In the current digital world, it is virtually impossible to avoid screens. Computers, phones, tablets, iPads, all are vital for communication at work and leisure time. Indeed, we use them in both our professional and personal lives. As such, we often end the day with headaches from looking at screens and artificial light for so long. This has only intensified since we have all started working from home.
However, if there is one thing that I have discovered from working from home (no, it’s regrettably not how to make the perfect banana bread) its puzzles! Sudokus, word searches, crosswords are all brilliant mind games and a welcome distraction from emails and screens. Ironically, you can actually access these for free online, but as we are trying to avoid screens, I suggest doing these by hand. A plethora of these appear every day in newspapers, magazines and are also sold as little books in the supermarket which are cheap as chips. It’s a good investment – I have a sudoku book (bought for £2.50) that has so far lasted me three months. I do one sudoku a day, usually more than that on the weekend, and am not even halfway through my little book yet. There are usually at least 100-150 puzzles in a book, all of which have answers provided on the back pages.
I often do a sudoku during my lunch break. 10 to 15 minutes of quiet, peaceful problem-solving (yes, this does exist!) can work wonders for the brain. In fact, I often find my concentration levels are better in the afternoon, perhaps because I have exercised (or awakened!) parts of my brain that had not been exercised before. Sudokus can help you stay sharp and agile because of the amount of thinking required; each number you write in the box requires careful thought and consideration. As such, it is always handy to have an eraser nearby when completing a puzzle! When numbers are placed in boxes, you have to remember the rules of the game and how many numbers are in the box, improving your memory. If you time yourself (e.g. tell yourself I must complete this by 2pm because that’s when I must start work again) your speed will improve, which can lead to increased speed in other parts of your P.A. life. Word-searches are also a brilliant way of learning new vocabulary as well as finding inaccuracies. Crosswords can improve your overall knowledge and can come in handy the next time your colleagues randomly debate what the capital of Switzerland is!
Taking a moment to relax, softly stimulate and engage your brain is an inviting distraction when working from home. It can be relaxing, therapeutic and something to look forward to each day. A ‘me’ moment, if you like. Each puzzle you complete, the better you will become and therefore the greater the sense of achievement. It is a great way to spend time when you have a quiet moment and much better than looking at a screen. Taking a moment to activate parts of your brain instead of filling (or overfilling) it with information from scrolling on social media or emails, may also help your stress levels.
Now, I’m off to complete the sudoku I’ve been stuck on for 2 days….I WILL get there!
With many of us now spending more and more time at home, there are lots of ways in which we can be productive. To-do lists, workout videos, cleaning and cooking are all practical, necessary tasks we complete at home, but also a way of making us feel more accomplished and productive. Well, they do say tidy desk, tidy mind!
With the inordinate amount of time ahead of us (and the uncertainty of when we will come out of lockdown) a very welcome distraction and exciting project for a P.A. can be to learn a language. This may sound terrifying, but it has never been easier to sign up for monthly courses, watch online lessons, learn new vocabulary and test yourself. There are endless videos, websites and teaching material now only a few clicks away from google.
I myself have been learning Portuguese online, thanks to a spontaneous New Year’s resolution and mapping out a plan to do so. It has been SO much fun! The lessons (all of mine are easily accessible on YouTube), the grammar and the sense of accomplishment have made me feel a million times more productive (and therefore more happy) than a few months ago. I feel like I’m back at school again and have that exciting buzz you feel when you slowly start to understand a complex topic.
P.As have many valuable transferrable skills. Now we are no longer in the office, it can be hard to stimulate our minds to the extent we once did in the office, surrounded by colleagues. But learning a language can fill that stimulation outlet as well as improve all parts of brain health. In fact, learning a language can improve your thinking skills and strengthen your brain’s natural ability to focus because of the parts of brain required to work as you learn. In using both the left and right side of the brain (a necessary phenomenon enabling the transfer of information) you are increasing brain co-ordination and simultaneously decreasing the risk of early cognitive decline. The process of language learning has an effect on the brain similar to the effect exercising has on the muscles. In making them move or stretch, you are making them stronger and improving their functions. Our brains are like plastic, and learning a second language molds it into different shapes. This neuroplasticity decreases as we get older (which is why it is easier for children to learn a language as their brain is more plastic). Having said that, it is never too late for anyone to start exercising their brain.
Multilingual individuals are also likely to be better at problem-solving and multi-tasking, two vital skills for being a great P.A. In learning another language, you are harnessing these skills as well as learning new ones. Speaking activities develop networking and social skills (important when meeting colleagues and external clients) and grammar can improve your knowledge of the nuts and bolts of your mother tongue (important for proof reading documents and sending articulate emails).
Ultimately, there is no better time to learn a language than now, both for professional and personal reasons. How impressed will your team be when you are able to come back to the office with another language under your belt? You never know, the next client you meet might speak the language you start to learn – your ability to speak their language will definitely be something they remember!
So you’re going to start writing your memoirs. When most people think of memoirs, they think of the celebrity tell-alls that seem to be everywhere lately. While these can be enjoyable to read, they often lack the depth and personal connection that make a memoir genuinely captivating. This blog post will discuss how to write memoirs that will keep your readers engaged from beginning to end. We will cover topics such as structure, style and theme and provide tips on how to bring your memories to life. So whether you are just starting on your memoir writing journey or have been at it for a while, we hope you find this information helpful!
Keep your readers engaged.
Be strategic about what events you choose to include, and make sure they support the overall theme of your book. In terms of structure, a memoir can be linear or nonlinear. Write chronologically about the events of your life, or you may decide to organise your thoughts around a central theme.
Either way, keep your readers in mind and craft a story that will resonate with them. As for style, use language that is true to yourself and reflective of how you talk in everyday life. This will ensure that your voice comes through loud and clear on the page.
Finally, consider what themes you want to explore in your memoir. These could be universal themes such as love, loss, betrayal, or more personal topics such as your relationship with your family or your experience of growing up. By thinking about these things ahead of time, you will write a memoir that is both meaningful and enjoyable to read.
Once you have published it, you can’t take it back!
Only discuss the events you want people to know about in your memoirs if you want to keep readers engaged. Be tactical about what events you choose to include and make sure they support the overall theme of your book.
Be honest about the events that took place. It is perfectly acceptable to write from your point of view and what you felt. When including personal thoughts, make sure that they help paint a picture for the reader and add value to the story. It is also helpful if these thoughts are ones you haven’t had before writing your memoirs, as it can give greater insight into how you have processed certain events.
Be mindful of the reader and what they will get from reading your memoirs. You don’t want to overload them with information, but you also don’t want to leave out key details that will help them understand your story. Find a balance between the two, and be sure to edit your work to be the best it can be.
Decide on the format of the memoirs.
What will work best for you and your story? Will you create a book or an audiobook? Do you want to write it all out or use a voice recorder?
Do you want to include photographs?
If you want to include photographs in your memoirs, make sure you have the authorisation to use them. You don’t want to get into any legal trouble! This is especially important if other people are in the photograph.
Think of the length of your memoirs.
You may not want to write War and Peace, but we all have a story to tell. How long do you want your account to be?
Determine the purpose of writing your memoirs.
Are you trying to work through some personal issues? Do you want to share your life story with others? Are you hoping to inspire or motivate people with what you have been through? Keep this in mind as you write so that you stay on track.
Identify your audience.
Whom do you want to read your memoirs? What will they be interested in? How can you best reach them? Keep these questions in mind as you write so that you can tailor your story to them.
Will your memoirs be funny or serious?
What tone do you want to set? No matter what you decide, be sure to write from the heart and tell your story in a way that is true to you.
Will you make a passive income from writing your memoirs?
For example, giving talks at schools, clubs and on the TV/Radio. Will you sell your memoirs online?
Consider these things when you have finished writing your memoirs. They are a great way to get your story out there and make extra money.
Don’t forget to promote your memoirs once they’re finished! Make sure people know your book is available and how they can get their hands on a copy. Use social media, word of mouth, and whatever else you can think of to spread the news.
Are your memoirs for family and friends only?
Do you want to share your story with the world? There are many things to consider when deciding who will read your memoirs. If you only want family and friends to read your memoirs, then you may not need to promote them or worry about making a passive income from them. However, if you want to share your story with the world, then you’ll need to put some thought into how you’ll promote your book and get people interested in reading it.
Are you going to self-publish or approach a traditional publisher?
There are pros and cons to both self-publishing and approaching a traditional publisher. It’s up to you to decide which route is best for you and your memoirs. If you self-publish, you’ll have more control over the final product, but it may be harder to get people to read your book. If you approach a traditional publisher, they’ll handle most of the promotional work, but you may have less control over the final product. Whichever route you choose, make sure you do your research so that you know what to expect!
Thanks for taking the time to learn more about writing memoirs! We hope this information has been helpful.
Before you start Writing your Memoirs
Before you write your memoirs, create a plan of what you want to include. Are you a business owner and want to discuss how you created your business from nothing and sold it for thousands? Are you a homemaker and love every aspect of making a home for your family? Did you travel around the world and met some interesting people that had a profound effect on your life?
We all thrive on stories. What is yours?
For our guide on how to start writing your memories join our emailing list.
You may also be interested in the following articles/blogs
I use to dream of being a Writer! I would love to write but don’t have the time! I don’t know where to start, but I have a story!
Questions and statements I often hear from people who would like to become an author, a writer, or publish their memoirs or family memoirs. I can sympathise. When I started writing my books and publishing my author’s books, it was a piece of common ground.
I had a fantastic tip form a young writer who was starting a career as a journalist, short and to the point.
“Just do it, don’t sit there thinking you will write war and peace. Stop making excuses and sit in front of the computer and write.”
Thanks Jack, that is what I did and what I tell my authors to do. In fiction, the story might take a few twists and turns you hadn’t planned on! Characters may quit their jobs or act unexpectedly, so remember the first draft of your manuscript will never be the same as the book that gets published.
When writing your memoirs, things will always pop in your head. One story may remind you of another story. A comment from a friend or family member will often start the next chapter. Alternatively, a comment could help you remember a story long since forgotten that could be pivotal to the memoirs.
Stop procrastination, sit down with a fresh screen or piece of paper and put something down. Once you start you find that you won’t stop. Map out what you want to say. Remember the reader and the journey you want them to go on. When writing your memoirs think about how much information do you want to share?
I have to open this post by stating that I love my Mum very much, but occasionally she exasperates me. I have spent the last 40 minutes helping her with her emails. Three days ago, they stopped showing up on her phone, iPad and computer. We went through all the normal settings and they were all fine.
But I saved my password once, shouldn’t it be automatically?
I was about to tell her she needed to seek an expert, when she casually remarked that she would leave her provider as she wasn’t happy with the services. I asked why. She calmly stated that she changed her password three days ago and has had nothing but issues ever since.
“Where did you change the password,” I carefully inquired.
“On 1and1” she replied.
“Did you change the password on your computer, iPad and Phone?” I asked.
“No, I thought it was athematic,” she replied.
The only analogy I could come up with, was that changing the cotton on her sewing machine and expecting the bobbin to have changed colour as well. At which point she burst out laughing seeing the funny side! Mothers who would have them and technology.
