Stress & Wellness: Surviving the Silly Season

By Emily Harrison This is the sort of post I thought I’d be writing for December in the run up to the peak of festivities…but it seems like everything is creeping forward and next month is already “too busy.”  Not to mention there’s a little spring racing fever sweeping through race tracks, wardrobes and champagne bottles at the moment.

So if like me you may be feeling a little stretched (and not in the good way) then let’s talk tips for maintaining one’s sanity and beaming serenity as we stride towards 2013.

Make a date… with yourself.  Schedule it, sync it and make it non-negotiable with your self. Do not apologise for it. Whether it’s an hour in the park at lunch or an afternoon to get your hair done or an evening to watch trashy re-runs. Give yourself space to collect, recharge and take time-out amidst the push and pull of the everyday.

Start the day well, even if you know it’ll end wild. So you have a week of office/client/friends/family festivities? Then take control of what you do have control of….plan healthy breakfasts, lunches, snacks and plenty of good quality H20.

Hydrate and drink responsibly. We all know it but sometimes the synapses forget to connect between those effervescent bubbles and the karaoke machine.  Take care on hot days and remember to love your liver. A squeeze of lemon in warm water to start the day can do wonders (great for jetlag if travelling too).

Play smart in the sun. It’s nice to be enjoying warmer weather - take care to love the skin you are in and play safe in the sun. The free SunSmart app can help to know where the UV levels are at.

Exercise! It does not start as a new year’s resolution! Maintain your routine (or build one in) to keep you feeling good well before 1 January.

Smiling eyes, open heart (a.k.a 'Trying Not to Lose Your Marbles'). We all know holiday seasons are not always like the card they come with (Love, Peace and White Doves anyone?) they can feel like testing times; they can bring up emotions, they can challenge our patience, rile our inner peace and you haven’t even carved the turkey yet.  So if you find yourself propelling towards mental or emotional mayhem, consider the breathing thing we started the year with, or a few moments quiet time…even if it’s in the loo.

Reflect and acknowledge. So often we are just hanging out for the start of a New Year, as if the slate clears come 12:01 AM.  I know because I think that too at times, and I know that this year has been incredibly challenging for many people, myself included.  What I have found is that from tough times come little gems of insight and understanding that can help you to shine again – possibly in completely different ways. Consider a few minutes for reflecting and acknowledging the positives the year as brought you – from new acquaintances, to new opportunities to new awareness’s.  (and because we’ll all be like rhuuhlyyy busy in December why not make your list over the coming weeks?)

May you go gently, with a loving kindness to self over the coming months.

Emily Harrison is a yoga teacher and freelance writer. She still likes to leave out something for the reindeers and elves. You can read more at iamem.com 

Organise Me: Become a Productivity Ninja

By Andrea McArthur

Are you crazy busy and feel like you need more time? Oh my goodness that is how I feel at least half of every week. Upon complaining about my constant faux busyness to my flatmate he introduced me to a new system for becoming productive – GTD the acronym for Getting Things Done, a phrase that will revolutionise your productivity and your life (both work and personal). Written by David Allen, GTD has become a best-seller. After developing a simple model for getting results Allen now coaches, consults, speaks, and writes about the topic of stress-free productivity.

The basic idea behind GTD is to be "meaningfully engaged" and present in the moment with the one task at hand. That task or action could be a project, a client meeting or simply watching a movie.

In response to being asked how you gain focus and control over your thoughts, David says, "Keep anything potentially meaningful out of your head, sooner rather than later decide what it means and what you’re going to do about it, and park those results in some trusted place that some part of you knows you’ll look at the right time and the right place, and trust your intuitive judgments about what to do. That’s all it is.”

I urge you to make the time to watch David Allens recent TedX Talk on “The art of stress-free productivity is a martial art.”, it will get you thinking and clarifying your thoughts.

For us creative types, often our goal is to be more creative. It only takes a moment to have a creative thought but as David explains if you're already in a creative mess you have no freedom to use your creative energy. Apparently an average person has between 30 to 100 thoughts and un-actioned projects in mind at any one time. Now imagine how relaxed and how clear your thoughts would be if you weren't thinking about these projects? You would be elevated to the position of 'Captain and Commander'.

Image source: Getting Things Done by David Allen.

To get to be your own Captain and Commander, Allen steps you through the action model of GTD in his book. Here are a couple of key steps to get you interested:

Write everything down. Get your thoughts and To Do List out of your head and onto paper.

Understand the purpose. Decide the outcome that you are committed to finish and by doing so create a project.

Process it once. Set up the right categories for your lists.

• A "Projects" list
• Project support material
• Calendared actions and information
• "Next Actions" lists
• A "Waiting For" list
• Reference material
• A "Someday/Maybe" list

Map your next action. Think of your To Do List as actual actions. In order to finalise the project what is the next actionable step?

Review. Trust the model and review your "maps" or categorised lists once a week.

For such a basic model GTD can feel very awkward at first. You are required to think differently and set up a system for gathering your thoughts. However, after starting the process myself I already feel lighter and I am looking forward to taking on next year with a system in place. For more on the author of GTD visit davidco.com

 Andrea McArthur has a passion for all things visual and a soft spot for organisation. Type is her true love and goes weak at the knees over beautiful design. Andrea works as a freelance graphic designer in Brisbane by day and lectures in graphic design by night. You will find her sharing design related goodness via @andyjane_mc  www.andyjane.com

The Stella Prize - A New Way To Honour Women Who Write

By Sandra Todorov This edition of Women Who Write is dedicated to The Stella Prize, a new initiative designed to celebrate the work of Australian women writers. This is the first major literary prize for women’s writing in Australia and it will be awarded for the first time in April 2013!

With entries closing at 5.00pm on Thursday 15 November 2012, you can bet some nervous people are polishing up their entries and hoping for the best.

According to the website: “[The Stella Prize] will raise the profile of women’s writing, and will reward one writer with a $50,000 prize. The shortlisted and winning books will be widely publicised and marketed in order to bring readers to the work of Australian women writers. In short, the Stella Prize will celebrate and recognise Australian women’s writing, encourage a future generation of women writers, and significantly increase the readership for books by women.”

The prize came into being after a group of women in the publishing industry noted that women were being neglected in shortlists for the prestigious Miles Franklin Award. After no woman was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin for two years within a three year stretch, the women decided enough was enough. Education philanthropist Ellen Koshland provided much of the initial funding for the Stella Prize, with two female restaurateurs (Patricia O'Donnell and Michelle Garnaut) among the other major donors.

''There was always going to be men on the panel - but not a majority - because we want men to read women's books'' says Stella Prize chairwoman and Scribe Publications associate publisher Aviva Tuffield. ''It's very much about celebrating Australian women's literature and supporting books and writers in an industry that is struggling.”

The board member list reads like a who’s who of Australian publishing, with former Meanjin editor Sophie Cunningham, Wheeler Centre Associate Director Jenny Niven, feminist author Monica Dux (profiled in a previous edition of Women Who Write) and Sleepers Publishing editorial director Louise Swinn among the members.

Here's what some people of note have to say about the award:

The Stella Prize is an important evolution in the recognition and celebration of women writers in Australia. Ms “Miles” Franklin would be proud.

- Tara Moss

The Stella Prize recognizes that women are central to Australia's literary endeavour and gives encouragement to future generations of writers.

- Adam Bandt

I am living proof that a women-only prize can be career-changing.

- Kate Grenville

I, like make other Australian women writers, am waiting with bated breath for the announcement of the award next year! Anyone hoping to enter had better get a move on, as the deadline is less than two weeks away.

Sandra Todorov’s writing has appeared in The Seminal, The Lowy Institute ‘Interpreter’, Kill Your Darlings and Miranda Literary Magazine. She runs a consultancy from Melbourne CBD and her first novel will be out in 2013.

Women from History: Radiant Elizabeth Taylor

By Julia Ritson Elizabeth Taylor was a real dame.

Her penchant for shops in the arcades of swish hotels led to her developing a breathtaking collection of jewellery.

A perfect partner for the history loving Richard Burton. When Burton heard that the La Peregrina pearl was on the market, he just had to have it. He loved the provenance.

Here is Liz is wearing the very famous La Peregrina pearl, topped up with many other pearls.

The single pearl was found by a slave in 1500 and was passed on around the world, ending up as part of the Spanish royal jewels.

Other famous women have worn this very large pearl. In this wonderful 1634 painting by Diego Velázquez, we see Queen Margarita of Spain wearing the pearl set as a brooch.

After the purchase in 1969, Burton and Taylor approached Cartier to set the very special pearl in a new way. They were inspired by a portrait of Mary Queens of Scots wearing another pearl necklace and asked Cartier for a similar setting.

This image shows the collaboration between Cartier designer Al Durante and Taylor.

Taylor's life was full of drama.

Here she relates a story about losing the pearl. "At one point I reached down to touch La Peregrina and it wasn't there! I glanced over at Richard and thank God he wasn't looking at me, and I went into the bedroom and threw myself on the bed, buried my head into the pillow and screamed. Very slowly and very carefully, I retraced all my steps. I took my slippers off, took my socks off, and got down on my hands and knees, looking everywhere for the pearl. Nothing. I thought, 'It's got to be in the living room in front of Richard. What am I going to do. He'll kill me! Because he loved the piece!'" Taylor then looked at one of their puppies which seemed to have something in its mouth. "I casually opened the puppy's mouth and inside was the most perfect pearl in the world. It was, thank God, not scratched."

What a dame.

Julia Ritson is a Melbourne artist. Her paintings investigate colour, abstraction and a long-standing fascination with the grid. Julia has enriched and extended her studio practice with a series of limited edition art scarves. She also produces an online journal dedicated to art and scarves and architecture.

Book Review: The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch

By Jodi Wiley

Did you know there is an inherent imbalance in the universe which can be used to your advantage? It's called the 80/20 Principle and successful business entrepreneur Richard Koch reckons anyone can harness it.

Working very hard for very little reward? Stop it, says Koch. Focus your attention on the things you do well which come easily to you, take the least time and see the best results, and your achievement and income will soar. Sounds simple, right?

Koch says people tend to expect a democratic relationship between causes and results (the 50/50 fallacy): 'that all customers are equally valuable...that each day or week or year we spend has the same significance...that all opportunities are of roughly equal value, so that we treat them all equally'. Not so, says this ‘lazy entrepreneur’.

In business 80 per cent of profit often comes from 20 per cent of product, 80 per cent of productivity comes from the top 20 per cent of a company's employees. In life, 80 per cent of your happiness comes from 20 per cent of your time. Fascinating insights with powerful implications for work and leisure.

Koch examines in detail how the 80/20 Principle can be applied to business but also how it can be used more personally to create happiness and 'evolve your ideal lifestyle'. His suggested daily happiness habits are nothing really new but useful to remember and put into practice (eg: ‘exercise’, ‘mental stimulation’, ‘doing a good turn’) and his mission to convince everyone to work less, earn and enjoy more gets no arguments from me.

His theories are attractive but I have to admit I found the book a little more cerebral than I'm used to reading before bedtime. Happily, according to Koch, it should be possible to read 20 percent of this book to get 80 per cent of his message. Accordingly, I did not read it all (although I promise I read more than 20 per cent!) but that's only because at certain points the invitation was extended to skip chapters if you felt they weren't relevant to your situation. Which makes sense in a book designed to promote effective use of time.

I'm quite taken by the idea of reversing this inbuilt imbalance and curious about how I might apply it in my own life and work. I'm going to give it a go and see what happens.

The 80/20 Principle: The Secret To Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch is published by Random House.

Jodi Wiley is an artist, writer, teacher and blogger. She has written freelance articles and book reviews for magazines and newspapers, as well as education curriculum. She has won awards for her artwork and been a finalist for several art and illustration prizes. Visit Jodi’s blog: artbywiley.com

Women in the World: the Stepping Stones and Multicultural Connections Programs

By Joanna Francis Around the world, there are countless organisations working with women by using creativity as a pathway out of poverty. Today though, I thought we’d look a little closer to home. What about women who have arrived here in Australia as refugees, who have brought with them a multitude of skills and resources but face cultural barriers and a lack of access to resources? Recently I came across two wonderful groups that exist in Melbourne.... the Stepping Stones program, run by the Ecumenical Migration Centre (a branch of the Brotherhood of St Lawrence) and the Multicultural Connection Centre.

The Stepping Stones program offers mentoring, training and support to help refugee and migrant women develop new skills and increase their participation in business and the community.

One woman who participated in the program is Luz Restrepo. Luz is a Colombian woman who came to Australia 2 years ago as an asylum seeker and has faced huge challenges including a lack of English and a consequent lack of identity and self esteem. In an effort to improve her English, improve her wellbeing and help others in the same situation, she organised a group - the Multicultural Connection Centre - to create a space where migrant women could come together, share their stories, improve their English and reduce their feelings of isolation.

The group has evolved to focus on women meeting regularly to create handmade crafts which they are then selling at markets around Melbourne. This allows them to not only earn some income for themselves and their families, but to improve their self esteem, continue to build relationships and a sense of community.  I met some of these women recently... Ler Paw from Burma, Saida from Rwanda, Lakpa from Tibet and Monica from Pakistan.

Each has endured much hardship in the their lives, and many challenges adjusting to a new life in a new country. But each one was finding that the skills they  had learnt through their involvement, as well as the friendship and opportunities provided were helping to improve both their lives and those of their families.

Speaking to Luz and the women she was working with helped remind me that each of these women has come to Australia with their own skills and experiences and identity, and that the challenges faced here often diminish that sense of self worth. But that the benefits of meeting with others in similar situations and increasing their own sense of confidence and independence are huge.

Stepping Stones is looking for mentors for the women participating in their program. If you're interested, you can learn more here.

Similarly, Luz is looking for funding for materials, as well as creative women who might be able to assist with advice or training, particularly in making their craft stalls more financially viable. If you are interested, you can contact get in touch with me (details below) and I can put you in touch with Luz.

Joanna Francis spends most of her time hanging out with her 21 month old son. But she also works for a children’s foundation and has recently started her own little business making baby quilts. In the past, Joanna has worked as an aid worker in several developing countries, and is passionate about the rights of women and children. You can visit her and her blog at www.miettehandmade.com

Member Profile: Cheryl Lin

Cheryl Lin Content creator, presenter, streetstyle photographer and stylist - Business Chic Website | Twitter | Facebook

What is your professional or training background?

I am an IT professional by trade but enjoy pursuing my creative interests at the very edge of my capabilties!

What do you make, create or do?

I am most well-known for the work streetstyle blog, BusinessChic.com.au that I created in 2010 that shows my photos of what stylish men and women wear to work to give the rest of us ideas on what we can wear to our respective jobs!

What other creative areas would you like to explore as a side-project to your current work, or move into full-time?

In the same week that I started BusinessChic, I became a stylist and segment presenter on a little show on Channel 31 called Destination90s. I really enjoyed the experience of researching, writing and presenting my own segments and am now working on similar projects.

One project I'm currently in the middle of is the BusinessChic Little Black Dress (LBD) Project where I am wearing one LBD to work, once a week for the whole year to share 52 different ways of styling this fashion staple for the workplace. Some of my favourite looks so far have featured pieces from emerging designers like above.the.label, livia arena and kuwaii or recreating high-end designer looks using pieces I've found in local op shops or in not-for-profit retailers like This Is Not A Mall.

What skills do you have that help you run your business, or what skills would you like to develop?

I have photography and writing skills that I enjoy using to help small businesses showcase their products and services more effectively via their blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest etc.

There are lots of things I'd like to learn but mainly to meet more people I can collaborate with on great projects that are useful and and make folks happy!

List five people, businesses or websites/blogs that keep you motivated and inspired, and why?

Creative Women's Circle - I'm not just sucking up, I genuinely believe that this is a great resource for creative women and thoroughly enjoy the reviews and news shared here.

The Design Files - I love Lucy! Her friendly, enthusiastic and down-to-earth approach to design complete with delicious photography - delicious!

Pozible - I like this platform for crowdfunding. I like the sense of community it creates, I like that it helps people take their pie-in-the-sky-ideas and make them an awesome reality.

Awesome Foundation - I sit on the board of this foundation that every month gives $1000 away to a project that seeks to make melbourne, even more awesome.

Twitter - I am very grateful the opportunities this platform has given me to connect with likeminded folk who have become friends, collaborators and fellow adventurers!