Don't be fooled, we are not talking about rumination here, a journaling whine of why life is not fair, we are talking here of purposeful self-reflection. Now that is truly the power tool we all need in today's world

In fact, far from being narcissistic naval gazing - countless studies prove that journaling is an extremely powerful way to boost our mental wellbeing, reduce depression and anxiety, and make us more content, productive and all-around happier with our lives

Boosting our ability to cope with intrusive and avoidant thoughts is one of the key benefits cited. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that students who wrote about their deepest thoughts and feelings (handwritten or digital) in the month leading up to a big exam had fewer depressive symptoms because they didn’t dwell as much on their intrusive thoughts. What’s more, a 2018 study from the National Library of Medicine found that adults who completed a 15-minute online journaling ...

A lot of us are feeling stuck right now, struggling to take a step forwards 

With so much that is unsettling and changing in our world today, having a familiar routine, a path to step along, even if it’s just for a tiny portion of our day, can be the super useful step we can all take to keep us healthy and feeling strong in both mind and body 

This is because taking small steps forwards on a path can give us the positive feeling that we are in control and making progress in our lives, despite being surrounded by chaos 

So, what sort of familiar routine really makes the biggest difference?  

A lot of us know that incorporating some form of movement (exercise) and some form of meditation can often really help. The third practice which experts often recommend is a regular mind-set practice 

Sound a bit unusual? 

Well, recent research from Harvard now confirms what the Ancient Greeks already knew – the mind-set practice of self-reflection is a real game-changer 

Purposeful self-re...

Most of us have clocked that a morning routine is a great way to look after ourselves in good times and bad

In fact, we are so keen to find a great morning routine that #MorningRoutine has over 3.3m posts on Instagram and 6.3bn views in TikTok 

When everything around us feels like it is changing, creating or adhering to a familiar routine as best we can, even if it’s just for a tiny portion of our day, can be a brilliant way of keeping us healthy in both mind and body. Feeling we are on track with our own vision, our own actions, our own way of living our life, means we are less likely to be side-swiped by the often changing reality of the external world. Each morning, despite what may appear to be chaos around us, we realise we still have some agency over our own lives and the choices we make 

Feeling that we have some control over our life, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day, is a key foundation stone for robust mental health 

But wow – there’s a lot of advice out there...

Progressfull Mind-set Morning routine – how to 'sort yourself out' and 'set yourself up' for a fulfilling day

What exactly is a great morning routine and why is a morning routine even important?

There is a lot of chat about morning routines and we at Progressfull have something to share with you on this topic

First things first, why is it even important to have a morning routine?

Well, to be honest with you, often the very first thing our high performing clients say, from 16 year old students, to artisan bakers, to assistant directors in the film and tv industry, through to CEOs of conglomerates or start-ups – is that they are on the edge of burn-out. Overwhelmed by pressure – both from others and also from our own high standards - most of us have too much to do in too little time.

"The last thing I have time for, is time to spend on myself. I certainly don’t have time for self-care, let alone self-development – it’s more about self-survival!"

At Progressfull, our response to th...

According to Harvard, recent research confirms what the Ancient Greeks already knew - the practice of self-reflection may well be the secret super power you never knew you needed

We agree, in fact we believe the practice of purposeful self-reflection is a key foundation stone on which a life of progress is built – so we can make progress in all areas of our life – at work, at home, our whole life 

We all know that to succeed in the 21^st century of work, soft skills are key. Soft skills are what make us human, soft skills allow us to connect, to innovate, to be agile and are what differentiates us from artificial intelligence and ultimately – like love – do in fact make our world go round

But the one soft skill which beats all others in the game we call life – is purposeful self-reflection

This is because it is about looking backwards and learning from our experiences and then looking forwards, making a conscious decision to take action based on this reflection. It could be repeatin...

From start-up founders, to top stylists to Olympic athletes ...

...we increasingly understand that what makes us not only successful, but also happy in life - is having a great mind-set

The thing is – look around, from world-class athletes, to global influencers, to our own friends and family – what with enforced isolation, shutdowns, restricted access, home-schooling and business closures – even the most upbeat of us can fall into the depths of stress, anxiety, loneliness and deep uncertainty

Surely it’s almost impossible under the conditions that most of us experience today - to ‘have a great mind-set?'

Actually – it is possible – it’s possible for any of us to approach each day with energy and motivation, confident that whatever is thrown our way, we can - not just survive, but thrive

We don’t just know this, we live it – during lockdown we created Progressfull™, a company designed to unlock personal progress and professional potential

During lockdown I became healthier, durin...