Success Without Stress
Hi I’m AJ, and I’m a biophiliac.
Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always been drawn to nature. From walking my dog Benji after school around the lake, to planting little gardens in the backyard, to bushwalking and picking freesias on the weekends, I’ve always found being immersed in nature is what makes me feel most alive and connected. Can you relate?
I recently launched my new website www.alexandriajoy.com.au and in my about page mention being a biophiliac, it raised some questions from people so I thought I would explain.
While it may not be a commonly used term the philosophy behind biophilia is becoming more popular. Quite simply it means a love of life and the living world; the affinity of human beings with other life forms. For me it’s a reminder to not take for granted that we must balance people, profit and purpose with planet, that humans must be mindful of the delicate relationship we have with health and vitality of our natural environment as much as our workplace environments.
Honouring our planet is not only good for nature, it’s reciprocal. When we love and cherish the natural world it opens supports and stimulates our own creativity, physical healing, mental stillness and even spiritual expansion. Just think of the last holiday you had somewhere lush and vibrant, did you find yourself slowing down, drinking in your surrounds and relaxing at a visceral level? Did it feel like a recalibration of your being?
I recently attended the book launch of “Earth Emotions” written by Professor Glenn Albrecht in which he argues that human influence and dominance of all climatic, biophysical and evolutionary processes occurring at a planetary scale are beginning to undermine and destroy the foundations of all life on earth. In his book Glenn shares how earth distress manifesting in global warming, erratic weather, acidifying oceans, species extinction and disease pandemics are correlating in human physical and mental distress or what he calls “solstagia”. Solastalgia is a new concept he developed to give greater meaning and clarity to environmentally induced distress. As opposed to nostalgia--the melancholia or homesickness experienced by individuals when separated from a loved home - solastalgia is the distress that is produced by environmental change impacting on people while they are directly connected to their home environment.
I couldn’t agree more. Sadly, it has become harder and harder to maintain our connection with nature as technology has taken over. Decades ago, many of us lived on the land or had a higher connection in our day-to-day lives, through our veggie gardens and backyard chickens, today most people have to make a conscious, concerted effort to make time to be in nature.
And yet speak to anyone and they will often tell you how they feel so much more alive, vibrant and at peace when they are eating clean, smelling fresh air and spending time outdoors.
I am a part time tiny house dweller, when I am not working in cities, I’m travelling the countryside in my eco-friendly tiny house on wheels. The outdoors have now become my extended loungeroom, dining room and workplace, allowing me to juice up my biophiliac tendencies. It takes effort and thought but it is so worth the price.
What if I work in a city?
So what can you do if you’re shackled behind a desk from 9-5 without a change to commune with nature? Short of quitting your job, here are three simple 10 degree shifts you could make to bring out the biophiliac in you too:
Take a walk on the outside. You may work in the city, in an office but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out in nature. Take a walk outdoors in your lunchbreak, find a park, a river, a lake or just a tree or two outdoors each day to recharge your natural cup. Not only will your lungs thank you so will your eyes, ears and brain as they switch off momentarily from the fluorescent lights and electronic hum of the office. It will help slow the multitasking, overwhelmed brain back down too so you can get a reprieve from the screen demands of email. A small 10 degree shift you could make if you currently go to a gym to workout is to move your exercise to an activity that can be performed in an outdoor space.
Shop with local growers – the food we eat hugely impacts our body, mind and spirit, and yet so often we grab for the nearest, most convenient foods due to time and monetary constraints. However, with a little bit of planning and forethought it’s possible to get more organic, ethically produced, in season food and produce onto our plates on a budget. Head to your local weekend farmers market or find a local food co-op with members of your community and enjoy discounted bulk purchasing. A small 10 degree shift to making your lunch most days will help you save money, time and create more satisfaction from plate to tummy.
Play a little more - Organise with friends or colleagues to get outdoors more. Instead of heading off to Friday drinks or indoor movies and meals, play cricket or rugby in the park, swing on the local swings, play volleyball at the beach or go for a round of outdoor, barefoot lawn bowls. A client of mine has a family ritual where the children get to choose the outdoor location for their meal each Tuesday evening during the summer months. “Choose Tuesday” has become a family favourite with picnics in the park, pizza by the beach and sandwiches on the hilltop. I also have several clients now that meet me at the beach for a walk and talk coaching or mentoring session instead of me heading into their fluoro offices. A small 10 degree shift you could make could be to plan a nature activity once a month that gets you out in nature. Bush walking, bird watching, kite flying, or cloud gazing, whatever it is save the movies for the evening and spend more time in the great outdoors.
When the side effects of any of these may include enhanced energy, mood and sleep, and decreased risk of heart attack and seasonal affective disorder, what’s do you have to lose
I know I’m in a unique position living in a tiny house that allows me to move from place to place and park on some of the most beautiful land our country has to offer but even if you live in an apartment in the city you can grow a window garden, spend time near water or out in the sun. In fact, if you want to heal your people, transform your culture and make healthy and vibrant you’d better turn your attention to the natural world now, it’s the cheapest, easiest morale booster there is.
____________________________________________________________________
A B O U T T H E A U T H O R
Alexandria Joy aka ‘AJ’ has spent over two decades helping leaders and managers heal their culture to find their sweet spot where they can do less and achieve more. As CEO of UQ Power, a biophiliac and a culture scientist, she believes the old approaches to culture change and organisational behaviour no longer work and instead there is a simple science to unlocking the power of your people.
AJ argues that organisations are possibly the world’s most under utilised resource for solving many human, economic and environmental challenges. And now she’s on a mission to accelerate the evolution of a more conscious world through the vehicle of culture.
In 2018 downsized her name, her life and her business and now lives and travels throughout Australia in tiny house on wheels. She discovered when you focus your mindset, heal from the busyness disease, remove chaos and clutter you begin to feel lighter, freer, more alive and more able to UP Yourself and your Culture.
You can follow, find or friend AJ here www.alexandriajoy.com.au www.thejoybox.com.au www.uqpower.com.au
