BOOK REVIEWER
“ Reading this book has helped me finally realise that I don ’ t have to be perfect . Mistakes happen and it ’ s all a learning curve .”
CATHRYN SMITH
Resilience Recipes by Fleur Heazlewood
“ Having gone through what we ’ ve all gone through over the past two years , I ’ ve found myself facing new challenges that , maybe , I ’ m not really prepared for . The idea of a book with answers to some of my most pressing problems really appealed to me . After all , as an EA , your work life and home life can merge – surely solving some of the stresses in my personal life could only help in my professional life ?
Resilience Recipes starts out with a simple wellbeing assessment test . Then it heads into strategies and exercises to help you manage stressful situations and take back control of potentially overwhelming areas in your life .
These are simple and practical tasks ( sometimes that ’ s all you can take , isn ’ t it ?) and because the author breaks them down into manageable chunks , you never feel like you can ’ t achieve any of them . Plus , you don ’ t have to do them all , or even in order – just pick and choose based on how you ’ re feeling .
My main takeaway was that we need to take more time for ourselves . Work can be so overwhelming and role of an EA – largely focused around looking after others – means we don ’ t always look after ourselves . But we should and we need to . I ’ m definitely going to be taking more time for myself … And stopping working 24 / 7 .
I ’ ve also realised I don ’ t need to be in control all the time , which was very enlightening ! And , in relation , reading this book has helped me finally realise that I don ’ t have to be perfect . Mistakes happen and it ’ s all a learning curve .
I would definitely recommend Resilience Recipes to anyone – but especially EAs . After reading , I absolutely feel more in control and far less overwhelmed with everything . But whether you ’ re struggling with stress and wellbeing or not , I think everyone can get something out of the exercises within the book .
Oh , and one thing to make clear from the start is that this isn ’ t a recipe book , so don ’ t be expecting the perfect lasagne recipe !”
Cathryn Smith is a PA and admin team leader at WSP
Summer Issue 2023 | Executive PA 65