What does YOUR May deserve?
Sometimes it’s a cheeky Full English…!
Hello, Marvellous! Welcome back to Moments. And thanks for reading!
How’s your week been? I’m rounding off the week stuffing my face with an F.E.B. in my hotel room this morning. I hosted an awards night in Bristol for the BCO (British Council for Offices), commanding the stage in front of 300 people in a boiling hot room is hard work. I reckoned I’ve earned a naughty brekky.
Are you asking the same question as me? ‘How the heck are we already in May?’ Because it feels like April just shot past in a flash, didn't it?
And as we step into a new month, it’s time to check in...
How are you feeling about this new month?
Are you ready to take it on? I wanna be channeling Blue Ivy’s energy this month.
The sunshine has finally decided to bless us here. My amazing bro, Tony whipped up an impromptu midweek BBQ for all the fam. He and Mark know how to put a Ninja Woodfire grill through its paces. And I was challenged by my 8 year old great-niece to learn a Tiktok dance with her by the weekend #nopressure 😬
A few mornings this week I’ve been sipping my first coffee of the day outside - even if it's just for 5 or 10 minutes. A big RESULT for lowering the recent higher stress levels. But no coffee after 12noon as you might have noticed!
Big up, The Hubz who did not one, but TWO OffalClub gigs last weekend (me on BVs for one of those) and a Billy Whizz gig on Monday night. Legend🎸
So how are you REALLY?
Because last week we talked about stress, and the poll I posted. A whopping 63% of you selected "Just surviving TBH" – and that was a shock at first.
You might not know how rough the TV industry is right now. The advertising revenues are not there, meaning fewer programmes are being commissioned, leading to freelancers in their droves being out of work. The word ‘dire’ doesn’t even touch it.
Having lived in the contract-work world as a freelancer for the last 17yrs - not knowing where the next bit of work is coming from and hustling like hell to get a shift - the pressure people are under deeply resonates with me.
So I reckon that’s why earlier in the year I was asked by the Film and TV Charity to become one of their first ever ambassadors.
And this week my soul moved me to help others. I guess I had to clear my own barriers before moving back into my natural space - where I can be of service again. So I posted an offer of free coaching to anyone struggling in the TV industry - and I was inundated.
I can’t make a new job appear, or conjure up missing ad revenues, that’s not my role as a coach. But the one thing I am able to do is help someone gain mental clarity so they can progress to make decisions on the right life direction for them, in any given moment.
And self-care is at the heart of it. As you’ll have read from last week, we sometimes lose sight of what we need to do. And I learned the hard way recently.
The Self-Care Reality Check
I am taking lessons from my new bestie (in my head😂) Oprah, who once said, "The more I filled myself, the more I could give to others. Self-care isn't selfish, it's strategic."
And she's right. Self-care isn't about fancy spa days or expensive retreats (though if that's your jam, no judgment here).
It's about creating that essential infrastructure that supports EVERYTHING else you do.
I’ve had the honour of meeting hustler extraordinaire himself, Gary Vaynerchuck who also admits: "The ultimate key to scaling isn't working 19 hours a day. It's building recovery into your process."
And he loves to sleep sometimes 14 or 15 hours to fill himself back up!
If these mega-successful multi-millionaires are prioritising their wellbeing, why aren't we?
Your May Mission
So I designed a quick test. It takes just 5 minutes to assess your self-care foundations. Where are you solid, and where could you use some reinforcement?
But don't keep this goodness to yourself!
Share the quiz with a friend who might be running on empty.
That colleague who's always the last to leave the office? Your mate who hasn't taken a proper lunch break in weeks? Or the friend who keeps canceling plans for coffee because they're "just too swamped" or they’re feeling low.
They need this more than they know
One of my friends did the quiz this week, and the results shocked her. Why? Because she thought she was doing better, than she actually was!
It’s forced her to re-draw her self care plans and boosting them. Hurrah!!
Looking Forward - A Coach's Perspective
I'm a big believer in ‘reading’ yourself. Listening to signals and messages that your mind, your body and soul are telling you - to decypher what they may mean. Even if you are unhappy with those signs and they make you nervous.
As a coach, it's what I help all new clients do at the start of their journey with me.
Thinking deeply about what matters to you most, what drives you, and what you need in the moment is can be very uncomfortable.
It’s not something we’re ever encouraged to do ask kids: ‘Stop crying’, ‘Keep yourself quiet’ or ‘Why are you making such a fuss about nothing?’ were what I was told as a kid.
And once you’ve cracked your inner ‘code’ then you have to work out what to act on, and what not to.
Again, easier said than done. That’s where courage comes in. Because re-prioritise your life around those acknowledged and accepted feelings about yourself is the third huge shift to make - especially when in fact you're more used to being all things to all people!!
So if you are in survival mode atm, I want you to have a word with yourself.
Take a quiet moment. And ask yourself what YOU actually need. And how do I go about grabbing it?
But when you do it, you will never look back. IMHO honouring yourself in this way is the greatest gift you could give to yourself.
And if you want more ideas on questioning yourself, listening to yourself and self care, let me know because I have tons.
Plus I'd also love to hear what YOU'RE doing to keep yourself afloat. Drop me a comment.
Does May hold any bank holiday adventures? New projects in the offing? Or are you planning just some intentional downtime?
Wishing you an energy-filled month ahead, with lots of love
See you next week
Marv
x
P.S. Don't forget to TAKE THE TEST and share your score below. If you look carefully, you might even spot what my mine is too!