Your Local Information Microportal

1. How to manage back to office stress. Experiencing some anxiety about heading back into the office? You’re not alone. Many workers are 'fear-casting' more often about impending situations, but there are ways to prepare yourself, manage stress and protect your mental health. READ MORE

2. Tributes flood in from world leaders. World leaders have paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh. US President Joe Biden said: “He was a heck of a guy... 99 years old, he never slowed down at all.” Spain’s king and queen telegrammed “Dear Aunt Lilibet” to mourn the passing of “Dear Uncle Philip”. Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan said the Duke had been a “wise leader” and his “role in promoting Pakistan-UK relations will always be remembered”. UK Prime Minister said the Duke of Edinburgh had led an ‘extraordinary life’. BBC

3. The markets continue their relentless rise. Stock markets globally continued to rally fuelled by hopes of a rapid rebound as economies reopen. America’s leading indices, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones, hit new highs; Europe’s Stoxx 600 wiped out its pandemic losses. The FTSE 250, a barometer of the UK domestic economy, hit a record high, having jumped by around a third since the beginning of November. Financial Times

4. Long Covid recovery fears. Seven out of ten patients admitted to hospital with coronavirus in the UK still have symptoms five months after being discharged, a study has found. Researchers examined thousands of patients who left hospital between March and November 2020. They found that 71% had not fully recovered five months later; and among those who had previously been employed, 18% were no longer able to work. An estimated 1.1 million people in the UK say they are suffering from Long Covid. The Guardian

5. Handle bumps in your career’s path. People sometimes see their career paths ahead of them like straight stretches of road heading into the future. Paths are rarely straight lines, however. Bumps, sudden turns and dead ends can pop up at a moment’s notice - as millions found out due to the pandemic. Here are some suggestions for navigating those detours. [1] Focus on the progress in all areas of your life - not just your career. [2] Find learning opportunities regardless of your situation. [3] Think creatively to find alternative options and opportunities. [4] Carve out even small amount of time to work on your goals. For more help and support, join 10/10, our government supported leadership development and mentoring programme. LEARN MORE

6. Bring WFH life to the office. As professionals return to offices, many are struggling to re-adapt to things they once missed about the workplace. But, after a year of working remotely, the office may not be the same: Dress codes have become more casual, for example, and employees are more comfortable asking for flexible work accommodations. These adjustments may be the first of many, as studies on working from home have repeatedly shown that people were happier and more productive when given greater hour-by-hour autonomy. Daily Mail

7. Do nothing, for your brain’s sake. Doing nothing does a lot for your brain. Neuroscience research suggests that giving your brain a timeout can support productivity and long-term learning. But even as you rest, your brain may still be working. To fully shut down, you can incorporate these resting strategies into your routine: Take a walk, but don’t get fixated on your number of steps; play a game but don’t keep score; or cook a meal without worrying about making a culinary masterpiece. Wall Street Journal

8. Covid-19 raises risk of depression and dementia. Covid-19 raises the risk of depression, dementia, psychosis and stroke, a study finds. A third of those with a previous Covid infection went on to develop or have a relapse of a psychological or neurological condition but those admitted to hospital or in intensive care had an even higher risk. This is likely to be down to both the effects of stress, and the virus having a direct impact on the brain. UK scientists looked at the electronic medical records from the previous six months of more than half a million patients in the US, and their chances of developing one of 14 common psychological or neurological conditions. BBC

9. How to stick to your biggest goals. Sticking to long-term goals can be one of the hardest things we do, especially given how many things we have to get done today, tomorrow and next week. But having long-term goals, professional or otherwise, gives us direction and meaning. Here's a few key pieces of advice: [1] Stop fearing the start, the possibility of failure and the possibility of success. [2] Connect goals with your values. [3] Deeply think about your goals both the positive and negative. [4] Break goals into actionable daily steps. Editor

10. The bottom line. The combined annual rise as of 1 April in the cost of living for Britain’s 27.6 million households is £5.7bn, according to financial-comparison websites. More expensive taxes, groceries and energy bills will add almost 10% to household expenses, or £206.41 per home. Metro