Slow down and reflect this summer – your autumn could be your best ever if you do
Did you know that taking a holiday could reduce your risk of a heart attack? Multiple studies have been carried out over the years looking at the impact of holidays on human health. Most have found that holidays are highly beneficial. Two studies (Eaker et al., 1992; Gump & Matthews, 2000) established that holidays can help to reduce the risk of heart attacks and premature coronary death. Another identified that people who take regular holidays tend to be healthier in general. Despite this, many of us find time off from work difficult to manage – the build up to departure date can be stressful and there is all sorts of guilt associated with time spent on a sun lounger with a cocktail (or climbing a mountain or cycling through France etc). So how can you get the most from all your experiences this summer? Well, a different approach – and the support of a coach - might help.
Taking stock during your time off
Whether you’re planning a staycation to make the most of your garden or heading off to hotter climes, that pause is the perfect moment for review. Key questions to ask during this time include:
· What has the year been like for you so far – what challenges have you faced and have you achieved your goals?
· How is the current political or economic climate affecting your business – and likely to do so in the coming months (e.g. Brexit)
· What do you want your life in autumn to look like?
· What challenges are currently presented by the people in your life?
· What goals do you want to set for the rest of the year?
A joint endeavour to discover new thinking
Many people find this type of self-examination difficult to do alone – which is where coaching can provide a genuine opportunity to discover fresh perspectives and a new way of thinking. You may have a particular goal in mind for autumn that you’d like some help to achieve – or simply feel that you want to move on from old patterns and outdated thought processes and find a different approach to apply when the seasons change. Through a meeting or a series of meetings, we can work together this summer to make use of this precious seasonal downtime to unlock a new way of thinking that delivers more focus and energy and brings you closer to achieving your goals. In this way we can help to sustain the benefits of holiday time into the autumn too.
And if you’re not going on holiday…
A city like Winchester is a beautiful place to be in the summer months. Evenings and weekends provide a wealth of ways to enjoy this time of year, from wandering through the water meadows to a post-work drink in a sunny pub garden. Even if you’re not planning a big summer break it’s still essential to stop and smell those summer roses, make sure you take the time to slow down and notice the changes happening around you in the natural and human world. You might call it ‘mindfulness’ or you could describe it as the art of living – however you look at it there are plenty of benefits to slowing down and reflecting a little when the weather is hot.
Whatever your plans this summer, take a moment with me to help you make the most of your reflections. I’ll gently guide, and facilitate the time, working with you - and alongside you - to help you capture your insights and transform them into intentions and actions for the rest of the year ahead. Summer is a precious season, not just for holiday experiences but for insights too – together we can work to transform these into long lasting positive change.