Hi Reader,
Welcome to June.
Six months gone.
Six months left.
That alone is worth a pause.
Because the question isn’t just:
“Where has the year gone?”
The better question is:
“How am I really doing?”
Not the polite answer.
Not the automatic answer.
Not the “I’m fine, thanks” answer.
The honest one.
I’m seeing a lot of people who are still showing up.
Still delivering.
Still replying.
Still smiling.
Still carrying responsibility.
But underneath?
They’re tired.
The warmer weather helps.
The lighter evenings help.
Getting outside helps.
But sunshine doesn’t remove pressure.
It just makes it easier to push through for a little longer.
And that’s why this month I want to talk about being match fit.
Yes, the World Cup is around the corner.
But this isn’t really about football.
It’s about you.
Your energy.
Your recovery.
Your support.
Your ability to keep going without quietly burning out.
Because turning up is not the same as being well.
So here’s the question for June:
👉 Are you match fit, or are you just still turning up?
⚽ This month’s featured blog
With the World Cup on the horizon, I’ve been thinking about what it really means to be “match fit.”
Not just physically.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
Socially.
Professionally.
Because plenty of people are still turning up, still delivering and still saying “I’m fine”…
But underneath, they’re running on empty.
In this month’s blog, I explore what football can teach us about pressure, hope, recovery and support at work.
👉 Read it here:
https://mikelawrence.co.uk/match-fit-at-work/
— Mike
🔥 Mental Health First Aid — what people actually say
When people join the course, I always ask:
👉 “Why are you here?”
And the answers are usually very similar.
“I want to know what to say.”
“I don’t want to make it worse.”
“I don’t want to trigger anything.”
“I’ve experienced mental health challenges myself.”
“Someone at work… or at home… is struggling, and I want to help.”
It’s rarely just about the qualification.
👉 It’s about being ready for the moment that matters.
Because when someone says, “I’m not okay,” most people want to help.
But they freeze.
They change the subject.
They reassure too quickly.
They drop into pity.
Or they jump in with their own story.
And it’s usually well-intentioned.
But it often misses what the person actually needs.
That’s where Mental Health First Aid training helps.
Not by giving you a script.
But by building the confidence to recognise signs, start a conversation, listen properly and guide someone towards the right support.
In other words, it helps people become more match fit for the conversations we often avoid.
📅 Upcoming sessions
2-Day MHFA Course — Live Online
29–30 June
👉 https://mikelawrence.co.uk/mhfa-england-certified-mental-health-first-aid-training-online/
MHFA Refresher
1 July
👉 https://mikelawrence.co.uk/mhfa-refresher-training/
If your organisation wants people who feel more confident having real conversations about mental health, this is a good place to start.
🌍 Resilience at the edge
The age of uncertainty
One wellbeing trend that caught my attention recently was this:
The age of uncertainty.
And it makes sense.
Because for many people, work doesn’t just feel busy anymore.
It feels relentless.
Economic pressure.
AI changing roles.
Return-to-office debates.
Restructures.
Climate disruption.
Financial strain.
Constant change.
All while people are still expected to perform, adapt, stay positive and keep up.
That’s a lot to carry.
And this is where the phrase “work intensification” comes in.
It’s the feeling that the pace, expectations and mental load keep rising, even when technology was supposed to make things easier.
More messages.
More meetings.
More decisions.
More change.
Less recovery.
No wonder people are tired.
The organisations that are taking wellbeing seriously are starting to realise something important:
👉 Wellbeing can’t just be a perk.
It has to be part of how work is designed.
That means better conversations.
Clearer support.
More confident managers.
Flexible approaches where possible.
Psychological safety.
And space for people to recover before they break.
Because in an age of uncertainty, people don’t just need another wellbeing poster.
👉 They need to know who is in their corner.
That’s what being match fit at work really means.
🎧 When your mind won’t switch off
A lot of the people I speak to aren’t lacking awareness.
👉 They’re mentally full.
Too much noise.
Too many tabs open.
Too many conversations.
Too little space between one thing and the next.
I know that feeling too.
That’s why I use Brain.fm
Not as a magic fix.
But as a simple way to create a bit of focus, calm or recovery when my mind is carrying too much.
🎧 Try it here: Brain.fm free
Small note: if you subscribe through this link, I may receive a commission.
📚 What I’m Reading, Watching & Listening To 🎧🎬
There are moments during the week when you need to switch off.
Not because you’re being unproductive — but because it’s part of self-care.
It’s how you step into your recovery zone. And that’s where real energy is rebuilt.
For some, that’s reading a book.
For others, watching a film or listening to music.
This is where I share what I’ve been turning to — the things that help me switch off, reset, and come back stronger.
If you’re looking for something to support your own recovery zone… dive in. 👇
📚
Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill
Not the first time I’ve read this.
But every time I come back to it, I take something different.
I only wish I’d read it properly in my teens.
Despite the title, it teaches you about life, not just money — desire, belief, persistence, decisions, and who you surround yourself with.
Some of the language is dated, but the message still lands.
👉 What you focus on, feed and act on consistently shapes the direction of your life.
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🎬
Dear England
BBC
After meeting Sir Gareth Southgate at The King’s Trust 50th Anniversary Garden Party, this was a timely watch.
Written by James Graham, Dear England follows Southgate, the pressure of managing England, and what the national team means to the country.
But it’s much more than football.
It explores masculinity, leadership, failure, identity and the emotional weight carried by players, managers and fans.
👉 Timely, thoughtful, and much deeper than a football story.
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🎧
Smoke Me Out
Jarrod Lawson
This one is on my playlist at the moment.
Another great Jarrod Lawson track.
I first saw him years ago on his first UK tour at Shepherd’s Bush, after a DJ friend of mine heard his music and helped convince promoters to bring him over to the UK.
Great artist.
👉 Smooth, soulful, and well worth a listen.
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