Balance Tips for the Holidays - 2007

Last year my post on balance tips for the Holidays was extremely popular and I have had a number of requests to provide some Balance Tips for the Holiday Season 2007.

If you haven't read last year's Balance Tips for the Holidays, you can read it here. And here is my 2007 Balance Tips for the Holidays:

Balance Tips for the Holidays 2007
Jennifer Britton, Potentials Realized - Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved.

The holidays can be a whur of activity and a time for stress rather than a relaxed time connecting with those things that matter most to you. What kind of holiday season do you want to create for yourself this year?

Here are a few tips to consider when looking at creating better balance during the holiday season.

1. Spend time reflecting on what 2007 was all about.
Build time into your schedule to tuck yourself away to take stock on the year that was. To support you in your reflection process you may want to consider the following questions:

• What am I grateful for? In my relationships? In my career or business? In my family life?
• What lessons have the events of 2007 taught me?
• What do I need to celebrate achieving this year?
• What have been the major areas of “stretch” for me this year?
• I am most proud of accomplishing….this year

2. Spend time creating a vision for what you want to create in 2008.
What do you want to create in 2008. Here are some vision questions to get you started:

• What do I want to create in 2008? (In my work, family, relationships?)
• What are my three main goals for the year – personally, in relationships, in my career or business?
• What support team do I need around me to help me achieve my goals?
• What is the most breathtaking action I could take in 2008? What would it give me?
• The theme for my year in 2008 is…..

3. Connect with what is important to you - your priorities
It can be very easy to lose sight of of you priorities during the holidays and get wrapped up in the holiday spirit. Is your priority to spend more (quality) time with your family? Live a healthy lifestyle? Practice financial prudence? How are your priorities being met this holiday season.

Take a moment and write down what your priorities are right now, and what you want your priorities to be for the coming year. Is there a gap? What do you need to let go of to close that gap?

4. Revisit your values: Values can act as an internal compass for us, enabling us to make better decisions while keeping aligned with what is most important to us.

5. Build in time for your "self" - Our needs can quickly get lost during the holiday, especially if you wear many different hats - business owner, executive, parent, spouse, partner, sibling, child.

What do you need in order to fuel yourself during the holidays? Remember: "What doesn't get scheduled, doesn't get done!"

What can you do today to have time for yourself?

and finally

6. Celebrate - The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate all that has happened during the past year. It's a time for community and reconnecting with childhood wonder. Find time this holiday season to celebrate in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling to you.

Some questions to consider are:
What have I accomplished this year?
What major milestones have I reached?

Cheers to a "balanced" holiday season!

Jennifer
Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Email: jennifer[at]potentialsrealized[dot]com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Jennifer is a Professional Certified Coach who works with professionals, teams and organizations on balance, career, teamwork and business success issues. She has worked with clients in over 30 countries to help them take their work and relationships from good to great. She offers indvidual and group coaching programs, workshops and retreats (virtual and in-person). To find out more about the work Jennifer undertakes and programs she offers, please visit her at www.groupcoachingessentials.com.

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