Category

Work/Life Balance

Jan 02
0

Change is a process, not an event.

By | Change, Coaching, Personal Transition, Work/Life Balance | No Comments

Happy New Year — the time of year when most of us are wholeheartedly engaged in our new year resolutions, determined that this year will be different. In reality, many of us are recommitting to the same resolutions we embraced this time last year!

In Susan David’s (speaker and author, “Emotional Agility”) recent blog post, she reflects that, too often, we commit to sweeping changes rather than making small subtle changes that, over time, have greater chances of steering us in the direction of our goals. She refers to this as the “tiny tweaks principle.” Below are four tactics Susan outlined in her post that can add up to big change. This year, consider what tiny tweaks you can infuse in your day-to-day activities that can support your 2019 goals.

  • The No-Brainer:  Switch up your environment so that when you’re hungry, tired, stressed, or rushed, the choice most aligned with your values is also the easiest. If you’re trying to shave off a few pounds, then set yourself up for success by stocking your shelves with fresh fruit rather than cookies. Now your only choice for a midnight snack is one you won’t regret in the morning.
  • The Piggyback:  Add a new behavior onto an existing habit. To continue with the weight loss example, this might mean turning your routine walk with your dog into a routine jog, or doing some jumping jacks when you tune into the nightly news.
  • The Precommitment:  Anticipate obstacles and prepare for them with “if-then” strategies. If my boss makes a doughnut run, then I’ll treat myself to the juicy pear I’ve already got stored in the break room fridge. If I’m tempted to sleep through my morning spin class, then I’ll remind myself how much better I’ll feel for having gone.
  • The Obstacle Course:  Offset a positive vision with thoughts of potential challenges. In one study, researchers advised half of the participants in a weight loss program to envision themselves with new svelte figures and the other half to imagine situations where they’d be tempted to cheat on their diet. A year on, the second group had shed more weight. Optimism is important, but it’s most effective when paired with realism.

Note: Not familiar with Susan David PhD? Check out her TED talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_david_the_gift_and_power_of_emotional_courage

Feb 20
3

Fire

By | Overwhelm, Presence, Stress, Work/Life Balance | 4 Comments

I don’t know about you, but this year seems to be off to an especially busy and stressful start.  Today, with this poem shared at a training event, I was reminded of the need to balance our (never ending!) day-to-day demands with adequate space or breathing room.  I hope this serves as a gentle reminder for you, too.

Feel free to share your thoughts:  Where do you need to add space between your logs?  In what ways would adjusting the blend of wood and air provide you with a healthier balance of light, warmth and sustenance?

Fire

Fire

What makes a fire burn

is space between the logs,

a breathing space.

Too much of a good thing,

too many logs packed in too tight

can douse the flames

almost as surely as a pail of water.

So building fires requires attention

to the spaces in between,

as much as to the wood.

When we are able to build open spaces

in the same way we have learned

to pile on the logs,

then we can come to see how

it is fuel and the absence of the fuel, together,

that make fire possible.

We only need to lay a log

lightly from time to time.

A fire grows

simply because the space is there,

with openings in which the flame

that knows just how it wants to burn can find its way.

~ Judy Brown ~