Ahhhh, it’s finally here – sweater weather and pumpkin chai latte season!
In September, my focus is usually all about those “back to school, back to work” goals and putting the push on for Q4. It’s the big reset I always need after a chaotic summer of disrupted schedules, out-of-office notifications, and projects that were put on pause during camping season. But, this year I feel different.
Since the spring, we have all been full-steam ahead and barely keeping our heads above water with proposals, contracts, events, meetings, and hiring challenges. The last thing I want to do is pile “inspiration” to set some Q4 goals for you. Our summer vacations went by in the blink of an eye, and now we’re working double/triple overtime to keep up with the demand. We are all tired and stretched.
We’re juggling work trips with family commitments. FAMs, conferences, and local association responsibilities are intermingling with our kids’ school projects and sports tournaments.
What we need this fall, more than ever, is a break from the work!
In lieu of my regular Q4 business plan goal-setting, I’m setting some health goals.
Health is a large topic, so I’m breaking it down into physical health goals, mental health goals, work health goals, and personal health goals.
Physical health goals
Whether it’s committing to running in the cool fall air or creating some healthy eating and drinking habits, the fall is a good time to reset your physical health before the indulgent Christmas season is upon us. I plan on getting some early morning runs in, 2-3 kilometres at a time. I want to add a physical activity goal that is achievable and won’t feel like an onerous task. I may even hit the reset button on my 30-day burpee challenge – does anyone want to join me?
Mental health goals
The ups and downs of the past six months, coupled with being out of routine over the summer, my mental health has been all over the board. I’m thankful for the Events Minds Matter community (come find us on LinkedIn) and for my Morning Routine Accountability Group on WhatsApp. A mental health reset can look as small as incorporating some meditation into your morning routine or taking a walk at lunch. (Oh, hey, that can be a physical health goal as well!)
Work health goals
With the number of competing priorities in my inbox, I’m triaging projects and not being as effective as I can in any one area. I’m currently running from one task to the next, and the pings of my email and LinkedIn inboxes keep me jumping from distraction to distraction. This fall will be about spending focused, uninterrupted time on projects and tasks so that I’m at my absolute best when servicing clients or creating content. Creating focused time to work versus being a slave to distractions will also serve my mental health goals.
Personal health goals
These are the activities that, well, don’t quite fit into the other buckets. It’s about taking time to enjoy your hobbies (salsa and jam-making anyone?) and finding time to spend with family and friends. I can’t wait to go to the local fruit stand with my son to find our perfect Halloween pumpkin, and I’d love to tackle those outdoor projects that were impossible to do with the summer heat. “Work” isn’t just about logging hours with your employer; it’s about enjoying the other kinds of work that fill our souls, not our pocketbooks.
It’s all coming full circle for me this season, and I hope you’re ready to hit your own “reset” button as well. Happy Fall y’all!
Leanne Calderwood, CMP, is a personal branding and LinkedIn trainer for the meetings, events, and hospitality industry. She believes our industry is built on experiences, and that experience should start with our professionals.
She serves hospitality professionals and teams through her online courses and consulting services to help guide #eventprofs out of the shadows and into the spotlight using their branding strengths and stories.
When she’s not talking shop, you can find Leanne drinking tea, making jam, and gardening at her home in Kelowna, B.C. with her husband, two teenage sons, and her dog, Farls Barkley.
You can learn more about Leanne over on her blog at www.leannecalderwood.com
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