5 steps to summer success…

Towards the end of July, most school children in UK received their end of year report card. Remember those days? Well, being on the flip side, I didn't personally feel the joy or worry that comes with this kind of assessment - BUT it did inspire me to think about how I would be assessed against my targets for 2014 at this stage. 

Seeing as I love a good audit (as anyone who's read Happily Ever After for Grown-Ups will know) - it became a prompt for me to imagine my end of term report... and it was a great exercise. In summary, it was a little bit like this: 

Goal (NB: Phrased here in a very general way – don’t worry…I have these in a more specific, measurable way!)	Assessment Grade	Effort Grade (where 1 is excellent and 4 leaves much to be desired!)
Career development	B-	2
Health & Fitness aspirations	C+	2 / 3
Focus on family and friends	B	2
Adventure / fun	B	2
Gratitude	B+	1

To have a fair idea, you first need to know what your targets are - and it's most likely that these will involve recognition / clarity about your New Year's Resolutions… and if you weren’t clear then, why don’t you get clear now. 

What might yours be like? 

Looking (way back) towards my school days, I had to really work hard to achieve the A grades I wanted and these days it’s no different. Not only can it be difficult but is also a strategic approach needed in going for your goals… but when you really want something – it’s certainly worth that effort… and this is a GREAT time to focus in this way.

Why? Well, it’s summer time (at least in this hemisphere) and it’s a time when we tend to switch off a bit – and maybe even take a much needed vacation. Some people see relaxation as being the opposite of productivity but I’m a firm believer that it’s quite the opposite – and can be all about recharging your batteries… and perhaps even doing some reassessing if you have stepped off (or slowed down) the “daily life” treadmill.

With that in mind, here are just a few things for you to do this summer – to move forward with your aspirations during this ‘slower’ season while getting some summertime rest and of course having some summertime fun at the same time:

1. Your report: Do the exercise above – assessing where you are at the moment – taking the time to remind yourself what is important to you and why it’s worth keeping up the hard work.
2. Get active: Take a walk around your neighbourhood (or a run… if you’re that way inspired like my friend Elelta, creator of the “Joy Run”). Take deep breaths, appreciate the sights you don’t normally take the time to appreciate and get back home rejuvenated.
3. Reconnect: Contact 3-5 friends / family members that you’ve been meaning to get in touch with recently (no, I didn’t read your mind… we ALL have those good friends that have been in absentia because of mutually busy lives). Reach out. Sort it out. Have a good time.
4. Have a break from the norm: It might not be able to be a two week vacation on a beach for you right now but take a break from your regular work-life routine. The aim here is to spice up what you regularly get up to… and although you could do a gorgeous spa weekend with your loved one/s – these activities don’t actually have to cost much. You can go visit an out of town friend for the weekend (which also fulfils the aims in #3) for example… and enjoy whatever summertime fun your city has to offer. For me, that’s the Notting Hill Carnival which is coming up in two weeks – so excited!
5. Reflect: Make a note of things you’re grateful for AND things you have achieved in 2014 that you are proud of. Please do stop to do this in the summer while the pace has slowed down a bit. I bet things have happened in your life that you didn’t take the time to pat yourself on the back about. Take the time now (and don’t just think about them – write them down)

Now you are ready to crack on with the rest of 2014 – your head held high, rejuvenated from reconnecting with some important people in your life, having had a bit of time to rest and reflect and with a new found sense of gratitude – ready to keep on trucking towards those plans… and ensuring you enjoy the journey.

Watch out 2014… s/he’s back!

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Gina Visram is a career coach, speaker, mentor and author who works with career driven people in relationships and couples who are ready to work hard at being successful in their careers and personal lives - on their own terms. She has recently published Happily Ever After for Grown Ups: A Post-Wedding, Blues-Busting Guide for Newlyweds" and is committed to helping people get over overwhelm and achieve the career success/life balance they seek. For more information and to sign up to her free newsletter visit www.limitlesscoaching.com.