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Working Smarter
Ever feel like work is an uphill struggle? We review a title that promises to help you get more done with less effort, time and stress – phew!

The phrase “work smarter… not harder” has been attributed to an industrial engineer in the 1930s. Allan F. Mogensen developed the idea of “work simplification” and conducted conferences based on the idea for almost 50 years. Although developed to increase efficiency and raise motivation in the engineering sector, the principles have since been translated for all sectors.

Many of us will now be familiar with the idea of “working smarter, not harder”. However, how many of us actually make sure that we put in place the principles that could make our working days so much more enjoyable and effective? If you ever find yourself feeling like a hamster in a wheel then Graham Roberts-Phelps’ book could help you to make the changes you need to start getting somewhere again.

Graham Roberts-Phelps is a consultant in business and personal development, who says he has now personally trained and worked with over 20,000 people from hundreds of organisations in 25 countries. He has now also written ten books on training and business, and his confidence and experience is evident throughout the book.

How many of us actually make sure that we put in place the principles that could make our working days so much more enjoyable and effective?
Roberts-Phelps is as comfortable taking the long view as he is focusing on the details, and the book is well organised and very accessible. In the first chapter, after setting the scene – the paradoxical modern busy world, in which technology was supposed to give us more free time but increasingly keeps us busier than ever – he introduces the key premise behind working smarter: “The only person that really cares about how you balance your life is you.”  This is not attributing blame or demonising employers; it is simply pointing out that employers and colleagues have their own priorities and to-do lists to complete. He then sets out the key principles behind “working smarter”, and guides his reader towards identifying the approaches that will suit them best. As he explains, “There is no one right way of working. It is simply what works for you.”

The subsequent ten chapters provide practical advice related to specific areas, including planning, goal setting, dealing with interruptions, conquering paperwork battles, overcoming procrastination and managing stress and anxiety, as well as miscellaneous tips and ideas. If you don’t want to read the whole book or would like immediate advice about specific areas, you can dip in and out of it and still find something that can help you make a positive change in your working
day.

Author: Graham Roberts-Phelps
Publisher: Thorogood
Price: £14.99

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.