Category: Scheduling

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Harnessing Spring Energy

Spring!

Working with patients in my chiropractic practice I have noticed several seasonal trends with injuries, and patient behaviours. Notably in spring people come out of hibernation and are energized to be more active in their lives. In my practice that results in new ailments related to spring activities including strain from gardening, golf, gardening, and baseball etc. 

If we can harness this fresh wave of spring energy, it can be a real boost to our creativity and productivity from a coaching perspective. 

If you are feeling more inspired this time of year I encourage you to channel that energy towards your goals – we have to use it when we can!

In the last few days I’ve been inspired to begin creating a program specifically designed to address Work/Life Balance. Sharing it here with you will keep me accountable (!) and I’ve definitely felt more oomph in my step compared to the darker days of winter.

[originally published March 2021]

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Managing Post-Lockdown Re-Entry Stress

End of school, beginning of summer holidays, Covid restrictions lifting in different cities…how is everyone handling all this change?

I thought I was fine until I found myself wide awake at 2:30am on the eve of my son’s first baseball game, and realized that I was feeling overwhelmed by all the changes.

So for three hours in the middle of the night I contemplated the following:

  • jumping back into life as parent of a kid in competitive sports (attending games, driving to games)
  • committing to social engagements
  • transitioning from being at home 24/7 

These are the solutions I came up with:

  • accept that although restrictions were opening up, I could be intentional and careful about how many social gatherings to commit to
  • accept that I only have a few more weeks before I depart to hike the West Coast Trail and that my training needs to take priority 
  • accept that the transition to being a sports parent may feel harried at first but that we will get back into a groove after a few outings
  • limit the number of coaching clients I could see in July and start booking into August

Once I came up with this list I felt better and eventually got back to sleep! Other patients and clients have been describing similar re-entry stress so this is likely a familiar feeling as we try to navigate the new ‘normal’. 

On a side note, the training for my hike is going well – in the picture above I’m carrying a large MEC pack that I’ve had for 18 years (still in good shape!). I’m up to carrying 30 lbs for 4 hours during my weekly training walks. 

[originally published July 2021]

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Schedule Management

Many of my coaching clients seek help with schedule management and improving work flow/productivity. For this month’s newsletter I’ve decided to include my upcoming week’s schedule. 

Like many others, my life is a tricky balance between work responsibilities (clinic, coaching business, admin for family acting school business), family and maintaining my own physical/mental health. 

My biggest challenges are meal planning (an ever-changing balance between home-cooked meals/quick processed food/take-out) and carving out white space (time to THINK….something I realized during the pandemic that I need a lot of). 

Here’s the upcoming week:

Sunday October 17 

  • drive 2 hours from the cottage straight to son’s flag football game
  • order sushi 
  • Netflix with family

Monday October 18

  • walk 3km (each way) to and from clinic to get in one hour of exercise
  • treat chiro patients during a 5 hour shift
  • begin an online chiropractic technique course for continuing education purposes
  • practice system tools with coaching colleagues 
  • drive son to basketball practice

Tuesday October 19

  • drive son to school
  • 30 minutes on Stationary Bike
  • bike/walk to clinic
  • treat chiro patients during a 4 hour shift 
  • evening: conduct a Zoom interview for a potential new clinic team member

Wednesday October 20

  • walk to/from clinic
  • treat chiro patients during a 5 hour shift
  • get osteopathic treatment to prevent jaw pain and headaches
  • coaching client for a one-hour session

Thursday October 21

  • bike to clinic
  • treat chiro patients during a 5 hour shift
  • renew son’s passport
  • evening: attend the theatre to watch a play

Friday October 22

  • morning: work on coaching business’s social media 
  • free afternoon 
  • meet son after school for a fun treat (weekly tradition) 

Saturday October 23

  • all day volunteer shift with Shelter Movers – leading a move to help a person suffering from gender-based violence transition to a shelter or resettlement home

Sunday October 24

  • 75 minute yoga practice
  • drive son to basketball practice/flag football games

[originally published October 2021]

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