the MIND less FULL

This is me

Friday 17th July 2020

Welcome to my first official blog post on my new website!

Firstly, a big thanks to Sarah-May Gould for her talent and patience in creating this site for me.

Despite having written lots of posts over on my Facebook page for the last 2 years, I suddenly felt enormous pressure to pitch this perfectly. After several failed attempts, my 12 year old wandered in the room and said - just tell them who you are and what you do. Children can be very wise.

My name is Julie and I live in a small town in the north east of England. My journey into psychology started 29 years ago with my degree (I just had to work that out and got a serious shock, I thought I was still only 30). After graduating, I went onto work in marketing for 2 years, before coming back to psychology and heading into the world of teaching post 16 learners, where I have been for the last 24 years.

Whilst I had enjoyed my degree and love teaching it, I had always thought that psychology should be delivered in a way that everyone could benefit – that this knowledge shouldn’t be the sole preserve of academic study. Students validate this on a regular basis, telling me that ‘everyone should know this stuff’. I agree and so ‘the MIND less FULL’ was born.

My aim was to bring psychology to a wider audience – one that didn’t necessarily want to study it as a qualification or to pass an exam. So, first and foremost, the MIND less FULL was born as a vehicle to share ‘stuff’ about being human, through social media and running workshops in the community and workplace. When we have a greater understanding of human behaviour it can make us more accepting and compassionate, both to ourselves and others. It can also inspire us learn new ways of being and motivate change. This blog has been created in the hope I can continue to do this, sharing psychological research and theories about human behaviours to a wider audience.

Most of my current work focuses on stress management and it is the most requested workshop that I deliver. Stress, whilst I am keen not to demonise it entirely, is causing us problems. Life has changed so much, particularly over the last few months, and the human brain has responded in the only way it knows how – to go into survival mode. With this survival response comes a whole range of unwanted emotions, feelings, thoughts, physical and behavioural responses. Learning to manage the stress response is the goal of so many people I work with.

Whilst not a counsellor or a therapist, I am also keen to share ways in which people can look after their own psychological wellbeing. We are taught from a very young age the foundations of how to keep ourselves physically well – exercise, fresh air, water, balanced diet – but we are still way behind in terms of information about how to keep ourselves psychologically fit and well. This is where my love for Mindfulness comes in. Whilst not the only way by any means – it has a lot to offer in terms of inexpensive, effective and simple techniques that we can use in our daily life. The benefits of mindfulness is supported by 1000’s of research papers and I have benefitted from practicing so much - I am keen to share what it has to offer with others.

So, to point you in the right direction:

• If you are interested in reading regular posts about a whole host of human behaviours, with the occasional guest blogger – then sign up with your email address on the blog page.

• I am open to suggestions for blog content, so if you would like to read more about a particular human behaviour, then feel free to email me: themindlessfull@gmail.co.uk

• If you are a fan of social media then you can follow ‘The MIND less FULL’ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (although I am seriously NOT a great tweeter yet – be patient). Links are on the Contact page

• If Stress Management & Mindfulness is of interest then you might want to join our Facebook community group ‘A mind less stressed’ . Whether your stressors have been induced or compounded by the pandemic or are non-Covid related – then this is a place to be part of a community group to share and learn about ways you can manage the emotions, thoughts and behaviours that stress brings. I will also appear live in this group from time to time, set mini-mindfulness challenges and post regularly. Join the group on 'the MIND less FULL' Facebook page

• Finally – this is NOT a selling post – but if you are interested in joining me in a workshop or fancy holding your own with friends or in your workplace – then details can be found on the Workshops page. I have plans to hold lots of on-line sessions in the coming months so keep your eyes peeled on social media for further information.

And that’s it. That’s me and that is 'the MIND less FULL’. I look forward to interacting with you sharing the things that go through my head.

Love
Julie x

PS: I have done some collaboration work with 2 lovely local crafts people – their items are available to buy in my little shop and aim to inspire daily mindful practice.
PPS: I promise that my blog posts will not feature lots of pictures of me. My daughters think it is a bit weird.