With the festive season in full swing, it is quite difficult to not get caught up in all of the festivities. We all begin to start scrambling around to ensure our FOMO levels are kept at a manageable rate.  As we try to unwind, we seem to get more and more stressed to ensure that everything is done on time, everything has been stocked up, all the right people will be able to make it and the list goes on. But is this really what the festive season is all about? Aren’t we supposed to be relaxing, with family and loved ones and enjoying a lovely meal as we reflect on the year that has been? And, I must really stress the point of relaxing because I don’t think many of us quite know how to do that. That is my idea of a perfect holiday, but everyone is different. With that being said, there are a few things you can try to keep in mind when attempting to enjoy festive season and ensuring that everyone has a good time.

Stock up on important things

Walking into the shops these days feels like a war zone, with explosions of colour and glitter around every corner tempting you to dive deep into your pockets and possibly spend money that you should rather have saved for the terror that is January.  It is so hard not to fall victim to their alluring colours with promises of sweet pleasures, and forget the real reason you actually needed to go to the shop in the first place. Before we know it, we have a trolley filled with the all the building blocks to build your very own chocolate factory.  Just focus on the important things, you would be surprised to see how much you save if you manage to limit yourself to only buying what you really need and walking right past items that you don’t.

It is only as crazy as you make it

The festive season tends to bring the inner child out of everyone. Question is, are they the happy baby or the temper tantrum baby? I think most of us would prefer to be the happy baby.  For us to be able to allow ourselves to be that happy child, first we have to learn to let go. As hard as that can be, it really is a case of just focusing on what really matters and not to think too much about things that don’t. We just have to try to stay calm and have faith that we have done all that can be done and it’s now just a case of enjoying the ride.  The more frantic your mind is when it is filled with thing that are out of your control, the more stress you put on yourself. As a result we tend to lose focus and moods tend to change towards the undesirable. Take a deep breath and stay calm.

Enjoy

A lot of people find this as being a case of ‘easier said than done.’  With all our demanding careers and commitments it’s hard to let the mind switch off and take in your surroundings.  Which is exactly what we should be challenging ourselves to do more of. Take a step back, take a deep breath, feel the breeze and simply just have a look at all the beauty that is nature that is all around us.  Take pictures of the happy moments and last but not least, try do something small to make someone else happy. Enjoy the festive season!

New Ooooby Team Member wanted for Ooooby Auckland in 2020

Keen to join The Ooooby Crew? … make a difference by working for a social enterprise with a mission to make the food system local and sustainable, have a positive impact on the environment and on people’s lives….

Overview:

We are looking for a fun loving and easy going, but hard working and somewhat a “Jack (or Jill) of all trades” person, who is able to troubleshoot and think on their feet quickly. Must be adaptable and flexible with regards to the role and requirements as well as timing (there will be the odd long day from time to time).

Strong communication skills and relationship building experience. Need to be able to make decisions on the go, as well as work quickly, efficiently and accurately. Good administrative capabilities and above average computer literacy – ideally also to be au fait with social media. Must be able and willing to oversee people and roll up their sleeves and muck in with the team when, and if needed. There is no job to big or too small, and no person is too good for any job on any given day – hairnet anyone?

The team member that will join the Ooooby Auckland crew will also need to fill their days, operate independently and work proactively during the slower operational times in order to help keep moving the business forward and bring some new innovative ideas to the table. There is plenty of scope to do this while having a laugh and keeping things light hearted and bringing your own ideas to the business.

Strong will and conviction in beliefs are important characteristics we are looking for, but so to is humility and willingness to consider the ideas, opinions and circumstances of others.

Ideally a health conscious, environmentally aware foodie or at least food enthusiast. Preferably a conscientious individual that understands the impacts of the food choices they make in a personal capacity. Most suitably with an interest in healthy eating, organic farming and sustainable living.

A friendly, family oriented peoples person. Being aligned with our company ethos – someone that truly wants to add value in what they are doing, will work tirelessly to ensure that people are happy and every situation needs to be approached with the aim of finding a win-win outcome.  If this, and what we stand for resonates with you, then you would probably be an awesome fit for Ooooby and we’d love to hear from you.

Job Requirements / Description:

Logistics, Customer Service & Marketing:

– Overseeing of weekly and ongoing operations.

– Managing and working with staff

– Logistics & supply chain management

– Product procurement and supplier relationships

– Customer relations and customer service 

– Laughing and helping bring laughter to the Ooooby hub.

– Involvement with online / social media management, marketing and sales

– online content generation (blog, newsletter, social media, product content)

-Compassion to others

Applications and CVs to:

auckland@ooooby.com / 022 5005 123

With all the holidays done and dusted (sad, we know), getting back into the swing of things can make you feel a little like you’re on a swing, that goes round and round and round. As life picks up again, with meetings, deadlines, work pressure, school runs, family activities, burst geysers and the like, finding time to make lunch, let alone even eating lunch, starts to seem like a rather daunting task.

For many of us, eating lunch has become a secondary activity. We chomp on sugary biscuits or lone carrot sticks in between typing, take bites of our sandwich whilst picking the kids up en route to our hundredth meeting of the day, and shovel handfuls of crisps as we check mails (and most likely read this blog post). We’re “multi-tasking”. What we’re actually doing, is lowering our overall productivity, making our desks (and our cars) dirty, and often eating things we shouldn’t, out of sheer desperation. Is this really what lunch has become? Isn’t there a better way?

We think there is, and it starts with making the time to eat. “There is no time!”, we hear you shout, but getting up, going somewhere (anywhere else), and just eating can take as little as 15 minutes. Now that sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? And it’s helluva good for you too. Here’s why:

• Ever noticed how some of your best ideas occur to you when you’re in the shower or cleaning your teeth? By giving your brain a rest, it can think of different things and spark new ideas, boosting productivity and creativity. It also means you get back to your desk feeling ready to tackle the rest of the day.
• Here at Ooooby, we love food, and we sure love eating it! Being away from your desk means you can eat more mindfully and focus on eating what’s in front of you, lowering the chance of overeating and helping you to feel more satisfied.
• And get your bum out that chair! Work those muscles, even if it is just walking to the cafeteria.

Take the challenge! Get a group of your colleagues, even if it’s just two or three of you, to commit to having lunch together everyday. Put a standing appointment in your calendars, to step away from your desks everyday to eat lunch, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. And encourage each other to stick to this. Very soon it will become a habit, and a healthy one at that, and you’ll find yourselves sitting for a little longer, enjoying the food, enjoying the company, and feeling a little happier returning to your desk.