If you were granted 10% more time in your day, a magical 144 extra minutes, what would you do with it? Relax, sleep, answer more emails, get to the gym – there are many possible answers to a question which is, unfortunately, a mere fantasy. In a world that is rapidly changing, maybe the one […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Untitled-design-11.png420627Simon Shepardhttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngSimon Shepard2020-01-06 15:21:112020-01-06 16:43:18It's Time To Talk Time
It was nearly twenty years ago that the dot com bubble burst. Invention, adoption, growth, expansion, more, more and more……….. then, all of a sudden, bust with some serious corporate casualties along the way. As we move forward into the next decade there are other sectors that are growing at a significant rate. Have they […]
Over the past ten years, I have collected a heap of physiological data on UK PLC whilst it goes about its routine week. The data will look at things such as stress, sleep, physical activity, resilience, and has been collected from lots of different sectors, on people with varying skills and titles. There are many personal stories […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/0.jpeg483724Simon Shepardhttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngSimon Shepard2019-08-02 13:58:012019-08-05 13:59:28Something for the Weekend: Why Work can be 'The Goody' in the Work Life Balancing Act
Earlier this year I was asked to moderate a two-day conference in Finland. The event, hosted by @FirstbeatTechnologies, brought together speakers from around the world and focused on the theme ‘Elements of Optimal Performance’. There were some excellent presentations from the world of health, sport and work but there was one phrase that really struck […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Bridge-the-Gap.jpg529661Simon Shepardhttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngSimon Shepard2019-07-29 10:36:412019-07-31 08:57:07Bridge the Gap
Celebrating is a good thing to do. So in the month that Optima-life reaches the grand old age of 10 we’d like to celebrate in three ways. Say THANK YOU. Success has been born out of collaboration, adventure and belief. So a big thank you to our clients, our confidantes, our critics, our advisors and […]
This week marks Mental Health Awareness week, and with this being hot on the heels of National Stress Awareness month the topic of looking after mind as well as body is quite rightly making the press. As an organisation that has worked in this arena for the past decade and has physiological data relating to […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/003-firstbeat-netti-srgb-8246.jpg8001200Optima-lifehttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngOptima-life2018-05-16 14:13:102018-05-16 14:17:49The Data of Stress: From Understanding to Recognition
Four years ago, I completed a tender document for an automotive company looking for a partner to deliver a strand of work entitled Health & Leadership. If I am honest, most tender documents I find quite tedious to plough through, so it was interesting to come across a word that I had never heard before. […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/iStock-610747230-resized.jpg495742Simon Shepardhttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngSimon Shepard2018-02-14 11:54:332018-02-14 12:35:28NHS Staff – Who is Caring for You? Shifting to a Salutogenic mindset
How do those whose job is to care for others cope with the impact on their own health? And are they their own best judges? Over the past ten years we have worked with nearly 100 different NHS organisations. We have aggregated data from around 1500 days and nights and with over a billion data […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/021-firstbeat-press-adobergb-1997.jpg23623543Optima-lifehttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngOptima-life2018-02-08 14:59:052018-02-09 11:04:23NHS Staff – Who is Caring for You? Do Carers Really Know How They Feel?
When delivering workshops, I often talk about the balance between non-negotiable and negotiable demands. These demands can change on a daily basis and this is so true when considering the demands of shift working. In the world of the #NHS, working a night shift is potentially one of those non-negotiables, on the other hand how […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NHS-staff-pic.jpg7061059Simon Shepardhttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngSimon Shepard2018-02-02 15:13:462018-02-02 16:01:22NHS Staff- Who’s Caring for You? Night Shifts and the “Negotiable: Non-Negotiable” Equation
Apparently we live in a #VUCA world, whether it be the Volatility of extremism and terror, the Uncertainty created by the likes of Trump, the Complexity that continuing layers of process and communication produces, or the Ambiguity of socio-political events such as #Brexit. Having worked with NHS organisations over the past five years it seems […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/VUCA-World.jpg14142121Optima-lifehttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngOptima-life2018-01-26 16:13:062018-02-02 15:17:10NHS Staff - Who’s caring for you? Working in the VUCA world of the 21st Century
The New Year news has been dominated by stories of the NHS under severe pressure. But behind the headlines, what is the impact of all this on the health of those who work there? Long-term stress in the NHS is up by nearly 20% – so who will care for the carers? What can NHS […]
https://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/iStock-177854277-1.jpg6931039Optima-lifehttps://optima-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optima-Life-White-129x70.pngOptima-life2018-01-12 16:41:302018-01-12 16:42:24NHS Staff – Who is Caring for You? The “Other” Challenge Facing NHS Leaders
It’s that time of year where the annual ritual of self-delusion reaches full swing, where dreams are dreamt, ambitions are articulated, and promises are made. Yes folks, it is resolution time and we want to give you a couple of things to think about before you jump into the abyss of meaningless self-talk! Firstly, look […]
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It’s Time To Talk Time
/in Optima-life Blog /by Simon ShepardIf you were granted 10% more time in your day, a magical 144 extra minutes, what would you do with it? Relax, sleep, answer more emails, get to the gym – there are many possible answers to a question which is, unfortunately, a mere fantasy. In a world that is rapidly changing, maybe the one […]
Growing Pains
/in Optima-life Blog /by Simon ShepardIt was nearly twenty years ago that the dot com bubble burst. Invention, adoption, growth, expansion, more, more and more……….. then, all of a sudden, bust with some serious corporate casualties along the way. As we move forward into the next decade there are other sectors that are growing at a significant rate. Have they […]
Something for the Weekend: Why Work can be ‘The Goody’ in the Work Life Balancing Act
/in Optima-life Blog /by Simon ShepardOver the past ten years, I have collected a heap of physiological data on UK PLC whilst it goes about its routine week. The data will look at things such as stress, sleep, physical activity, resilience, and has been collected from lots of different sectors, on people with varying skills and titles. There are many personal stories […]
Bridge the Gap
/in Optima-life Blog /by Simon ShepardEarlier this year I was asked to moderate a two-day conference in Finland. The event, hosted by @FirstbeatTechnologies, brought together speakers from around the world and focused on the theme ‘Elements of Optimal Performance’. There were some excellent presentations from the world of health, sport and work but there was one phrase that really struck […]
#WeAre10
/in Optima-life Blog, Optima-life News /by Optima-lifeCelebrating is a good thing to do. So in the month that Optima-life reaches the grand old age of 10 we’d like to celebrate in three ways. Say THANK YOU. Success has been born out of collaboration, adventure and belief. So a big thank you to our clients, our confidantes, our critics, our advisors and […]
The Data of Stress: From Understanding to Recognition
/in Optima-life Blog /by Optima-lifeThis week marks Mental Health Awareness week, and with this being hot on the heels of National Stress Awareness month the topic of looking after mind as well as body is quite rightly making the press. As an organisation that has worked in this arena for the past decade and has physiological data relating to […]
NHS Staff – Who is Caring for You? Shifting to a Salutogenic mindset
/in Optima-life Blog /by Simon ShepardFour years ago, I completed a tender document for an automotive company looking for a partner to deliver a strand of work entitled Health & Leadership. If I am honest, most tender documents I find quite tedious to plough through, so it was interesting to come across a word that I had never heard before. […]
NHS Staff – Who is Caring for You? Do Carers Really Know How They Feel?
/in Optima-life Blog /by Optima-lifeHow do those whose job is to care for others cope with the impact on their own health? And are they their own best judges? Over the past ten years we have worked with nearly 100 different NHS organisations. We have aggregated data from around 1500 days and nights and with over a billion data […]
NHS Staff- Who’s Caring for You? Night Shifts and the “Negotiable: Non-Negotiable” Equation
/in Optima-life Blog /by Simon ShepardWhen delivering workshops, I often talk about the balance between non-negotiable and negotiable demands. These demands can change on a daily basis and this is so true when considering the demands of shift working. In the world of the #NHS, working a night shift is potentially one of those non-negotiables, on the other hand how […]
NHS Staff – Who’s caring for you? Working in the VUCA world of the 21st Century
/in Optima-life Blog /by Optima-lifeApparently we live in a #VUCA world, whether it be the Volatility of extremism and terror, the Uncertainty created by the likes of Trump, the Complexity that continuing layers of process and communication produces, or the Ambiguity of socio-political events such as #Brexit. Having worked with NHS organisations over the past five years it seems […]
NHS Staff – Who is Caring for You? The “Other” Challenge Facing NHS Leaders
/in Optima-life Blog /by Optima-lifeThe New Year news has been dominated by stories of the NHS under severe pressure. But behind the headlines, what is the impact of all this on the health of those who work there? Long-term stress in the NHS is up by nearly 20% – so who will care for the carers? What can NHS […]
Look Back, Talk Aloud and Think ‘Why?’
/in Optima-life Blog /by Optima-lifeIt’s that time of year where the annual ritual of self-delusion reaches full swing, where dreams are dreamt, ambitions are articulated, and promises are made. Yes folks, it is resolution time and we want to give you a couple of things to think about before you jump into the abyss of meaningless self-talk! Firstly, look […]