We’ve all heard the saying. “a penny saved is a penny earned,” but why aren’t we able to save more? The reasons (or excuses) can be varied-some of us are overextended, meaning we are paying out more than we are taking in; for others, it may be a bad case of FOMO (fear of missing out) and for others, it may not seem important.
According to a recent Vanguard study, a majority of Americans have less than $5,000 in their emergency fund. My recent experience with an unforeseen injury proved to me that we all need to bump up our own savings rate. My injury has cost me dearly, both physically, emotionally and FISCALLY! When totaling up the money that I have spent on deductibles and co-pays, I can share that I have spent over three times the five-thousand-dollar figure! One injury, one unforeseen emergency can easily derail a savings fund!
Here are some tips to boost your savings account that center around your everyday habits:
Set a savings goal. How much do you need to cover an unforeseen emergency? A suggested initial amount is the total of three months of all of your fixed expenses. These expenses include the “must haves:” your rent or mortgage, auto loans, utilities, food, and your current financial obligations. Keep your emergency savings in a separate savings account so you can track your progress and earmark it for emergency use only
Bring your lunch to work instead of eating out: The cost to make your lunch is approximately $2.00 vs. the $7.00 for the average lunch eating out. The saving s of $5.00 every weekday is $25.00 a week or $100.00 a month!
Brew your own cup of coffee to go rather than buying t on the way to work. If you spend a minimal amount of $2.00 each workday on your cup of joe, you are out $10.00. By incorporating this new habit, you can put away $40.00 a month!
Take time to evaluate your cell phone plan: are you paying for data that you’re not using? It makes sense to review your minutes and data and lower the plan limits if possible.
If you are trying to pay off credit card debt, incorporate a strategy and stick to it! There are several strategies that can help you pay off your debt: The “Ladder Strategy”, the “Snowball Strategy”, and the “Emotional Trigger Strategy.” Decide which strategy best suits your needs and plan to incorporate this into your monthly budget.
Review your cable bill! How much are you paying to watch TV? Consider a lower cost streaming service to save hundreds over a year!
Go back and review your spending on eating out. How much have you spent in the past month eating out because you were too tired, overwhelmed or just didn’t feel like cooking dinner? Try cutting this amount in half!
Our spending on food also includes grocery shopping. This is a part of the budget that can always use some tweaking! I suggest creating a meal plan before you go to the grocery store: plot out five meals at a time. Then, write down all of the ingredients you will need for those meals. This will eliminate multiple trips to the store, where you may find yourself buying more than you anticipated. To maximize this step, make a map of your grocery store and then make your list accordingly. No more wandering down aisles that you don’t need to visit-this will save you time and money!
How many emails are you getting daily from retailers? You probably signed up for an initial discount offer and now your inbox is full of daily special sales! Each one of these is designed to tempt you to part with your money-simply unsubscribe!
Marie Kondo (“The Art of Tidying Up”) has started a movement of purging our homes! Look around your home-what are you not using? Consider selling items to raise some extra cash!
Here is one of my favorite tips: SAVE YOUR CHANGE! I have been doing this for years! The little amounts you are putting away can definitely add up! Every year, my vacation spending money has been funded by this habit!
These tips can be easily incorporated into your daily life and will allow you to begin the habit of saving more for your emergency fund. Knowing that you can cover unexpected expenses is a foundational step in building financial confidence!
Today’s Author:Jane Helm is the Principal of Money Mentor Group. As a wealth coach, Jane combines decades of financial services experience with a degree in social work and psychology to bring positive financial change to her client’s lives. She is a Partner Coach with the Wholistic Coaching Coalition and co-founded the Build Your Own Business networking group. Jane can be reached via email at [email protected]
Every single day we eat and every single one of us eats the amount we do largely because of what is around us. Setting things like emotional and stress eating aside, we often overeat because of family, friends, colors, packaging, plate size, smells, distractions, containers and even the way we set up our kitchen and dining room tables. This list of invisible influences goes on and on.
Invisible? Yes! Most of us are unaware of all of the factors that influence our eating and those that keep us from being in the moment while we eat so that we can pay close attention to how hungry we are, when we get full, what mood we’re in, how good our food tastes and just how much we’ve consumed.
As we all know, increased food consumption typically results in weight gain. If you consume just 3,500 calories, that equals a pound no matter if you consume it all together or over a week. You can revisit my previous blog and learn more about that and the mindless margin. So if increased food consumption often results in weight gain and mindful eating helps us reduce food consumption, wouldn’t that mean that mindful eating can be used for weight loss? Not exactly!
What Mindful Eating Is
Mindful eating is less about what you eat and more about how you eat it. “Ronald Reagan once said, ‘You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jelly beans’.” Are you one who eats only the flavors you love, eats them all at once or only eats a few and saves the rest? The way you eat them says a lot about the relationship that you have with food.
Mindful eating encourages us to become fully present with food and aware of our relationship with it. We begin to notice if we hide certain things, like jelly beans, when we eat them, if we wolf food down until our stomach hurts or if we avoid some foods like the plague. The more aware you become of your eating habits, the more likely you are to change them and to accept your body for what it does, especially that it has an inherent ability to guide us.
Don’t Mix Mindful Eating and Weightloss
When we mix mindful eating and weight loss, we tend to bring the conflict that we have with food to the surface. We get frustrated because we try to be “mindful” of the carbs we’re eating and don’t lose weight, we try to be “mindful” and drink more water and don’t lose weight. The fact of the matter is, we first have to understand ourselves – heart, mind, body, and spirit.
We have to be connected with ourselves enough to know that there are several other factors that contribute to weight loss and gain. Mindfulness is a tool used to help enhance that connectivity. It helps us learn to be still in all areas of life. Still enough to hear the small things like birds chirping, to be present with the ones we love, to recognize when we have triggers or glimmers in our day-to-day. The connection in our body is a foundational tool that is needed to be able to recognize when that extra slice of pizza puts us over the edge or all that caffeine in the morning causes us to crash in the afternoon which in turn requires more caffeine. With mindfulness comes awareness and with awareness comes a knowing of yourself that you may have never experienced.
I invite you to join me to learn more about yourself, mindful eating and how it can help you in all aspects of your life at our July evening retreat. You will find that practicing mindful eating will bring you much more joy and allow you to live a balanced and fulfilled life.
Today’s author: Casey Clark is a partner coach with Wholistic Woman Coalition. She manages a health and wellness practice, Heaven On Earth, which is a community for those looking to get inspired and give inspiration to anyone on their own health and wellness journey. Having made significant changes to her lifestyle over the past 2 years to live a more holistically fulfilled life, Casey understands the importance of self-care and having a community to get support from. Join the community and get some inspiration or become a guest blogger at www.aheavenlyyou.com.
We’re always hearing about the benefits of exercise, hydration, and healthy eating. I think we can all agree that these are some of the key ingredients in a healthy life. I also believe that fun and meaningful connections are key ingredients as well. They are food for the soul and help us lead our best lives.
When life gets busy, finding time for fun and meaningful connections become even more important. These are not optional ingredients… they are key ingredients! When we don’t have enough, we can feel sad, lonely, overwhelmed and isolated. Sometimes it’s the small pleasures that keep moving us forward each day.
Being part of a book club is one of those small pleasures for me. I love to read and enjoy it, even more, when I can share the joy of a well written, insightful book with others who have also read it. It’s like a delicious meal or a really amazing movie – they’re always better enjoyed with others!
I especially like to read non-fiction personal growth books. The non-fiction book clubs that I’ve been a part of have helped hold me accountable for putting what I’ve read into action. I also really enjoy gaining insights from what the other book club members have to say. Different perspectives are always enlightening.
I’ve recently discovered the benefits of virtual book clubs. These are groups that meet through technology instead of in person. A VIRTUAL book clubis a great option when life is busy or geography is an issue – you can join your book club Zoom call easily and from anywhere at all, including your vacation, with your comfy clothes on, sipping a cool drink on your deck, make-up off, and hair pulled up in a ponytail, if you’d like! All you have to do is connect on your laptop or your phone and you have an instant book club community! That definitely meets my criteria of a small pleasure!
#1 HAVE SOME FUN!… It’s always enjoyable to get together in a casual setting and talk about a great book!
#2 GAIN NEW INSIGHTS… Book clubs expand your personal views and allow you to gain new insights that you may not have considered on your own.
#3 COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION… Book clubs offer you an opportunity to connect and get to know other women better in your community and beyond
#4 ACCOUNTABILITY… I often buy books that I don’t get around to reading as quickly as I would like. A book club can create some accountability to finally read the whole book!
Sound like something you would enjoy? Then you are in luck!
I am excited to announce that Kettell Coaching will be partnering with Wholistic Woman Retreats to launch a Summer Virtual Book Club, beginning Monday, July 29 based on the book, Micro-Resilience by Bonnie St. John and Allen P. Haines.
Click here for details and registration information
Here’s to a summer of fun, meaningful connections, and simple pleasures!
Today’s blog was written by WWR Partner Coach, Donna Kettell. Donna is a certified professional coach (CPC) and a master practitioner in energy leadership (ELI-MP). Her certifications were earned through The Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), which is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Are you satisfied with your relationship with money?
Many of us would say that we’d like to be more confident with our finances, yet we don’t know how to gain that confidence.
Experts recognize that we each have a money personality which guides our unique approach to managing our finances. Our money personality develops through observation of others and education. For many of us, the most impactful lessons are learned the hard way, through real-life experiences. The good news is that we can change our money personality if it’s not serving us well.
Like anything that we want to change, we first need to assess where we currently are. With honest self-awareness, we can then choose thoughts and behaviors that we want to modify to achieve different results.
Some of us think of money in terms of status, believing that our net-worth equals our self-worth. Others tend to worship money and engage in wishfully thinking that if we had more, our problems would be solved. Some of us tend to avoid money matters entirely and still, others vigilantly guard and protect their money.
You may have been each of these at some point in your life or find that you’re a combination of them now. I’m curious to know what it would be like to apply our unique strengths to mold our money personality into a form that consistently serves us well. I have been experimenting with this idea, using myself as a test subject, to see what I could learn.
Using Gallup’s Strengths Finder assessment, I learned that my leadership style is one of relationship building. In short, I’m a people person and my natural approach to leading is through connection with others. When I look at how my leadership style impacts my approach to money, I can easily see times when it works well and times when it doesn’t.
For example, in my shopping, I choose to support local businesses over big box stores whenever I can, even if it’s inconvenient. I believe that it’s important to encourage entrepreneurs and small business owners and do my part by spending my dollars with them. My Developer, Empathy, and Belief strengths feel fulfilled when I purposefully shop local. The dark side of those same strengths appears when I purchase something that I really don’t want or need in order to be supportive.
I good-naturedly recall a delightful trip through the NY wine country with my husband and another couple. We spontaneously stopped into a cider works distillery to taste their products. We were their only guests and received the owner’s full attention as the four of us respectfully tasted each cider sample. In the end, we agreed that we were not fans. As the three of them politely thanked the owners and started to leave, my heart took over and I grabbed a bottle of cherry cider to purchase from the grateful proprietor. I received plenty of ribbing afterward from my friends and the bottle sat in our cupboard for over a year before I finally gave it away to someone who would appreciate it. My heart led the way into that sympathy-buy. I can laugh about it now, but I wonder how many times I let my relationship strengths lead the way financially, and if that serves me well. Does my concern for others supersede practical purchasing decisions?
Another strength in my top 5 is Positivity. It serves me well in having a fundamentally positive outlook on life, including my finances, however, at times it may not work to my benefit. How often do I charge an item to my credit card thinking (positively), I’ll pay that off when the bill comes in? Only I don’t. And the balance increases when I do that repeatedly. My positivity could sabotage my financial goals if I don’t catch myself and ‘dial it differently’. You may wonder what I mean by dialing it differently.
I like to picture my top 5 strengths as individual pots on a stove, each with a dial ranging from 1 to 10. When my positivity is too high, I can turn it down and turn up another strength that would get the results I’m after. In the above situation, I could dial up my Strategic strength and ask myself important questions such as Will this purchase get me closer or further away from my financial goals?Will I honestly pay this charge off when the bill comes in? Do I really need this item? By turning down my overly optimistic tendency and balancing it with my thoughtful planning strength I can then make a well-formulated purchasing decision. My heart-centered leadership style can be effectively managed by increasing my other top strengths.
I’m curious to learn more about the ways my individual strengths and leadership style impacts my spending and saving. Increasing my knowledge will help me be more conscious of my default tendencies. I can then contribute those insights to the conversations that my husband and I have about our financial decisions. Knowing his strengths and leadership style will further help us to understand ourselves better and fine tune our joint money matters.
Gallup has organized their list of 34 strengths into four leadership styles: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. I’m delighted to partner with Financial Coach Jane Helmto learn more about the ways in which our strengths impact our money personalities. Ladies, if you’d like to learn more, you’re invited to join Jane and me for an evening retreat entitled Be Prosperous on June 26from 5:30-7:30 pm. Learn details about this Wholistic Woman Retreat program here.
Grow more confident about your relationship with money with us!
Today’s author:Carol deLaski, PCC, is a strengths-based executive leadership coach who guides individuals and businesses to be their best. For more information about her coaching services, and her book Lost and Found: Discovering Strength in Love and Faith, visit www.caroldelaski.com or email her at [email protected]
Kristen Neff has defined self-compassion as being composed of three main components–self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.
She says self-compassion involves acting the same way towards yourself when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself. Instead of just ignoring your pain with a “stiff upper lip” mentality, you stop to tell yourself “this is really difficult right now” how can I comfort and care for myself in this moment?
Instead of mercilessly judging or criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings-after all, whoever said you were supposed to be perfect?
Please practice cultivating gentle, loving-kindness towards yourself as a way of being more self-compassionate.
SPACE
A continuous area of expanse, which is free, available or unoccupied.
There have been times in my life I needed some space. A weekend getaway, walk through the woods, riding in the car playing my favorite tunes or just to being in a room all by myself.
Who remembers the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella 1965 song that went like this…In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be. There is such freedom in that chair.
When was the last time you allowed yourself some space?
GRACE
Is the spiritual freedom that arises from living in harmony with yourself, others, and with the entire world. ~Unknown
My 2019 One Word is Grace. I believe grace allows for our Wholistic heart, body, mind, and spirit to all be in full alignment bringing JOY to the world and all those in it.
What does Grace mean to you?
SELF-CARE
The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular, during periods of stress.
I would like to share a blog that I think is well written. I credit Tracie Nichols with these wise words:
Recently I saw a social media post about self-care steps someone was taking after coming through an intense few weeks inviting folks to talk about the way they were taking care of themselves.
Not surprisingly, an impressive list of messages, nature rambles, spiritual experiences and the like followed.
What was surprising to me was the mixed set of reactions I felt when reading them.
There was my usual surge of “go you!” appreciation for people truly caring for themselves. I also felt exhausted and overwhelmed at the thought of trying to attempt any of these truly beautiful self-care practices myself. And then came an ache of aloneness and an alarming pulse of shame. (Shame?)
You see, my life right now is a storm of worry and off the charts stress. There are hard, hard things happening for 2 people I love. 2 people who are inextricably woven into the fabric of my daily life. People for whom I have a foot and a heart in the role of caretaker.
I’ll pause here to let you (deeply kind, so very compassionate and caring folks) no I’m OK. I know you’re all wise in the ways of healing and self-love and I’m not asking you to do the labor of offering advice (with a gentle appreciation for any who had that impulse). I simply offer this snapshot of my life to give you a bit of context So what I’m saying next about self-care makes sense.
Since a lot of my work centers around helping people Cultivate resilience, my aversion reactions to this post gave me this ghostly sense of being an outsider in a space I typically call home.
That pulse of shame? She’s there because “I know this stuff and I should be doing better.” which is hogwash, of course. But As I am sure you know when our resilience is stretched rice paper thin, that’s when our inner monsters stage their coup.
Hello, monsters… Nope. You don’t get to take over ‘t get to take over…
So right now…
~because it’s all very intense and utterly beyond my control ~because it’s swampy with all the feelings, especially grief ~because my time isn’t my own – or doesn’t feel as if it is ~because the weight of this is bringing me to my knees – sometimes literally ~because massages and painting classes and long walks and silent retreats feel mythical. Unreachable. A climb up Everest in flip flops.
…my version of self-care looks like
Remembering to eat.
Breathing a quiet “yes!” when it’s veggies rather than donuts.
Wearing the softest, most comfy clothes I own.
Embracing unplanned naps.
Stopping by a park for 10 minutes between transportation runs, rolling down the windows and breathing. Getting out of the car optional. Walking optional.
Wrapping my hands around a warm Cup of tea. Breathing.
Letting plans – for my business and life – go dormant for a bit.
Holding schedules – for my business and life – gently and loosely.
Whispering “I love you. You’ve got this.“ when I catch a glimpse of myself in random reflective surfaces.
Kindness and patience when none of these work.
Kindness when the patience fails.
Retroactive kindness when the kindness fails.
So, here’s my invitation to you this time: take a moment to notice the state of your resilience. And, if it feels nurture nourishing, whisper “I love you. You’ve got this.” when you catch a glimpse of yourself in random reflective surfaces. Saver how that feels. Build yourself a sweet well of self-love to draw on when life gets hard.
HUMOR
The quality of being amusing, comical or funny.
Humor is the gift we give ourselves but one that takes a little bit of work. We must look for the humor in every situation and use it to gain perspective, reduce stress and make others laugh and smile. When was the last time you had a good belly laugh?
About today’s author: Kat Middleton is an Empowerment Coach who is passionate about her work and advocates for authentic wholehearted living both personally and professionally. She is a Certified Professional Coach and Occupational Therapy Practitioner who loves working with people holistically; helping others to help themselves see things through new filters. Kat joined the Wholistic Woman community in September of 2017. She is very excited to learn, grow, and have much fun with this AMAZING group of women. Kat is available for private one-on-one coaching as well as group workshops, seminars, and speaking events.
Coaches Laura, Kelye and Donna discuss living a resilient life and what that means. Play in your browser with the media player below or click on “WWR Coaches Discuss Living a Resilient Life.”
Brené Brown says “True belonging doesn’t require that we change who we are; it requires that we be who we are.”
Group coaching allows you to be who you are in a group of like-minded people–the ones who are faced with similar challenges and goals. As a participant, you become part of a dynamic form of learning, where you will help others while receiving the support and encouragement from professional coaches and your fellow group members.
Here are some of the powerful benefits of group coaching:
Shared wisdom: Group coaching provides an opportunity to discuss your dreams and goals with similar people and share ideas. It also provides an opportunity to learn from the insights and contributions of others. The learning that occurs in a group from listening to other members’ stories, ideas and concerns provide an insightful mirror for your growth.
Accountability: Group coaching brings an element of accountability to others. This is an awesome motivator when you come to each session to discuss your progress and achievement of goals and the barriers to achievement with others who are empathetic and supportive. You receive constructive feedback from multiple sources, which enriches your own development. Group coaching holds you accountable while still giving you time and space to reflect.
Opportunity to build authentic friendships: Group coaching allows you to make new connections and form authentic friendships with others. It gives you an opportunity, and confidence to explore ways to enrich personal connections. It enhances your own compassion, empathy. By listening to others’ stories, you gain an understanding of your own unique story.
Increase your motivation: This type of coaching is a great motivator. Women often feel exhausted and overwhelmed. Knowing you have the support from other participants as well as from professional coaches will offer the encouragement you need. It builds confidence, and motivates you to keep going with reaching your goals!
Finding your Tribe: By getting to know other group members on a personal level and developing trust with them, you will belong to a group, growing your network of relationships that enrich your life. This type of bonding amongst group members who offer mutual support can act as a powerful catalyst for change.
Affordability: maybe private coaching is out of your financial comfort zone. Group coaching is an affordable option, where you will experience the power of coaching at a fraction of the cost!
At Wholistic Woman Retreats, we like to meet you where you are and offer you opportunities for personal and professional growth. We hope you will consider our group coaching offers as an opportunity to enhance your life while forming new relationships with like-minded women.
As a wealth coach, Jane combines decades of financial services experience with a degree in social work and psychology to bring positive financial change to her client’s lives.
Do you ever wake up and plan to accomplish a lot, only to find yourself completely exhausted midway through the day? Some days feel like we are in the midst of a whirlwind and I am sure I am not the only one that feels that I could dial up the healthy choices when those days occur. For me, that usually means that I need to get on a track that feels more balanced and calmer. At those times, we often think about improving our nutrition or carving out more time for an exercise routine, which are great ideas and bring a long term payoff.
However, have you ever considered a resilience makeover? What do I mean by that? When I think of the word resilience, I think about the ability to bounce back from all that life throws at us. What’s a makeover? Well, have you ever had a makeover of a room in your home? It might involve hanging a beautiful new picture, or just simply rearranging your furniture. The purpose of any kind of makeover is to refresh and bring you a new sense of joy… A resilience makeover is similar to a makeover in one of the rooms of your home. The room is probably fairly functional as it is, but it could use some new life breathed into it! Typically a makeover doesn’t have to take much time or money but quickly changes the way you feel about that room.
The same could be true with a resilience makeover. We can redesign our lives the same way we redesign our homes. And, resilience is what I like to refer to as a life accessory. Just like great artwork or fun throw pillows are accessories in a room of your home, resilience is an accessory that makes life easier, more fulfilling, and joyful. And, I think we are all always on the search for anything that brings those things our way!
You may already feel that you are a pretty resilient person. Perhaps you have been through a tough health scare, the death of a loved one, issues surrounding your children, marriage, or job that have caused you to be tested and stretched. And, perhaps you have come through those very difficult situations, rising about the challenges to return back to normal again. That is the traditional definition of resilience. Webster defines resilience as the “ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change”. Think of someone you know who is really resilient, and my guess is that you will think of someone who has gracefully come through an experience that has been fairly life-changing.
I’ve always considered myself to be a resilient person. My friend Patrice once told me that she admires that I don’t get stuck in the muck. That was her way of saying that she feels that I don’t tend to allow life’s challenges to make me feel stuck for too long. However, after reading Bonnie St. James’ and Allen P. Haines’ book, Micro-Resilience, I came to realize that resilience is a muscle we can build every moment of every day, not just in times of life’s greatest challenges. In fact, the word “micro” refers to small changes, small shifts in our behavior. And, the book proposes that even very small changes can make a huge difference in one’s focus and energy throughout each day.
If you are like me, there are days that I just don’t feel that I am effectively focusing on the things I want to get done, or lack the energy to do all the things on that to do list. In fact, some days, I start out feeling motivated and then something happens that takes the wind out of my sails, and it’s challenging to get that ball rolling again. Sound familiar at all? The concept of micro-resilience addresses this exact issue.
Micro-resilience strategies are easy techniques that can assist you in recovering more quickly from the seemingly small challenges that inevitably come our way throughout each day. Daily small challenges may seem insignificant individually, like a dishwasher that breaks unexpectedly, or the frustration of sitting in traffic as you barely make your appointment on time. However these small things can add up over the day causing us to feel completely exhausted, asking ourselves, why am I so tired right now? It’s just a “normal” day today.
If this sounds familiar, you may find yourself ready to tackle a resilience makeover! On Wednesday, May 29th, I’ll be facilitating our Be Resilient event. I’ll be sharing several quick, practical science-based strategies which, when used, can immediately combat the daily energy drains that zap your energy and leave you feeling exhausted. We’ll discuss strategies to avoid mental exhaustion, and increase your brain’s effectiveness, including the use of laser focus rather than multitasking. We’ll talk about tips to combat worry and anxiety, and techniques for embracing more positivity. We’ll talk about ways to refuel and refresh your body for peak performance, and we’ll touch on renewing your spirit by tapping into your purpose and a state of “flow”, a concept made popular by author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, in his book entitled, Flow.
I have been trying out many of the 21 different strategies outlined in the book Micro-Resilience over this past year and can tell you confidently, that they are improving my ability to tap into a high level of energy and focus each day. Each day gives me new opportunities to fine tune my new approaches, and I have been enjoying the journey. I look forward to sharing more about these powerful strategies with you on Wednesday, May 29 so you might begin a resilience makeover of your own!
Today’s blog was written by WWR Partner Coach, Donna Kettell. Donna is a certified professional coach (CPC) and a master practitioner in energy leadership (ELI-MP). Her certifications were earned through The Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), which is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Have you ever wondered if team building events are worth the investment? How would developing your people impact the overall success of your organization?
Workshops and seminars are great short-term solutions to teach new skills and strategies. A corporate retreat, however, offers greater opportunities to simultaneously reward and improve your employees. Going off-site, whether for a partial day or multiple days, has many benefits for your employees and the overall organization.
Team Building
During a typical work day, your staff may interact with a limited number of co-workers. Team retreats broaden connections between diverse employees allowing them to engage with co-workers from other departments or shifts. New bonds are formed as they converse in a different setting. When they return to the workplace, connections made during the retreat will strengthen the overall cohesiveness and effectiveness of your workforce.
Stress Relief
Retreats come in all shapes and sizes. Choose one that will most benefit your team to provide a break from their daily grind. In these increasingly busy times, workers can release tension through a variety of enriching activities such as escape rooms, scavenger hunts, creative art activities, obstacle courses, personal development, and more. Corporate retreats are especially appreciated as a reward after the busy season. Send a message that you appreciate your team, recognize their contributions and want them to unwind and relax.
Focus
Retreat experiences offer fresh perspectives as staff members get away from their day-to-day operations. A customized program can take a high-level view to explore company values, mission, and purpose. Then take a deeper dive into the details to discover what is going well and what could be better from their vantage point. Identify gaps and areas for improvement while celebrating successes. Participants gain new appreciation and knowledge as they listen and learn from each other, as well as from the program facilitators. Retreats offer time to step back and evaluate both individually and collectively.
How do we improve the engagement of our teams? Buy-in (aka engagement) develops when team members can contribute their input and feel heard, acknowledged and validated. They feel part of the team when they know that their opinions matter. Feeling heard and respected goes a long way towards team engagement, even if their suggestions are not acted upon. Team retreats provide a safe space for employees to brainstorm and give constructive feedback. Such experiences contribute to a positive work culture with a more engaged staff long after the retreat is over.
Invest in your people
Building on ‘buy-in’, a team retreat lets your staff know that you value them. Give them the gift of going to a special location or doing a fun activity together. Ask them what they would enjoy most and then make a custom experience happen for them. A special program such as Strengths Based Leadership will not only develop them as individuals but will also enhance their effectiveness at work. A health and wellness coach can help their physical well-being which translates to a healthier (and happier) workforce.
Follow up the retreat experience by offering staff several one-on-one executive coaching or personal coaching sessions to let them know how invested you are in their development.
In summary, team retreats are a wise and worthy investment in the success of your business, non-profit, or community organization. How will you develop your team today?
Today’s author:Carol deLaski, PCC, is a strengths-based executive leadership coach who guides individuals and businesses to be their best. For more information about her coaching services, and her book Lost and Found: Discovering Strength in Love and Faith, visit www.caroldelaski.com or email her at [email protected]
Spring is finally here and it’s shown in many forms. The weather is shifting, animals are awakening, the farmers are planting their crops and nature is blooming. Spring brings so much beauty and joy in many forms.
While in yoga the other day, I connected with several ladies and our discussion shifted to the concept of spring and change. This year, I keep hearing that so many are resisting change and feeling stuck. Naturally, our bodies want to change as we leave winter and come into spring. Yes, we often times get stuck in old habits, fear the unknown and resist this growth. After leaving class, it made me think more in-depth about this concept.
It’s important to remember that change ultimately begins with us. We are the main person who can shift our own lives. Change is inevitable but how we show up, the choices we make and our perceptions all play an important role. As we make choices for change and reflect on who we’ve been and who we want to become, it’s important to do so with self-compassion. There are a variety of feelings that may come with change, leaving the old and growing into the new. If you’ve made choices that didn’t serve you well, don’t beat yourself up. Ask yourself what you can take away from it and how you can grow from it.
Looking at life from a holistic perspective, think about where change can be made in your nutrition, movement, relationships, career (and finances) and spirituality. Think about areas that may need improvement and implement a plan that works for you. Consider some habits that may be holding you back. Reflect on when they began, outcomes that have come from them and what improvements can be made to change them.
Below are some tips that may help as you transition into the spring season.
Nutrition
As we move from winter into spring, our plate will change. In the winter season, we eat hot, heavier root based meals. We crate hearty stews and soups. As spring approaches, our body craves lighter, refreshing meals. Spring focuses on liver health, detoxification and it’s important to add in foods and tools that support the liver. Some of my favorites are beets, fresh herbs (great for detoxification), carrots and avocados. Eating with the seasons is very beneficial and it’s much easier to do this time of year with the farmers’ markets.
Relationships
It’s important to reflect on your personal and professional relationships. Unhealthy and toxic relationships play a huge part in our health and goals. Focus on gratitude, forgiveness and implementing boundaries as needed. Looking to grow your personal relationship? What new activities and experiences can you create with others? The warmer weather provides opportunities for outdoor events and activities. There is a bounty of possibilities for simple pleasures. Think about the things that bring you joy and who you want to experience them with.
Your Space
If you find your work and home space to be cluttered, chaotic and overwhelming, this may be a good place to make changes. “Spring cleaning” can help with de-cluttering space, bring an opportunity for new things, minimize stress and overwhelm and help us feel lighter and leaner. Spring is a good time to donate things that no longer serve us or things we don’t use. It’s a good time for deep cleaning. Open the windows to release old air and bring in freshness.
Movement
Healthy movement is so beneficial to the body and mind. Spring is a good time to get outside and move. Consider the activities that you enjoy. Movement can be anything from hiking, biking, signing up for a race or trying a new yoga class. With longer days and lighter evenings, spring offers an opportunity for walks after dinner and quality time with family and friends.
Self Care
As you experience change and implement new things, it’s important to be mindful of your experiences, what you’re thinking and implement compassion and care. Making time for self-care daily is important for the body and mind. Self-care doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. It can be anything from a relaxing Epsom salt, reading a book, cooking a healthy meal and implementing breathing techniques and tools for alleviating stress.
When we look at the different holistic areas as I mentioned above, we can see how they often go hand in hand. Taking a hike with your partner brings joy, creates quality time and includes movement and exercise. Pack a healthy picnic and you’re adding in healthy nutrition.
This is just one example of creating healthy habits, fueling things that nourish your life and help with change.
Begin this new season by focusing on the key areas of your life. Allow opportunities for change and growth while embracing the uncertainty. Focus more on love (of yourself and others) over fear and the ego. Discover new habits for growth, happiness, gratitude, joy, and nourishment.
Let’s get Spring Cleaning!
Today’s author: Kim Wilson is a retired police officer with a huge passion for helping others and working in the community. She is a Certified Holistic Health Coach (CHC) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Towson University. For more information on Kim and how she is empowering women to live the nourished life, please visit her website.
