Tag: Work/Life Balance

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Career Inspiration, Leadership Inspiration, Personal Inspiration

Survival Techniques for the Holiday Season

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Holiday time can be stressful.  At times we feel we are being pulled in all directions with work and family obligations.  Everyone wants something whether it is time together, putting up decorations, planning meals and buying presents.  Plus keeping up with the huge workload.

Then there is the family dynamics.  Each parent wanting you to spend the holidays with them.  Siblings not speaking to other.  Someone is usually mad at someone in the family.   Family members bringing up embarrassing moments.  Family gossiping about each other.  Some family members don’t want to compromise and refuse to compromise, demanding you spend the holidays at their house.   The in-laws and out-laws not wanting to spend the holidays together, which would make life easier on you and your family if everyone would come to your house.  You, your spouse and children dreading the holiday season because you and partner start fighting over what to do.  Holding old grudges for years that never seem to heal but intensify as the years go on.

How do you keep everyone happy?  You can’t, someone’s feelings will get hurt, you really can’t please everyone.  Which makes the holidays unbearable for you and your partner.

What do you do?

Do you dread the holidays because of one or more of these situations above?

Always going to one side of the family and not the other does cause resentment and hurt all around, and eventually between you and your spouse.

Here are some alternatives:

  1. When you feel a family struggle coming on think about something that you love to do and how to make it happen.  Focus on getting creative instead of the struggle.
  2. Have an open house holiday party from 10:00 am – 3:00pm and invite everyone to come anytime between those hours and have the open house on a day that is best for you. (Having the party in the middle of the day from 10:00 – 3:00 allows you to catch the morning and afternoon people.  The open house guests can come at anytime and leave at anytime within the 10:00 am to 3:00 pm time frame.  This keeps chaos down when family members don’t like each other, because they can leave and not feel pressured to stay.  People don’t get so drunk due to the shorter timeframe and it being earlier in the day which avoids triggers and fights.  The best thing is you don’t feel the pressure to please everyone and you can have fun).
    Develop the party into ease by providing cookies and punch, and the guests are welcome to bring finger foods as well.  If you feel creative have a fun activity or a game for your guests when they arrive.
  3. You and your spouse can spend the holidays apart with each ones own families and then share special holiday moments together on some other day or plan a romantic weekend getaway together.

The Take Away:
Communicating and compromising by learning to accept alternative solutions may help save your relationships with the immediately family.  The benefits of doing one or more of these alternatives is to manage challenging family members and to make sure you have quality time with spouse/partner and your immediate family.  The holidays can be a joyous and peaceful experience when you have solutions to the challenges you face during the holidays.

A Holiday Affirmation:

Call to Action:
The Work/Life Balance Affirmation Cards are a great stocking stuffer or gift.
Click here to purchase the Work/Life Balance Affirmation Cards.

Please free to share your holiday alternatives and how you survived the holidays.

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks for others to get inspired!

To learn more about one to one coaching with Patti – email me at: patti@coachingforinspirationwithpatti.com

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Career Inspiration, Inspirational Moments, Leadership Inspiration, Personal Inspiration

Warning Signs – Is It Time To Look For Another Job?

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Recently I was sitting outside enjoying my lunch.  As I was enjoying the calm light breeze of the climate change.  I started watching people as they walked towards their workplace building.  They all had a look of dread on their face with their heads down.  It was so discouraging; seeing no smiles, no spring to their steps, no looking around to say hi to someone or appreciating the beautiful weather.  I thought to myself; these are definite signs these individuals no longer enjoy going to work.

Does this resonate with you?

After a wonderful weekend with family and friends, it is now Sunday night.  You are preparing yourself for going back to work in the morning.  Making your lunch, laying out your work clothes and shoes.  As you are finishing and getting ready for bed you experience anxiety of not wanting to go to work tomorrow.  You lay in bed, put on some calming music or a guided meditation or you take a sleep aid product.  The feeling just doesn’t go away.  You toss and turn throughout the night.  Then your alarm goes off and you hit the snooze button numerous times and finally with reluctance you drag yourself out of bed.  The first thing you need is some kind of pick me up, whether it is coffee, tea, mountain dew, monster drink or energy now pill just to get you going.

Your journey to work is depressing.  You want to be doing something else then going to work.  You start walking slow towards your workspace with no enthusiasm whatsoever.  You don’t want anyone to communicate with you.  You just want to be left alone and everyone to be silent.  No good mornings, no friendly greetings, just silence.  It takes you a few minutes to get your supplies out or turn on your computer.    Throughout the day your lack of work purpose is miserable.  You do the bare minimum of work so you won’t  get fired.  You can’t focus, you just want to get out of there!  That is all you can think about.  You can’t wait to leave.  Five minutes before your shift ends you are already pack and ready to run out that door.

Warning Signs

  • Anger, Negative Attitude, Emotional or Ungratefulness
  • Boredom, Going Through the Motions, Complacency, Lack of Enthusiasm, Loss of Empathy, Compassion or Isolating One-Self from Others at Work
  • Feelings of Dread, Unforgiveness Towards Co-Workers or Management or an Overwhelming Sense of Having No Control or Input Regarding Work
  • Hard to Stay Focus on Tasks, Headaches, Stress-Tension, Overwhelm and Daily Exhaustion at Work
  • You have been in the same position without Advancement or Promotion for over three years or more, and you really want to continue to advance within your career
  • You are not feeling any challenge, motivation, appreciation, recognition, positive feedback or acknowledgment in current position

Do any of these warning signs appear in your daily work life?  If so, maybe it is time to consider a change?

Here are some self-reflecting questions to answer to see if it is time to look for a different job:

  1. Reflect back to when you first started at your current position.
  2. What attracted you to the job?
  3. What did you like about the job?
  4. What has changed?
  5. What would make your job more interesting?
  6. What do you truly want in a career?
  7. How can you make a difference?
  8. What tasks or projects do you think would be interesting at work?
  9. Do you feel comfortable asking your supervisor for a new project, task or cross-train in another area?

Action Steps to Start Exploring a New Career Path:

  1. Hire a Career Coach
  2. Start networking and discreetly letting colleagues and friends know you are interested in finding a new position.
  3. Update your resume and cover letter
  4. Join LinkedIn and/or update your LinkedIn profile and job history
  5. Prepare and practice for job interview skills
  6. Search and apply for positions which match your qualifications
  7. Contact associates for references and referrals

Call to Action:

After answering these questions; what did your answers tell you?  Is it time for something new?  If yes, what action steps are you going to start?

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks for others to get inspired!

To learn about a balanced work life; sign up and click on the link 21- Days Optimal Work/Life Balance Workshop.

To learn about one to one coaching with Patti – email me at: patti@coachingforinspirationwithpatti.com

 

 

 

 

Images Licensed Shutterstock.com

Posted in Blog, Leadership Inspiration, Personal Inspiration, Video

It’s Time to Create Hope

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

I wrote this poem below “Life is Like Hiking a Mountain” back in 2013.  When I wrote it, the poem was to give people encouragement to get through tough challenges, struggles and move towards achieving their goals.  I am sharing the poem again because so many people are hurting and really need some hope to get through all the tragedies which have happened throughout the world.

The burning question is why do bad things happen? I can’t answer that burning question, but I am not going to give up, that this world can change for the better, and we can’t give up on that!  I think it is time we make a positive shift towards creating kindness and moving away from criticizing and judging people.  Look at the positive in people and lift them up instead of tearing them down.

It’s Time to Create Hope
If each person reading this post or watching this video decides to do their part, to encourage and lift up people, just maybe, it will create a positive difference and bring back hope to someone who is hurting, and give them the feeling that someone truly cares.  Hurting people hurt others, isn’t it time to reach out and stop the pattern of despair, hate and anger?  I want to see loving kindness, smiles and laughter instead of anger, hate and malicious talk.  Let’s take that precious step to make a shift and change this world with loving kindness. 🙂 ~ Patti

Self-Reflecting Question:  Are you ready to start making a positive difference and create hope for the hurting?

Please feel free to share your experiences of creating hope and inspiring others.

Life is Like Hiking a Mountain
Sometimes you’re moving forward. Sometimes you’re moving backwards. Sometimes you side step. Sometimes the trail is rough and rocky. Sometimes the trail is just plain flat. Sometimes there are curves that strike you when you least expect it. Sometimes there is shifting sand. Sometimes you feel like you are going round in circles and just don’t know how to stop the detour. You may have lost your way and need a compass (a coach) to get you back on the right path. Other times you’re moving upward and everything is going good. Then there are times you are physically and emotionally exhausted and want to give up, but you continue to move forward because you see the peak in the distance. This gives you just enough inspiration to keep moving forward.

You may stumble over rocks (obstacles). You get bruised but you pick yourself up, brush yourself off and keep moving forward. There are times when you start sliding down the mountain but you continue to push upward. You finally reach the top (your goal). You look all around and down below. You see the beauty and realize it was worth all of your struggles through the rough rocky terrain. You cherish and savor this moment with a smile. You have clarity and recognize it was worth the pain and sacrifice to get there. As you reflect on this journey you now know it was well worth every precious step. ~ by Patti Oskvarek

 

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Inspirational Moments, Leadership Inspiration, Video

Boundaries – Why? [Video]

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

In this video I talk about setting boundaries and being comfortable with setting them.

Setting boundaries and respectfully communicating them defines limits which creates mutual respect and healthy relationships.

Reflection Questions For Setting Boundaries:

  • What is the purpose of setting this particular boundary?
  • What is the inappropriate behavior?
  • What is appropriate behavior?
  • What is the benefit of having healthy boundaries with this situation or person?
  • How will you establish the boundaries?
  • What if the person doesn’t react the way you want them too?  How will you handle the situation?

When boundaries are clear and followed, both people have a sense of what is appropriate and mutual respect is established within the relationship.

To learn more about How to Set Boundaries; sign up and click on the link 21- Days Optimal Work/Life Balance Workshop.

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks for others to get inspired!

Did you find this helpful? If so, please share this video blog with others! 

If you enjoyed this podcast, how about showing appreciation and (buying) sharing a cup of coffee with me? ☕️ What is sharing (buying) me a cup of coffee? It is a beautiful way to express your gratitude and support for my work.

If you want to work with me for coaching services, click the “Schedule Now” below.

SCHEDULE NOW

 

#boundaries #healthyboundaries #lifecoaching #howtosetboundaries

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Personal Inspiration, Polls

Fidget Spinners the New Craze – Why?

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Fidget spinners are everywhere.  Have you seen one?  If the answer is no, maybe you didn’t know what it was.  It is the new craze with children and adults.

What is a Fidget spinner?  According to Wikipedia below here is the definition of a Fidget Spinner: 

A fidget spinner is a toy that consists of a ball-bearing in the center of a multi-lobed flat structure made from metal or plastic designed to spin along its axis with little effort.

Fidget spinners became popular toys in April 2017, although similar devices had been invented as early as 1993. The popularity of the toy among children and teenagers has led some schools to ban use of the spinners in class for being a distraction, while other schools have allowed the toy to be used discreetly.

The toy has been advertised as helping people who have trouble with focusing or fidgeting  by relieving nervous energy or psychological stress. There are claims that a fidget spinner can be used to help calm people down who suffer from anxiety and other neurological disorders like ADHD and autism.  However, as of May 2017, there is no scientific evidence that they are effective as a treatment for autism or ADHD. ~ Wikipedia

In this video below is a demonstration of a fidget spinner which Allen Blau a friend of mine made from an old skate board.  He removed the bearings and glued them together so it would be balanced.   Allen says it doesn’t spin like all the fancy ones, but the weight and size is perfect for him.

 

There is talk that the fidget spinner helps the brain focus and reduces stress.  This produces a calming visual simulation and some even compare the fidget spinners to stress balls to relieve high intense stress levels in the workplace.

Recently schools have started to ban fidget spinners saying they are a distraction and disruption in the classrooms for the students and teachers.

What about the workplace?  Are fidget spinners a distraction similar to having personal cell phones in the work area?  I am all for reducing stress and burn-out in the workplace, however if it is a constant distraction and taking away from work performance then guidelines need to be established on what is acceptable and was is not.

Do I know for sure if fidget spinners really reduce stress and anxiety?  No I do not, however some individuals say it does reduce their stress and anxiety.  Scientific researchers are still gathering data on this subject.  Will this craze end before the research is gathered?  Only time will tell.

 

 

 

Take Away:

Here are my thoughts, if an individual benefits from a fidget spinner and it helps their brain focus and they are less stressed-out; what does taking a few minutes out of the day hurt?  Now, we all know there are going to be people who abuse everything, that is their nature, however why should one person ruin it for everyone else.  Accountability is the key, if you abuse something, it will be taken away; and boundaries need to be set and followed.  Enjoy life with less stress, however don’t be the one, with lack of restraint and spoil it for others. ~ Patti

To learn more about a stress free life; sign up and click on the link 21- Days Optimal Work/Life Balance Workshop.

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks for others to get inspired!

To learn more about one to one coaching with Patti – email me at: patti@coachingforinspirationwithpatti.com

Posted in Blog, Video

Saying NO and Living Life to the Fullest! [Video]

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Today’s Video is about “Saying No” to things you don’t want to do and making room for “Saying Yes” to the things you really want to do.

 

“Saying No” to things you no longer want to do, will free up your time to do the things you really want to do.  Below are some actions steps to assist you in “Saying Yes” to the things you want in life.

Action Steps:

  • Make a list of all your obligations.
  • Check mark the ones you enjoy doing.
  • Circle the ones you don’t.
  • The obligations you don’t enjoy, slowing start removing them from your life.

To learn more about Effectively Saying No; sign up and click on the link 21- Days Optimal Work/Life Balance Workshop.

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks for others to get inspired!

To learn more about one to one coaching with Patti – email me at: patti@coachingforinspirationwithpatti.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Inspirational Moments, Leadership Inspiration, Personal Inspiration

Summertime Inspiration

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Every working day we push ourselves to get more completed and to do more.  We continually are working on the big picture or the next great thing.  We over work and are constantly thinking about work, however there comes a time to stop and live in the moment.

Spend time with your spouse/partner, family, and friends and really give them your full attention without focusing and thinking about work.  Spending quality time with others keep us balanced, grateful, happy and feeling loved.

Usually the reason we work so hard is for our family, but they need to have our loving attention as well.  It could be showing up to your children’s ball game.  A date night with your spouse.  Taking your parents out to lunch or shopping.  Sending a text to a friend, “Let’s get together for coffee”.  Make it a point to do the little things to keep your relationships alive.

Life is more than work, it is about living a purposeful meaningful life.  Put time and effort into your relationships, just like you do with work.  You will feel happier and less overwhelmed.  Life is to be expressed, celebrated and fun.  Isn’t it time to have some summertime inspiration and go on an adventure with someone special?

What are some strategies you can do this summer to improve your relationships?

Please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks for others to get inspired!

To learn more about one to one coaching with Patti – email me at: patti@coachingforinspirationwithpatti.com

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Leadership Inspiration, Personal Inspiration

Moving Out of Comfort Zone to Get What You Want in Life!

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

It is easy to stay in our comfort zone and do the same things, day in and day out.  Go to the same grocery store, gas station, restaurants, and route to work.  There is a feeling of familiarity knowing where things are and being able to quickly get in and out.

What does being in your comfort zone mean?

It is a natural state of where most people feel comfortable and want to be.  When we stay in our comfort zone we get complacent and bored.  It is easy to remain within our comfort boundaries than to face challenges, change, fear or adventure.  Getting out of our comfort helps us grow and deal better with change.

Outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens. ~ Unknown

Let’s discuss the benefits of trying new things and having a little more adventure in life.

When we stay in our comfort zone we miss out on professional opportunities, new life experiences and personal growth.  By doing stuff a little different and taking chances, it changes our focus and we may become happy, motivated, challenged, confident and inspires a positive outlook at life.

Tips for moving away from comfort zone:

Do one thing different each day.

Drive a different route to and from work.

Make a new food or drink recipe.

Try a different restaurant.

Order something you have never had before; such as a different type of coffee blend, a cocktail or a meal.

Listen to a new radio station.

Learn a new hobby or take a martial art class.

Read a different type of book.  Something you wouldn’t usually read.

Do something on your bucket list.

Go on some type of adventure.

Celebrate after you did something new and different, which was out of your comfort zone.

The biggest rewards in life are found outside your comfort zone. Live with it. Fear and risk are prerequisites if you want to enjoy a life of success and adventure. ~ Jack Canfield

Take away:

Comfort is easy.  How will you grow if you stay in the same place?  Take small daily steps doing something different either at work and/or at home life.  By staying within your comfort zone, you may miss out on professional opportunities, new life experiences and learning new things.  Take a risk, don’t think about it, and just do it.  Push your personal boundaries, break free and live in the moment.  Be adventurous, you will definitely be surprised at how much your confidence level has increased!

Call to Action:

Get out of your comfort zone and take one small step to do something different in your daily routine. Respond back how it felt.  ~ Patti 🙂

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks!

Posted in Blog, Personal Inspiration

Day 7 – Get Inspired!

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Day 7 – Get Inspired! 

What makes me feel inspired?  Being outdoors and taking the road less traveled. Today, is the last day of “Get Inspired”.  I hope you enjoyed this inspirational journey.  I know I did!  It was fun sharing all the different inspirations.  ~ Patti

What made you feel inspired today?

Reminiscence on what made you smile, laugh or just plain happy and share it on my Facebook page.   Like the page.   Leave your inspiration in the comments for all 7 days and you could be a winner of  Live Your Best Life! 21 Days to Optimal Work/Life Balance workshop.

Spread the joy and share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks for others to get inspired!

Posted in Blog, Personal Inspiration

Day 6 – Get Inspired!

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Day 6 – Get Inspired! 

What makes me feel inspired?  Sliding down a playground slide.  When was the last time you did this?  ~ Patti

What made you feel inspired today?

Reminiscence on what made you smile, laugh or just plain happy and share it on my Facebook page.   Like the page.   Leave your inspiration in the comments for all 7 days and you could be a winner of  Live Your Best Life! 21 Days to Optimal Work/Life Balance workshop.

Spread the joy and share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks for others to get inspired!