Blog Layout
Mind Games: How to Improve Your Mental Health
Andrew Stubbs • Nov 04, 2021

Productivity and mental health may not seem like obvious partners, but the truth is they work hand-in-hand. For many of us at work, as business owners or employees, there is pressure to not only stay productive but to accomplish more and more.


And, while many of us are working from home, maintaining productivity can be difficult due to the state of our mental health. Stress can easily cause anyone's mental health to deteriorate without adequate self-care.


Let's face it. There will always be days when you just can't be as productive as you might have to be. There will be days when you don't know how to stay focused on accomplishing tasks. So it's good to check in with yourself every now and again about whether you're doing everything you can to minimise stress and increase productivity.


These higher levels of stress and lower productivity can occur for you personally as a sole trader or small business owner, or for the staff or contractors that you rely on. Work-related stress is a major cause of occupational ill health, poor productivity and human error.


Why is mental health in the workplace so important


Many business owners know that mental health in the workplace is important, but don't necessarily know what to do about it or where to start to find out more. Even so, workplaces play an important and active role in maintaining people's mental health and wellbeing. Further, every business has a legal and moral responsibility to provide a safe and fair workplace for its people. It even makes good business sense.


Creating a mentally healthy workplace has many benefits for both employers and employees. A well-designed workplace should support individual mental health and happiness. The flow-on effects - reduced absenteeism, increased employee engagement and group productivity - are certainly all things any employer would want to promote. 


It's simple: healthy people are more productive - not only because they, and you, can produce more, but that production occurs more successfully.


What is mental health, exactly?


The term 'mental health' is often used as a shorthand substitute for adverse mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. But the World Health Organisation actually defines mental health as a state of wellbeing in which every individual:


  • realises his or her own potential
  • can cope with the normal stresses of life
  • can work productively and fruitfully
  • is able to make a contribution to his or her community.


One way to explain the distinction is to imagine mental health as a spectrum, with everyone varying over their lifetime - for some, on a daily basis. The mental health spectrum runs from positive, healthy functioning at one end, through to severe symptoms or conditions that can be disabling on the other.


Essentially, good mental health is about being cognitively, emotionally, and socially healthy in the way you think, feel and develop relationships. It is not merely the absence of a defined condition.


What this means is that even if someone, or you, is not experiencing a defined mental health condition, it doesn't necessarily mean that your mental health is optimal. Likewise, it's possible to be diagnosed with a mental health condition while feeling well and productive at work. This complexity is why many people initially misunderstand what is meant by 'mental health' and why regular check-ins to consider your mental health are valuable even if you feel like things are going well enough.


Tips to improve mental health


So, how do you go about improving your own mental health and supporting your staff in managing their own? Here are six steps to personally consider:


1. Start your day with exercise


More than an espresso double shot, the best way to clear a sleepy head and get your blood flowing is exercise. You don't have to visit the gym, go boxing or lift weights - any physical activity that will get your heart rate up can help. You can walk around at home, run up and down the stairs three times, do a 20-minute aerobics session (lots of aerobic videos available online) or just walk your pet to the park. Physical activity at the start of the day really can do wonders in helping improve your concentration and attention over the hours to come.


2. Get back to nature


You might be surprised to find out how much of a positive effect there is in being around plant life, both mentally and physically. Many studies point to the ability of plants to boost our mood and productivity, lessen stress and fatigue, clean our air and generate a feeling of overall well being. So, consider adding plants to your immediate working environment and aim to take your breaks with some nature around you.


3. Stop sitting


Turns out that generally speaking, sitting is bad for us. The Yale School of Medicine has found that sitting is linked to numerous medical conditions, such as lower back pain, heart disease, obesity and more. Poor physical health in no way improves our ability to be productive or manage self-care to improve mental health. Therefore, to combat the habit of incessantly sitting, consider investing in a standing desk or, better yet, make your own. If you're still at a loss, practice setting timers to remind yourself to regularly stand up, move and take a walk.


4. Drink water


Always drink water. Simple, right? Perhaps not. It's easy to forget to drink water when you're working non-stop or throwing back espresso shots. Dehydration can be incredibly debilitating physically as well as cognitively. As reported by the British Nutrition Foundation, even mild dehydration can seriously hinder your mental performance in memory, attention, concentration and reaction time.


5. Know when to ignore your inbox


You've heard the rumour and it's true: checking your email less often leads to more productivity. According to the Harvard Business Review, over-checking email wastes 21 minutes per day (at a minimum). Although this clearly slows down your productivity, over-checking your inbox can do other kinds of harm. Excessive use of email can create a culture and feeling of being 'on' non-stop. Furthermore, the constant ding of notifications and the replacement of face-to-face time can cause feelings of being isolated and drowning in work. Anyone who has suffered those already knows how much they can contribute to stress levels.


6. Maintain a healthy lifestyle


Simply put, the way you treat your body has a direct effect on the quality of your mental process and your overall productivity. With a healthier lifestyle, your ability to focus and create will improve and you'll be more efficient in accomplishing tasks. By getting enough sleep, eating healthy food and avoiding vices such as drinking alcohol, smoking and doing drugs, you can keep your mind and body healthy and in good condition for both work and home life.


Mental health for the win


Following and promoting this list of actions to undertake to improve mental health can be a game-changer. In the workplace, you can be a role model for your staff and colleagues. By talking about mental health and making positive steps to stay on top of any issues, you instill a culture where these topics are safe to explore, engage with and address.


It is high time mental health stopped being considered a taboo subject for discussion in the workplace. Bringing it into the light takes leadership - and you're your business's leader. It's up to you. So be open, be honest and take action. You may be surprised at the impact you can have on those around you.

Why Your Business Needs to Invoice Using the New Peppol Network

By Andrew Stubbs • 05 Jun, 2022
Here's some good news if your business sends invoices to business or government customers. Peppol* is on its way. (That's Peppol, not Peppa .) Ever had this conversation in your business? You or one of your team: "Hello, I'm calling to follow up the invoice we emailed to you last month. It hasn't been paid yet." Customer: "Really? We didn't receive that invoice?" In addition to the time and expense of following up, the cash flow delays create stress for you and they hurt your business. Thankfully, the adoption of Peppol will solve this problem. What is Peppol? Peppol is an obscure acronym for Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line. What's more important than what it stands for, is what it enables. Peppol is an international 'eProcurement' framework for the electronic exchange of information. It creates a standard approach for governments and businesses to structure and exchange information such as invoices and other documents. What Peppol means for you and your business Peppol makes electronic ordering, invoicing and shipping between governments and private companies faster, simpler and more secure. This means your business will get paid faster when dealing with government and larger businesses. In 2019, Australia and New Zealand adopted this platform for e-invoicing which, when implemented, will make 'we never received your invoice' issues virtually impossible. The new e-invoicing system is more secure than email and provides many other benefits. Which countries are adopting Peppol? There are currently 40 OpenPeppol member countries: 32 countries in Europe plus Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and Singapore. Each country has a Peppol authority. For example, in Australia that's the Australian Tax Office (ATO). Is Peppol already in use? Yes it is. For example, the SuperStream system in Australia-which many businesses are currently using to automate the payment of employee superannuation contributions-is based on the Peppol protocol. How does e-invoicing work? The system connects the accounting systems of all businesses and government departments via the secure Peppol network.  Suppliers generate sales invoices in their accounting systems which are sent to Peppol.

Company Director? Why You Need to Apply for Your DIN

By Andrew Stubbs • 04 May, 2022
If you're a director of an Australian company-or you plan to be-take 5 minutes now to read this article. All existing directors (and intending directors) of Australian companies need to be aware that the Australian Government has announced the introduction of a new mandatory Director Identification Number (DIN) system. (You'll notice the term director ID is also used for DIN.) This system is the initial step in the Modernising Business Registry (MBR) Program which has been established under the Treasury Laws Amendment Act which was legislated by the Australian Government in 2020. More information on the MBR program can be found here . What is the DIN system trying to achieve? The DIN aims to provide accountability and traceability of a director's relationships over time, across all companies and will provide information on a director's involvement in what may be repeated unlawful activity, including illegal phoenix activity. It should also solve the problem of false or fraudulent director identities. What are the key features? It is mandatory for all directors, foreign directors and alternate directors of Australian companies to hold a DIN. The DIN is a unique 15 digit number. The first 3 digits will be 036 which is the identifier for Australia. The last digit is a check digit to help with accuracy when quoting your DIN. Like your tax file number, you will only be issued with one DIN which you will hold for life - even if you cease acting as a director for any period. To obtain a DIN, you will need to prove your identity so you will not be able to hold multiple DINs. Other office holders (e.g. company secretaries) are not required to register. The director is responsible for updating the DIN records for any changes in personal information within 7 days of the change. The director must apply personally. The process cannot be completed by your accountant, lawyer, spouse or executive assistant. There are significant penalties for non-compliance. How do you apply for a DIN? Directors have 3 options for applying. You can apply online from 1 November 2021. To use this method, you must first establish your identity via myGovID (an app you download on your smart device which is different from myGov). Once set up, your myGovID will make accessing a wide range of government services easier. (It's not just for your DIN application). For information on how to set up a myGovID please go to https://www.mygovid.gov.au/set-up During the DIN application process, you will need additional information such as your tax file number (TFN) and your residential address as per ATO records. It would also be advisable to have other personal details such as bank account details, medicare card or a recent income tax assessment available in case these are required. You can also apply by phone ( 13 62 50 ). During the call, the operator will ask for the identity documents you would have used to obtain your myGovID (passport and driver licence) as well as the additional information listed above. These details will be confirmed with the records held on existing government databases and, assuming the details agree, your DIN will be issued. Or you can apply by mail, but this is not recommended because the process for doing this seems vague ("Write to us") which means you can probably expect a lengthy process of certifying documents and coping with the vagaries of the postal system. One of the other two methods would be a better choice. When will you need to apply for a DIN? Transitional arrangements will allow directors to become familiar with the new requirement. When you need to have a director ID will depend on when you were appointed as a director.

7 Best Practices for Setting Your Small Business on the Success Track

By Andrew Stubbs • 07 Apr, 2022
If you're a small business owner, you're always on the lookout for better ways to go about routine tasks to boost growth and underpin reliability. So, yes, you have the will; now, what are the ways? What are those consistent routines you can instill that will have the most benefits? This article looks at the top 6 things you can do to help your business thrive. We're going to cover finances, goals, marketing, technology and you ! So, let's take a look… 1. Your finances are a scorecard … and a predictor Boil it all down and dollars in the bank are the report card on the health of your business operations. Surprising then that so many people don't really pay much attention to how much they've earned, nor how much they're likely to earn. As much as it might feel like a chore, reviewing your sales and financial projections and then using them to ascertain if you need business financing is a discipline worth cultivating . If you suspect that your cash flow is precarious, you should be checking out your options today. First metric to check: your credit score. If it is too low, you need to take steps to shore it up. Next, check in with your bank or finance broker about what loans are available. 2. Goal setting, goal achieving, goal celebrating So, if you're using current and future dollars in the bank to keep score, the next thing is to do something about it. This is where goal setting comes in. If thoughtfully set and persistently pursued, goals help you orientate your willpower and your energy at each moment of the business day. This is the hidden power of goals: giving you a good sense of direction and a way to channel your instincts towards wise objectives. Constantly checking in with your goals makes them a benchmarking tool to keep your business pointed in the right direction. Yes, just having goals helps. Actually achieving a goal helps too, of course! 3. Increasing the impact of your marketing Marketing is not magic. It is not a mystery. It is not an art. However, many less-than-reputable marketers will try to claim that it is. They do so to gain wiggle room to pad their invoices and cover up their lack of skill. What this means is that it is easy to waste money on ineffective marketing. The good news is that there are many low-budget marketing strategies that actually work to help grow your brand and reputation. Scout around on the internet and choose one or two new tactics. Deploy them and test them. If they work, double down. If they don't, try something else. If you can't tell if they're working, also try something else. Social media is the obvious starting place for these low-stakes experiments and the old classics of LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are where to trial them. 4. Bringing your business up to date technologically The ability of modern productivity and project-management tools to give small players the same capabilities as the big boys simply cannot be ignored. Harness them properly and they'll let your small businesses operate with the same productivity as the titans of your sector. And, if your business is in the services sector, the increased controls that business technologies can yield also lets you be highly agile - that's something the big boys can't do. So, ask yourself: are you taking full advantage of what's out there? Don't worry, the answer to this question is always 'no' - the field is simply moving too fast for anyone to be able to take full advantage. However, if you have a realistic view of your needs, then you have a yardstick to help assess all the solutions out there. When you know what you need the technology to do, then you can wisely choose what hardware, software, platforms and techniques to introduce. 5. SEO has changed and it is going to change again Google - indeed all platforms offering broad search functions, from Youtube to Facebook - are constantly altering and optimising their algorithms. This, in turn, means SEO practice must constantly evolve to keep pace. So, if your SEO approach hasn't been overhauled in a few years, the time has come to give it some attention. Do a review of best practice and score how you cater to SEO in your online presences. Yet, because the underlying concept of SEO has not changed, the corrective actions you need to take may not be major. Then again, they might be! It is better to know unpleasant news sooner than outright bad news later. 6. Download the right new apps The remote work trend has gone mega and this means mobile productivity apps are very much of-the-moment. See, you can get a surprising amount done with just your phone and tablet. And apps are how it all happens … plus connectivity and a full battery, of course! Usually, apps are best for keeping an eye on things, boosting effectiveness on the "busy" tasks and enabling you to give your stamp of approval to work that needs your say-so to progress. In general, these are not value-adding tasks, just the value-neutral tasks that get in the way of the value-adding tasks. Now, there is no end of apps out there. So, as always, don't bother looking until you have some idea of what you need. 7. You are the ultimate business tool Health is the single most important aspect to consider for anyone running a business. It's the non-negotiable factor that governs everything else you are capable of. To adapt a quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger, being fit and healthy is "a status symbol. It reflects you worked hard for it; no money can buy it. You cannot borrow it, you cannot inherit it, you cannot steal it". This means that you must get enough sleep every night (most people need 7 hours or more). This means a healthy diet must become your preferred way of eating. This means that you should exercise every single day (except when sick). This means you must give your mind a rest too . Meditation isn't some mystic monkish thing, it's simply the practice of letting your thoughts come and go while you - the observer - stay peaceful and undisturbed by them. Think of it like this, meditating is mediating your mind. Take stock, choose wisely, make small steps in the right direction In this article, we've talked about some improvements you can make to what you're already doing. You don't have to do all of these at once. Start with the one that seems easiest and then stick with it to see if it works. Remember, it's not always about big changes. Often, you can make major improvements in outcome by making small changes to input. Doing the little things better. So take stock, choose wisely and be sure to make those small steps in the right direction for success today, tomorrow and the next day.
More Posts
Share by: