Hi Reader,

Welcome to this month’s newsletter - and thank you, as always, for opening and reading.

I genuinely appreciate it.

A few of you have said recently that you look forward to these monthly reflections, and that means a lot. There is already enough noise landing in people’s inboxes, so I never take your time or attention for granted.

As I write this, England are into the semi-final of the World Cup - which adds a little excitement to the summer - but the temperature has also been climbing, and in workplaces I’m hearing a familiar theme:

people are still showing up, but many are tired underneath.

I saw a line recently that made me smile:

“My favourite outdoor activity in the summer is going back inside.”

• Unknown

And honestly, some days that feels about right.

But jokes aside, hot weather can affect more than comfort.

It can affect sleep.

Focus.

Patience.

Mood.

And how people respond under pressure.

By the time you read this, the heat may have passed.

But the pressure probably won’t have disappeared completely.

Sometimes it’s workload.

Sometimes it’s uncertainty.

Sometimes it’s change, restructuring, downsizing or simply trying to keep everything going.

That’s what led me to write this month’s article on hot weather workplace wellbeing - because the real lesson isn’t just how hot it gets.

It’s how well we respond.

👉 Read the article here:

https://mikelawrence.co.uk/hot-weather-workplace-wellbeing/

✍️ This month - on the blog and in upcoming sessions - we’re exploring:

🔥 Hot Weather Workplace Wellbeing: How Heat Affects Stress, Focus and Productivity

https://mikelawrence.co.uk/hot-weather-workplace-wellbeing/

Hot weather can affect more than comfort. It can impact sleep, focus, patience, decision-making and how people respond under pressure. A practical look at what individuals, managers and employers can do when conditions become harder.

🧠 What Can You Do With a Mental Health First Aid Certification? (UK Guide)

https://mikelawrence.co.uk/what-can-you-do-with-mental-health-first-aid-training/

A practical look at how MHFA training translates into real-world impact - building confidence, supporting others, and strengthening workplace culture.

🌍 Two months after Mental Health Awareness Week, what has actually changed?

https://mikelawrence.co.uk/mental-health-awareness-week-workplace/

Awareness days matter. They give people permission to talk, reflect and open up. But two months later, the real question is: what changed?

I’ve updated this article with the latest WHO mental health figures, HSE workplace guidance and a practical reminder for organisations: awareness is important, but action is what changes culture.

📅 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) - Live Online Training

MHFA England Training - 27-28 July 2026

https://mikelawrence.co.uk/product/mhfa-england-training-27-28-july-2026-live-online-2-day-course/

A live online 2-day course to build the confidence to support others, recognise early signs, and have real conversations around mental health.

MHFA Refresher - 18 August 2026, 9:00am-1:00pm

https://mikelawrence.co.uk/product/mental-health-first-aid-refresher-18-august-2026/

A practical half-day session to revisit your skills, rebuild confidence and stay current as an MHFAider.

No scripts. No platitudes. Just real-world tools you can actually use.

You’ll also find space this month to reflect on pressure, recovery and how we support people before they reach crisis point.

🎧 One thing that actually helps when your mind won’t switch off

If you’ve gone into the year thinking, “Something needs to change” - but you’re not interested in fixing yourself, optimising everything, or adding another habit - this might be worth your attention.

Most people I work with don’t lack motivation.

They lack mental space.

Too wired to focus properly.

Too tired to rest deeply.

Stuck in that constant half-on state.

That’s where something simple can make a difference.

I use Brain.fm - not as a fix, but as support.

https://www.brain.fm/mikelawrence

It uses sound, grounded in neuroscience, to help your brain shift state when willpower isn’t enough:

• Focus mode - when you want flow, not force
• Sleep mode - when your body’s tired but your mind won’t slow down
• Relax mode - when your nervous system needs space to breathe

I only recommend what I genuinely use - and this has become a quiet part of my working and recovery day.

No hype.

No hacks.

Just something practical that helps your brain do what it’s already trying to do.

🎧 Try Brain.fm free - and notice how it feels in your own body, not just in theory:

https://www.brain.fm/mikelawrence

📚 What I’m Reading, Watching & Listening To 🎧🎬

I’ll be honest - I haven’t done as much reading this month.

Between the World Cup, Silverstone and being back out on the road, it’s been more of a watching, listening and taking-it-all-in kind of month.

And maybe that’s okay.

Not every month has to be full of big books, deep documentaries or perfectly curated recommendations.

Sometimes what fills your head is what’s happening around you.

⚽ The World Cup

With England now into the semi-final, it’s been hard not to get caught up in it.

Tournament football always brings that mix of hope, pressure, noise, analysis and emotion - and there’s a lot we can learn from how people respond when expectations rise.

🏎️ Silverstone

The British Grand Prix weekend was a reminder of how much preparation sits behind performance.

The speed is obvious.

The recovery, hydration, teamwork, planning and small adjustments are less obvious - but just as important.

🎙️ Craggs Radio

I’m also looking forward to being a guest on Craggs Radio soon.

More on that to come, but it’s another chance to keep the conversation going around mental health, wellbeing and the kind of support people need in real life.

💫 That’s a wrap for July.

It’s been a full one.

The World Cup. Silverstone. Hot weather. Online MHFA and refresher sessions. More conversations with organisations about pressure, change and how people are really coping underneath.

Huge congratulations to everyone who recently completed the online MHFA and refresher training.

That work matters.

Every person who builds confidence in noticing, listening, reassuring, and signposting is helping to make a difference in someone’s life - at work, at home, or somewhere in between.

I’ve also been back on the road again with in-company MHFA and workplace wellbeing sessions, and I’m continuing to see the same themes come through:

change. uncertainty. downsizing. redundancy. tired managers. teams trying to keep going while carrying more than they say.

Not theoretical.

Real.

Showing up in how people think, work, communicate and cope.

I’m also looking forward to being a guest on Craggs Radio soon - more on that to come.

If there’s one thing I’d leave you with this month, it’s this:

Don’t confuse functioning with being okay.

People can still be delivering, replying, smiling and showing up while quietly running low.

If you’re looking for practical support you can dip into, I’ve pulled together a Resources section on the site - free downloads, simple tools like the 12 Second Reset, and previous blogs and newsletters if you’ve missed any.

https://mikelawrence.co.uk/free-resources/

Nothing to sign up for.

Just things that might help.

And the thought I’m taking out of this month is simple:

Recovery isn’t a reward for finishing everything. It’s part of how we keep going well.

Mike

Let’s Stay Connected! 🔗💬

💡 If something in this newsletter resonated, challenged you, or made you pause — let’s talk.

Whether you’re feeling the pressure of the budget, battling quiet stress, or facing your own hurricane in life… you don’t have to navigate it alone.

📩 Email me directly: hello@mikelawrence.co.uk
💬 Follow, share, or drop me a message — connection isn’t just part of the work — it is the work.

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