Friday Footnote # 6

Each week we share loads of content amongst Team ION and with our network. Content which inspires us, which we either find really helpful or we think would help our networks, or things that just make us smile. We thought we would start sharing these insights every Friday, as a Friday footnote!

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, so this week's #FridayFootnote focuses heavily on this hugely important subject. 

Be Kind

The theme of this years #MHAW is kindness. It doesn't cost anything to be kind, and everyone at ION is trying to do their bit, especially during these difficult times. Clare has been baking cakes (not surprisingly) for her neighbours and knitting cardigans for her friends new baby. Adam is doing shopping for his elderly neighbour and leaving eggs from his chickens on neighbours doorsteps and Gwenllian is supporting her husband who co-ordinates a local voluntary project helping elderly/vulnerable neighbours when they need shopping.

Always Learning

It's been another bumper week of learning for ION this week. This week's ION Open Doors virtual networking session was our busiest yet with representatives from Business Wales, Swansea University, Swansea BID and many local businesses amongst those who joined the conversation. Manging technology and bandwidth whilst home-working, customer engagement in a virtual world and the importance of a positive mindset were just a few of the topics discussed.

This week also saw the first of our 2-part 'Coach Don't Tell' session where the importance of coaching to gain commitment and encourage people to take responsibility and innovate was just one of the points discussed. Feedback on session 1 has been great, roll on session 2 next Tuesday.

On June 2nd we are running a session titled How do we learn where delegates will learn about different learning styles, identify their dominant style and discuss how an understanding of this information can help their own, and their teams, CPD. It would be great to see you there. 

Support & Advice

• Mind Cymru provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
• Business Wales continue to provide support for businesses in Wales during the Coronavirus lockdown.
• Our very own Pauline Bowe recently blogged about surviving, and thriving, in these difficult times.

Managing our wellbeing

Every member of the ION team has a different method of managing their wellbeing. Linda is a Zumba queen, Clare (as well as baking) has started growing vegetables, Mannon listens to audio-books and ION's 'Tom Goode' wannabee Adam's garden is now like something out of Gardeners World!

A recurring theme amongst the team is our love of the great outdoors, something we blogged about yesterday and Gwenllian in our Bangor team blogged about earlier this week.

Another recurring theme amongst the team is baking. Clare has this week been baking Cherry & Almond muffins and lime cheesecake, Tony's been baking Orange Syrup loaf cake and rye sourdough, and Adam made Banana & Apple Spelt muffins with his kids. 

Inspiration

Here are just a few things that have piqued our interest this week:

• How to reap big returns from meetings that are just 10 to 15 minutes long (via TED)
• How you can better manage your time (via Harvard Business Review)
• Seven tips for staying happy and healthy during a lockdown (via BBC Radio 4)
• Moving the body, boosting the mind: running your way to better mental health (via The Guardian)

They'll be no #FridayFootnote next week as our Marketing Manager Adam, who pulls it together, is off for a week with his family. See you in a few weeks.

Stay Safe

Team ION

PS - Missed previous #FridayFootnotes?