EDITION 927
11 JULY 2022

There is no escaping it: too much news is bad for you. It should come with a government health warning: “This intellectual diet is fine taken in small doses, and preferably in weekly instalments, via a well-balanced newsletter, such as 10 things from William Montgomery."

So, as another week slips by, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. Please feel free to share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can also subscribe, learn and engage. I would be very grateful if you did.

William Montgomery
Editor and CEO of TEN

1. How to resign with dignity. Boris Johnson's resignation is a reminder that no job is forever. And leading up to his inevitable decision, Johnson has also reminded us that there’s a lot to be said for leaving a job with dignity. In fact, leaving gracefully and behaving well on your way out can enhance your career prospects and bring opportunities your way in the future. So, how do you do it? READ MORE >>
 
2. The changing face of Britain. Of the 10 candidates that have now declared their intention to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party and to become the next Prime Minister, the majority are from ethnic minority communities. Whatever our politics or whoever our favourites are, let's celebrate them all. They represent the changing face of Great Britain. That said, the mud-slinging has already begun, with at least two rival campaign teams passing the Labour Party a dossier containing allegations about their potential opponents. There are claims of tax dodges, drug taking and the use of prostitutes. The candidates for Tory leader, and prime minister, who have declared so far are: former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch; Attorney General Suella Braverman; newly-appointed Foreign Office minister Rehman Chishti; former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt; former Health Secretary Sajid Javid; Trade minister Penny Mordaunt; Transport Secretary Grant Shapps; former Chancellor Rishi Sunak; Foreign Secretary Liz Truss; backbencher Tom Tugendhat; Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi. Let the hustings begin…! Editor



3. Bills to rise above £3,000. All types of household energy bill will exceed £3,000 a year this winter, according to expert analysis. The government said it does “not recognise” the projected rise, which is 7% more than the latest cost of living support package announced by the Treasury six weeks ago. It is also £200 higher than predicted by energy watchdog Ofgem in May. National Energy Action said there are “few signs of energy prices becoming affordable this winter” as the cost-of-living crisis continues. BBC



4. Half a million adults on antidepressants in England. Nearly half a million more adults in England are now taking antidepressants compared with the previous year, according to NHS figures. The number of prescriptions for children and teenagers has also risen. From 2021-22, there was a 5% rise in the number of adults receiving them - from 7.9 million in the previous 12 months to 8.3 million. It is the sixth year in a row that there has been an increase in both patients and prescriptions. Daily Mail



5. Would you trade pay for happiness. UK jobseekers would typically be willing to be paid 10.5% less to work for a company where employees show "above average" levels of happiness, according to a major study. It has been calculated that based on an average UK full-time salary of £32,000, that would work out to a pay cut of £3,360. Would you be willing to take a pay cut if it meant being happier at work? How much of a pay cut would you be willing to take to be happier at work? Vote in our latest poll and share your thoughts. VOTE HERE >>

6. Can introverts bring good leaders? In a world seemingly dominated by extroverts, can introverts be good leaders? Yes, as introverts have qualities that make them effective leaders. They tend to be good listeners and are better at asking questions. Good listening is a rare but key leadership quality as it shows care and respect. They are also open to more diverse opinions and have a skill for seeing the bigger picture. Introverted leaders also demonstrate self-awareness and are emotionally intelligent. This keeps them from dominating conversations and makes them more likely to place the focus on others. Fast Company



7. Screen are stretching our eyeballs. Staring at a screen can do a lot more than give you a headache. Researchers say endless screen time is actually elongating our eyeballs, something that happens naturally when we focus on close-by objects. The problem? That has led to a rise in myopia, which means far-away objects are blurry. Twice as many young adults in the US- 50% -suffer from myopia compared with 50 years ago, and experts consider it an epidemic. Fortunately, the fix may be as simple as spending more time outside. The Guardian



8. Weekend exercise enough to keep fit. Worried that you struggle to fit in enough exercise during the week? If you prefer to cram it all in at the weekend, it could still be enough to stay fit and healthy, new research has suggested. The US study of over 350,000 adults found there was no significant difference in death rates between “weekend warriors”, who do up to two sessions of exercise a week, and those who are “regularly active”, exercising three or more times a week. The researchers concluded that both groups of people may experience similar health benefits if they do the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. BBC



9. Record UK temperatures expected. The Met Office has warned that Britain could experience its hottest day on record this week. Temperatures are forecast to hit 33C on Tuesday, while parts of the south-east, including London, could reach 35C over the coming weekend. There is currently a 30% chance of Britain experiencing its warmest day ever on Sunday, meaning temperatures would pass the current record of 38.7C, which was recorded in Cambridge University Botanic Garden on 25 July 2019. The Daily Mirror added that the UK’s temperature record could be “obliterated” with sweltering highs of 43C predicted. The Telegraph



10. The bottom line. The number of workers paying higher-rate income tax (of 40% or 45%) has risen from 4.25 million before the last election, in 2019, to 6.1 million today. The Financial Times