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. 

Happy New Year... Bring on 2014! (Post features 4-minute video)

The festive season has come and (nearly) gone and I hope you and your family (whether family by blood or family through love and association) are having / have had a fantastic holiday season. How have you spent the last week and a bit?

I have been blessed to spend the last days of 2013 with family (my hubby Rahim, my mum and my dad) in slightly sunnier climes than what we're blessed with in the UK and it really has been lovely to spend quality time together and truly reconnect.

As is often the case when away from the daily grind, it's also been beneficial to have some time and space to think, plan, strategise, mastermind, plot (mwa-ha-ha - but not in an evil way, I promise!) and actually to really think about the many many things to be thankful for. "Gratitude" is a big part of my mantra for 2014 (mantras are something we'll discuss further sometime soon - stay tuned). 

In the meanwhile - I just wanted to say a belated Seasons' Greetings and to wish you all the best for a very Happy New Year. 


Not surprisingly - I'd also really like to encourage you to do 2 things (it's all about action right?!):

1. Look back on 2013... and pat yourself on the back. Ask yourself - What did I achieve? What am I proud of? What surprised me about myself? What do I now know I can do, that I would not have believed I could do, this time last year? Be kind to yourself (so important). Where there were disappointments, set backs and anything you would not have wished for yourself - I really do wish you more of what you need and want in the coming year. Please don't skip over this... list 3-5 things (at least) in relation to these questions...

2. Make some solid resolutions / set intentions, make promises [whatever your term is for resolutions] for 2014. It is SOOOO easy for a year to pass by and to wonder what happened with it - and actually making some real plans that you are determined to work towards plays such an integral and positive role in making things happen.

To encourage you to do this... I created a Happy New Year video for you which features some of my personal successes and challenges. It also features one of my favourite thought-provoking, action taking questions of all time... can you spot it? Click on the image below and check it out... and look out for regular videos from me in 2014... all explicitly designed to bring some positivity, encouragement, motivation and (let's face it) awesomeness as you move towards what you are looking to achieve in this coming year and beyond.

Bring it on! 

(This blog is taken from the Limitless Community newsletter - edition 1 for 2014. Sign up free to be the first to receive motivational, actionable content)

Like this blog?:

Share it! Please share this on your social networks. When forwarding it, let your friends know that the best way to keep up to date with this content is through subscribing to my newsletter here.

Want to use this article on your blog or ezine? No problem... you just need to include the below:

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.