Often, I wish I’d done it like this guy in the UK who resigned from his job at Stansted airport via a cake. He cleverly gave the finger to border security and while simultaneously promoting his new business (making cakes, of course).

Quitting your day job cold turkey is awesome. I’ve done it a lot. But there are downsides (namely, money, but also some other stuff you wouldn’t think of until it’s too late. But mostly, money). It’s worked, as eventually (and really, this took a lot of tweaking), I’ve figured out a way of working that’s perfect for my skills, interests and mindset. I now write, teach and do public speaking. You might want to sell shoes, or start your own event management company, or maybe be a writer too?

Whatever the new job is you’re after, here are 5 steps to consider when giving your current job the flick.

1. Can you afford it?
   I’m not saying don’t quit if you can’t afford it. But I AM saying to take a calculated financial risk, not one that will leave you in a hole if things don’t work out. Could you afford to quit your job if you cut back on expenses for a few months first? Or if you used your savings to live off? Would cutting back to part-time be a better option to start with? Remember, if you’re starting a new career that’s entrepreneurial in nature, expect to plow through cash faster than you can say “goodbye fulltime salary”. This doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing; if you’re unhappy at work, get out of there, in my opinion. I’m just saying it’s worth thinking through the bottom line implications in advance.
2. Can you skill up in your spare time?
   When I quit being a (very nicely paid) communications specialist to being a (happy but poorly paid) yoga teacher a number of years ago, I’d done all the skilling up in my spare time. For about a year before I quit I taught a class at 6am before my day job, and another class one evening a week. These classes weren’t about making money (in fact, the 6am class used to yield me about $15. I’d go and spend it on breakfast before I even got to work.) They were about skilling up without needing to rely on the income from my new career. When I eventually DID quit my day job, I had people who liked my teaching, and therefore gave me better paying teaching gigs (though I still kept that 6am class for a couple of years).
3. What transferrable skills can you leverage?
   When you quit one job to do another, your shortcut to success is known in the career world as ‘transferable skills’. When I started teaching writing, I’d already had practice talking in front of people via teaching yoga. I’d learned how to project my voice, explain concepts clearly and help people when they were stuck (although admittedly, getting stuck in a yoga class is quite different to a writing classroom). Transferable skills are incredibly handy. In fact, I believe are the key to jumping from one career to a seemingly different career without too much stress.
4. The end goal will probably will take longer to reach than you first imagined.
   I’m famously impatient. I think everything will be quicker than it actually is. But I’ve now learned that switching careers – and I mean, going being “really good and in demand” at one thing to being “really good and in demand” at another thing – takes time. The key is to not be fearful. I’ve now done it enough to know that one thing will lead to the next thing and the next. But not in a month. Or even a year.For me, the path back to freelance journalism (I started out here long ago) came via yoga, because yoga teaching gave me plenty of time to focus on other things beyond sitting in an office. So I began writing again. Then I loved writing so much I stopped teaching yoga. Eventually, I missed teaching, so I started teaching writing instead of yoga. See? Jumping all over the show, relying on my transferable skills and a willingness to let things unfold. It’s one way to make switching jobs pretty freaking fun. Chances are if you take a few risks, keeping your transferable skills in mind, like me, you’ll eventually find a mix that is right.
5. When you’re aiming for a new career, say “yes”.
   When you’re at the top of your field, it’s easy to be fussy. But switching careers is best when taken with a large dose of humble pie. You can’t expect to be good at everything straight off, and you can’t expect to get the top gigs in your new field on day one. Be willing to slog it out. When I started writing again a number of years ago I said “Yes” to every opportunity that came along.

• “Can you file this story on a fast turnaround?” “Yes.” (Even if I was moving house that weekend)
• “Can you write this fiddly piece that’s only 150 words and requires you to go on a two-hour jaunt across town to do the interview?” “Yes.” (Even though the result was only about $90 in my bank account.)Here’s how that might look for you and your career transition.
• “Can you help run this event even though it’s on your day off?” “Yes.”
• “Can you give me your opinion on my new interior colour scheme, seeing you’re keen to get into interior design? “Yes.”
• Is it worth spending a night or two a week networking with people from your new field or learning new skills in the meantime? “Yes.”

What do you think? What’s holding back from you giving your job the flick?

The post How to give your job the flick (and come out on top) appeared first on Coping with Jane.

Introducing….

Boardroom to Baby

Lifting the lid on what every career girl needs to know when she’s expecting.

Here’s the more exciting news

To celebrate the launch, you can download the ebook for only $7 (50% off) today!

All you need to do is use the discount code 50off at checkout.

Download your copy here –>>

(You don’t need a Kindle to read it – just get the app to read it on your Mac, PC, iPhone or iPad.)

Here’s what people are saying about it…

“Why hasn’t anyone done it before? I just had a look at it and it is JUST gorgeous! Such sound and palatable advice too. And it’s witty and chatty too which I love. You have so hit the right note and it really is everything new mums need to know. They will love you for this.”

~ Jacinta Tynan, News presenter, author, columnist

“I am crazy busy tonight but started reading your book – and love it! So I read it right through. Great, practical information, resources, options and sensible, honest suggestions without all the ‘shoulds’ that are in so many new mama books.”

~Pinky McKay, Parenting Expert

The book helps women navigate becoming a new mum, but it is also for ALL women. Bosoms, childcare, sex, co-parenting, independence, guilt… the book covers the sorts of topics that if you’re already a mother, you’ll find yourself nodding along to.

If you like pretty things, you’re in for a treat too, as the breathtaking photography is worth reading it for alone.

I’m incredibly passionate about supporting other women. Since staring CopingwithJane.com it’s become my life’s work and I’ve poured so much love and knowledge into this book, so that women like you can benefit.

Every woman needs this book. Therefore I’d be forever grateful if you shared the link with your friends.

The price will go up tomorrow, so please receive this gift and download it, just in time for Mother’s Day!

Download your copy here –>>

Let’s raise our champagne glasses, here’s to life, love and motherhood!

Jane xx

P.S. If you just want to have a sneak peak of the first chatper, you can read it for free here.

The post Announcing my new book! appeared first on Coping with Jane.

I have a dog called ‘Merlin’ and own every Stargate and Sanctuary episode ever made. Ever.

So when the first episode of ‘Game of Thrones’ season 3 hit the iTunes store last month (I already have my season pass) I downloaded it at warp speed, and have enjoyed having many hot dates with my chaise lounge and Apple TV.

It’s a feast for a single maiden’s eyes: Kings, Lords and Knights, and Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo. Unfortunately for us (and him) his character died in early on, but his young wife Khalessi (Daenerys Targaryen played by actress Emilia Clarke) soon became the focus of my attention in the series: and no, although she’s an exceptionally beautiful woman, it’s her dragons I’m captivated by.

What a girl could do with a dragon!

No more peak hour traffic!

But then … where does one park your dragon?

And what if he gets hungry during the day? Public liability insurance could be an issue …

My dragon would be socially savvy with his own Twitter feed, Facebook Page and Google hangout. He’d be rocking it on Instagram, shooting straight to Vine and checking in via FourSquare. Twitter would buzz with #DragonSightings and with any luck, less regular occurrences of #DragonJustAte @SomeUnfortunatePerson …

His YouTube channel would entertain; GoPro would have to make a flame and heat proof dragon-harness and housing especially for him. He’d have his own line of beers and barbeques. Modern day minstrels on MySpace may even write songs about his adventures in the city, and misadventures in the country.

There would be a Dragon-Tracker App; and an online gamified learning platform to educate others on the nuances of dragonology. His blog would be an insight into the human-dragon dynamic. His website a portfolio of his work in sustainability and survivability (yours). He’d become a thought leader in product placement and aerial advertising.

With a global social audience, savvy digital citizenship and a well defined online footprint, his influence will know no bounds. He can be the catalyst that enacts social change, champions social connectivity and advocates for social accessibility. His mission is shared. His objective is not Big, it’s Great. People will remember him for years to come and marvel at his social ingenuity.

There are no rules. There are no limitations. Imagine your product’s story coming to life via social media …

Aren’t stories so much more exciting when there are dragons involved!

The post Why every girl needs a dragon appeared first on Coping with Jane.

It’s 7.15am. Nami Clarke is in her kitchen covered in a mixture of vomit, apple puree and non-toxic paint. No, she hasn’t been on some obscure all-night hyper-coloured fruit bender. This is just another run-of-the-mill morning for Nami, who three years ago made the terrifying decision to become a mum. Yep, she made people. Small ones. Ones that not only need help feeding, bathing and clothing themselves, but don’t even know how to make a set-top box work. Crazy, right?

As a 24 year old, single onlooker, I find the entire thing baffling. But Nami not only manages to make all of this work whilst still jugging the responsibilities of her two growing businesses, she also seems to be happy. Really happy.

And with Mother’s Day less than a month away, one can’t help but think about what it must be like to be a Mum in Australia.

Personally, I’m still on the fence when it comes to having kids. It’s only in the past couple of years I’ve mustered up the courage to wear tight fitting clothes and I think I’d like to explore that for a bit longer.

But my time working alongside Nami has been valuable as I’ve witnessed a much more accurate depiction of what it means to be a mother and trust me, those Huggies ads are NOT it.

After the birth of her first child, Mannus, Nami suffered from postnatal depression, a condition that affects more than 15% of childbearing women in Australia. So unlike Fanny in “Robin Hood – Prince Of Thieves” who has a baby, instantly bonds then two seconds later is off fighting battles with Kevin Costner, the realities of child birth are sometimes a little different.

In fact, Nami experienced her first ever Mother’s Day just 8 weeks after Mannus’s birth and instead of sitting around eating Roses Chocolates in a brand new pair of Jammies, she was slumped on the couch crying or, for a short while, in the bathroom where she decided to shave off all of her hair. Yep, Nami did a Britney.

Nami was fortunate, not only because she has the kind of bone structure that can make a pixie cut look good, but also because she found a GP who could assist her with a mental healthcare plan. Nami was also supported by her friends and family, who took the time to understand her situation. But for some others in Australia, this isn’t the case. And with the stigmas of postnatal depression still circulating throughout the media and the general population, some people can be left feeling judged, isolated and guilty.

Skip ahead to Mother’s Day number two, and Nami was expecting the arrival of her second child. But during what was meant to be a routine ultrasound at 33 weeks, Nami was told by Doctors that her baby girl had Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, a rare and life threatening genetic condition.

What followed on from this were the hardest weeks of Nami’s life, as she didn’t know if she’d ever get to take her baby home and the doctors didn’t know if Dulcie would survive labor.

Thankfully, I can now tell you all that little Dulcie did survive. I know this because I few weeks ago I got to look after her for a while and she decided my chin would make for a perfect chew-toy. Fabulous.

As I finish writing this piece, it’s just ticked over to 10.30am. Nami has dropped the kids off at daycare, seen 2 clients and is getting ready for her 3-hourly “breast-pump” session (I won’t even go into this, but it frightens me on a deep, deep level). As soon as she leaves work she’ll be busy until midnight taking care of the kids and finishing off any extra work that might have popped up. If she’s lucky, she might get 5 hours of unbroken sleep.

Horrible, right? Yet for some reason unbeknownst to me, Nami thinks this is all worth it. And this Mother’s Day, instead of demanding a Victoria Cross of Australia for self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy (or baby, depending on what you want to call it), Nami will be appreciating her to kids and celebrating the mere fact that they’re alive.

C.r.a.z.y.

So in honor of my wonderful colleague, this year I implore everyone not to get wrapped up in the pastel colored, Hallmark driven hype of Mother’s Day, but instead simply to recognise the genuine effort women put into raising us shmucks. The physical and mental toll can be outrageously high and the recognition only minor. So by all means, go get your Mum some Jammies. But don’t forget to thank her, ACTUALLY thank her. Because through the incredible stresses that child-raising can be, she definitely still found time to love you.

To celebrate mothers The Organice store is offering 10% for CopingwithJane readers Store store-wide with the promo code ORGANICJANE from 6 May to 13 May 2013.

Furthermore we are giving away $80 worth of beautiful products! All you need to do to be in the running for the giveaway is leave a comment below and tell us how you are celebrating Mother’s Day this year.

The giveaway from www.theorganicstore.com.au includes:

• Mokosh Exfoliating Body Massage Scrub – Frankincense,      Sandalwood and Rose Petal
• Mokosh Handmade Organic Olive Oil Soap
• Cocopure Raw Coconut Oil

The post The real reason to thank your mum this Mother’s Day appeared first on Coping with Jane.

That said there’s more to you than motherhood.  You want to be able to express yourself and do something meaningful in the world that uses your passions and lights you up.  Plus, you want to be able to financially take care of your family too, and have the freedom to take of them in a way that feels good for you.

So you run your own business or have dreams of setting up your own business one day.  And just like your children, your business needs taking care of too.

But the juggle is challenging. You feel like you live with mother’s guilt all the time.  You deprive yourself of what you truly need because you’re so busy taking care of everyone else’s needs.

This kind of deprivation has got to come to an end. Pronto.

There is nothing admirable or sexy about it. To be completely honest, it serves nobody in the end.  Think about it…you’re depriving yourself of the very life force that is needed for you to be of any value to anyone.

I’ve been there. Deprivation got the better of me three years ago when I experienced a severe burnout and breakdown.  I was 25.  Motherhood was knocking me around. My moods were fluctuating like a freakin’ wild woman. I was feeling torn between the girl I use to be and the woman I had become. I didn’t know who I was anymore.  I would cry for ‘no reason’, and then beat myself up for wanting more.  I convinced myself that I needed to be grateful and content with everything I already had in order for things to get better.

But things didn’t get better being grateful. Instead they got worse.

I became numb.  I began living in a constant state of depression.  There were no more highs and no more lows.  I was just going through the motions.  The worst part of it all, was that I couldn’t even connect with my children.  That was big red flag.

So I did something radical.  I put my health, my happiness and my sanity first by booking myself into a meditation retreat called Vipassana: 10 hours of meditation a day, for 10 whole days. It was here at Vipassana that I finally got back into my body and my deepest truth was finally revealed to me.

This reawakening ignited a deep knowing that it was time to let it all fall apart. And it did, in one big swoop.

Surprisingly, it was an instant relief.  I finally quit fighting so hard to keep it all together,  and instead trusted that I was fully supported (and always would be), and that life would have my back.

I immediately retired from teaching group fitness after eight years, and resigned from my sales and marketing role at the gym.  A few days later I also let go of my five year marriage.

It was a huge shift, and it happened fast but the results were huge.  Suddenly, where there once was confusion there was clarity. Where there was fear, there was love. Where was anger, now there was peace.

The best bit, I felt like I finally come back home to myself.

It’s been three years and I haven’t stopped following this urge to be real, to be true, to be SELFish – in life, love and work.  It really is the only way to be whole and deeply fulfilled.

So from mother to mother, I’m here to say, give yourself permission to take care of yourself – to nourish yourself, to understand yourself, to know yourself, to love yourself and to fully express yourself.

Be selfish and do whatever it takes to be aligned with your healthiest and happiest Self, so you have the energy to keep giving to the people you love and the enthusiasm to keep bringing your unique gifts to the world.

Instead of booking into a mediation retreat for 10 days, I can help you realign yourself with who you really are. I’d like to personally invite you to my online program called SELFISH FOR 27 DAYS where women shamelessly put their health and happiness first.

I have a special offer for CopingwithJane readers – click here to continue reading. Offer expires on 9pm, Monday 6th May 2013.

The post Why the day I became selfish was the best thing I ever did (and why you should too) appeared first on Coping with Jane.

Over the years I’ve read a lot of Cho’s work and last week I read a piece of hers on Salon that resonated with me again. Margaret Cho, like me, is still undecided as to whether or not she wants to have kids. When I read that I breathed a sigh of relief into my keyboard because, for the first time in a long time, it felt like I wasn’t alone. There was someone else on the planet who was unsure whether motherhood was for her.

I’m not a person who dislikes kids. I’m not a person who can’t have kids. I just don’t know if I want to be a mother. As the clock keeps ticking away I’m becoming impatient.  Shouldn’t I know by now? I’m a pragmatist, a list maker, and as I see it I’ve got three strikes against me.

I’m 38. I’ve been with my partner for 13 years. We both aren’t sold on having kids. For him I feel it has a lot to do with financial/stability issues. I’m a writer. I’m not a Harry Potter/50 Shades of Grey mega-million-dollar writer – I’m a writer who writes blog posts and magazine articles and newsletters for real estate agents. Yeah, I’m writing a book, but show me a writer who isn’t. Writing is my calling. I love it; it’s who I am. But I am very aware of the monetary limitations of being a writer. So, for him, there’s that: he is the breadwinner. I win some bread too, but not as much as he does. He brings home a loaf. I bring home a slice.

Strike one – You need money to have a kid, right?

Like Cho, babies terrify me. For me, the baby fear comes down to a few things. Such as, I’m petrified of the physical act of becoming a mother. I fear the worst things in life, like my kid being hurt or picked on or something even more horrible … The person I am now wouldn’t be able to cope with that. I have issues dealing with the everyday things. I either overcompensate or undercompensate; I don’t seem to have a middle ground.

I have issues with anxiety (“Who doesn’t?!” I hear every mother in the world scream). A lot of that probably comes down to the family curse (mental illness) that runs like a bubbling brook beneath the surface of my existence. I would hate to pass on my mind to my kid. I know what living with my mind has been like. I have the scars to prove it.

Strike two – I don’t want my kid to inherit my mind.

Selfishness plays a part in it too. I’m supremely selfish. I relish sleeping in till 10 a.m. on the weekend. I love writing until one in the morning. My partner and I love the fact that we come home to a house where there is no pitter-pattering of anything but feline feet. We enjoy our ‘me’ time.

Strike three – I am selfish.

I’ve had occasional conversations with people who only complain about their kids. They lament them. I would hate to be the kind of person who regretted having children. Regretted the decision to bring another person into the world. I would hate to be that person because what kind of chance would my kid have if I regretted their existence for even a millisecond?

If we dig right down to the very heart of the issue, I’m scared, but I’m scared of what-ifs. I’m scared of loving a child so completely and losing them. I’m scared of opening myself up to this kind of love, this unconditional vulnerability. I’m scared of having to let go. I look at you mothers with awe because you’ve taken the leap that I don’t think I can. I don’t know how you do it. I really don’t.

Do I want kids? Do I want to have a baby? Should I freeze my eggs? Do I want to adopt? What about fostering? Am I too old to have a baby? Do I want to be a 45-year-old mother with a toddler? I ask myself these questions all the time. I’m no closer to an answer.

Maybe I’m overthinking things, but shouldn’t this be something you overthink? And seeing as everyone has an opinion but me: what do you think? When will I know if I’m supposed to be a mother?

Main image by Melissa Jean Photography www.melissajean.com.au

The post When will I know if motherhood is for me? appeared first on Coping with Jane.

What is a virtual assistant?

Virtual assistants are everywhere, all over the globe. The majority of them are super efficient, digitally savvy and also very affordable. You don’t need to employ them, and they can either be just down the street or based in India.

Whilst the debate about a local or overseas virtual assistants is a hot one, it’s not as black and white as it may seem at first. I have tried both and had very positive experiences. I have used a wonderful virtual assistant in India for research and data entry, so my advice would be get recommendations and give it a go!

Where do I find a good virtual assistant?

The first step is to ask around in your business community. If you can get a first hand recommendation then you’re on to a winner. If not, then try websites like Odesk.com or Elance.com, where reviews and recommendations are part of the functionality.

What sort of tasks can I outsource to a virtual assistant?

The first step is to track everything you do for a couple of weeks. Here’s a super time tracking tool for doing just that. Now you can analyse the tasks that you really enjoy, the ones that feel easy and flow out of you. Anything in your task list that doesn’t give you that energy, make a decision to outsource it.

Now consider if you can split the list again based on locality. It can be beneficial to use local folk for tasks which require a shared business culture, language and background. Or use a virtual assistant from overseas for research or data entry.

The biggest hurdle

It’s often a big learning curve to actually let go of your tasks. The trickiest part is to understand that someone else might do something you have been doing for years, slightly differently. Often this process is so challenging that many of us give up and decide that it easier to do it all ourselves. This is where you need to learn to accept, restrain yourself and let go. The way they do it is just a different style and it may be equally as effective if not more.

The key is to start the relationship slowly and surely. Test out little tasks and projects and think about what outcomes you would like. Prepare to be challenged and unsettled. Step away and let them get on with it.

My hottest tip

Record your desktop whilst you go through the steps of a task. Use a tool like Snag It or Screenflow to record you moving around your computer whilst you talk through what you are doing. It’s genius! Then you can simply send the video over to your new virtual assistant and bingo, they have it on hand to refer to forever.

A final note

As we all know, life as a mum can be very unpredictable. If the kids get sick then having a virtual assistant on hand to make phone calls, send emails to clients or customers so they know that there’s a delay. You will feel supported and in control. The beauty of outsourcing to a virtual assistant is that you will be able to grow your business by freeing up your time. Your time will be better utilised on the heart and soul of the business and as a result you will see more money coming in. The sooner you start, the sooner your bottom line will flourish.

Here’s a list of VA’s to get you started:

VAdirectory.net.

Mums Virtual Assistant

Anytime VA 

Sensible Office Solutions

First Step Virtual Assistant

Virtual Organiser

Assist You Now

Have you ever worked with a VA before? What tasks did they do for you?

The post What is a virtual assistant and do I need one? appeared first on Coping with Jane.

As I ate my breakfast, I chatted through some internal dialogue and attempted to settle my nerves.  It was just a FEELING.  I assured myself that if I acknowledged it, accepted it, it would then go away.  The feeling had become a regular visitor to my home. It had made itself a little too welcome of late, along with friends Worry, Sadness, Loneliness, Anxiety, Anger, and the mother of all, Black Hole of Nothingness.

When she arrived I would get into bed, unable to imagine how to conquer her.  Sometimes I would sleep, and when I woke she’d be gone. Other times my husband would insist we could lose her if we went for a walk around the block.  During the worst times she’d take over me completely and I’d sit silently on our lounge room floor wrapped in a blanket, and stare out the window wondering where the real me had gone.

For a long, long time I refused to believe I had post-natal depression.  I put it down to moodiness for want of sleep, adjusting to my new role as stay-at-home mum after years with a professional career.  As I had experienced a  very traumatic labour and my hormones were settling down, I was bound to feel a little flat. In time surely things would work themselves out, wouldn’t they?

My sister arrived, and minutes later the make-up artist.  I launched into work mode – that always got me through.  Fake it till I make it.  Leaving to drop my son at day care, still dressed in my trackies with the most ill-matching hair and makeup, my anxiety was still with me as I pulled out of the drive.  Just the coffee I thought.  Get moving, get my jitters out, and I’ll feel fine.

It was just after 9am when I arrived back home.  I expected my two staff to have arrived and to have started shooting. My staff HAD been here, my sister informed me – and left again.  Why the hell hadn’t they started working?

Unexpectedly they did return and just as unpredictably, I lost my temper.  A ranting, raving lunatic dolled up to the nines with my heart pounding in my chest and my voice shaking with anger and frustration.   I was so pissed off and fed up with everything.  I was tired and wanted to go on a holiday to a quiet place all by myself, and sleep for days and never come back.  And I thought my husband and my son would be better off.  I’d even offered him an out.  If wanted to leave me I’d completely understand.  I was a miserable bitch that had wanted so much to have a baby and now we were in this mess, and it was all my fault.

It didn’t end there.

I dragged myself through the day.  It was productive.  I smiled and nodded and looked through some fantastic images, but really I didn’t care.  I didn’t care for the woman in them, and she was a person I recognised but felt totally disconnected from.  I drove home in tears.  On paper life was amazing.  Married, educated, healthy child, successful business, a pretty car and a lovely little rental in the suburbs.  New shoes, a trendy wardrobe and a figure that had “wow, bounced back so quickly after having a baby”.

This day was my lowest day.  The next morning, fulfilling my husband’s wish for me to finally accept professional help, I filled a script of anti-depressants and headed north-east to the aptly named, sleepy sea-side town of Eden.  No phone reception, no deadlines, just me, my family, my demons and a one-month supply of Zoloft.

Post-natal depression has taught me many things.  It has taught me that I’m not untouchable, that it is an illness like any other, and that it can be treated.  Fight it on your own, and you will lose.  No-one judged me, in fact they helped and supported me like you would anyone with the flu, a broken leg, or any illness or disease that may strike, without prejudice.

Having the disease has taught me to value myself, to put boundaries in place to manage my stress, and that if I’m not happy my family isn’t either too.  And they love me, the real me, more than anything in the world.

The portrait of me, the one where I’m smiling and laughing and dressed up looking amazing, well that truly is me.  It is the happy, healthy, powerful woman that is so, so loved by her family. She was there all along – the Black Hole of Nothingness had not engulfed her entirely – and this photograph is proof.

This post was kindly repblished with permission after first appearing here.

The post The day I thought I had disappeared appeared first on Coping with Jane.

With this privilege, comes the potential cost of information overload and with invisible umbilical cords connecting us to our devices, staying focused is an increasing challenge.

Our attention buzzes around with the restlessness of a mosquito fluttering between, emails, Facebook, Twitter, and text messages. Many of us are suffering from what Dr. Ed Hallowell, specialist psychiatrist in ADHD, coined as Attention Deficit trait. He describes it as

“a condition induced by modern life, in which you’ve become so busy attending to so many inputs and outputs that you become increasingly distracted, irritable, impulsive, restless and… it costs you efficiency ..”

If we wish to remain healthy, happy and clear-minded we need to upgrade our “inner technology” to meet the demands of our increasingly complex world. We are standing on the precipice of a potential paradigm shift with an exciting dialogue unfolding at the intersection of science, technology and the world of wisdom.

Leaders in these fields are coming together at extraordinary gatherings like Wisdom 2.0 conference or the Mind and Life institute, to explore how we can bring more mindfulness into the digital age. There is a rapid growth of scientific research, revealing what the Buddhist monks have known for generations, but couldn’t measure with machines:

Meditation is a powerful tool for enhanced well-being and mental focus.

Meditation teaches us how to use our inner technology to understand the workings of the mind and in so doing re-sculpture our brains for the better.

Science is supporting the fact that just two months of regular mindfulness meditation can have a significant benefits. When regularly practised, meditation has been shown to increase our immune function, restructure of our prefrontal cortex (required for strategic thinking and problem solving), and possibly even protect against DNA damage caused by aging. Leading companies in the world, including Google are offering mindfulness training to their employees, recognizing the benefits of meditation in supporting more clarity, innovation and productivity.

To really benefit from meditation, the problem is you actually have to do it.

Meditation commonly falls by the wayside for even the most enthusiastic amongst us. It seems like there’s just not enough time or we just “don’t feel like doing it.’ The thing is there is research to suggest that even ten minutes of meditation, five days a week can improve our attention and focus.

Sometimes we need support to follow through on our intentions. This logic fuelled the concept of Mindful in May, a one-month meditation campaign starting on May 1, delivered online, which teaches you to meditate and at the same time helps bring clean water to those in developing countries. You’ll get a one month meditation program including downloadable ten minute guided meditations, access to interviews with experts and a daily dose of inspiration through curated internet links.

In the developed world most of us have our survival needs met, but it’s our minds that can cause so much of our suffering. In the developing world, it’s something as basic as a lack of access to clean, safe water that causes so much suffering. Contaminated water is still one of the leading causes of disease and death in the developing world.

Mindful in May addresses both of these issues by offering people a way to learn how to become masters rather than slaves to their minds, whilst helping to improve the lives of thousands of people living without access to safe drinking water.

Last year there were people from 12 countries who signed up to be Mindful in May and collectively raised nearly $30,000 for Charity Water. This enabled the construction of five water wells in Ethiopia and Nepal, that will bring clean, safe drinking water to over one thousand people in need.

The challenge starts again on May 1 and this year we’re raising money to bring clean water to Rwanda. You can register here, donate and keep yourself accountable by creating your own meditation team.

Tell your friends and family to sponsor your challenge and let’s see how far we can spread this Mindful Ripple. Watch the video below to see what’s it’s all about.

The post A good reason to be mindful in May appeared first on Coping with Jane.

www.copingwithjane.com has also been nominated in the inaugural Bupa Health Influencer Blog Awards in the category of personal development/self care. If you feel CopingwithJane is worthy of your nomination, again I’d so appreciate it if you could nominate the site here.

As a thank you I have a couple of indulgent loose leaf 3-pack of “Motherhood” white tea, apple and cinnamon sound from Boutique tea company she-tea to give away. All you need to do is leave a comment below this post.

Thank you so much for your nominating www.copingwithjane.com and for your continued support. It really does mean the world to me.

With gratitude,

Jane

The post A favour to ask + a tea giveaway appeared first on Coping with Jane.

Securing a deal with a traditional book publisher

It’s always been notoriously hard to get a book deal with a publisher. It still is, but today you have an advantage of being able to increase your chances by developing your platform.

I define a platform as a person’s combined and integrated presence across the web – their blog along with their connections on social networks – plus any regular exposure via other mediums. For example a regular magazine column or e-newsletter.

Building your platform means building your profile and personal brand, thus increasing your chances of getting noticed.

One of the first things a publisher will ask you about is the ins and outs of your platform. How many readers of you blog do you have? How many followers on Twitter/ Facebook/Pinterest? It won’t necessarily be the kicker in you getting a deal, but it will certainly be a factor. Extra weight is given to a blog because it’s public proof of your writing ability, your ideas and your expertise (plus your audience). This is where the importance of building a platform comes in.

So the first step to getting published is to focus on your platform in the first instance.

Build your audience, deepen the level of connection with your growing community of fans, followers and supporters of your work. Think of the different aspects of your online and offline presence as the planks of your platform. The more planks you have, the more solid each of them are, the more effective your platform.

The self-publishing route

Platform counts equally if you’re self-publishing. Let’s face it, if you go to all the effort of releasing your own book, you want to make sure there is a market for your work. How many people can you reach via email and social media channels? How many will get behind you and help spread word about your new release? And of course, this will come down to the size and robustness of your platform.

Developing your own voice

And finally, another key advantage of starting your book journey as a blogger first, is that blogging will help you find your own voice. This is important. My publisher told me that with microDOMINATION I managed to do what most authors struggle with, and that’s write the book in a way that’s distinctly my voice. That was really positive (and well-received) feedback, and I put it all down to the fact I’ve been blogging for five or so years. So, definitely worth bearing in mind.

As marketing guru and intellectual mischief maker, Seth Godin, likes to say -

“Don’t wait for people to pick you, PICK YOURSELF!”

 Raise your profile and build your audience. Put yourself in the best position for a publisher to consider you. If that doesn’t happen, don’t dismay – pick yourself, as Godin says. Publish your own brilliant work and take advantage of the huge potential opportunities that come with having a title listed and sold globally through the likes of Amazon.

The post How blogging can help you get published appeared first on Coping with Jane.

I’ve been an early morning exercise convert since my late teens. I remember waking up at 6:30am to tune into Aerobics Oz Style with June, Wendi, Michelle and Effie for a half hour of routines to get my day started. Tragic but true!

I have mixed it up in years to follow with morning walks, an albeit unsuccessful stint of running, some yoga, a boot camp here and there and my latest fad DVD, ‘Jillian Michaels’30 day shred’. Even during my pregnancies I managed to get up and switch on my Preggi Bellies DVD, first thing in the morning.

Ali Cavill, Personal Trainer and owner of  Fit Fantastic agrees that mornings are a great time to commit to training.

“Early mornings are one of the most peaceful times to workout, without the pollution, crowd and hustle and bustle of peak times, and minus the fatigue of having put in a day’s work so people experience more energy and drive to complete the workout.”, says Ali.

And it is not only the physical benefits of working out that early morning workouts provide.

“Morning workouts ensure you feel fresh and energised to start your day and the boost of endorphins will increase the ability to deal with stressors that arise in everyday activity.”

Setting your clock to sync with the sunrise also ensures that your workout gets done. Often we find ourselves lost for time during the day and some things just have to give and often the workout is the first one.

So the big question…how do you motivate yourself to get out of bed?

Ali offers some great tips:

• Set the goal of an activity and commit. Once you commit to the activity and show up you will naturally form a habit and feel a sense of achievement.
• Set yourself a long term goal such as a ‘fun run’ to work towards.
• Get a good night’s sleep so you feel rested. Not always possible, but a bonus if you can!
• Get up at the same time each day. This creates a habit for your internal body clock.
• Get up as soon as your alarm goes off. No more hitting that snooze button!
• Choose an activity that you enjoy and mix it up so you don’t get bored.
• Prepare the night before by organising your breakfast and laying out your exercise gear near your bed.

 And remember, it takes 30 days to form a habit. Make a commitment to yourself to exercise in the mornings for the next month and see what a difference it makes. Before long, you may even be hooked!

Are you a morning exercise devotee? How do you fit in working out in your busy life?

The post Easy ways to exercise in the morning, and why you should! appeared first on Coping with Jane.