, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Radical surgery and chemo followed as did months of recovery, with no income, in a house we couldn't afford, with my business in tatters, whilst waiting to hear whether the cancer had spread to my lungs or brain.

It was during those dark times that I formulated the idealogy that underpins everything I do now, blending physiology, psychology and personal development into a unique combination of techniques, concepts, strategies and processes that got me through the toughest period of my life and that have helped thousands of individuals since.

I'm pleased to say I made a full recovery as the cancer hadn't spread. Within a year my girlfriend and I were married and a year after that the first of two wonderful children arrived. My business has gone from strength to strength, taking me all over the world to work with clients such as Nike, Dow, EE, ConocoPhillips, County Councils, SMEs, FE Colleges and hundreds of schools of all varieties.