Meet #Freelancher100 mentor & founder of Green Bean Studios, Anita Frost. Over the past 12 weeks, Anita has harnessed her 16+ years of experience in child development & business to support 100 women across the UK as they develop and launch their own businesses. Anita is the author of the Green Bean Collection stories, and founder of Green Bean Studios – a children’s edutainment brand with early years education, sustainability, and outdoor adventures at its core. Having successfully grown the business, she has developed a range of fun and educational books, toys, and games, as well as a YouTube channel and live interactive events and attractions for families across the country.
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Eleanor Tweddell So I was excited to join the mentoring programme at Northern Power Women. And have the pleasure of a brilliant, powerful weekly mentoring session with Shiraz and Anita Frost. Just having someone to share thoughts, ideas and push the plan forward has already expedited the brand refresh. So it's good to have people around you who keep you going. For the last few years I've had a business coach or mentor the whole way through each part of business development. (And it often helps with localising every time we move. I've been working on a refresh of Another Door for the last few months. Fresh programmes, workshops and courses, based on our expertise but delivered in ways that meet the needs of our members and corporate customers. Sometimes it's felt too much, and I have to fight not going back to what we know, running back to the comfortable zone. Sometimes I'm not really sure if it's exactly right. Sometimes I think I'm not enough to get this done. When we are trying to do hard things, we need people around us that help to push us along (but not push us over though, thin lines!). Thank you Shiraz and Anita (and all the Northern Power team) really enjoying the experience. Eleanor Tweddell After 23 years of corporate life, working for brands such as Costa Coffee, RAC, Virgin Atlantic and Vodafone, and having clients like Channel 4 and Trinity Mirror, and a book published by Penguin Random House, I understand the highs and lows of starting something new. I’m here to help you restart well. Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you “Four years ago I got made redundant. It wasn’t the best time of my life. But I wondered if it was time to step away from corporate life and explore the ‘outside’ world. I started writing a blog. I started an online retail store. I joined up to lots of courses and programmes. I had no idea what I was doing! But I got curious, stayed open to new ideas and took opportunities that came along. The blog became a community, which became a business, which became a book, the book is here. This book will take you through the shock of redundancy, the feeling of being stuck, slowing down to get clarity, becoming unstuck and thriving in your next chapter, your next door. It shares my story, other people’s stories, all the tricks and guidance that helped me. It’s honest, it’s optimistic, it might even make you laugh!” BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON, WATERSTONES, HIVE.CO.UK & YOUR LOCAL BOOKSHOP Please leave a review - it means a lot. The Importance of doing Nothing – Avoiding Burnout in a World that’s Wired to be Busy How often do you stop and do nothing? Do you struggle to put aside your to-do list, turn your phone off, disconnect from work and TV and social media? In a world that praises being busy and multi-tasking, doing nothing is often dismissed as being lazy, wasting time, and being unproductive. Those who do set healthy work-life boundaries can end up being branded as not being dedicated or hardworking, compared to those who may work through their lunch break, work late, and answer emails at 11pm when they’re in bed. There is a toxic culture that some business leaders have developed, equating productivity and value with time spent sitting at a desk. But far from hindering one’s ability to work efficiently and meet deadlines, having time to disconnect from work and taking proper breaks can actually increase productivity and improve workers’ wellbeing. But the problem of burnout doesn’t end with work. It’s everything else that people, and more often than not, women, are expected to juggle in addition to work, that leads to feeling overwhelmed and unable to function effectively. Whether it’s childcare, housework, or general life admin, there are multiple stresses and pressures piled on top of each other, leaving little time to catch a breath in between tasks. Throw into the mix the challenges that we have faced over the last few years with the pandemic, Brexit, and now the nightmarish reality of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it’s hardly surprising that the UK is struggling with an unprecedented mental health crisis, with over 4.3 million NHS referrals for mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, during 2021 alone. Being constantly ‘on’ and always ‘doing’ rather than simply being has a huge impact on mental and physical health. It is an unsustainable way to operate and, sooner or later, will lead to burnout. To remedy this, it is important to take time out to disconnect from work, from responsibilities, from social media and TV, reconnecting with your inner world and checking in with yourself.
Set aside some regular time each week where you have no tasks to complete, to engage in something that has no set goal, nothing that needs to be achieved or ticked off. Find some inner stillness and practise being more present by observing how you’re feeling, the different sensations you are experiencing, letting thoughts come and go without trying to follow them or replay them in your mind. There are a wide range of mindfulness practices which can help you become more aware of your inner world and be more present. Guided meditations, journaling, spending time in nature, yoga, exercising, arts and crafts are all activities which can help you shut off the constant mental chatter and recharge your batteries when life gets too hectic. Everyone is different, and what works for one person may not be right for you. Find some mindfulness activities that you feel comfortable with and come back to them whenever your mind is running on overdrive and your to-do list feels like it will never end. Don’t mistake being busy for being productive. Take regular time to check in with your inner world and embrace the healing power of disconnecting and simply being. What activities or techniques do you turn to when you’re feeling burnt out? We’d love to hear from you - connect with Anita Frost on Twitter @anitafrost and LinkedIn. Celebrating women's achievements and increasing visibility. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias
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EditorLook out for Melissa's latest articles on Anita Frost's author website, where she'll talk about topics including: Business| TV | Music | Publishing, along with author news and events, and giving back to communities.
You can find her in-depth monthly feature on the News & Media page of the Green Bean Collection website, discussing children's books, reading, and all things Green Bean! For more information or PR queries, please contact Melissa by emailing editor@greenbeancollection.co.uk. Categories
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