Tipping the Scales in Your Favor!
One minute I am posting a New Year’s blog about trying new things, I blink and it’s “back to school” in the stores. Where did the time go? I did take my own advice, I hit the pool and tried new things. I joined a Pilate’s gym for a while and a boot camp gym. I tried to push myself out of my comfort zone and try new things. I have met a lot of great people and learned some new training techniques along the way. While all of this has been fun and exciting it has taken me away from writing, and other things that I would normally do for myself and my business.
Work-Life Balance has been a buzzword floating around for over a year now. It’s a trending idea that just won’t seem to go away and I understand why. With all the things we are told to do, asked to do and want to do, it is hard to figure out how to prioritize everything. I have seen a meme pop up on Facebook numerous times showing a picture of Cruella de Vil, from 101 Dalmatians, it’s from the scene when she is driving trying to track down all the dogs she just lost. Her hair is wild, she has a crazed look in her eyes and she is gripping the steering wheel tight. Above this picture it reads “Me trying to excel in my career, maintain a social life, text everyone back, drink enough water, exercise, stay sane, survive and be happy”. I know I can relate, and based on the number of times this pops up in my Facebook news-feed I know a lot of my friends can relate too!
Now one would think with all the technology we have today and the resources we can tap into, such as employers offering mental health days, this work-life balance trend would be resolved, and yet it appears to be the exact opposite. Anymore we are expected to do more, and we don’t always take advantage of the resources we have offered to us. For example, are you the parent that will not buy cookies for the school bake sale? Why not? Because we put this pressure on ourselves to be the perfect parent, non-GMO, all organic, made from scratch standards are near impossible, and honestly… why make them ourselves when you know Keebler’s got you covered? Another example, you are dealing with a lot in your personal life, maybe a parent is sick and battling a disease or cancer. You have a hard time concentrating at work because you are worried about them, and the tests they are getting this week. Your job offers mental health days, you could use one to take a day to process this diagnosis or be with that family member, but you don’t. Why? Maybe because you are worried your boss will think you are too soft and can’t handle the work? Maybe you are worried someone will step up in your absence and end up taking your place all together, or even worse you fear no one will even notice you are gone at work and start to wonder, “What is it you really do all day?” Do you think these scenarios are irrational? Well they are, but that doesn’t keep some people from thinking like this.
Now, we all agree there is an issue, and there has to be a better way, and if you search work-life balance in your audible, or iBook app you will be bombarded with books all claiming to have the key to creating balance! If it were that simple it still would not be an issue. What it all comes down to is you and what you deem important. For one person they would rather stay late at work to reach their goal of becoming CFO. For another, they might quit their job to stay home with the kids. No one person can help you find all the answers, what works for one may not work for the other. This is where health coaches come in.
Health coaching is different from personal training. A personal trainer designs workouts to help you meet specific fitness goals and can provide some nutritional insight along the way. A health coach looks at more than just your fitness goals. As a health coach I want to help you prioritize your goals, set out a plan and achieve those goals. My role as a health coach is to partner with you in order to help you adopt and/or maintain a healthy lifestyle that nourishes the mind and body. If you are having a hard time finding balance in your life I can work alongside you to help put things into perspective. I know it’s a cliché but you cannot give from an empty cup. The best thing you can do for your career, your family, your church or anyone else you are giving to, is to take care of yourself first. The better you are mentally and physically, the better you can help those around you and the more likely you will be reaching your goals.
For more information on health coaching check out my website www.wollertonworkout.com/health-coaching. You can also contact me directly at megan@wollertonworkout.com or 724-473-3090.