The Happiness Diary Podcast with Simon Ngo

Say no to new year resolutions! Say yes to habits!

I wanted to share the power of journaling and reflecting as I wrap up the last episode of the year with my personal wrap up of the last 12 months. Have the merriest Christmas and New Years and catch you all in 2023!

Heya, I’m freestyling this happisode! No notes, no plan, just babble and talk! We are continuing from last week’s episode about the morning and evening routines so I thought I would let you in on my three top tips for more productivity during those business hours! Tune in and find out what they are :)

Hello happy people? Where have I been? What's with the massive hiatus? What I am up to next?
Tune in to this episode as I touched on exactly just that!

Also, head on to FlowAthletic.TV for your at-home on-demand workout experience with limited time 14-day TRIAL and check out the FREE sensory guided meditations that I have created for them here!

Until next time,
Sleep is Golden, Movement is Medicine, Mindfulness is Magic
Sxx

Part 2: An extension to the breathe. Let’s soak in the mystery of the space between.

This is a five-part series of Mindful Moments to help you achieve more pause and relaxation in your life. Simple to execute and I hope you enjoy this.
Part 1: Just Breathe

This episode, I am sharing with you my two points of gratitude over the last week, why mindfulness doesn’t have to be over-the-top and difficult, and finding a tribe to support your journey.

Quick short and sweet episode on my thoughts around energy management.

Last episode, we spoke about the struggle. This episode, let’s talk about the support and learning how to flip our mindset from being below the line to above the line. Tune in for some juicy deets!

Trigger warning: we speak and discuss about mental health in this episode. OMG I have never thought that it would be like this but the struggle is real you all! Like everyone else right, I’m feeling the effects of COVID-19, being in lockdown, spending too much time with myself, and the anxiety of coming out of lockdown. Let me share with you what has been going through in my world.

Having taken a break last week from releasing an episode, I have got a quickie episode for you all today!
I believe COVID-19 has changed me and tune into this episode to find out why I thought so!

In this episode, I share with you topic that very much in season right now in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown (or as I personally like to look at is as the road to recovery).
We are spending more time at home than ever including working from home. So, here are my Top 10 tips that I know have been useful for me personally and I hope that these will be helpful for you too.
As always, you can also reach me at my website and my Instagram :)

In this episode, I share with you the news which I am sure I was not the only person receiving it in this weird time of COVID-19. That I lost my job and that I am unemployed.

What surprised me though the most was the way I dealt with it. Tune in to hear about how 'mindfulness' really is magic and how it has helped me tremendously during a time like this.

In kindness and happiness,
Sxx

This is Part 5 of a 5-part COVID-19 special episodes on the 5 key takeaways I have gotten so far with the pandemic.

In Part 4, we are going to touch on how to stay productive and positive during lockdown! In Part 5, let's get real! There is really no excused right now!

No excuse not to be moving!
No excuse not to be sleeping well!
No excuse not to be mindful!
No excuse not to be journaling!
No excuse not to be detoxing!


Catch me on Instagram and check out my new website!

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

This is Part 4 of a 5-part COVID-19 special episodes on the 5 key takeaways I have gotten so far with the pandemic.

In Part 3, the mental shift continues by doing a quick reassessment and noticing you are more than who you think you are! In Part 4, we are going to touch on how to stay productive and positive during lockdown!

Here we touched on the three tips:

• have a routine
• have a goal
• have a gratitude practice

Stay tuned for Part 5!

Catch me on Instagram and check out my new website!

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

This is Part 3 of a 5-part COVID-19 special episodes on the 5 key takeaways I have gotten so far with the pandemic.

In Part 2, let's talk about the notion of "I Don't Have Time" and how to go about changing this mindset and mentality. In Part 3, the mental shift continues by doing a quick reassessment and noticing you are more than who you think you are!

Listen out for tips on how we learn to create self worth and growth!

Stay tuned for Part 4!

Catch me on Instagram and check out my new website!

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

This is Part 2 of a 5-part COVID-19 special episodes on the 5 key takeaways I have gotten so far with the pandemic.

In Part 1, I share with you about the real yoga we are practicing right now off the mat rather than the asana (yoga poses) on the mat. In Part 2, let's talk about the notion of "I Don't Have Time". Sounds familiar?! Yeah, I bet!
Listen out for tips on how we learn to make time and also prioritising items in our lives that feed us positive energy!

Stay tuned for Part 3!

Catch me on Instagram and check out my new website!

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

This is Part 1 of a 5-part COVID-19 special episodes on the 5 key takeaways I have gotten so far with the pandemic.

In Part 1, I share with you about the real yoga we are practicing right now off the mat rather than the asana (yoga poses) on the mat. Recycling back to the THREE common themes I teach a lot in my classes:

• presence
• surrender and letting go
• acceptance

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Catch me on Instagram and check out my new website!

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

After a much long hiatus and disappearance, I am back! Nothing like a COVID-19 global pandemic to put a kick to my butt to get this going again. Hello and enjoy!

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

This episode, I share with you the previously spoken asked questions on my Instagram: @simonngo.wellness

• What is my biggest business advice?
• What books do I read?
• Do all my friends and family do yoga and meditate?
• What is my idea of healthy living and how does essential oils come into the picture?
• What is my daily routine?

Finished off with the usual one thing I'm grateful for in my life right now and one thing I've learned in the past week.

Tune in next two episodes on a) my morning routines and b) my evening routines!

P.S. Join in my closed Facebook group, The Wealthy Wellness Brigade! :)

The re-launch of the The Happy Hour Podcast to The Happiness Diary! Hear about what I have been up to whilst I have been MIA and why the podcast has been rebranded.
Each episode, I share the one thing I'm most grateful/happy for in my life and the one lesson I can learn upon self-reflection and self-awareness.

This episode is another long awaited Meaningful Conversations segment episode where I invite a good friend of mine, Caitlin Robertson, over to my apartment to talk about her personal journey in going chemical free and sharing her knowledge and top tips in swapping into a more chemical-free lifestyle.

We spoke about (the following) plus SO MUCH MORE!

• how did she get on to this journey herself?
• what actually are essential oils?
• how are they extracted and produced?
• how do we know if we are getting the quality ones vs copycats out there?
• why she uses Young Living Essential Oils?
• what are her personal favourite essential oils to use?
• what household and personal care items we all should swap out with a more chemical-free alternative?
• what ingredients on the label are immediate red flags?
• why we need to steer clear of these harmful toxins and chemicals in our lives?
• is it financially possible for everyone to afford the journey to swap-out?
• her mission to continually share this chemical-free journey with others and how you can get involved yourself?

Notes/Resources:

• The must-watch Netflix Documentary "Stink"
• The must-read article on the companies with harmful chemicals in shampoo
• The website you can read more about Young Living's sourcing and sustainable practice in producing essential oils: SeedToSeal.Com
• The app you can install on your smartphone to cross-check your beauty, household and personal care products on the list of ingredients: ThinkDirty available on both iTunes and Google Play

The upcoming Sydney chemical-free living workshop/gathering/masterclass happening on January 5th, 2019. Please DM either Caitlin or myself on Insta to get all the details. Come along and commence your chemical-free journey sooner rather than later along with the full support of the team.

As usual, if you have enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast wherever you tune in from. A 5-star review will help support a start-up podcast like us a very long way! Look forward to hearing what you guys think on this juicy episode!

Until next time,
"Sleep is Golden",
"Movement is Medicine",
"Mindfulness is Magic".

Sxx

I know! I have done it again! Not being able to keep up with the demands of producing The Happy Hour Podcast!

But, as usual, I regret nothing and I kinda like it that this podcast is raw and real, which has always been my intention since I launched it on the very first day.

Here goes the not-so weekly wrap-up episode because we are wrapping two weeks' worth of contents into the one!

• One breathe is all it takes. A conscious mindful breath will be about 8-10 seconds and this attention and space created is literally enough to shift our mindset and also attitude. This will in turn change our actions and reactions towards a more serving one for ourselves and others, rather than not.
• Rather than approaching life from a sense of lack, let's approach life from a sense of abundance. We all deserve the very best irregardless of our finances, relationship, family, career etc. If we can mindfully stop being wasteful in all areas of our lives, we will also notice that we actually enough, if not more, to go around all areas of our lives.

Support another local business based in Sydney, Bondi Meal Prep. Owned by an ex-colleague of mind who is also a personal trainer, his brands understands both physical and nutritional needs when it comes to diet. More importantly, the convenience from a meal prep service does not feel like cheating at all. In fact, it helps us beginners stay on track for our health, fitness, and wellness goals. Check them out and use my code FIT10 for 10% off your order.

Take advantage of the early bird discount ending 31 Dec for my newly designed Mindful Wellness Retreat happening in March 2019! If you have any question or concern, shoot us an email or drop my a DM on my Instagram: @simonngo.wellness. Please subscribe and write a review for this podcast to support the show further! Namaste

Episode 14 of The Happy Hour Podcast with Simon Ngo is all about sharing my Top 10 Tips for Better Sleep! Here I share with you some tips, some reasons and some hacks on how to create better sleep each and every night. Why? Because "Sleep is GOLDEN!"
Using my own experience in understanding my sleep patterns and having better "sleep hygiene", here I share my 10 top tips for a better night in bed every single night of the day.

• Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender is well known for having a fresh and calm scent. I diffuse this essential oil every night before bed to create a safe and calm environment for my bedroom. In the event that I am on the road, I will bring this essential oil with me to create a DIY pillow mist to spray all around the bed, sheets, pillows...EVERYTHING! You can read more about this wonderfully versatile oil and the brand I'm using HERE!
• Move Every Day: We have spoken extensively about this is the episodeon movement and its benefits. I truly believe that adding any form of movement to your day helps tire us out when the sun goes down to assist in falling into a deep sleep at night.
• Switch Off Early: I am a strong believer in switching off early to help buy us a bigger window to winding down in the evening. The more wired we are during the day, the more time we will require to wind down. This rule not only helps us become more productive during the day to get everything done by switch-off time, but also that we can actually bookmark the switching off by getting our exercise in from Tip #2! It's a win-win in my opinion.
• Have Dinner Early: Naturally from the above, having an earlier dinner can also help with sleeping better. It reduces the chances of bloating and indigestion by avoiding hitting the bed with a full stomach. Further to that, by allowing the remainder of our daily energy for digestion, we easily become more tired by the time we hit the sack two to four hours later.
• Connection: Connect with a REAL person by having a REAL conversation! Either a small talk with someone you live with or a quick phone call will allow us the opportunity to feel like we have expressed ourselves for the day rather than holding everything in. Externalisation FTW! Read Tip #9!
• Mindfulness/Meditation: Have a daily mindfulness or mediation practice! We also already spoken extensively on this in Episode 12 of the podcast. The ability to reduce stress and anxiety means we are clearer, calmer and lighter when we finally wind down for the evening. I tried bedtime meditation for a month and I found it to be helpful in dozing off nicely.
• Night-time Ritual: I have a nighttime skin care ritual literally as a ceremony to mark off the closing of my availability to the external world! Find something which suits you for this emotional gesture as well! Which brings me nicely to the next tip...
• Night-time Reading: My ritual naturally finds me hopping into bed and grabbing whatever book I am reading at the moment. I found this to be one of the best ways to make the eyes heavy preparing ourselves for a good night sleep! Avoid non-fiction, motivation and self-help books though as these stimulate us. We want a light storybook for this purpose.
• Night-time Dump: Well what happens if we do catch ourselves being overly stimulated at night. Twisting and tossing around certainly don't help. I recommend jumping immediately out of bed, grab your journal (or any piece of notebook or writing pad) and dump all your ideas on the paper! Which is why I am such a BIG advocate for daily journaling! For this, I recommend Brendon Burchard's high performance planner. Check it out!
• Bedroom Sanctuary: Make your bedroom sacred and an inviting sanctuary! Invest in good bedding and sheets the your bed becomes so irresistible! I mean besides work, this is literally the place we spend most of our daily 24 hours in! So why the heck not!There you have it! Let me know what you...

Season 2 is here after taking little hiatus for myself! So here it is a little snippet of what to expect in season 2 and also the first listen at the weekly wrap segment released on Fridays!

Part 3 to the Understanding Stress series - Mindfulness/Meditation is MAGIC!

Catch up on Part 1: Sleep and Stress and Part 2: Movement is Medicine to make up the complete series. Enjoy!

Tune in to listen what mindfulness and meditation feels for me and the Top 5 benefits we can all enjoy from having a regular mindfulness/meditation practice in our lives.

• Stress reduction
• Controlling anxiety
• Prevent/Manage depression
• Increase self-awareness
• Pain management

Part 2 to Episode 7 - Understanding Stress (Part 1): Stress and Sleep.
In this episode, we speak about stress and movements (or exercise).

As our body doesn't really differentiate between good and bad stress, we have to be careful to not overexercise. Truth though, most people aren't active enough!

I share my five top tips to get more movement in our lives!

1. I talk about how I pencil it in the diary and commit to this appointment. The easiest way to make it happen.
2. I share my strategies for creating incidental movements throughout the day.
3. We use technology to our advantage by holding ourselves accountable to step counts and be a little competitive about it.
4. We check the ego at the door to take baby steps as every small step forward is progress rather than failing.
5. We take the no excuse approach to simply find something we like and enjoy!

And, please subscribe and rate to help this podcast grow! DM me on Insta @simonngo.wellness to let me know your thoughts.

Episode 10 (yes! double digits!) of The Happy Hour Podcast is a Meaningful Conversations episode with Luke George.

Luke is one of my good friends and we used to work in the same club back when I was still a group fitness manager. A man of not many words but he certainly has got lots to say when it comes to debunking some of the myths and misconceptions floating around in the health and fitness space.

As the founder and owner of Luke George Athletic, Luke operates his business at one of the busiest health clubs in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. His current passion are fat loss and lower back pain rehabilitation.

Connect with Luke and tune in to his weekly Facebook Lives here: Luke George Athletic

Enjoy this no-filter chat and, as always, please help the podcast grow by subscribing, leaving a rating or review, and share it around. Connect with me via Instagram (@simonngo.wellness) to let me know your thoughts and what you would like to hear about more next.

Until next time, stay real and stay happy!

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

DOUBLE EPISODE WEEK!

Episode 9 of The Happy Hour Podcast is a Meaningful Conversations episode with Vanessa Bennett.

Vanessa is one of my good friends, a fellow Les Mills instructor and high performance coach. She is the queen of all things practicality and in my times of knowing this beautiful soul, she is the most stress-free and easy-going person ever!

As the founder and CEO of Next Evolution Performance, Vanessa is the living and breathing example of how to sustain high performance with less effort. This is one juicy episode not to be missed for sure! Tune in to find out what this high performance business is all about ;)

Thank you so much for listening and I would love to hear your thoughts on the show via Instagram (@simonngo.wellness) and please help the podcast grow and reach more people by either sharing it with someone you know or on your social. You can also leave a 5-star review in iTunes or on your podcast app, a sure-fire way to get this pod to more peeps :)

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

DOUBLE EPISODE WEEK!

Episode 8 of The Happy Hour Podcast is a Meaningful Conversations episode with Emily Gillies.

Emily is one of my good friends and someone who has been in the health and fitness industry for as long as she can remember. Today, she talks the talk and walks the walk on all things wellness especially when it comes to animal welfare. A full time vegan and queen of healthy hustlers, Em and I had get to know one another over a cuppa and brekkie.

Tune in to get to know this totally awesome woman over the most fun and real conversation.

Thank you so much for listening and I would love to hear your thoughts on the show via Instagram (@simonngo.wellness) and please help the podcast grow and reach more people by either sharing it with someone you know or on your social. You can also leave a 5-star review in iTunes or on your podcast app, a sure-fire way to get this pod to more peeps :)

In happiness and kindness,
Sxx

Latest episode of The Happy Hour Podcast with Simon Ngo.

This episode, I wanted to dive deeper into understanding stress in our lives. The good ones and the bad ones. And how they show up differently in our lives including the impact etc.

If you were lucky enough to have tuned into the pilot episode (which was anything than presentable and how I have come a long way since then!), you will remember that the pilot episode was about the three things we could all include our lives, which are sleep, exercise, and meditation.

First one off the rank, let's talk about sleep. Not just any sleep but good quality sleep. Let's talk about what sleep does and where does it come in the picture when it comes to stress. Let's talk about the preparation for a good night's sleep.

The apps mentioned in the episode were: "Good Morning" and "Sleep Cycle".

Happy sleeping and thanks for tuning into this episode.

As always, please rate, review and share or comment via Insta @simonngo.wellness

Sxx

Welcome back to the pod!

A quick bonus mini episode to quickly clear the air about what or who is this Les Mills thing we all keep hearing about on the pod!

PS I totally missed out on Les Mills BODYBALANCE/BODYFLOW™! Ooops sorry all Balance/Flow instructors out there!

Yours in happiness,
Simon