In today’s rapidly evolving workplaces, organisations are under pressure to deliver more, faster—often with fewer resources. Amidst this, training is often viewed as a nice-to-have, something to be ticked off when time allows. But we need to reframe this.

As a person who wears many hats (so to speak), I'm fortunate enough to have opportunities to attend fascinating discussions from professionals in a variety of fields of interest. Last week I was lucky enough to attend a webinar with Professor Russel Foster, Head of Oxford University's Nuffield Laboratory and founder of the Sleep and Circadian Research Institute. He provided some interesting statistics from his research and made a number of surprising claims about sleep. This feels like the perfect place to share a summary of the points I found most interesting.

I was recently out for breakfast with friends, enjoying a much needed break from the home and workspace I spend most of my time in, looking through the menu for my favourite things, which, as with many places in this digital age, was available on my phone via a QR code.

Adlerian therapy, also known as Individual Psychology, is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Alfred Adler, a prominent psychologist in the early 20th century, initially working closely with Freud and eventually diverging off to further develop his own interpretations.

For a long time I've struggled with a mind full of ideas. Lots of exciting potential of our time on Earth and what we could do with it to find happiness. I always blindly assumed that what I need to be happy is to achieve my goals and aspirations in life. But a few years ago, I was introduced to Buddhist teachings which suggest that TRUE happiness comes from contentment. From accepting where we are and what we cannot change, and being grateful for it.

This past week, the UK has had a sudden reappearance of clear blue skies, giving us a much needed boost after a dull winter. It's got me thinking about how and why the suns rays connect to us in ways that can have such a dramatic impact on our mood. What are the neurological changes our brains experience when sunlight touches our skin?

Dr Sean Feit Oakes is a teacher and practitioner specialising in the integration of Buddhism, Haṭha Yoga, trauma resolution, and social justice.

Before I studied cognitive behavioural therapy, I had heard of it, certainly had it recommended by friends... But no one had ever taken the time to explain what it actually was. Since I spent the time finding out more, I thought I'd share the fruits of that research here, to support you in your understanding. 

This article was written by Emily McGowan (Editorial Director) on 'The Good Trade' in January - and I'd love to share her advice with you here:

For some, travel is not just about discovering new places, but escaping old ones that have had a negative impact on our lives.