When we think about our productivity and focus — especially in creative or demanding environments — we often consider habits, schedules, or tools. But what about our surroundings?

The design and sensory atmosphere of your home or work environment has a profound impact on your emotional well-being, ability to focus, and even your levels of creativity and motivation. Following on from our previous article on visual well-being, this post dives into the less-discussed but equally powerful senses: touch, sound, scent and taste.

This time last year, we lost a beautiful soul of a man.

Bob was my mentor and inspirational friend.

This post is a way for me to remember him, share my appreciation, and share some of the wonderful experiences and lessons he taught me.

The following poem is written by a wonderful artist that I am fortunate to be friends with and have followed her work development for quite a while. This poem moved me when I read it and I felt it would resonate with you lovely people.

Knots a Poem by Marianne White

They start in the depths of my belly
Unbeknown to me while watching the telly
Sprouting one by one, what is this feeling i am not ready
The knots are making themselves known they are coming fast but steady

"What do you want to do with your life?"

It’s the question that haunted me. I never fit in the box. I was the round peg in a square hole—refusing to be pigeonholed. Creative teachers told me “you can’t do it that way” one too many times. Eventually, I stepped away from formal art education, reshaped myself to fit into a materialistic, conventional world—and lost parts of myself along the way.

But it never really worked. I’ve always been more than one thing.

How Your Home and Work Environment Affect Focus, Mood, and Productivity.

We spend most of our lives in just a handful of spaces — yet we often underestimate how much these environments affect our mental health, focus, creativity, and overall sense of well-being.

From home interiors to office desks, every element — lighting, clutter, colour, even smell — either supports or sabotages our mood and productivity.

… Grabbing any device I could at work, notifications pinging around left, right and centre, constantly open and ready to connect and talk, always on the go-go-go on every platform, selfie-ing my way through life, running events, sharing everything.

I didn't understand the repercussions of social media and the decline of:

- my mental health
- my authenticity, who was I?
- the quality of my work...

That moment.

When you realise…
• That feeling I should be working or doing something
• Something unknown and genuinely awful was going to happen
• That lurking, invasive feeling that something terrible is about to happen
• I should of said 'xwz' and now everything is going to crumble

… it doesn't have to be this way.

How can I put this understanding into practice?

It's helpful to be aware of these effects, so we are more conscious and able to manage them in our lives.

What this means is that you can manage your schedule and energy levels effectively

In a fast-moving world of pressure, performance, and AI-augmented decision-making, leaders and professionals rarely pause long enough to ask the most important question: Is this still working for me?

This blog explores why regular reset and reflection practices aren’t a luxury—they’re a leadership and well-being essential.

HOW CAN YOU BECOME MORE AUTHENTIC?

Authenticity is a hot topic now; many organisations and individuals recognise that being authentic is at the heart of self-care and emotional integrity. It's not easy, and after a lifetime of living a way that society has made us conform to fit, you can break the bad habits of a lifetime to enable you to become more content, more meaning and more fulfilment in your life.

Authenticity is an internal, constant state of self-awareness and recognition.

Externally what that means is that you show up with integrity, emotional and practical consistency because you are in tune with your more profound sense of self, and deeply value any given situation to which you commit yourself.

By mastering your authenticity, you become free from crippling, superficial barriers.