How To Advance and Enhance Your Career When You Are Working Remotely

Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. It offers several benefits, including flexibility, reduced commuting time, and a better work-life balance. However, staying motivated and engaged when working from home can also be challenging.

In this article, Rob Scott, CEO of Aaron Wallis, a leading recruitment sales recruitment agency, shares his insights on advancing and enhancing your career when working remotely. Scott emphasizes investing in skills development, building relationships with colleagues, and creating a dedicated workspace. He also offers tips on how to stay organized and productive when working from home.

Scott's advice is essential reading if you're considering a remote job or already working remotely and looking to advance your career.

Here are some additional tips from Scott on how to advance your career when working remotely: 

• Set clear goals and objectives for yourself.
• Stay up-to-date on industry trends and developments.
• Network with other professionals in your field.
• Volunteer for new projects and opportunities.
• Be proactive and take initiative.
• Be positive and enthusiastic.

Read the full article on Authority Magazine here: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/remote-career-development-rob-scott-of-aaron-wallis-on-how-to-advance-and-enhance-your-career-when-3292415bc5cf

#RemoteCareerDevelopment #Sales #Recruitment #FutureOfWork #AaronWallis  #salesrecruitment

How to Introduce a Competency-Based Approach into Your Recruitment Process

Competency-based interviews, also known as behavioural interviews, are popular for employers because they focus on how candidates have previously demonstrated specific skills and behaviours at work.

The competency interview approach is based on the premise that a candidate's past behaviour is the best predictor of future performance.

But why introduce a competency based interview format into my recruitment process?

There are several reasons why competency-based interviews are considered the best route to take:

1. They provide a consistent and structured approach to interviewing: Competency-based interviews follow a predetermined set of questions designed to assess specific skills and behaviours. This makes it easier for employers to compare candidates and make more informed hiring decisions.
   
   
2. They focus on real-life examples: Competency-based interviews ask candidates to provide specific examples of how they have demonstrated skills and behaviours in their careers. This allows the employer to get a better sense of the candidate's actual capabilities.
   
   
3. They assess a range of skills: Competency-based interviews are designed to assess various skills, including problem-solving, communication, leadership, and teamwork. This allows employers to get a well-rounded view of the candidate to determine their fit for the role and the company.
   
   
4. They reduce bias: Because competency-based interviews follow a predetermined set of questions and focus on specific skills and behaviours, they can help reduce bias in the hiring process. This is especially important for ensuring diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
   
   
5. They can lead to better job performance: Competency-based interviews can help identify candidates with proven track records of success in similar roles by focusing on past behaviours. This can lead to better job performance and increased productivity for the company.

Aaron Wallis offers a full guide to Competency Interviews, including:

• How to Devise a Competency Interview Format
  
  
• Examples of Competency-Based Interview Questions at all sales levels from Account Managers to Business Development Managers and Sales Leaders.
  
  
• A Competency Interview Template
  
  
• Competency Interview Scoring Matrix

How to Prepare a 90 Day Business Plan Presentation

Second Interview tasks can seem daunting, and the most commonly requested presentation title that we encounter is something like:

‘Given a ‘blank sheet of paper’, what would you do in the first three months/90 days?’ 

In this article, we have provided extensive advice and resources to help you create a 90-day business plan presentation, including ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ and an example of what to include.

The article explains the importance of creating a plan that is achievable, measurable, and realistic. It outlines the steps to creating a plan, such as researching the company, identifying its goals, and understanding their current situation.

It also provides tips on presenting the plan effectively, such as using visuals, staying organised, and being prepared to answer questions.

Finally, the article suggests ways to leave a lasting impression, such as staying confident, professional and following up afterward. We also provide guidance on how to structure your presentation and deliver it confidently.  

Click this link to read this advice article: https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/candidates/advice/sales-interview-advice/wow-at-second-interview/90-day-business-plan-presentation/

How to Evaluate Sales Professionals

How to assess salespeople in a logical and unbiased Manner

Evaluating candidates at an interview is a crucial management skill. After meeting a shortlist of well-prepared, well-presented sales candidates, how do you ensure that you make the best possible recruitment decisions? 

Staff turnover is an enormous cost to any bus
iness. According to CIPD research, over half of hiring decisions are taken for reasons that cannot be tangibly explained.  This is usually a ‘gut feeling’; while important, you must ensure that you have a process to remove all bias from your decisions.

Aaron Wallis has produced a short guide with links to further authoritative information to help you create a more robust recruitment process.  It enables you to identify a successful sales professional’s essential skills and traits in an improved logical way and offers advice on evaluating a candidate’s qualifications effectively.

The guide also covers critical topics such as creating a recruitment plan and assessing cultural fit and has links to proven methods such as topgrading and competency-based interviews.

By utilising our guide, employers can create a recruitment plan, make better, more informed decisions, and assess cultural fit.

Our guide provides sales employers with the tools and knowledge needed to ensure they make the best possible decisions every time they hire.

Click this link to find out more: https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/employers/advice/recruitment-planning/how-to-evaluate-sales-professionals/

What to Wear to a Sales Interview in the Post-Covid Era

 Pre-2020, it was easy to know what to wear to an interview – you can’t go wrong with ‘suited and booted’!  However, post-COVID, most businesses have generally become more relaxed, and ties seem to have almost disappeared.  We’ve even had a candidate rejected from a SaaS firm as they wore a three-piece suit and were considered too formal for their laid-back culture.

So we’re regularly asked what to wear to a sales interview.  In response, we’ve created a comprehensive guide on what to wear to a sales interview in the post-COVID era.

This guide covers everything from the appropriate outfit to wear to a sales interview and how to dress appropriately in a video interview setting.

We know that the job market has changed drastically due to the pandemic.  Our guide is designed to help you make a great first impression in the post-Covid era.  From the right accessories to the appropriate shoes and dress, our guide will ensure that you’re well-prepared for your sales interview – either virtual or face-to-face.

For more information visit: https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/candidates/advice/sales-interview-advice/wow-at-first-interview/what-to-wear-to-a-sales-interview-in-the-post-covid-era/

A Full Guide to Aptitude Testing

  

Aptitude tests are used as a way for companies to assess the skills and abilities of potential employees.  

Our comprehensive guide to aptitude testing will provide you with all the information you need to help you perform at your best.

In our guide, we cover the following topics:

• What is an aptitude test?
  
  
• What types of aptitude tests are there?
  
  
• How to prepare for aptitude tests
  
  
• What to expect during an aptitude test
  
  
• Tips for performing well on an aptitude test, both online and in an Assessment Centre setting.

With our step-by-step approach and comprehensive information, you can feel confident in your ability to ace your aptitude tests and make a great impression during your sales interview.

For more information on our guide to aptitude testing, visit https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/candidates/advice/sales-interview-advice/wow-at-first-interview/a-full-guide-to-aptitude-testing

Ten Essential Rules for Recruiting and Managing Salespeople

Are you looking for a way to improve your team's sales performance?

This guide will help you build and manage a successful sales team with best practices and strategies. You'll learn how to attract and retain the best sales talent, motivate and develop your team, set realistic sales targets, and reward performance.

The guide is packed with actionable advice to help you build an effective sales force. You'll gain valuable insights into successful salespeople's essential traits and attributes and how to create a positive culture and a sales process that works.

Whether you're looking for tips on recruiting, hiring, motivating and managing salespeople or developing a strategy to optimise sales performance, Aaron Wallis' Ten Essential Rules for Recruiting and Managing Salespeople is the perfect resource. With its step-by-step approach and actionable advice, you'll be able to create and nurture a successful sales team to help you reach your business goals.

Read more: https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/employers/advice/managing-sales-teams/ten-essential-rules-for-recruiting-and-managing-salespeople

The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Interviewer

 As an employer, interviewing potential candidates for a job can be overwhelming. 

Aaron Wallis has developed The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Interviewer, designed to help employers ensure that they are making the right impression and making the best possible decisions when selecting the right person for the job.

The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Interviewer is a comprehensive guide to interviewing designed to help employers get the most out of the process.  

The guide covers topics such as how to prepare for the interview, ask the right questions, assess the answers given, communicate effectively, and make the best decisions.  The guide also provides tips and advice on how to create a positive atmosphere and how to create a rapport with the candidate.

The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Interviewer is designed to give employers the tools and knowledge they need to make the most of their interviews.  The guide can be used as a reference for anyone looking to improve their interviewing skills, or simply for those looking for a refresher.

To read more, see: https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/employers/advice/interview-best-practice/the-7-habits-of-a-highly-effective-interviewer/

Complete Guide to Topgrading Interviewing

Topgrading is a comprehensive interviewing method designed to help employers find and hire the best employees for the job, particularly at senior levels. It is a structured process which uses a series of probing questions to reveal a candidate's true potential, performance history and career objectives.

The Topgrading interview begins with an initial phone interview used to assess the candidate's qualifications, experience and interests. The second stage is a face-to-face interview used to explore the candidate's background further and delve into their motivations, goals and objectives. During the face-to-face interview, the interviewer will use the Topgrading methodology to further assess the candidate's answers, analyse their behaviour, and assess their performance.

The Topgrading interview process is comprehensive, robust and detailed. It is a great way to ensure that the best possible candidates are selected for the job. It not only helps employers find the best candidate, but also helps them to make sure that the candidate is a good fit for the organisation and its culture.

Overall, the Topgrading interview technique is an excellent way for employers to select the best candidates for the job. It is an effective tool that can help employers make informed decisions when hiring the best person for the job.

Aaron Wallis has published a comprehensive guide to Topggrading Interviews, and our guide includes:

Introduction to the Topgrading Interview Process

• Overview of the Top-Grading Interview Methodology
• What is the Topgrading Interview Methodology?
• When should an employer use Topgrading as an interview technique?
• How does Topgrading compare to a Competency-Based Interview or a Values-Based Interview?

How to Devise a Topgrading Interview Process

• How many Hiring Managers should be involved in the Topgrading process?
• What should you avoid in a Topgrading Interview Process?
• How do you score a Topgrading Interview?
• How do I Avoid Unconscious Bias in the Topgrading Interview process?
• How do I design my own Topgrading Interview process?

How to Prepare for a Topgrading Interview and Sample Questions

• As a candidate, how should I prepare for a Topgrading Interview?
• Sample Topgrading Interview Questions
• Conclusion

To read the guide, please visit: https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/employers/advice/interview-best-practice/topgrading-interview-technique/

The State of SaaS Sales In 2023

The software as a service (SaaS) industry is, without a doubt, here to stay.  SaaS is a word that was first coined less than a decade old but is now one of the most ubiquitous terms in software, and almost all software is sold via the SaaS model.  

Software as a Service has enjoyed explosive growth in recent years, and global spending will exceed £630 billion in 2023.  Aaron Wallis has commissioned research into the burgeoning SaaS sector, and the results can be found here:

The State of SaaS Sales in the UK, 2023

Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment is a national sales recruitment agency with dedicated recruitment consultants to tech sales recruitment and SaaS sales recruitment

How to Effectively Plan and Execute a Competency-Based Interview

Competency interviewing is a highly potent tool to add to any recruitment process. 

 The main three reasons are:

1. It helps to take the 'halo and horns effect', or unconscious bias, out of a recruitment process;
   
   
2. It helps make better and considered recruitment decisions based upon logic rather than ‘gut feel’;
   
   
3. And most importantly, it takes the emotion out of the recruitment decision-making process.

We’ve been eulogising about the benefits of competency interviewing for years and introduced hundreds of hiring managers to this reasonably simple interview technique.

Guide to Competency Based Interviews

So, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to competency interviewing, which includes:

• An overview and a guide to choosing hiring competencies.
  
  
• How to plan competency-based questions with the follow-on questions.
  
  
• Using the STAR (or STARR) interviewing technique to help guide your questions.
  
  
• The outcome and benefits of competency interviewing
  
  
• A full battery of competency-based interview questions.
  
  
• An example competency interviewing template for a Sales Manager with competencies for leadership.
  
  
• Details of how to build an adequate competency interviewing scoring system
  
  
• A system of involving colleagues in the interview scoring and decision-making process.

The guide finishes with ‘Golden Rules’ when designing and implementing a competency interview process into your business.

It is free to view and download (not even an email signup is required). We hope that you find it useful and that competency interviewing helps improve your future hiring decisions.

Rob Scott's Recommended Books on Sales

The Psychology of Achievement on cassette!

I was fortunate to have a brilliant first Sales Manager, Mark Bailey. He introduced me to Brian Tracy (still right up there as one of the best) on cassette.  As you can see in the picture, I still own it today, even though I've got nothing to play it on!.  

Since then, late 1991 I reckon, I've read or listened to about two hundred books on sales and marketing.

I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to sales and love both the science and theatre of selling. Clients and contacts that know me well often ask me what books I'd recommend for staff at different levels.  With most stuff being a bit too repetitive and American for me, my 'go to' authors tend to be British authors like Jeremy Cassell and Tom Bird, Phil M. Jones, Sean McPheat and Grant Leboff. 

However, this list also includes some of the American greats and what seems to be the hot property of the 2020's 'The Challenger Sale'.

I hope that Sales Managers and Sales Directors may find some gems in here for their teams, so here goes! Rob's recommended books on sales and marketing

How to Onboard Remote Working Sales Staff

Getting new sales staff up to speed

In the digital, and in particular the post-pandemic age, remote onboarding has become of significant importance to teams worldwide. While human interaction and face-to-face meetings used to be integral when showing someone the ropes, onboarding can now be completed effectively remotely.

However, there are challenges in getting new sales staff 'up to speed' so we have put together a short 'one-pager' to help you provide new sales staff with the very best first impression possible.

The article covers:

1. The cost of getting induction wrong
2. The importance of getting the onboarding process right
3. Three unique challenges associated with remote onboarding
4. Recognising the signs of staff feeling isolated
5. How to build a good 'team ethic' on a remote basis
6. Common challenges and how to overcome them

The article can be read here: Remote onboarding new sales staff

What is an Employee Value Proposition?

Supposedly, 2022 is meant to be the 'Year of the Great Resignation', and I say 'supposedly', as we are yet to see this come to fruition.  Anecdotally, all of my ex-colleagues across multiple sectors of the recruitment industry would also concur.

Nevertheless, recruiting and keeping your top talent remains the primary function of any manager. With this in mind, we have written a short article on introducing an employee value proposition into your business. 

This one-page article covers:

1. Why your company needs an Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
   
   
2. The critical elements of an EVP
   
   
3. How to implement an EVP into your business
   
   
4. Why an EVP is important

The article can be viewed here: What is an employee value proposition? And, why does your company need one?

Top Tips for Managing Remote Sales Teams

Keeping teams engaged & motivated

With data from YouGov suggesting that approximately 50% of workers are now working from home at least some of the time, ensuring you are managing hybrid or fully remote workers effectively is crucial to the success of your business. 

With this in mind, Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment has collated some essential tips for managing a remote sales team:  https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/employer/advice/managing-sales-teams/managing-remote-sales-marketing-teams/
The main focus is within the last section with tips on keeping your staff fully engaged with each other and your business.

These include the benefits and challenges of managing hybrid or fully remote sales teams together with the importance of CRM software.

Lessons from the Apprentice. 2022 – Episode One

For me, it's gherkins.  I don't like them, but shoved under my nose (or a burger lid), I will eat them, mildly grimace, and continue eating them anyway.  

That's how I feel about The Apprentice in 2022. I have disliked it for about five series yet watched them all. I vowed to never watch it again, yet kind of missed it last year. And, within the first 'durhh, durhh, durhh's' and LorSugar's smirk of pride with his new pandemic-themed one-liners, I knew I would be handing my Thursday nights to BBC1. 

The UK is desperate for a new business programme.  In the early years you could learn something from The Apprentice and Dragon's Den, but they are now firmly in the 'light entertainment' genre.  

While it won't get 6M+ viewers, I believe an 'Apprentice-style' programme, following teams of aspirational entrepreneurs with some seed funding over a series of weeks would work.  Over the series you could watch them create ideas, breathe life into them, generate the brand, do market research, and then pitch for investment. 

Yes, I agree it's BBC2 stuff and not so much fun.  However, mentored by credible and critical expertise that help the contestants and perhaps other viewing budding entrepreneurs, it could genuinely help people 'go their own way'.  Just a thought.

I guess the BBC needed to hit hard to get the ratings for Episode One, but I think the fan favourite, ‘The marketing task', was wasted.  The result was a symphony of noise as the clash of egos shouted over each other, while scoring points on the camera to use in the boardroom. 

Both teams were poor, as they always are in the first five episodes.  There was zero influencing, negotiation, and collaboration…. I'm convinced they're edited to be this way. 

Just a sideline; if the contestants consider themselves to be the greatest emerging business brains in the country, why didn't they begin formalising ideas in the limo on the two-hour drive down to Portsmouth?  They'd already been briefed that it was 'the marketing task'. And, it was on a cruise ship. Surely, they could have nailed the concept, name and some brand ideas before reaching the Hampshire border?

So, what did we learn:

·      “No = next opportunity”.  Absolute camembert, but I rather liked it!

·         "I've got seeds, so let's grow a tree from it".  Is this the "run something up the flagpole" for the 2020’s?  If so, I'm out.

·         Don't make a logo without relevant colours or the company name

·         Don't wear a green dress to a green screen

·         One from LorSugar, and, mildly paraphrased: "The theory of advertising/marketing is presenting something to someone so that they buy from you"

My biggest takeaway was that formal business attire was back!  Wasn't it great to see the blokes in smart suits, shirts and ties and the ladies in a single-colour business attire? 

In the last twenty-one months, I can count on two hands the people I've met both in person and online that have dressed this way.  Hurrah, is it the end of the grey sweatshirts!  However, it's also worth noting that I'm outside of the 25 to 45 demographic and didn't know the meaning of 'bouji'!

And, then there were fifteen.  Adios.

How much money would our favourite fictional characters be worth in the real world?

How much money would our favourite fictional characters be worth in the real world?

We've used extracts from books and films, alongside inputting current conversion rates and historical inflation rates to work out the richest fictional characters.

Read More: https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/news/fictional-entrepreneur-rich-list.aspx

Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment Edinburgh Opens

 

Aaron Wallis is opening a new branch in Edinburgh to serve Scotland and the North East of England.  Opening on Tuesday 6^th April, the brand will be staffed by our excellent Senior Consultant, Hannah Gateley, who is returning to her hometown.

The branch is based in the Clockwork Office in Leith.

Our Senior Recruitment Consultant, Hannah, says:

Joining Aaron Wallis just over two years ago was easily the best career decision I have ever made! I’ve learned so much about a wide variety of industries, built fantastic relationships with both clients and candidates and am part of the funniest, strangest and most supportive team. I’m now so excited to be opening our first Scottish branch in my hometown of Edinburgh so that we can dedicate more of our expertise to our clients in Scotland.

Since joining Aaron Wallis in January 2019, I’m proud to say I’ve placed over 90 candidates in sales roles that vary from entry-level telesales all the way up to sales director level. I’ve successfully partnered with companies in industries ranging from software firms, engineering, hospitality, FMCG and tech (to name a few!). Bringing our unique sales recruitment service to Scotland certainly feels like a logical next step, and in two short weeks, I’ll be opening the doors to our newest office.

Based at the bottom of Leith Walk and right next to the shore, Aaron Wallis Sales and Marketing Recruitment Edinburgh is situated in the stylish, laid back and modern Clockwise offices. This trendy spot is surrounded by fantastic coffee shops, great bars, and brilliant spots to grab some lunch. With Mimi’s Bakery just around the corner, I expect I will become quickly become a regular...thankfully, there is a gym nearby too!

While the coffee and cake are definitely a selling point, the best part of our Leith office is really the ability it gives me to meet with my clients. I take pride in understanding my client’s business, team, and long-term goals to find them their perfect candidate. We have access to large meeting rooms where I’ll be able host these initial meetings, and our location means we are central and easy to find. For clients based elsewhere in Scotland, I am always happy to arrange a meeting at their premises or via Teams or Zoom (we’re all getting quite good at virtual meetings these days!).

From this great location, I’ll also be able to support clients who need a little extra help with interviewing. Our meeting rooms can be booked for a whole day’s worth of interviews, and I’m always happy to sit in, offer advice and take the reigns wherever needed! I’ll also treat the first client to book on-premise interviews to a delicious lunch from one of the great spots nearby.

My goal is really to make Aaron Wallis the number one Scottish sales recruitment agency! I can’t wait to get started and bring our unique and outstanding service back home.

To find out more about me, click here - https://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/hannah-gateley.aspx

To view my Linkedin Profile click here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-gateley-9bb791179/

For any enquiries give me a call here - 0131 202 4698

Will Developed Nations Have an “Attitude Reset” Following Covid-19?

Criticism is easy…..

As a citizen of one of the richest countries on Earth, I consider myself extremely fortunate.

However, I am far from the first to consider that over the last decade or two, we have increasingly implemented our own, voluntary “social distancing”, through the myriad forms of social media we adopt.

There are many positive societal effects that these platforms deliver.  Crowd Funding and the recent minutes applause for the efforts of the NHS are unprecedented, positive outcomes that would have been impossible to choreograph in previous generations.

Currently, social platforms are playing a vital role in ensuring that everyone can maintain critical links with friends, colleagues and loved ones.  Speaking as someone who has seen no-one in person, including my kids, for ten days, I can attest to the value of that!

At the same time, it is hard to deny that they also create less desirable by-products….. The obvious, such as cyberbullying and trolling, online hate crimes and the proliferation of extremist ideologies of all types.  As well as less obvious, but equally pervasive issues, such as inculcating the necessity for instant gratification, or the requirement for constant attention, approval and feedback regarding the minutiae of daily life.  There is also the apparent increase in social anxiety and in some the sense of relative deprivation, due to the onslaught of information regarding everyone else’s apparently perfect existences…..

Online consumerism has irrevocably affected traditional retail and the human interaction it generates, as well as the economic and personal hardships that have accompanied the decline of that sector.

My social skills have certainly suffered as my default mode of interaction has become virtual….. undoubtedly I spend more time alone in willing and voluntary isolation than was never my intention, but it is the outcome nonetheless.

It has been alarming (and also liberating) to witness how quickly all the things we consider immutable and vital to our existence have dropped away in the space of a few short weeks…. Yet the Sun is still shining, the bees are buzzing and as artificial constructs are hibernating, the natural world is springing back to life.

In light of this and the devastation the current situation is wreaking upon so many, let’s hope that when this passes the entitled will feel a little less so and we can all reset our compasses in line with what really matters….. as opposed to what truly doesn’t.

How to keep your mind focused during self-isolation

If someone had told me they were self-isolating two months ago, I would have thought it was an excuse for an extended holiday!  However, today it's more common than hearing 'I'm making a cup of tea'.

It's only been a couple of weeks for my colleagues and me, but I already feel like I'm going stir crazy and miss the routine (and office banter) that we use to take for granted.

So, how can we cope better with this temporary new way of life and remain positive, with a healthy body and mind?

Structure and new routines

If you're like me, then structure and routine keep us fighting fit and mentally sharp.  So, I have continued to keep the structure in my day.  For example, I get up at the same time every day, start and finish work at the same time every day.  I shower, eat lunch, exercise, take breaks, check-in with colleagues, ring my mother and other family members at pretty much the same time every day.

I, like most, can be very distracted whilst working from home, so if I stick to a structure, I'm less likely to be eating chocolate whilst watching Netflix sprawled out on the sofa.  We can enjoy such activities of an evening and at weekends - roll on Saturday!

I've only been practising my new routine for a couple of weeks, but already it feels 'normal'.

Stay Active - keep moving - get some spring sunshine

Currently, we're being told we can spend an hour outside exercising.  For me, this is probably the most important hour of my day.  It really doesn't matter if that hour is spent walking, running, cycling but always try and make that activity outside.  Come rain, sun, hail or snow get out and get some fresh air.  For me, this is just as important for the mind as it is the body.  If for whatever reason you can't make it outside, then choose a workout at home/office.  I've reorganised the office using some light weights, chairs and desks to create a mini exercise circuit. 

There are also plenty of free exercise advice videos on YouTube.

Family, Family, Family and the dog

What a great time to spend more time together as a family.  The one benefiting the most from this period of self-isolation is the dog.  She's never had so much attention from everyone at the same time! In fact, the family has never spent so much time together!  Cooking together, eating together, games together, tv together, exercise together, family debates………………  If you're anything like me, then you'll need some time self-isolating from the family!!

Actually, we all need some space

As I'm writing this at the kitchen table, my wife's also in the kitchen on the phone to the bank, my son's asking "what's for breakfast?" whilst watching the tv too loud, and Flossie (our 17 week old puppy) is craving even more attention.  My daughter has the right idea and is locked away upstairs working at her laptop.

With everyone at home it's vitally important we find some space.  Too many people (over a prolonged period) in the same vicinity can often cause tension.  People have different needs for solitude and communication around this is the key to a happy home! 

Take breaks from each other, move to different areas around the house, be understanding, walk around the garden, pull up some weeds, do whatever's required to grab some precious time alone! 

Morning meditation

For many, finding time to meditate can be difficult.  Why not use this period of self-isolation to find time? Build it into the structure of your day - get up 10 minutes earlier, it's a great way to start your day.  I use Headspace and would recommend it to anyone new to meditation.

Turn the flaming news channel off!

When this all started, I found myself obsessed with every news article.  All people talked about was what they'd read or listened to.  Then everyone starts speculating, catastrophising and before you know it, it takes over your whole life.  Of course, it's essential to keep up to date with the latest news, but surely Boris @5 and the News at 10 is enough!!

Positive thoughts bring positive outcomes

Naturally, we're all experiencing difficult and worrying times. Still, we must remain positive.  Negative thinking WILL NOT help the predicament we're in.  As a family, we're using this time to reset, to understand what's really important and bring us all closer together.  If we work at remaining optimistic and positive, it will become 'the norm' in all that we do and keep the body and mind healthy. 

We're all self-wired - sometimes good, sometimes not so good - let's use this time to rewire those positive connections.  From my experience, we'll all start to notice the simple, positive things that used to pass us by.