Looks who’s talking: When employees review employersA new breed of job websites lets employees tell it like it is. And that’s forcing talent-hungryemployers to treattheir own staff more like customers. Read more.

L e a d e r s h i p

The one thing you can do to stretch your retirement savingsWe now expect our super to last 20 years or more. Doing this one thing can help stretch out the amount you have to live on in retirement. We now expect our super to last 20 years or more. Doing this one thing can help stretch out the amount you have to live on in retirement. Read more.

s u p e r a n n u a T i o n

What the 2015 federal budget means for your small business The Australian Government is promising a package of tax cuts, investment incentives, productivityenhancing measures and less red tape. But will this be enough to kick-start the economy? Read more.

s m a L L b u s i n e s s

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it’s very easy to say the words “customer’s interests”.it is really hard to do it. really hard.

david Thodey, Telstra Ceo Read More.

Q u o T e o f T h e W e e k

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What will happen to australia when the mining boom ends? As Australia’s mining boom faces its decline, questions about price and output becomeincreasingly difficult to ignore. Read more.

e C o n o m i C s

how great mentors get you outside your comfort zone“The perfect mentor relationship is adding some confusion, creating some disruption, and building an opportunity for someone to believe in themselves by challenging them,” says CPA Australia CEO Alex Malley. Read more.

C a r e e r

Working overseas? keep an eye on your taxes.Working overseas can lead to tricky tax pitfalls but seeking expert advice can keep you from paying up twice. Read more.

T a x a T i o n

unsubscribeYou have received this email due to your membership, participation or interest in CPA Australia Ltd (CPA Australia) or its flagship publication, INTHEBLACK. Unsubscribe or modify your communication preferences. Copyright CPA Australia 2015. The contents of this newsletter is information only and is not offered as advice. Readers are encouraged to consult a suitably qualified professional adviser to obtain advice tailored to their particular circumstances. © CPA Australia Ltd. All rights reserved. ISSN 1832-0961.

4 may 2015 intheblack.com

intheblackleadership . strategy . business

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stricter rules ahead for collectibles in smsfs.If you hold artwork or other collectibles in your self-managed superfund,be aware of these new rules that will come into full force in 2016.Read more.

s p o n s o r e d C o n T e n T

is mYob essentials the right choice for your business? MYOB Essentials is designed specifically for sole traders and micro-businesses, so how does it stack up against Xero and others? Read more.

T e C h n o L o g Y

7 TIPSENERGY LEVELS

HIGH AT WORK

TO KEEP YOUR

Feeling stressed or tired isn’t uncommon. Yet while most of us understand the importance of recharging our batteries, few of us

actually do anything about it. Just like balancing the books, managing your energy is about making sure your energy expenditure is balanced with energy renewal, says Tony Schwartz, founder of The Energy Project.

Feeling more energised lets you accomplish more in a day, and the best news is that getting more energy isn’t that hard. Read on for

strategies to help you keep your energy levels high at work.

WHEN OUR MOBILE PHONE RUNS OUT OF BATTERY WE KNOW IT’S TIME TO PLUG IT IN TO RECHARGE, BUT WHEN WE RUN OUT

OF ENERGY OURSELVES, WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

1.AUDITYOURHABITS

Take a hard look at your daily activities to look for the things that sap your energy.Do you skip breakfast and rush to work? Do you reach for sugar or caffeine for a quick energy boost, only to feel the crash later?Try stepping outside to eat your lunch in the park instead of at your desk; it gives your eyes a rest from the computer screen and can lift your mood for the afternoon.

2.SCHEDULE REST

Rest is what we need most to refresh our energy, yet it’s often underrated.If you want to feel more energetic, give rest breaks a higher priority, and don’t feel guilty about it.Take regular breaks during your work day and plan that relaxing holiday.

3.SLEEP WELL

Good-quality sleep gives you energy to take on a new day. A bad night’s sleep can flatten your productivity. If you’re not sleeping well through the night or waking up feeling tired, try skipping the afternoon coffee, avoiding alcohol at night, and getting to bed at the same time each night – early enough to get eight hours of sleep.If your mind won’t shut down, try writing down your thoughts earlier in the evening. You can clear your head for sleep and come back to your list in the morning.

4.GET MINDFUL

Mindfulness training can decrease stress and improve performance and wellbeing.Mindfulness can be as simple as paying attention, being aware, engaged and on task.Giving something your full attention helps conserve a significant amount of energy so you can refuel and refresh for a new day.

5.DON’T WORRY

You can waste mental, emotional and physical energy by worrying over things that haven’t happened, and ruminating over past events.When you do this often enough, you not only feel stressed and anxious but you are more tired at the end of the day.Mindfulness meditation and cognitive behaviour therapy are both effective ways to learn to worry less.

6.BREATHE DEEP

Breathing deeply into your belly provides a natural energy boost that’s quick and free. Shallow breathing drains energy from our system.A daily practice of slow abdominal breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, will trigger the body’s relaxation response.Slow abdominal breathing can be done anywhere, even at your desk.Lie down, or sit comfortably, with your hands on your belly. Breathe in and out deeply and let the belly move up and down with the breath. Practise for at least two to 10 minutes daily. Slot it into your workday between projects, when you need an energy boost or to calm yourself.

7.PRIORITISE SELF-CARE

Caring for others is honourable, but caring too much can send you into compassion fatigue.Remember, if you don’t take care of yourself, then you won’t be able to take care of others.Becoming more aware of the energy drains in your life, and how best to replenish your energy, can make you better at looking after others and, ultimately, lead to a more productive you.

CLICK FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM INTHEBLACK: Can your body clock make you less productive at work?

7 tips to keep your energy levels high at work

Will time out of work hurt your career?

Eating for energy: food that boosts your productivity

7 ways to switch off work without feeling guilty

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