Recharge Yourself and You’ll Recharge Your Business

We all know it makes sense to look after yourself and if you’re a business owner then even more so – we can imagine you nodding as you read this. But when you’re busy and your customers need you to deliver, you will work all hours to keep them happy and loyal. Good intentions fly out of the window and the next thing you know is that you’re exhausted and becoming less and less effective. Working yourself ragged is only sustainable for so long and eventually it will catch up with you one way or another.

It used to be that an annual holiday was seen as the solution to resolve all the stress of 11 months and then you’d come back and throw yourself into it all over again. So what to do?

The shift has been towards making balanced wellbeing a priority for every day alongside your other commitments. It’s no longer about heading for the gym and thrashing away for an hour. We’re talking about a holistic approach which covers all aspects of mental and physical health. There is a risk that it’s another time-consuming expense that becomes easy to drop once the initial enthusiasm wanes. Through trial and many errors (ours and others) we have learnt that baby steps work best so good new habits become a natural part of your day.

Here are few pointers on aspects of lifestyle to think about and see if you can make a few micro-adjustments which can turn into a big difference.

Sleep

Go to bed earlier and get up earlier. Those early hours when others are just stirring are a perfect time to take stock of the day and get so much underway. There is an efficiency in early day action that just can’t be beaten. It gives you clarity for the day ahead and makes it simpler to stop work at a reasonable time and have a personal life too.

Exercise outdoors

We say outdoors because fresh air and changing seasons makes a much more interesting backdrop to exercise than an air-cooled gym. Also the outdoors is on your doorstep, so you start the moment you step out of the door. If you can’t stand the idea of couch to 5k then there is already Stroll to Stride 5k which is so much easier on your knees.

Eat well

Think 80:20. If you’re eating well 80% of the time, the odd croissant is just an extra layer in the joy of eating. Eating well means simple foods as close to original state as possible, keep the sugar to minimum (that includes booze which is also full of sugar). Keep it fast, simple and easy with loads of vegetables in all the colours you can find (stir fries, four-minute egg noodles etc), because if it’s too complicated the lure of heat-up meals in plastic boxes will be hard to resist.

Turn wine into water

Drinking is great when you’re having a party but not when it’s become an everyday event designed to switch off your stress or help you sleep. It does the opposite in fact. So give your liver a break and at least make sure there’s one water-only day for every day when you’ve enjoyed a glass of wine. You’ll relish the clearer head – always good for business!

Look after your gut

Check out the supermarket shelves groaning with products full of live bacteria and probiotics and you’ll be aware that it’s a thing to look after your gut. It is even being called a second brain – we all know the phrase about your gut telling you something. If your gut is in bad shape it will disrupt your day and make you miserable, so it’s worth taking all the steps that will keep it in good shape - good sleep, exercise, good food and reduce stress etc.

Bring in help with work and with your home

We would say this because it’s our job to help people who are too busy and getting clogged up with work. However when you get help even with just one task it makes an enormous difference. Book that cleaner and while you’re at it ask us how a VA could storm through that mountain of paperwork that’s holding you back.

We as Virtual Assistants are as guilty as the rest about not holding on to good habits. So we’ll be making a commitment to our community of Pink Spaghetti Virtual Assistants and our clients to look after ourselves a bit better from now on too.

And if you’d like to find out more about I can help, I'm ready to answer all your questions. Why not contact me - abbie@pink-spaghetti.co.uk, or visit our website to discuss how my experienced virtual PA service can support your business and give you back more of your time.

 

 

Photocredit: Canva Dec 2021

Karon Foxwell is a Tropic ambassador from West Sussex and a member of our Connect Curie online group. The WIBN partnership with the Prince's Trust #changeagirlslife campaign for International Women's Day inspired Karon to tell her story of the girl who changed her life, her daughter Lili.

A Life-Changing Arrival

Lili was a bundle of joy welcomed by her mum, dad and big sister Bella 25 years ago. Always a happy and adventurous child, as Lili got older she found it increasingly difficult to deal with some situations, especially when it came to school. As Lili struggled her behaviour became very challenging and it would often stretch the family to their limit. From struggling to fit in with her peers, to a lack of understanding in her main-stream school, Karon and her husband spent many sleepless nights worrying about Lili and how they could continue to manage as a family.

A Lack Of Understanding

As was often the case 20 years ago there was little understanding of Lili's additional needs, and the mental health needs of children in general. This meant that Karon struggled to get the help that Llli so desperately needed from the education system or the NHS. The whole family had to adapt and learn to live with Lili's struggles in order to support her. It was a baptism of fire with little support, however, it changed Karon and she evolved into the open and accepting person that she is today. It also taught Lili's sister Bella to be accepting and open-minded from a young age as she supported her sister.

"Living with autism changed me and my entire family, it changed my approach to life, we evolved and learnt and coped together."

By the time Lili was 13 and after many trips to the doctors, she was finally diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. Whilst this put a 'label' on Lili's struggles it did little to change the families day to day life. Karon remembers struggling to access information and help as autism was something that nobody talked about. Lili was really struggling and the whole family felt like it was at breaking point.

"You are only as happy as your least happy child"

An Act Of Kindness

Everything changed with an act of kindness by Karon's neighbour Humphrey. During a particularly bad day, Karon was sat on the step outside her house crying when Humphrey passed her a note written in purple ink on blue paper. The note contained details of a school called Stanbridge Earls which specialised in helping children with Autism.

Once Lili started attending the school everything changed. She became independent, progressed academically and was being taught "the way she needed to be taught". After Stanbridge Lili attended Bangor University which has fantastic support resources for students with autism.

A Happy Life

After graduating Lili travelled the world before entering the world of finance. She had a bumpy ride working for a stockbroker who struggled to understand her autism and she left the role.

However, Lili is now working as a trader at a hedge fund in Guernsey and is "living her best life". She's just bought a soft-top car and is learning to surf.

Lili is the only woman on the desk in a completely male-dominated company and is thriving in her role. She has gone from the girl who struggled to fit in, to a woman who is commanding her own space and challenging herself and her colleagues every day.

Lili is also involved in talking with companies and helping them to understand what it is like to employ people with autism. And she hopes this will improve the acceptance of people with autism in the workplace.

Karon says that the happiness that Lili has now achieved in her life has changed hers all over again.

"Because she's happy, it's made me feel so happy. I feel complete"

If Karon could go back in time she says she says that she would tell her younger self that "It will all be OK" and that these hard times will come good in the end.

Having been involved with Tropic Skincare as a Tropic Ambassador since August 2016, I am very used to answering a wide range of questions about the products. It seemed like a good idea to put together this blog to address the 10 questions that I get asked time and time again.

What is Tropic Skincare?

Tropic Skincare is a multi-award-winning UK based beauty brand, one of the fastest-growing UK beauty companies. Our ultimate purpose  is creating a healthier, greener, more empowered world and we pride ourselves on our ethical, 100% organic sustainable credentials.

What products does Tropic Skincare make?

Tropic Skincare makes skin, body, hair and sun care products and accessories as well as a range of cosmetics. The range starts at £5 for our Lip Love Balm up to £98 for the comprehensive Skincare Selection. We have skincare for all skin types, including a men’s range and our body care range comes in a plethora of delicious scents. All our makeup is animal cruelty-free and vegan and produced from sustainable ingredients.

Where are the Tropic products made?

Tropic Skincare HO is based in Croydon, Surrey. Everything is under one roof, from the Tropic Beauty Kitchen to admin and packaging. Check it out here in this video.

Where are the Tropic products made?

Tropic Skincare HO is based in Croydon, Surrey. Everything is under one roof, from the Tropic Beauty Kitchen to admin and packaging. Check it out here in this video.

Are the Tropic Products Good For The Environment?

 All the products are vegan and use only sustainable sourced ingredients, so you can be sure that you are making a great environmental choice when you choose Tropic. We work hard to offset our carbon emissions through all parts of our manufacturing, packaging and distribution processes. We are certified by The Vegan Society, as well as Cruelty Free International and PETA.

Can I get samples of Tropic Skincare?

 Unfortunately, we do not give out free samples for two reasons.

1)    We strive to reduce the amount of packaging we use so we do not produce small samples for customers to try.

2)    We provide a 30 day guarantee – see below for more details, so you can buy with complete confidence.

Which Tropic Products Should I Try First?

One of our most popular products in the skincare range is the ABC Skincare collection at £56 or the Full skincare collection at £98. For those on a more modest budget who want to try a selection of the skincare range, the skincare discovery kit is perfect at £28.

Alternatively you could start with a less expensive product such as our award-winning Superfood Hand Therapy at £12 or one of our scrumptious bodywashes at £10.

How Do I Place An Order?

 You can place an order directly through my Tropic Skincare website,  https://tropicskincare.com/michaelavaux just remember to choose me as your Ambassador.

Can I Get My Money Back If I Don’t Like A Tropic Product?

 Absolutely! Tropic Skincare has a 30-day happiness guarantee. This means that if you aren’t completely delighted with your purchase for any reason, you can ask for a full refund within 30 days of ordering.

Are There Any Discounts I Can Get?

Generally, we don’t offer discounts to the general public, but you can get discounted products by signing up to be a Tropic Ambassador. There are no sales targets to reach so if you only want to sign up to get a discount on your own sales, that’s fine. However, most people find they end up telling family and friends about the products and start to sell the products to others. As a Tropic Ambassador, you can make up to 25% commission on the products you sell.

 

How Do I Become a Tropic Ambassador?

To become a Tropic Ambassador, you need enthusiasm for the products, the beauty industry in general and a Tropic Starter Kit, which costs £198. You’ll get training and oodles of support from your Tropic manager to help you build a successful beauty business of your own. To find out more about how to join my team, click here. 

If you think Tropic could be a good business opportunity for you, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch at michaela@michaelavaux.com and we can arrange to have a chat.

#LoveTropic Inspire. Motivate. Empower.

Tropic’s Plastic and Packaging

As a certified CarbonNeutral® and Ethically Accredited company, we’re committed to our infinite purpose of helping to create a healthier, greener, more empowered world.

We are always reviewing whether plastic is vital to our packaging; assessing how we use plastic now and implementing changes to make it more sustainable for the future. There are already some key steps we’ve taken towards improving our packaging in order to help preserve the wellbeing of our planet.

About our packaging, all the collection boxes from our latest season range are made with card rather than plastic, and are also available as box-free eco versions.

Our plastic packaging uses less energy to create and transport compared to other packaging materials. It’s safe to use in places where breakage could be a concern (such as the shower) and it’s compact, using less material to contain an equal volume of product.

The majority of our plastic packaging is made from either PET or PP plastic, which are widely recyclable in the UK. For certain parts of your packaging, such as lids and some tubes, we would suggest checking with your local council about their recycling regulations.

All elements of our Tropic parcels are completely recyclable or biodegradable. This includes: Biodegradable bubble wrap that, when composted, is converted into natural gases, water and biomass, leaving behind no toxic residues.

Cardboard boxes that are entirely recyclable. The process takes just 2 weeks, during which they’re recycled, remade and then reused.
Gummed paper with vegetable glue instead of traditional non-recyclable and non-biodegradable plastic tape. The gummed paper is not only 100% recyclable, but it also protects products effectively by making packaging more secure and tamper-proof.

We’ve launched refill pouches for our Signature Hand Wash and Tahitian Vanilla and Coconut Luxury Bath Foam. This reduces the amount of packaging reaching landfill, while offering perks to all our customers too; once you’ve collected five refill pouches of the same product, you can return your empties back to us for a complimentary pouch.

We use glass rather than plastic for our serums and oils, and we are assessing where else glass can be safely implemented as an alternative within our packaging.

What can I recycle? We are currently taking steps to make sure we’re providing you and your customers with more information about what they can recycle going forward.

Plastic comes in a variety of different types, and different UK local authorities have their own methods of collecting waste plastics. You can check what you can recycle at home, or in your local area, by using the link here https://www.recyclenow.com/local-recycling.

Tropic’s stance on plastic

We are always researching new packaging solutions, aiming to implement packaging that’s even more sustainable in the future. We have a plan to alter almost all of our products to have refillable packaging by the end of 2020, making our plastic usage even more sustainable.

Only 3.35% of our factory operations went to landfill last year and we’re striving towards 0% going forward. As our company grows, and the industry itself provides more solutions to the problem of plastic and waste, we aim to be a force of positive change and we look forward to evolving and leading the way when it comes to more environmentally friendly packaging.

If you would like to know more then take a look at my website, www.michaelavaux.co.uk

or join my Facebook group Natural, Gorgeous Skin with Michaela Vaux Tropic Trailblazer

Or email me michaela@michaelavaux.co.uk