"Words can change lives for better or for worse"
My article "The Power of Words" published in the March 2021 issue of the Great Health Guide. Read Article >>
guest article :: Great Health Guide 'Cooperating with Others!'
“We all have hearts and want to love and be loved!”
My article "Cooperating with Others "published in the July 2020 issue of the Great Health Guide. Read Article >>
Affordable Ways to Keep Your Wellness Goals on Target
Self-care and wellness goals tend to top our list of personal priorities because everyone wants to take the best care of themselves, right? Sticking to those goals can be tricky without the right plan, though, especially if you're on a budget. Luckily, it’s not impossible to achieve. Life coach Terry Sidford offers insight into how you can stay focused on your overall wellness goals without breaking the bank.
Set Budget-Friendly Goals
The best way to make sure your plans for self-care don’t overwhelm your finances is to set those goals with your budget in mind. This makes it less likely for you to get derailed because your goals become more expensive than you expected. According to Success.com, you can make sure your goals are successful by practicing the S.M.A.R.T. technique. This means you must aim for goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. If you’re not sure where to start, then a few suggestions about how you can improve your overall wellness may be helpful.
Make it a Habit
You’re more likely to stick to a goal if it’s a part of your routine. This is the truest of goals that deal with diet changes and exercise. It’s easier to change your diet if you make your own meals, and according to Money Crashers, you can save money on eating healthily by shopping wisely as well as making your own dips or sauces with natural ingredients. If you’re too busy to head to the gym, adding quick workouts at home will also ensure you get the physical activity you need.
Plan for the Rut
It’s normal for there to be some wane in your interest and ability to stick to your goals. Should this happen to you, you can get out of a rut by planning for it. You can keep your major goals intact by celebrating the smaller tasks you’ve completed. According to Lifehack, when you acknowledge and reward the small wins, you’ll feel good enough to take on the next task in line. When you’re keeping track of what you’ve accomplished, it helps if you write it all down. You can keep specific wellness journals so you can easily see where you are and where you’d like to be. And the rewards or celebrations don’t need to be extravagant as it’s the thought that counts—go see a movie or buy a new novel you’ve been wanting to read.
Plan Ahead for Travel
It’s easy for many of us to let our goals slide when we travel or go on vacation. Finding quick and healthy dining options can be a challenge, so we’re more likely to opt for fast food. Working out can be tricky too if we regularly attend specific classes. To mitigate these sorts of issues, consider booking a vacation rental instead of a hotel room when you travel. A rental provides the opportunity to cook your own meals, the privacy to work out on your own through a streaming service and a place that will feel more like home when you need downtime. And if you are visiting places like Park City, not only can you find a budget-friendly rental, but you can also choose a place close to activities you plan to enjoy, from skiing to golfing to hitting the local boutiques.
Involve Your Friends
There are two reasons that getting your friends involved with your self-care goals can be beneficial. Just spending time with your friends will positively impact your overall wellness. Social interaction makes it easier for you to handle stress and be less prone to depression. If you tell your friends about your wellness goals, they can also act as your support system and hold you accountable when necessary. When you’re looking for an accountability partner, make sure to choose someone who is dependable and supportive. It’s even better if they can join in on the wellness plan as well. They can also remind you of your budget if you’re tempted to stray from your financial plan.
It’s not easy to maintain wellness goals in the beginning, but you can make it more likely if you have a plan in place. Since you’re on a budget, it’s best to factor that in as well, so you know how much you’re willing to spend to keep your self-care on track.
Terry Sidford is an International Best-Selling Author, Keynote and TEDx Speaker and personal coach who understands the importance of telling one’s own story. Please click here to learn more about Terry and her professional coaching services.
Follow These Important Steps for Successful Entrepreneurship
If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, you probably know that this line of work sometimes feels like walking a tightrope and juggling several bowling pins with no safety net beneath you. Thankfully, the challenges of entrepreneurship usually don’t involve actual physical danger, and there are several healthy practices you can enact for your business to keep the nail-biting stress to a minimum. Just remember to slow down, set obtainable goals, and take everything that comes your way step by step. Terry Sidford presents some steps you should follow during your journey to entrepreneurial success.
Engage With Your Community
Cities and towns love small businesses, and showing love in return can be great for keeping loyal customers and gaining exposure. To become more involved in the neighborhood where your business runs, donate to a local cause or sign yourself and your team up for community volunteer work. If you and your employees work remotely, you can boost engagement by hand-delivering products to local customers or sending out a newsletter periodically.
You can also interact with your community by joining your local chamber of commerce. Becoming a member offers the chance to network with other members, attend fun mixers, and have your business listed in the chamber directory.
Not only can community engagement give your business more exposure and a better reputation, it can also boost your employees’ morale by strengthening the pride and purpose they feel towards their workplace. That’s only one way to improve your business’s work environment, though.
Keep Your Team Happy
A 2019 study found that happy employees are more productive employees. Although one result of the study showed a link between bad weather and low worker morale, you don’t need weather-controlling abilities to make your employees happier. Instead, try following a relaxed daily schedule that provides more downtime, along with practicing empathy and good listening in the workplace.
As the business owner, you have the power to create a work environment where everyone enjoys their work and does it well. That’s worth striving for more than the productivity payoff.
Stay Organized Behind the Scenes
You know you want to present clientele with a polished, well-organized business. It's easier to give that impression if that really is the state of things, even in processes that customers aren’t privy to. For example, payroll, an occasionally headache-inducing duty, should be as streamlined as possible.
If your business is small, a biweekly payroll calendar template is a great option to help you calculate payroll and keep track of paychecks, tax withholdings, and records. The right template should also be able to coordinate with other important housekeeping tasks like scheduling and time tracking for employees and invoicing.
For a larger business, look for more advanced payroll software or outsource to a service that can do the whole thing for you. Any of these options should serve you well; just make sure you pick one and follow it consistently to stay on schedule and avoid IRS penalties.
By following responsible principles like these and taking gradual, calculated steps in the right direction, you can get closer to establishing your business as a longstanding, high-functioning force of good in the community and the lives of your employees. Once you implement great organization with real compassion, you may even find that they make your high wire juggling act easier and more fun.
Terry Sidford is an International Best-Selling Author, Keynote and TEDx Speaker and personal coach who understands the importance of telling one’s own story. Please click here to learn more about Terry and her professional coaching services.
A Career Change Can Help You Reboot After A Bad Year
2020 was a year that left no prisoners. Between job losses, political turmoil, and an unprecedented global pandemic, many of us ended the year longing for a fresh start. Well, 2021 is here, and a career change may be just what you need to prepare yourself to live your best life moving forward.
Mental Preparations
If you’ve been in your career for some time, making the decision to switch now is daunting. But you cannot live in fear forever, and sometimes you have to choose you first.
Professional life coach Terry Sidford can help you take control of your mind so that you can clear your head in preparation of changes, face challenges, and reach your full potential.
Business Considerations
The pandemic took a significant toll on many industries. Because of this, it can be difficult to choose a new career path or entrepreneurial endeavor. If you’ve chosen the latter, you’ll want to do some serious soul-searching and preparation before you open for business.
One thing you can do to help protect your home, vehicles, and other personal property from the get-go is to form an LLC. You can use a formation service like Zenbusiness to help you file the paperwork. Because each state has different rules and regulations, using a service is quick, easy, and can help you hash out important details, such as how to pay taxes and what, if any, of your personal assets may be at risk if your business goes south.
Another step you can take to make better business decisions is to learn what you can before you launch. According to SurveyMonkey, doing market research ahead of time takes out the guesswork. You can find out what consumers want, how much they’re willing to pay, and which customers are most likely to have a positive reaction to your products and services — among other things.
Personal Reflections
Having your mind ready for a change and knowing your way around the business world are not your only jobs prior to a career change. You must also make sure that you are financially prepared for the process. Discover recommends having a six-month emergency fund in place so that you have a cushion to fall back on if you need it. Beneficially, if you do not have to rely on your 401(k), you can roll this money into your new company’s retirement plan or open up an IRA.
If you are not yet 100% certain what you want to do — just that you want something different — consult with a professional coach. Or, just for fun, you can even take an online quiz to help you see where your interests lie so that you don’t end up pursuing a job that you’ll hate.
Changing careers is a big step in anyone’s life, and the leap of faith may even be wider now in the uncertain world in which we live. But when you are ready to follow your passion — or at the very least, exit a professional dead-end — there are few better ways than by getting paid to do something you love. Remember: Without the journey, you’ll never reach a new destination, and if you never experience uncertainty, you’ll never know when you have found solid ground.
A Guide to Using COVID-19 Changes to Improve Your Life
Photo Credit: Pexels.com
Change is an inevitable part of life. This has become especially clear in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced us to adapt everything from where we shop to how we work. You may find yourself feeling stressed as you balance your evolving personal and professional lives in this difficult time.
It's important to be proactive about minimizing these feelings of worry. Stress has detrimental effects on both mental and physical health. Investing in self-care will help you stay well in body and spirit. Who knows? You may enjoy the regimen so much that you'll end up making it a part of your everyday life (and we hope you will!).
This is just one example of how you can take the negative effects and turn them into positive changes. Read on for more inspiration on how you can thrive personally and professionally by embracing change for the better.
Harness the power of digital tools to upgrade your self-care, workout, and diet routine.
In light of stay-at-home orders and fears of infection, people around the world have relied on the internet to stay connected and get everyday tasks done. Embrace this trend and start using more tech tools to upgrade your self-care, workout, and diet routines. You can work out at home by taking part in internet fitness classes, and use services like Hello Fresh to get nutritious meal prep kits delivered right to your door. These tools also save you time, making it easy to juggle work and fun.
Be realistic about what changes can and can't wait.
"Freezing with fear" is part of our biological instinct, according to Psychology Today. Many people have put their lives on pause during this time. While it's fine to put off salon appointments and in-person social events, some plans should not be put off. Maintain your regular doctor's appointments, for example.
You also shouldn't put off life changes that will make your day-to-day life easier. For example, if your current space can't accommodate a home office and you're working remotely, moving to a larger space can save your sanity. Online platforms can help you house-hunt safely and provide insights into reasonable prices in your area.
Take advantage of the evolving workforce to upgrade your career.
Over the past year, many people have changed the way they work, with more companies now accepting telecommuting than in the past. If you want to change your career, this is a great time to do it. You can sharpen your skills and bulk up your resume by completing an online program while still keeping your current job until you're ready to make the move. You can earn degrees in computer science, business, nursing, and much more.
Seize the opportunity to tackle stress in your life head-on.
As a busy professional, you probably already deal with plenty of stress. Don't get bogged down. Now is the time to find ways to tackle fear head-on. You can try meditating every morning, for example, or book a massage every month.
This lack of control that people feel when things are changing in their world can be intimidating and leave you feeling stuck. Don't let fear paralyze you. Reframe the narrative and seize control of the changes by using them to your advantage. The tips above provide some inspiration to get you started.
Professional coach Terry Sidford of Create Your Life International can create a plan that clarifies your vision and leads to transformative success.
Create a Life-Proof Remote Work Routine That Will Propel You to Success
Whether you are self-employed, a freelancer, or are temporarily working from home due to COVID-19 restrictions, having the ability to work from anywhere can feel freeing. Being able to work in your pajamas, make your own hours, and never sit in rush hour traffic is downright thrilling. However, after a few weeks or months, testing the boundaries of your location independence can result in decreased productivity, increased stress, and eroded work-life boundaries.
The solution to this common problem lies in creating an effective routine that gives your day the necessary structure you need to thrive. Terry Sidford shares her top strategies for creating a life-proof remote work routine that will lead you to success.
Get dressed in work attire every morning
At first, working in your loungewear or pajamas definitely has a certain novelty to it. Over time, though, “showing up” to work this way can lead to a serious slide in your productivity. In fact, research has proven that wearing clothing that is aligned with your profession can increase productivity, and can even influence your feelings toward your work.
If you’ve opted for pajamas over work attire, now is the time to make this change. Before you start your workday, get ready as though you were going to an office. To make this change easier, set out your work clothes the evening prior so that you have one less thing to do in the morning.
Work from one consistent location
Another exciting part of working remotely is having the ability to change your work locale whenever you feel like it. One day you can work from the kitchen, and the next you can work at a coffee shop. Your office is wherever you want it to be.
Unfortunately, this perk can also be detrimental to your productivity. When you are constantly changing your work setting, you run the risk of inviting distractions into your workday. To keep focused throughout your day, choose to work from one consistent location. Having a dedicated home office is ideal since it can most effectively limit noise and external distractions. To further improve your focus, consider the use of noise-cancelling headphones.
Set working hours for each day of the week
If you are a freelancer or a self-employed business owner, one of the biggest perks of your job is getting to make your own hours. When used appropriately, this flexibility allows you to tackle unexpected emergencies, schedule important appointments, and meet client needs as they arise.
However, if you’ve fallen into the habit of starting and ending your day when you “feel” like it, your mood and productivity can suffer. The lack of structure in your day can cause feelings of uneasiness and anxiety that are fully preventable. You may also miss out on opportunities that arise during the hours you miss. Starting this week, set consistent working hours for each day. While you can modify these hours if needed, having this routine will improve your mood, help you better establish work-life boundaries, and increase your efficiency.
Enhance the energy of your space
After you’ve chosen your remote “office,” make sure that the space is optimized to promote positive energy. This includes keeping your space clean and free of clutter, since a messy office can distract you from work. One of the biggest indicators of negative energy in a home is clutter. Excess clutter can inhibit the way energy flows through your home (and office), so it could be holding in bad energy. To cultivate positive energy in your workspace — and enhance your mood and productivity — take an afternoon to deep clean.
When you use these habits to build your daily routine, you will find it much easier to get through your workday. Your newfound sense of peace, productivity, and focus are essential in helping you reach your career and life goals.
Terry Sidford is a renowned speaker, TEDx presenter, author, and life coach. She has helped many individuals and organizations achieve their goals and unleash their full potential. Learn more about Terry today.
A special thanks to Amy Collett for her contribution, learn more about Amy and her services here: bizwell.org
guest article :: Great Health Guide 'The Power of Belief'
“It’s not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts that causes suffering. “
My article "The Power of Belief "published in the May issue of the Great Health Guide discusses tips for challenging limiting beliefs. Read Article >>
pc talks presents :: womens night out
being seen & heard
We all have a human need to be seen and heard.
There are two ways to accomplish this. One is to break down the walls to being seen. If you don’t feel seen and heard look at your ability to be open. What do you want others to see? What are you hiding? Is there something in the way of you being transparent? And, how do you see and feel about yourself?
I work with many clients who feel invisible and not important. I begin by helping them realize their own importance and value. When they begin to believe in themselves and that their voice deserves to be heard, they automatically start to allow others to hear them.
The second way to be seen and heard is to evaluate the old stories from your past that keep you from being seen and heard for who you are today. Are you living stories that no longer serve you? The past is gone. Present time is your friend. Begin writing new chapters to your life story.
On the flip side of feeling seen and heard, is learning how to show others you hear them and value who they are. For example, when listening, many times we do so with our own agenda and preconceived ideas. What if we listened with a blank canvas as if we were hearing the person and words for the very first time? Listen with compassion and show genuine interest in what they are saying.
Here are some tips to listening so people feel heard and seen:
Acknowledge that you heard what they are saying.
Make them feel important.
Use clarifying questions so they know you are actively listening.
Listen with curiosity and wonder. No evaluations.
Usually it is less about solving their problem and more about being heard.
When we begin break down our own walls and practice active listening, we will all benefit. Start by looking inside yourself.
Try being more transparent and start listening with compassion.