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      Cover design: Wiley

      Cover image: © topform / Shutterstock

      Advert image: Happyness Photography

      Disclaimer

      The material in this publication is of the nature of general comment only, and does not represent professional advice. It is not intended to provide specific guidance for particular circumstances and it should not be relied on as the basis for any decision to take action or not take action on any matter which it covers. Readers should obtain professional advice where appropriate, before making any such decision. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the author and publisher disclaim all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any person taking or not taking action based on the information in this publication.

      About the author

      Angela Lockwood is an occupational therapist whose boundless energy sees her equally at ease working with children as standing in front of a packed audience delivering a keynote. Through living life at full-speed, Angela has learned first-hand the power of ‘switching off', allowing her to overcome seemingly impossible challenges and achieve success in life, love and career.

      As a star hockey player during her school years, Angela had her sights set on the Sydney Olympics. However, after fracturing her skull during a game – an injury that would have stopped most in their tracks – her experiences learning to talk again and re-think her approach to life inspired her to change her path to occupational therapy, propelling her into a career that she was made for.

      With a desire to help children have the best start in life, Angela is one of the most respected pediatric occupational therapists in Australia and abroad. Her knack for creating success has allowed her to become the go-to person for industries including government, schools, universities, hospitals, emergency services, health and wellbeing providers, banks, real estate institutes, not-for-profits and media outlets, and to fulfill roles such as CEO, keynote speaker, author, health and fitness instructor, trainer, motivator, mum and wife.

      After the success of her first book The Power of Conscious Choice, a publication aimed at helping people to simplify the way they make decisions, she launched The Place for Health, an online hub that aims to educate health professionals and caregivers on how to prioritise their own mental and physical wellbeing. She also works with individuals and organsiations, hosts retreat events and conducts programs in schools to help people continue to live the life they choose with the energy needed to get them there.

      Practicing as she preaches, Angela lives on the beautiful coastline of Northern New South Wales with her husband and two gorgeous children. She spends as much time as possible with her feet in the sand and takes the time to look up and around, forever thankful.

      Acknowledgements

      Many people have helped make this book happen. From Wiley, thank you to senior commissioning editor Lucy Raymond for seeing my vision and sharing my passion, to editor Jem Bates for your attention to detail, and to the whole Wiley team for your professionalism and for believing in me and the book.

      To my husband Matt: with you beside me I can truly live the life I choose. And to my beautiful children: I hope you continue to embrace possibility, take the time to look around you and always be thankful for the gift of life.

      To the tribe of friends who have supported me through this writing project: thank you for being there when I needed a helping hand.

      Several people whom I deeply admire willingly shared their time and expertise with me, allowing me to channel a small part of it through this book. A big thank you to Shivani Gupta, Dr Jenny Brockis and Jenna Kennedy.

      Lastly, I want to acknowledge the beautiful world that surrounds me. Inspiration was always in my reach through the crystal-blue ocean, the green forests, the birds that sat beside me on the verandah while I wrote – and the vibrant cafes where I sought to refuel! It is when we look up and around us that we realise we already have everything we need in life and more. We just need to slow down long enough to enjoy it.

      Introduction A message from the author

      Most people use business, self-help and motivational books as a feel-good tool. They read a few pages before falling asleep at night. They tell their friends about this book they are reading and the ideas it offers on how to get the most out of life. With thousands of these books published each year, we can be certain there are plenty of good titles out there, in print and online. Let's not make this one of those books that you dip into every now and again but that only gathers dust on the shelf when you're done. It would be such a wasted opportunity.

      I wrote this book for one reason: there are too many good people who are doing everything they can in life but are finding themselves overwhelmed and exhausted by it all. I want to show those people how they can do whatever they want in life if they just slow down. The only way you are going to get any benefit from this book is if you read it slowly and thoughtfully. Not because it is especially content heavy, but to allow the messages to sink in and make a positive impact on your thinking and your actions. I don't want you to waste your time.

      Switch Off interweaves stories, research, reflections, information and activities in ways that I hope will encourage you to take what you have learned and apply the strategies directly in your life. You will find more than 250 ideas on how to help you switch off, slow down and regain control, so now you really don't have any excuse not to take action.

      I hope you will feel while reading that you have someone supporting you along the way, because you do. I understand how hard it is to try to maintain control over the hectic busyness of life, so let's not make it any more complicated than it needs to be, and you surely do not have to do it on your own.

      I vividly recall the day I experienced my own panic attack. Or at least I think that was what it was; all I knew was whatever was happening to me felt scary and all-consuming. Early that morning I drove my husband to the train station to connect to his flight to the top of Australia, where he would be working for the next few months. After saying goodbye I drove off, holding in my tears, not wanting the kids to see how sad I was to see him go. I never have been one to cry.

      I dropped the kids off at school and drove to a scheduled meeting with a consultant. I had been feeling she wasn't right for the business, but I hadn't had time to look for anyone else. After a long discussion on how important technical issues were yet to be resolved, she slid an invoice across the table, apologised for the size of the bill and promised to fix the unsettled problems the following month! I could feel my chest start to tighten, my breathing quicken and what felt like a vice clamping down on either side of my head. I was trying hard to hold it together, but my body was telling me I was about to explode. I stood up, thanked her for her time and walked out of the meeting half an hour early, leaving an unambiguous impression that I was not happy.

      As I walked towards my car I felt like the Hulk at the moment of transformation, and then my phone rang. It was the printer of my first book, telling me the layout was wrong … and it was going to print in four days. My

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