Category: Blog
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Tanya Titman from Consolid8. We will be regularly placing our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work life […]
Take this test to see how much of a Pro you are at juggling: Could you cook dinner, supervise homework, do a set of squats, clean the kitchen benches and have a phone conversation? Could you drive, listen to a business webinar, put your makeup on at traffic lights and do your pelvic floor exercises? […]
Money has been at the forefront of many people’s minds over the past few years with job instability, changes in tax, and decreasing pay cheques etc. It is understandable that the change in the economy has not passed without leaving a negative effect on our financial mindsets. However, I would like to instil the confidence to accept […]
Everyone has had one of those days – where you feel like you didn’t get anything accomplished at work. I’ve been there myself. You went to work, you talked to people, you wrote emails but you didn’t really get anything finished. Why? Here’s a list of ways to rethink your workday so you’re more productive: […]
At the start of the year Tim and I were advised that the office space that we utilised was no longer going to be available. It wasn’t a complete surprise, and in one sense it seemed like perfect timing, as we were actually moving house the following week. However, one of the main reasons we were moving was […]
“So, what types of things do you do?” This is a common question for a personal concierge and a difficult one to answer as the list is extremely long and extremely varied. In an effort to answer the question, here are 4 more ideas for how you might choose to use your personal concierge. 1. […]
A recent survey reported in The Herald Sun shows that 40 per cent of non-working mums feel stigmatised for staying at home and 58 per cent of working mothers feel labelled as not taking parenting seriously. In the last ten years, more and more mums are returning to work earlier. 10% return to work in […]
We have been fortunate enough to receive coverage via a number of media outlets and blogs over recent times. In case you have missed these, here are the links below. You can also see all our media coverage since we started in 2004 by clicking here. Lifestyle Elements launches Corporate Concierge Service In-Business Magazine […]
It’s about now that your new year’s resolution to be healthy is wearing off and the realisation hits that you can’t maintain this healthy lifestyle and do all the other things you want or need to do. This whole idea of becoming healthy, losing weight, looking nicely tight and toned, eating right and quitting various […]
Some of my concierge colleagues recently shared an article from the Sunday Herald Sun entitled ‘Experts warn of the perils of outsourcing your life’. “The perils of outsourcing? Really?” (For those of you who are Modern Family fans, picture Cam saying “Really Mitchell? Really?”). I ask you to please refer below for the definition of […]
Corporate Concierge services are still a very new concept in Australia and New Zealand. Many people view it as a luxury and can’t understand why they would offer a Corporate Concierge service in their organisation. We have had such positive responses from the organisations we have worked for that we wanted to share with you 5 […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Rod Sherwin from Tap4Health. This post is another great example of how you can incorporate different work life balance initiatives into your organisation, in particular from the perspective of someone working a full-time job and growing their own business aswell. Would like your organisation […]
Triggers. We all have them. Whether they stem from a new relationship, a certain food, a distinct smell, a conversation, or even a TV program, they exist to show us that we may still have some healing to do in our lives. Our emotional wellbeing plays a huge role in determining the state of our […]
“If you want to be an effective leader, start leading the way with regular breaks. “ This quote comes from the blog post ‘Take A Break! Bad Things Rarely Happen” by Tristan White, CEO of the Physio Co. which also happens to be one of Australia’s Top 20 Places to Work. It’s the final line in the […]
I often hear stay-at-home mothers saying they can never find time to exercise and often feel guilty that they can’t maintain their pre-baby exercise routine. Between breastfeeding, nappy changing and getting dinner ready, some parents struggle to even have a shower let alone get to the gym. Exercising whilst at home is possible; the answer […]
Do you Procrastinate? Based on some figures, it is estimated that as much as 95 % of the people are prone to procrastination. Amongst them, 20 % of them are chronic procrastinators. How is procrastination affecting your rewards and profits? Your plans for the Year, quarter? Procrastination is about putting off a task which we […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Kailah Shannon from Coffee Secrets. Once again we provide you with a fabulous insight into an organisation implementing work life balance initiatives. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work life balance inside and outside your business. I hope you enjoy […]
On New Year’s Eve the clock struck midnight. Firework displays lit the sky. Celebrations with family and friends were in full swing and you may have even had your midnight kiss from that special someone. 2012 kicked in and with it comes the excitement of newness and dreams. You make your New Year’s Resolutions with […]
How do you feel when you hear the word DELEGATION? Does it make you chest tighten? Did you clench your hands just a little? I bet that many of you thought to yourself, “yes, that’s all well and good for small tasks and admin tasks, but there are just some tasks that only I can […]
I have just come across the concept of being a ‘serious’ individual on Emma Isaac’s blog ‘300kms in 30 Days’. Emma is the CEO of Business Chicks, and writes about Rowena Szeszeran-McEvoy (who has been on the BRW Rich List) and her concept of being a ‘serious individual’. Emma’s blog is about exercise and her taking the challenge […]
The vision of working at home in your PJ’s with fluffy slippers may be what pops into your head at first with the occasional break to watch Oprah. However in reality working from home is more demanding of you as an individual than any role where you have the support and guidance of co-workers. Is […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Susanne Thiebe from LessMess. We regularly place our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work life balance inside and […]
The number of organisations utilising the services of a Corporate Concierge is still relatively low in Australia. In fact it is quite difficult to get real data on organisations who have implemented a concierge service. “That’s because we don’t need corporate concierge services!” I hear you say. In America however, many organisations are starting to realise […]
I’ve been making to-do lists for as long as I can remember. Work stuff, personal stuff, blog stuff…you name it…I’ve made a to-do list about it. But I understand that not everyone does this and it may not come as easily to others. So I’m going to give you some of my list-making secrets. It’s […]
Even as a child, I can recall lying on the floor in agony until the pain subsided, the doctors always put it down to a rumbling appendix or a lazy bowel. As I got older I was diagnosed with IBS, by my GP, even though I didn’t meet a large majority of the criteria, thus […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Janene Samuel from Gametag. We are getting a great response from our readers to these profiles where we place our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is […]
Frantic? Can’t possibly take anything out of your schedule? Modern life is flat out, and that’s that. Or is it? Have a look through the following ‘types’ of busy (adapted from Soul Sisters Empowerment Groups), and see if you can identify your own style. ‘Badge-of-honour’ Busy Being busy equals being significant. Keeping your schedule jam-packed […]
I was inspired to write this post after reading Gretchen Rubin’s interview with Rachel Bertsche on her blog The Happiness Project. In the post Gretchen asks Rachel a number of questions around happiness, one being ‘Is there a happiness mantra or motto that you’ve found very helpful?’ Rachel’s answer was the inspiration for this post today – “These […]
Better organisation is often a popular New Year’s resolution. I have to admit it wasn’t high on my priority list until we moved house last week, and now I am focused on clearing clutter, keeping the house streamlined, and being able to put my fingers on whatever it is that I am wanting. This is […]
As a personal trainer and an exercise lover, I’m often asked what is the best exercise option. Here is my research to date… I have Stepped into Life (great if the sun is shining, but not if the sun shines too much and you have run away kids), had a work out in 30 minutes […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, our first from South Australia, brought to you by Stephan Knoll from Barossa Fine Foods. We will be regularly placing our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you […]
I work part time from home, which has it’s positives and certainly it’s challenges. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the differences between working full time and part time. I’ve come to realise it’s not just about the physical hours you put in, there is a mental or ‘thinking’ component that has to be considered. My biggest challenge as a […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Amanda Tallent from Bennetts Boots Wide Calf Boots. It provides a great insight into the work life balance issues of organisations with seasonal staff. We will be regularly placing our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who […]
You have probably heard of this huge word ‘Gratitude’ a millions of times but maybe felt like me at times that it must be just a big ra ra and didn’t really have an effect on our lives. Boy was I wrong when I started to look into this a bit more…… The first thing we […]
This week’s post was inspired by the following stop-motion video, which I discovered via mamamia.com.au. Please take the time to watch it. It is beautiful. Here is the story of the video: “After organizing our bookshelf almost a year ago (http://youtu.be/zhRT-PM7vpA), my wife and I (Sean Ohlenkamp) decided to take it to the next level. We […]
Summer is the season filled with abundant energy, long days and sunshine. This is the most yang time of year. Summer is about expansion, growth, activity and creativity. Long hot days and balmy nights – it is the season of abundance. The energy is rising and expanding providing us with endless expressions of power and […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Katrina Nelson and Lisa Nisbet from Spot The Dog Walker. How are you been enjoying our ‘Balance Beam’ series so far? We would love to hear from you. It is great each week to read about what different organisations are doing around Australia and […]
By the title of this blog post it may not be surprising to know that it is currently 12:15am and I have been lying in bed for an hour and a half and I can’t fall asleep! So, instead of thinking about moving house (we move this Friday!) and business and blog posts, I thought […]
Stuff We’re increasingly surrounded by the stuff. Stuff to be sorted in the kitchen cupboards, in the wardrobes, on the desk, stuff to be done tomorrow, next week, by the end of the year, ad infinitum. And if truth were told, a great deal of this stuff in our lives is not absolutely essential and could in […]
As I started thinking about what I have been reading on the web this week, I realised, due to the fact that we are still at the start of January, and a lot of people have returned to work, that we have been bombarded with a lot of 2011 Top Lists. So, what better way […]
Prior to 1969, an impossible thought was landing on the moon and mankind achieved that feat. So with the utmost respect achieving balance in your life in 2011 is absolutely possible. And the good news is that you don’t need to be a NASA rocket scientist, you just need to have a plan and remain […]
Welcome to our first ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile for 2012, brought to you by Rebecca Bastiaensz from Forage Cereal. We have had a lot of positive response to our Balance Beam series, and look forward to presenting you many more organisations who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire […]
Yes, I’m actually writing a blog post about Giggle & Hoot! And no, 12 months ago I had no idea who Jimmy Giggle & Hoot The Owl were! For those who don’t have kids or grandkids, or who are reading this blog post outside of Australia, Giggle & Hoot are TV presenters on the ABC’s […]
I thought I would recap our posts from 2011, highlighting some of the more popular ones, and some of my favourites. I would love to hear your thoughts, and if you think any others should be added to the list, please let me know! Please leave your comments below. 2011’s Most Popular Posts Lessons […]
You may have read my previous post Lessons from Grief and Suicide about the death of my brother Max. I had an amazing response to that post and one friend sent me through the following blog post – The Lost Tale from the Roadburn Cafe by Melanie Safka. I particularly enjoyed this article by Lucy Cornes (wife […]
Happy New Year! For many of us weight loss is our number one New Years resolution. I myself would like to drop a few (or more than a few!) kilos this year. Therefore, I thought our next guest blog post may be a nice bit of inspiration for anyone who is looking to achieve their ideal […]
This week the focus of my collection is thanks. It was purely coincidental for the most part, but seems appropriate at this time of year. I hope you enjoy them! Spread A Little Joy Today – by Emma Isaacs of Business Chicks, and someone whom I have had the pleasure of meeting personally and keeping in touch […]
We see lots of guests on our Sharing Bali fitness retreats who are feeling rejuvenated by the end of the week, but are daunted by the thought of maintaining it once they hit the reality of working life back home. Especially those who have a hectic business travel schedule. They are likely to be heading […]
Something’s puzzling me and I can’t quite work it out. Today, we have more time-saving, convenience creating, effort reducing resources than ever before and yet we seem to be busier, more stressed and time poor. I just don’t get it. There’s now an app for everything and you can DIY or outsource pretty much anything […]
The internet is a treasure trove of information, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. On occasion I’m going to pull together some of the interesting, funny, quirky or poignant items that I come across and share them here with you. If you discover anything you think our readers would enjoy, please feel free to […]
I grew up in a home where being late was not an option. If we had to be at a certain place at 3:00 p.m., then we were at that certain place at 3:00 p.m. For a short time, I believed that everyone was like that. I believed that no one was late, that everyone […]
As a mompreneur balance is something that I consider often – whether it is more or less than any working mom is also something that I consider. It does seem to be a much sought after result – balance is something that I have been chasing my whole life – balancing my studies, friends, chores, job […]
At the beginning of November, we lost my 18 year old brother Max, who took his own life, after suffering depression for a number of years. We are devastated and each day is difficult, particularly for my parents. However, during grief you learn many things about yourself, your family and your friends. I remember reading […]
Don’t to forget to share this post with your followers and friends! [twitter style=”horizontal” text=”Share on Twitter!” float=”left”] [fbshare type=”button” float=”left”][hr]by Sally Symonds, Healthy Life Mentor and author of “50 Steps to Lose 50kg . . . And Keep It Off” & “50+ Recipes to Lose 50kg . . . And Keep It Off” One in […]
Don’t to forget to share this post with your followers and friends! [twitter style=”horizontal” text=”Share on Twitter!” float=”left”] [fbshare type=”button” float=”left”][hr] It seems like the harder we try to achieve it, the busier, more stressed and exhausted we become. You only have to Google ‘Work Life Balance’ (over 32 million results) to know it’s something […]
It is now well known that keeping the mind healthy and happy can benefit a person’s overall health. Therefore, one of the most common tools I use to assist my clients to create perfect health is by promoting the regular practice of meditation. A common objection, for those who have not done it before, is […]
Prior to 1969, an impossible thought was landing on the moon and mankind achieved that feat. So with the utmost respect achieving balance in your life in 2011 is absolutely possible. And the good news is that you don’t need to be a NASA rocket scientist, you just need to have a plan and remain disciplined. […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Kathyrn Williams from Youth Off The Streets. Already our Balance Beam profiles have provided inspiration and ideas to our readers seeking to improve work life balance in their organisations and every day lives. I hope you enjoy this latest ‘Balance Beam’ profile, and […]
I am a regular reader of Red Balloon CEO Naomi Simson’s blog. She provides wonderful insights into the world of an entrepreneur, as well as offering interesting commentary on relevant workplace issues. One of her recent blog posts Free Childcare for all Australians particularly struck a chord with me. As many of you know, I am […]
We have had a great response to our Balance Beam series and are excited to present to you this week our sixth profile, brought to you by Imelda Argel from Imelda Argel & Associates. Imelda’s profile particularly focuses on her development on an internship program, and interesting way to enable better balance and reduce pressure on staff. We […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Max Australia & Spectrum Communications from Max Australia & Spectrum Communications. We will be regularly placing our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is […]
It won’t come as a surprise to those who know me that I am a bit of a gadget geek. I also regularly have good intentions about my health and fitness, but only sometimes can I commit and achieve my goals (the positive being that I do sometimes achieve my goals). Therefore, I really enjoyed […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Angie “Speedy” Spiteri from Time Equals Money. Lifestyle Elements is passionate about showcasing organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Linda from Family Capers. We will be regularly placing our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work life […]
Did you know that employees who have control over the design and organisation of their personal workspace are happier, healthier and up to 32% more productive? Research conducted with over 2000 office workers, by Dr Craig Knight from the University of Exeter in the UK, reveals that simply allowing employees to enrich their workspaces using […]
Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Shona Mackin from Socialface. We will be regularly placing our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work life balance inside and […]
Welcome to our very first ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Claire from Maxted Thomas.PR. We will be regularly placing our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work life balance […]
According to various sources, the majority of people would like better work life balance. However, have you ever taken the time to clearly describe what that would mean for you? What would be your ideal balanced day? It was Nigel Marsh, the Regional Group CEO of Young and Rubicam Brands for Australia & New Zealand, who got me thinking about […]
One of the problems with being a personal concierge is that, as we are able to help with so many things, often people just don’t know where to start! Hopefully the list below will help with some ideas, get the juices flowing, and you can knock a few things off your ‘to do’ list by […]
One of our most popular services is returning in 2011! Yes, the show is just around the corner and can be a really fun day out for the family. Especially as you can enlist Lifestyle Elements to help make the day as enjoyable and stress-free as possible! The main way that we feel we can […]
There are certainly some people who come into our lives for a reason. A little under two years ago, I was lucky enough to be introduced to an amazing woman by the name of Elizabeth Manley. At the time she was simply introduced to me as an elderly lady whom would be a new client […]
Or outsource the small stuff first! We all know about spring cleaning our house (whether we do it is another matter) but have you ever tried to spring clean your to do list? Yes, I realise it isn’t spring, but winter is actually the perfect time to spring clean (not sure if winter clean is […]
I have previously written a post about ‘workaholics’ in response to the book Rework by 37Signals – you can read that post here. It was therefore interesting to read this article on the Sydney Morning Herald website entitled ‘The Workaholic Nation’ by Judith Ireland. The article is focused on the sense of pride many of […]
Last year I was a guest speaker at a conference where I spoke about time management. In the Q&A session towards the end as I answered various questions, I had a spark of realisation, or, as Oprah would call it, “an aha moment”. I am passionate about time management and giving people tips and tricks to […]
Emma is a full-time Nutrition and Dietetics student which can be monotonous at times, but working casually for Lifestyle Elements as an assistant personal concierge makes her days exciting, challenging and rewarding. Although no day is the exactly the same for a personal concierge, here is an example of what Emma might do on a […]
It seems like we only just had Christmas, then we there was Valentines Day and Easter, not to mention any birthdays, weddings or anniversaries you may have had in the meantime. This can make it quite a challenge to think of a great Mother’s Day present. So we are here to help! Please find below a […]
Yes, we have a 5 day Easter long weekend! I am sure most of you have been hanging out for this break to come along, especially with the extra Anzac Day public holiday on Tuesday here in Australia. As I am getting organised for our weekend away in Mannum, by the river, with my parents and […]
I recently read (ok, I actually listened to it on my iPod) a book called Rework. The book is by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson who are the founders of 37Signals. I particularly enjoyed the book and found their take on work and entrepreneurism refreshing, logical and, personally, quite freeing. My take on it is, just because […]
By Emma Jones, Lifestyle Elements The work and school year has started again (can you believe it’s already April!). One of the largest barriers to eating healthy and one of the many causes of the obesity epidemic in Australia is our lives are so much busier than ever! Finding the time to prepare nutritious meals […]
Lifestyle Elements (along with a great picture of myself and baby Harper!) were lucky enough to be featured in South Australia’s ‘The Advertiser’ newspaper yesterday. The topic of the article was ‘Australian working mums spending just 15 hours with their children’. There were many (many) comments on the article on both www.adelaidenow.com.au and facebook, which obviously stirred […]
Well, almost anything! Sometimes, one of the biggest stumbling blocks when delegating work to someone else is worrying about what they’ll think. We find this a lot in our role as a personal concierge. “Won’t they wonder why I don’t do it myself?” “Won’t they think this is a waste of time?” “Isn’t this a […]
A few years ago one of our clients recounted a women’s networking lunch she had recently been to. The women on her table were all very successful in business and had achieved highly in their various areas of expertise. What our client couldn’t get over were the comments they were making, such as “….and I still […]
Yes, offering flexible working hours is a fantastic initiative for those organisations and job roles where it is an option. I am particularly passionate about organisations ensuring that staff work hours are managed appropriately, to avoid the inevitable burn out. However, what about those organisations or job roles where flexible working hours just don’t work. […]
Hired help eases the work strain Cara Jenkin, CareerOne Editor | From: The Advertiser | December 28, 2010 HELPING OUT: Concierge Emma Jones with Internode chief executive Patrick Tapper and chief operations officer Liz Cornelissen. Picture: DEAN MARTIN Source: The Advertiser EMPLOYERS are hiring personal concierges for staff to help them so […]
Yes, it’s that time of the year again that usually comes around all too quickly! Lifestyle Elements is called upon more than usual during the school holidays, as this is as good a time as any to get all of those smaller chores organised. We especially help out more with children, as things can become […]
Please enjoy this guest post from David Bird of United Wealth Management. The 2010/11 financial year shapes as an exciting year with markets starting to recover and many new strategies available to assist you to reduce tax and boost your savings. One of the biggest changes in recent years is the ability for you to […]
One of our most popular services! Yes, the show is just around the corner and can be a really fun day out for the family. Especially as you can enlist Lifestyle Elements to help make the day as enjoyable and stress-free as possible! The main way that we feel we can help is to organise […]
Do you find that with all the tasks we have to get done each day, looking at your task list can become quite overwhelming? We’ve all heard of prioritising, but it is easy to get confused when we have numerous competing demands. How often have you had your day all planned out, only to have it thrown […]
Lifestyle Elements was recently featured in an article for Body & Soul. The question they were asking was “Are we more stressed than in the 60’s?”. What do you think? As mentioned in the article “we have appliances to do our chores, more leisure time than ever before and the technology to do almost anything […]
Should I do the dishes before the concierge comes? by Abbie Allen If would like to use the following article in your publication please contact Abbie Allen A Personal Concierge should be just that, ‘personal’. They should develop a strong relationship with you and your family so that they may understand your very individual needs. […]
By Abbie Allen If would like to use the following article in your publication please contact Abbie Allen Traditionally, the concierge was the guardian of the castle and ‘keeper of the keys’. The concierge was responsible for greeting and looking after guests and members of the household. Today, this tradition of assisting and caring has […]
By Abbie Allen If would like to use the following article in your publication please contact Abbie Allen As featured in ‘Inner West BEC – Small Business Matters – Volume 1 No. 10 May 2004’ It’s the choice entrepreneurs make when they start their own business. We give up free time, leisure time and family […]