Happy 2011 everyone!

Yesterday I happened to catch the tail end of a fascinating discussion on BBC Radio 4 about the self-help industry.

In one corner was Oliver Burkeman, Guardian columnist on mental well-being, sceptic, and author of a new book entitled Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done.  Looks like a must read.

And in the other corner, Geoff Thompson, author, martial artist, and former bouncer.  Geoff has written a few self-help type books over the last few years.  I’ve blogged about them before.

Anyway, go here to listen to these two gentlemen exchange their ideas.

I felt, while listening to these two guys, both with legitimate points to make, that I was not just hearing two different people talk but the voices of two different tribes.

Sample a choice article from each to see what I mean.

Oliver Burkeman -The 10 best self-help gurus: Start the new year with some expert guidance

Geoff Thompson – Warrior

Let’s work for a meeting of minds in 2011.

Image credit: gandalfcunningham.

The Big List is a collection of useful web tools and resources, particularly for those who’re adopting social media tools for business, but feel like they may just have walked into a maze!  It will contain short descriptions of each tool and suggestions of how it might be used, to help you negotiate your way through.  It has been promised for some time, and is finally almost ready…

Initially, the first version will be made available to those who are signed up to our email newsletter, and updates will be sent periodically.  If you’d like to receive this new resource, sign up to the email newsletter here.  You will also receive emails on events and other useful articles.

Who is the big list for?

• Attendees from our social media and online marketing workshops.
• Anyone else who is new to social media and needs definitions of terminology and a simple explanation of what the online tools do.
• Anyone else who wants to learn and adopt some new tools that will help save them both time and money, in their marketing nad networking efforts.

All suggestions on good blogs, websites, Twitter tools, Facebook applications, social media tools, hints and tips, or mobile technology  are very welcome.  Add your suggestions – or questions – in a comment.

Image credit: Tim Green aka atoach.

Last night, as a Sessional Trainer for Aware Defeat Depression, I delivered a Depression Awareness Training session to Evergreen Pensioners’ Club.  Preparing for the evening over the last few days, I was stunned (and “depressed”) at the statistics for this age-group, which differ significantly to that of the normal groups we deliver to, teenagers:

• 10-15% of people over 65 suffer from depression
• 2 out of 5 people over the age of 85 suffer from depression
• 40% of people in care homes suffer from depression

And, even more stunned by one of the most common myths surrounding depression:

• That it’s just something you have to put up with as you get older.

In contrast, Sessional Trainers at Aware have been trained to deliver the facts and the good news:

Depression is Common

Depression is Devastating

Depression is Treatable

“Aware Defeat Depression has been working since 1996 to support all those in Northern Ireland affected by depression or bipolar disorder (manic depression). We also welcome and support carers.”

My audience of last evening was one of the most appreciative I have ever had the privilege to deliver to.  The group was full of life experience, good and bad.  They were incredibly clued in about the connections between mental health and physical health.  I was impressed with their knowledge of human biology and the connection between physical exercise, eating healthily and mood.  (See Matthew Arrell’s take on the nutrition side of this.)  All showed an appreciation of the importance of maintaining an active social life during retirement.  In fact, some of those in attendance could very well have delivered a competent seminar without me.  The sheer honesty of their willingness to share the experiences of their lives, their own advice and recommendations to the group, was truly awesome to behold.  And, there was a complete lack of any patronising attitude toward those of advanced years that we sometimes fall into in NI.

I’m inspired now, to start preparing next week for my next QUB Open Learning event, Retirement: One Big Loose End.  To read more, or book your place, click the link.

Also, I’d love to hear from you, about your strategies for dealing with the changes retirement brings.  How to you plan your week?  What activities do you take part in, to keep both mind and body active and healthy?  Are you engaged in working with a community or youth group?  Feel free to comment on this blog, or contact me by email or phone.