J Mac Development

I’m very aware some people will look at this page and think:

“Who is this person to write a book about modern life, burnout and emotional exhaustion?”

Honestly?

A fair question.

I’m not a therapist.
Or a celebrity.
Or someone pretending to have life perfectly figured out.

But I was brought up to constantly observe people, behaviour and environments.

To look for improvement.
To notice patterns.
To understand people properly.
To learn from people who did things well… and from people who didn’t.

Especially when behaviour went against my own morals, values or sense of what felt right.

Because of that upbringing, I was never the loudest person in the room.

But from a very early age — and still to this day — people tend to listen when I speak.

Not because I always have the answers.

But because people can usually tell when someone is speaking honestly, thoughtfully and with genuine intent.

And whilst I don’t always have the answers, I do have the determination to keep searching for them.

Over time, that way of thinking made me notice something uncomfortable.

A lot of people are struggling quietly underneath the surface of modern life.

People who look:

successful
reliable
capable
“fine”

…while internally feeling exhausted, disconnected and emotionally flat.

And strangely, most people barely talk about it honestly.

They joke about being tired.
Push through it.
Keep functioning.

Writing eventually became the most natural way to share what I was noticing.

Because when I started putting these thoughts into words, something interesting happened:

People resonated with them.

Not because the writing was perfect.

But because the feelings behind it were real.

That’s what this page — and this book — is really about.

PDF Version link - https://payhip.com/b/PXkJO

Paperback link - https://amzn.eu/d/0b2j85mD

This book has been a little 'passion project' of mine. Here is the first poem turned into video. Enjoy

Hardback (colour images) https://amzn.eu/d/0bJmeilb

Paperback - https://amzn.eu/d/0g7oww3w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6nViGQC1Sc

Choosing - A Poem from Springer Tales Choosing is one of the poems describing the 'journey' of owning a springer spaniel, told though the J Mac book of poetry 'Springer Tales'.

Sorry for the lack of activity. Been a tough year (a few close family bereavements).
Anyway - the good news, is I've lots more content now to share (new books, concepts, etc.)
Stay tuned :)

As much as the news seems to get ‘darker’ each day, we must remember there are good things out there too. This week we remember 2 important days. (1) International day of education and (2) Holocaust remembrance day.
Here’s this week’s poem – enjoy and have a great week 😊

https://youtu.be/_NXYrhs1SHs
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Good Things Are Happening Too

The world feels loud, unsteady, strange,
Each day another breaking change.
The news runs fast from fear to fear,
It’s hard to hold perspective here.

We watch it scroll, we shake our heads,
And look for cover in our beds.
But stop a moment. Look again.
Not everything is loss or pain.

January’s close to letting go,
The longest month now moving slow
Toward lighter nights and softer skies,
Where tired hearts begin to rise.

In classrooms, lights are switching on,
Learning carries quietly on.
It’s never late to start anew,
To learn a skill, a thought, a view.

A book. A lesson. One small change.
That’s how the future rearranges.
We also pause to mark the past,
To hold the truth that still must last.

We name what hate and silence do,
So it is never repeated through.
We remember not to carry shame,
But to protect what’s human, same.

And still, beneath the noise and spin,
Good things are quietly happening.
Hands reach out. Care finds a way.
People choose good every day.

So when it feels the world’s untrue,
Hold fast to this — it matters too:
The news is loud. The good is small.
But small things change the world for all.

J Mac

Good things are happening too As much as the news seems to get ‘darker’ each day, we must remember there are good things out there too. This week we remember 2 important days. (1) Interna...

January drags (it always does), but lighter nights are starting to appear. Here’s this weeks poem to keep you going 😊

https://youtu.be/clMOqo1IANo

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Soft Days, Longer Light
January still feels long and cold,
The mornings dark, the air still bold.
The nights hang on, the days feel short,
The month drags on with little sport.

But look again — the clocks don’t lie,
The light now lingers in the sky.
By minutes first, then more each day,
The dark, at last, gives ground — gives way.

They say Monday is “Blue” by name,
As if a word could set the frame.
But maybe it’s a softer one,
A slower day, not meant to run.

Put kettles on and make the call,
Let warmth be what we choose, that’s all.
A cup. A voice. A simple start.
That’s how we steady mind and heart.

Care doesn’t shout or take the stage,
It plans ahead. It acts with age.
It books the check. It looks ahead.
It guards the futures not yet said.

In classrooms, lights are switched back on,
The work of shaping carries on.
Teachers hold the line each day,
They change the weather where kids stay.

By week’s end, words are read aloud,
A glass is raised — not big, not loud.
No perfect speech. No flawless plan.
Still here, doing what we can.

So yes, it’s winter. Still some way.
Still coats and frost and shorter days.
But light returns. It always knew.
And step by step — so do you.

J Mac

Soft Days, Longer Light January drags (it always does), but lighter nights are starting to appear. Here’s this weeks poem to keep you going 😊

I have written a Christmas book (which is getting great reviews at the minute) called “Poppy’s Christmas Tail” which is heartwarming story about love, family, and the little dog who changed everything, based on our family dog, Poppy!

This is perfect for Christmas reading and is a beautifully illustrated children’s book which reminds us that the best gifts don’t come wrapped — they come wagging their tails.

If you’re looking for a gift for a special child in your life (or one for yourself), then please watch (and SHARE) this short video version of the book :

https://youtu.be/1UvAxzRWo9g

Hope it brings a smile.

Here is the amazon link for those who would like to purchase the book.

https://amzn.to/3LM9640

Thank you very much for your support.

(P.s. J Mac is the name I write under).

Poppy's Christmas Tail: A Christmas story about love, laughter and a very special dog Some say the best Christmas gifts come wrapped with bows, But we found our gift in a wagging wet nose. With muddy paws and a tail that won’t stop, Poppy arrived with a bounce and a hop. She chewed and she chased, she made quite a mess, But brought us together in ways we’d missed. Through laughte...

The #1 Reset Question I ask myself every day:

“Will this still matter in a month?”

It cuts through the noise.

It’s saved me from wasting energy on things that don’t matter.

What’s your reset question when you feel overwhelmed?

Take Back Control of Your Day – Simple Practical Daily Planner to Get Ahead of Your Day & Get Back on Track – Instant Digital Download - Etsy UK This Guides & How Tos item is sold by BetterYouToolsByJMac. Dispatched from United States. Listed on 20 Jun, 2025

An Honest Lesson from the course

Your day doesn’t control you.
But you have to decide that first.

That’s what Reset Ritual is about — simple ways to take back your day when it feels hijacked by everything and everyone else.

If you’re ready for a reset, here’s where to start

Reset Ritual: Control Your Thinking to Control Your Actions Practical, simple routines to reset your brain, calm anxiety, and take back control of your day

Burnout doesn’t show up with a big warning sign… It creeps up while you’re too busy to notice.

Most people I know didn’t realise they were burning out until they hit a wall.
And by then… it felt too late.

That’s why I put together this Burnout Reset Guide — not a fluffy checklist, but a straight-talking tool to help you spot the signs early and actually do something about it.

You can grab the full version here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BetterYouToolsByJMac?

Your energy’s not endless.

And the people who need you at your best?

They’ll thank you for taking this seriously — before it’s too late.

BetterYouToolsByJMac - Etsy Shop Simple Tools to Reset, Plan & Calm Your Day by BetterYouToolsByJMac located in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Writing the book was the easy part.
Putting it out there scared me.
But if it’s helped even one person stop tolerating toxic people at work, it was worth every minute.

If you’re holding back on your own ideas, here’s what helped me:

--Write it anyway.

Share it anyway.

-Trust that your mess might be someone else’s turning point.

Here’s the book: https://amzn.eu/d/8DgrJZq

I don't want to work with Dicks anymore The term ‘Dicks’, is one that many people recognise to describe people who have a negative effect on them at work (of all genders). This isn’t a book full of bad language! At its core, this book is about work, why we do it, and how it affects our lives beyond just a pay check. Work should at t...