What's the wheel of life?
This is something I work on with almost all of my clients, as a starting point.
It's all the elements of your life and how they are balanced.
And it's a simple way to focus on what you want to achieve.

Want to try and evaluate yours?
Within the wheel you can see what your life includes.
Score each part out of 10. So, if everything's as good as it could be, that's a 10.  
You'll see where you want to make some changes.
As a guide, I advise that any score of 6 or lower shows there's work to be done. 
Once you've completed this, maybe consider how long you've been hoping to make changes but haven't yet.

What's holding you back?

• Indecision?
• Lack of confidence?
• Lack of time?

That's where I come in to help your create a structure and a timescale.
If you'd like to talk this over, go to the contact page and we can set up a call.

"Procrastination is the thief of time, "   Edward Young, poet, almost 500 years ago.

Are you a procrastinator? Everyone is to an extent.
It's very common with my career coaching clients. In fact, one of the reasons that clients come to me for support is not that they don't know what they want - it's that they simply can't get started. 

But whatever you're procrastinating about, it's making your life harder. That 'thing' you should be doing is forever lurking in the background, nagging away at the back of your mind. It's consuming energy all the time.

If you're a busy professional, and maybe have family taking up time too, it's easy to put things to one side. It could be your work-life balance, it could be making an important decision about your career.

Here are some tips to help you understand why you're 'putting off' and also how to change your behaviour.
Don't delay reading - do this now!

Know Your Delay Trigger
This is the key and one which I focus on with my clients. It could be the focus of one or two sessions.
Finding the right key, and unlocking the door, is the way forward to change your behaviour.  
Knowing what causes you to procrastinate is the first step to change.
Is it boredom? Fear of failure? Perfectionism? Being stuck between choices?

Acknowledge Your Motivation
Be honest. If you keep being 'stuck' it's worth asking yourself how much you want something. On a scale of 1 to 10, you need to be at 8 and above to be motivated. Don't just 'think' you want something - find your true motivation for it.

Break It Down
Big tasks overwhelm. Change those into do-able steps. 'Write report' becomes Sit down/Open Doc/ Outline Key Points.

Use The 5 Minute Rule
Tell yourself you only need do this for 5 minutes. Once you start, you'll keep going.

Block Distractions
Put your phone on silent. Get that coffee now - not in 5 minutes. 

Set Real Deadlines
Not 'someday' but a real clear goal. Even better, tell someone your goal. (It could be me - but your friend will do.)

Reward Progress
You'll feel great once you've achieved something that you've been putting off.
Make yourself another coffee, have cake if you want. But not too much.

What is coaching?

One of the questions most asked of me, is 'What exactly is coaching?'
I'll be honest - until I'd trained as a coach, I wasn't sure myself. And I also didn't know if it worked.
There are still many misunderstandings about coaching - so here goes- some myth busting.

Is coaching about being told what to do?
No. Very much no! One of the first things I learned during my training was never to tell a client what to do.

So what is it? What am I seeing a coach for?
Coaches are trained to listen. And also ask questions. Some questions may be harder to answer. That's part of the plan. To make you think deeply and challenge any thoughts that hold you back.

Why can't I talk to my friends or family?
You can, of course. But sometimes, as we all acknowledge, we shy away from saying what we think.
We're afraid of offending, being too blunt, so we hedge our responses.
But more importantly, your friends or family may tell you what to do. And you end up with a lot of conflicting 'advice'.

There's also the issue of accountability. As your coach, I'll ask you to come up with some goals, that you've chosen.
Think on that; goals you've chosen. So you should be happy to work on them.
If, when we talk again, you've made no headway, I'll ask why not. That's the accountability factor.
It'll tell you (and me) a lot about your commitment and how much you want that goal you set yourself.
If something's got in the way- a heavy week at work- fine. But if the lack of progress means you're not wanting that goal -  not really wanting it- you're on your way to refining it.

How long will I need coaching.
Coaching is one step at a time. Do you like the image I chose to accompany this blog?
It's small steps. You might want to go slowly, or speed up.
My Clarity and Vision Package aims to get you somewhere within 6 weeks.
You may want to build on this or you could be well on your way so you don't need me.
That's what I want- not to be needed. That's my role done and you're on your way to fulfilment.

​

Are you stuck in the Career Change Maze?

I'm currently coaching some of my clients who are. And they've come to me to try to find a way out. 

If you're unsure of where you're going next with your career, you may understand the comparison with a maze.
You've taken a wrong turn, ended up in a cul de sac, have to retrace your steps and start again.
Or - you've entered the maze and have no idea which path to choose.
​And meanwhile, you're ploughing through the day not enjoying your work and dreaming of doing something else.

How do I help?
You might be sceptical and wonder how a coach can help. 

• I'm a sounding board so you can bounce your ideas off me, no matter how different they are.
• I won't raise my eyebrows or say 'You want to do what?' when you tell me your career dreams.
• I'm not going to tell you that you can't be something that may be possible.
• So, when we talk, you can articulate all those ideas that have been rumbling around your head - maybe for years. 

Will I suggest a career for you?
No. I don't choose a career for you. I may say 'Have you thought of this?' to get the ball rolling.
We start by identifying who you are, what values you hold, what makes you tick. And your short and long term goals.
I may play devil's advocate, asking questions to enable you to think differently.
Help you change those intrusive 'can't do' thoughts - the ones that hold you back.

We come up with a plan to enable you to move forwards, step by step.
​You may come up against a brick wall - it does happen - but you'll have me to help you find another route and a way out.

The difference between attempting career change on your own is that you're in danger of giving up.
I won't let you do that; you'll be held to account to take action rather than simply thinking and dreaming. 

If you're stuck and think you've tried everything, or you can't get started at all, why not get in touch for a chat?
Sharing your hopes for the future is the first step and I'd love to help you.

How do you feel about the festive season?

Maybe like many of us, you've mixed feelings. If you're an introvert, having to socialise can be stressful. If you're an extrovert, you may end up burnt-out by 2 January.

Is there somewhere in between that can bring you the right balance? 
Christmas and New Year bring their own challenges.

Two key features of the festive season are balancing what you want with the needs of others.
But the skills you use to navigate this are the same as you're using for the rest of the year.
Christmas can be a time to take stock, reflect on who you are and what you want for the year ahead.

• If your life is too busy and you're feeling stressed all of the time, can you use Christmas as means to longer-term  behavioural changes? If you're a 'Yes' person, (and find it hard to get out of those festive events you really don't want to go to) how can you manage those? And how can you apply that to the rest of your life?

• If you find it hard to create 'you time' whether that's walking, disappearing the the 'man/woman shed' or curling up with a book or to listen to some music, how do you make that space?

Being Assertive
It's easy to confuse assertiveness with being confrontational. Much of my coaching is focused on helping clients understand the difference and learning to be assertive. 

This means saying what you want, without being harsh, aggressive or causing offence.
If you're a 'Yes' person and agree to every social invitation even if you don't want to, you'll feel stressed.

But it can be hard to decline invitations and find 'excuses'. 
One of the easiest ways is to simply say, 'I'm sorry I can't make that, but thanks anyway.' Or, stalling for time, can be helpful. 'Let me get back to you on that, because I need to check some dates.'
The more you practise this day-to-day in different situations, the easier it will become.

Find time for yourself
The Boxing Day Walk is a fixture in many of our calendars if we're with family or friends.
But you don't have to wait for it. Taking yourself off for a walk can be calming and restorative. And you shouldn't feel guilty about doing it alone. Forest bathing can be a superb tonic. No, you don't do it in your trunks or swimsuit. But you do immerse yourself in woods, breathe in the air, even if it's wet or damp, and let that tenseness float away. And if you feel compelled to lie down on the forest floor, why not?

Spring is here and you'll see new shoots appearing everywhere.
This is when you'll start to think about changes to your life.
Let's forget those cold, wet, dark days of January.
And the new year resolutions that didn't quite happen.

How about a fresh start?

What changes do you want to create?
Being very simplistic, and without over-thinking, if you had three wishes, what would they be?

I'm sure that one popped into your mind very quickly. 

What do you need to do to start achieving that?

• What is the very first step?
• What could you do today?
• How long do you need to reach your goal?

Can you write the answers down? They'll remind you to take action.

Personal growth is worth pursuing. How would you define yours?
Learning something new? Changing your behaviour in some way? Changing your career?
Working on your wellbeing? Creating a better work-life balance?

​And if you need help, why not arrange a chat?

Career change

What do people think when they hear those words?
What do YOU feel?
It might be a rush of excitement. Or a deep feeling of unease in your stomach.

You might think 'If only...'

Because although career change is more and more acceptable, it's still hard for some people.
They worry that family and friends might see it as 'giving up' or being unstable in some way.
The midlife crisis.
But is that a bad thing?

It's becoming rarer to stick at the same career for 45 years (and counting, as the retirement age increases.) Soon, we'll be working till 70 as the norm, sometimes from choice, sometimes from financial necessity.

So why should the career (a degree or professional training) you chose in your late teens be the one you have until you're 70?

You've changed. The world has changed. But has your work changed?

Many of my clients want to do something different. But they are terrified.
This is normal. No matter how unsatisfactory something is in our lives, taking that step to something else, unknown, is also difficult.

My role as a coach is to help my clients make these decisions. Often, I find clients are afraid to make changes because of their lack of self-belief or other negative beliefs.
It's possible to change all of this, using powerful coaching strategies.

Are you ready to try? 
Ready for find your passion?

Is career change right for you now?

I work with many professionals who are in the midst of thinking about career changes.
They often have mixed emotions.

Which of these can you identify with?

• I spent years studying for a degree- is it going to be wasted?
• I can't do anything else.
• I don't know what else to do.
• I feel guilty switching careers in my 40s (or 50s.)
• I don't know if I can take a financial hit by starting again.

Read those again. Spot anything? Apart from the first point, they are negative statements.
​But they are typical of what I hear on a daily basis.

Nowadays, it's more common to change careers at least once, if not two or three times over a working lifetime. I did it myself around fifty. Yes, I felt sad at turning my back on something I'd always wanted to be - a teacher- but, for a combination of reasons, I knew I didn't want to carry on until retirement.

What's your driver?
I ask my clients 'Can you imagine doing your current job forever, until you retire maybe around seventy? (The age is going up and up...)
Many recoil in horror. That's their wake-up call. Some shrug and say 'Maybe', but with little conviction.

I'm not a careers adviser
At that point I don't try to slot them into a new job. I'm not a careers adviser.
But what I focus on is what makes them tick. What gets them up in the morning?
If they aren't leaping out of bed full of enthusiasm, what needs to change?

Using myself as an example (sorry- this is not really me,me,me) I knew what drove me was helping people. When I decided to be a teacher - at around 17- I was also considering being a physio. I like helping people and seeing them progress.
​And coaching followed a similar path; helping my clients reach their goals.

So what makes you tick? Don't think of a job, but think about who you are and what excites you.

Are you ready?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how positive do you feel about your job?
If it's lower than 6, you could be ready for change.

What have you done to help you decide on another career?

• I've looked at courses- degrees, Masters, diplomas.
• I've done a short course to give me a taster of my new career.
• I've talked to my boss about a possible new career path where I am.
• I've looked at my finances and worked out if I could take a salary cut while training.
• I've created a business  plan for my idea and looked into business loans.
• I've shadowed someone who's doing what I might want to do.
• I've done some work experience in that area.
• I've volunteered within the organisation or sector.
• I've signed up for job alerts for any jobs that may appeal to me.

Working through these kinds of things are what I do with my clients. They don't come to me stuck and expect me to say 'Okay, maybe you should retrain as X.'
​They do the hard work of seeing what's out there, but I help pull down the barriers that they've often put up.

​What could you do with or without me to help you?

Why I love September.

For me, it's always about new starts. More so than January. It's years since I was teaching, but as the new year starts for students, I can't help feel that same thrill. The days are still warm and between now and dark, dank November it's a perfect time to focus on your life and changes you want to make.

I've been very busy in my garden lately: tidying it up, cutting back dead wood, pruning shrubs and getting rid of anything that's that's not quite where I'd like it. And it's easy to use this analogy for our lives. 
​

• What do you want to get rid of in your life?
• What's making you unhappy and dragging you down?
• What do you want to put more of into your life?

How to focus
Knowing what you want to change is the first step. Making that happen is another.
Many of my clients have issues with time-management. I fully understand.

My focus this autumn is on self-development.
Today I've started a new online course; writing fiction. I've already had two non-fiction books published and love mentoring my writing clients. But, with two half-written novels on the back burner, I want to develop my own writing. It's a 3-hours a week commitment. Doesn't sound much, but balancing that with work, family and friends, and an hour's exercise every day, I've got to find the time somewhere.

For me, timetabling works.  I give myself a time. So, today I am committing to my course from 2-3pm. It's the only way! (I may have Plan B so that if something unexpected crops up I can still fit in that hour.)

What about you? If there is something you really want to achieve- a new job, better health and wellbeing, studying, spending more time with friends- how will you find your focus? 

I've recently completed an online course, Food as Medicine, by Monarsh University, renowned for their research into diet and health. Their research into gut disorders has been used worldwide and helped people many people. The dietitians deliver the course via videos and there are plenty of lovely shots of food!

Why did I do the course?
I've been interested in food and how it affects our health for decades. It's not that long ago that food intolerance was dismissed as 'cranky' but is now accepted. Now that science has progressed we know much more about the benefits of individual foods on our body. 

What did I learn on the course?
The course inspired me to make some small changes to my own diet.
I consider myself a healthy eater already (most of the time) but, interestingly, the Australian public health targets for fruit and vegetables are higher than in the UK; 2 fruits and 5 veg a day. That, for most of us, is a high target.

​I realised that the way to achieve the target of 7 portions a day was with some careful planning, whereby every meal had to have either fruit or veg in it.
​
The other fascinating aspect was portion size: did you know that most photographs of food and drink (pasta and wine especially) show portions that are three times the recommended size for health?  

We all know we should eat more fruit and veg but listening to the dietitians explain how an avocado or an apple can prevent damage to our cells is fascinating. Also covered were:
​ 

• 'Is buying vitamins a waste of money?',
• 'Are people actually addicted to sugar?'
• 'What are the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics?'

And did you know that using mindfulness about food can help you eat healthily and control your weight? 

How this can help you
Many of my clients want to improve their overall wellbeing - mental and physical health.
But as we all know, it's easy to grab food on the hoof, reach for a ready meal, eat out and indulge.
 
If you want to improve your chances of good long term health, let's work together on what changes- large or small- you can make to your own diet. See more here.

​If you'd like some help to optimise your own healthy eating, contact me here.