What to do when you’re bored: 5 ways to gamify your brain
Boredom isn’t just an everyday drag, it’s a neurological signal. When your brain says, I’m bored, it’s signalling a mismatch between what it craves (novelty, challenge, meaning) and what it’s getting (doom scrolling, waiting in the school pickup line, boarding a plane, another Zoom meeting that could have been a poke in the eye).
What’s the worst thing that could happen? Don’t let fear trick you into a boring life
If you catch yourself asking that question – what’s the worst thing that could happen? – you’re doing exactly what the brain is designed to do: ‘suss the sitch’ to make sure you will survive. But in the modern context and by some irritating glitch of the brain, perhaps an obsession with avoiding discomfort, humans like to focus on the worst-case scenario much more than they ever should, leading to safe, comfortable BORING lives and a lot of worry about things that will never ever happen. Stuff that! When you have only one wild precious life to live, an appetite for risk is your gateway to greatness.
Kindness: a selfish pursuit, a boomerang of joy
We’re often told to put our own oxygen mask on first, and yes, self-care matters. But studies increasingly show that helping others can be a more effective form of emotional and physical nourishment. Altruism lowers depression risk, boosts life satisfaction, and fosters stronger social bonds.
No creative flow? Have longer showers
Humans are unique mammals for our creativity and knack for storytelling. However, we also overthink and ruminate which is a significant weakness of the species, crippling for many. Overcome the story you tell yourself, allow for an environment that is juicy for ideas and you too can be truly creative.
Cyberbullying: A story of revenge
Lucy Bloom discovers that cancel culture is sometimes just a cool word for cyberbullying and the outcomes can be surprisingly positive or devastatingly final, depending on your mental health.
Why Q and As are total fizzers
A very common format for events is keynote speaker followed by ‘Q and A with the audience’. I have not hosted Q and As after a conference speech of mine since 2018. Why? They kill the mood faster than a minute’s silence for the Queen.
How to give good
It’s that time of year again when we make donations because the tax deduction will be forthcoming sooner rather than later. Every year I post my advice on how to make the most of your charitable giving… so buckle up. Here are my top 7 giving tips and then my top 7 charities list for 2023.
How to give a killer conference speech
I’ve been a professional keynote speaker for more than 15 years and full-time conference speaker since 2017, so it is fair to say I have seen a lot of speakers do their thing, from brilliant to utterly horrific. If you would like to brush up, here’s my top 10 listicle on what you need to know to add ‘killer speaker” to your skillset.
Why I will never work full time again
International conference speaker, Lucy Bloom, walked away from her third CEO role in 2017, never to return to full time senior executive life again. Here she explains why she made that radical decision after 30 years of full time work, and has never been happier or healthier.
Working from home: like a boss
Suddenly half the world is working from home and many of us have new workplace surroundings to adapt to. Remember folks, it’s not the most intelligent or fittest of the species who will survive, it’s those who can swiftly adapt to change. I’ve spent huge chunks of my career working from home, so here are […]