Putting the WIN into Winter!
I love this time of year – where I live (Lake District, NW UK) it’s clear sky, white sun, crisp underfoot and absolutely freezing!
I love the early morning quiet darkness, I putter downstairs with my duvet, make a hot lemon and light a candle. I'm noticing my body's desire to slow down, get cosy.
It's tempting to speed up, pack more in, hit all the deadlines by end of the year … but I know I don't want to be knee-skidding into the holidays.
I'm looking at my diary for the weeks ahead and seeing what I can strip out, what can I say ‘no’ to, where can I create even more spaciousness.
What about you? Can you enjoy some still, small, present moments over this next week?
Winter Energy
... is all about moving INward. it’s a time for paring back, going lean, reducing the OUT and ON energy and shifting into OFF mode!
Winter is for softness, tending to ourselves, healing, recovery.
It’s for listening to our inner wisdom, evaluation, deeper learning.
It’s a pause and a break from the relentless ‘always on’ demands of our workplace (and societal) culture.
In a culture that wants you to be perpetually productive, making space for Winter is a radical, subversive act.
We know from nature that in Winter it doesn’t look like much is happening... but this is when all the energy is building and preparing for Spring, and the next round of ON and OUT energy.
We can’t have an innovative generative Spring, nor a productive fruitful Summer, without the replenishment of Winter.
We learn from nature that making space for Winter is actually essential.
So it’s radical, it’s nurturing, it’s essential.
How will you make space for Winter in your life and work over these weeks and months?
3 suggestions to WIN at Winter:
Create a small daily ritual that gives you a moment of peace and reminds you to slow down. Light a candle in the dark. Sip your tea. Remember what you’re grateful for. Plan your day ahead. That’s it!
Look ahead in your diary. Is it packed? Can you shift any deadlines, reallocate projects, say no. can you agree with yourself not to say yes to anything additional. Be ruthless. Also, most things can honestly wait. Check in with your social commitments during this month – will they energise and replenish you? If not it’s a no, right?!
Block out time for Wintering! Create space and schedule in activities that will nurture and nourish you. It could be booking a massage or hair cut, taking a stroll in the park at lunchtime. It could be a walk and talk with a friend, or buying tickets for a concert or movie. It could be lighting a fire, slow cooking a yummy dinner, reading a favourite novel, taking a nap. The criteria is creating spaces where you can slow down, be ‘unproductive’, be nourished.
What will you try?
2 Wintry spaces I’ve created for you:
❄️Close out your year at Winter Reset on Monday 18 December 7-8.30pm GMT. Guided retreat-style reflection (no group work) to gather your highs, lows and learnings from 2023.
You’ll leave with GOLDen insights and feeling peacefully refreshed.
Virtual session with a replay to watch and keep. £15+VAT. Secure your spot here.
🚀If you lead your own business, join me for CEO Supercharge Retreat in Kendal, Lake District, 4th January 2024, 10am-3pm. Time to step back before all the hustle kicks in, to work ON your business rather than IN it. You'll reconnect with your CEO mindset (its powerful!), you'll leave fired up and focused for success your way in 2024. £150+VAT. Join CEO Supercharge.
Work with me in 2024:
Winter coaching offer is now OPEN (until 22 December)
From now till Friday 22nd December, you can book a Coaching Refresher session with me, to schedule anytime before end of February 2024.
Use me as your thought partner, critical friend, 2nd pair of eyes, sounding board.
I’ll be fully in your corner with my 25+year toolkit and my Change Maker Energy switched ON!
Sessions with me are feel-good and energy boosting. You’ll leave with golden insights AND practical takeaways…. just the treat for a Winter slump!
What will you use your Winter coaching refresher for?
There's no 10-step strategy or template lesson plan - this is client led (that's you!), responsive coaching and thought partnership, completely tailored to your needs.
Here’s some suggestions:
❄️check in with your progress through 2023, highlights, learnings, change making, identifying your unique shifts. You’ll leave feeling focused and grounded in your momentum and achievements.**
⛸️-tackle a particular challenge together (knotty issues that're keeping you up at night and you can’t share with your peers) I'll be your safe space to find fresh thinking.
❄️identify the gifts that Winter has for you. Maybe you're exhausted and you crave a pause, a step back… I’ll provide a compassionate and energising space for you to hear your inner wisdom and receive her gifts!
⛸️kick start your 2024 and access your inner momentum. January can be a meh month so schedule your 1-1 session to boost your energy and verve! You’ll connect with what’s most important to you for the year ahead.
...or something else that's unique to you! Your BIGness, expansion and ambition is welcome, I'm also here for your challenges and vulnerabilities. You might just want a brave space to be witnessed as you speak it all out.
** Identifying this data is GOLD for you if you’re thinking about career transition, searching for new opportunities, going for promotion, or negotiating a pay rise in 2024.
Good eh! What you waiting for?
>> Book your Winter Coaching Refresher here. <<
Practicalities: Once you’ve booked I'll be in touch to schedule your session and send you a short questionnaire, so I’m fully up to speed with where you’re at, what you want to focus on, means we can dive straight in.