2023 Top Threes
What nourished you in 2023? I had a look back and here are my top three of things.
Top Three Podcasts
This year I’ve been listening to widely across my favourite topics – personal development, inclusion, feminism, leadership. I listen on country walks, while putting away shopping, and while rocking in my swing chair under a weighted blanket. The top spots go to:
1. Sensory Wise Solutions – This is a podcast by the ‘OT Butterfly’ – an occupational therapist who is mom to a neurodivergent child. It looks at the why behind children’s behaviour and what sensory solutions can support regulation. I’ve enjoyed applying this knowledge to my work with children and to myself.
2. Slo-Mo -I first was introduced to Mo Gawdat through Elizabeth Day’s podcast ‘How to Fail’ and I’ve loved his words of inspiration since. If you want to learn and be humbled by someone, try the Google X Chief Business Officer who also lost his son in 2014 for some serious life lessons.
3. We Can Do Hard Things – of course, a spot goes to my woman, Glennon Doyle. There’s episodes on addiction, healing, justice, parenting, emotions and everything else.
What have you been listening to? What’s in your top three?
Top Three Failures
The top spots go to:
1. Failing to get to the right place at the right time. Already in December, I’ve turned up to two virtual meetings a week early.
2. Failing to start on my two offers to do higher education courses. I love learning. But I love me more, and being a well adult takes up time.
3. Failing at being perfectly inclusive and accessible all the time. Often my images aren’t totally representative. Often my documents and images are not gold standard. I try my best to do the best I can within my capacity.
What have you messed up or missed this year?
Top Three Online Recordings
Are you in camp live stream or catch-up? There’s so much good content out there, and only so many precious hours in the working week. Some recommendations to catch up on are:
1. The Gathering Online – A day-long session with fantastic panel discussions, including lived experience, a wellbeing economy and climate justice.
2. Summit to Mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities- Did you know you can watch recordings from the Scottish Government Debating Chamber? A great share with me from Linda
3. Webinar: Are we there yet? Developing Early Intervention in Psychosis Services in Ireland – I’ve been working with a Healthcare Improvement Scotland around early intervention in psychosis services. They regularly share best practice from around the world in this area and showcase new approaches through webinars. Worth checking out if you work in health and social care or are passionate about mental health.
Top Three Apps and Tech
I’m a pen and paper gal. I run on post-its and filled-to-the-brim notebooks. That said, I have invested in a few helpful tools in 2023. The top spots go to:
1. LastPass – an investment to set up, but honestly worth the effort. All your passwords securely remembered for everything – yes please!
2. Google Calendar – One of the classics. I gave up on colourcoding and Keeps, but it’s still a mighty useful tool.
3. Evernote – I’m definitely not using this to its fullest potential, but it is still coming in handy after several years. I’m on the free package now and it’s pretty good.
Top Three Achievements
The top spots go to:
1. I gave myself a break from trying to straighten out my squiggly career. Hiya portfolio career!
2. I met my goal of delivering three Scottish Mental Health First Aid Courses.
3. I rested more, worked less and journalled every day. Quite the achievement in our productivity-obsessed world.
