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Upfront & Personal

As I sit down to write this I've just returned from my daily well-being walk.  It's a ritual I've had in place for a number of years now.

Before my husband leaves for work, I take this walk every weekday morning---rain or shine (and there is a lot of rain in Vancouver).

The truth is some mornings I just don't feel like it (I'm tired, I'm crabby, I'm warm in bed, etc.) but I do it anyway.  It's my commitment to me and feeling good.

The days I miss my walk (traveling, Rob is out of town) are never as productive and fun.  Taking that walk kick-starts my day in such a positive way that it carries me through until bedtime.  It grounds me physically, mentally and spiritually.

As we move into the colder fall months (and our kids are coming home with various germs), I think it is important to pay particular attention to our health.  To be preventative and proactive.  Of course, washing our hands regularly helps, but what really makes the difference is becoming intentional about placing a priority on your well-being.

Ask yourself:  How can I enhance my well-being holistically?  What can I do to experience joy on a daily basis?  How can I be more present to the wonders of my own life? What first step can I take to commit to my wellness? How do I give myself the same care and attention I easily share with others?

For more tips on how to create a healthy mind, body and spirit read my article below and join us for the November Balance Teleforum.

Also, if you want to get another Mom's opinion on the importance of being present check-out writer Anna Quindlen's piece by clicking this link On Being Mom.

Wishing you success that's balanced, Lisa 

Feature Article: Commit to your Wellness - Part I

by Lisa Martin, The Working Mother's Coach

Your nose is running. Your body aches. You know you got that cold from your seven-year-old. The work project you've been struggling with is due Friday, and you keep telling yourself, “I just don't have time to be sick.”

No career-committed mother wants to give up her precious time to illness. But the truth is if you don't make time for your health, you will have to make time for illness. And, illness, we all know throws a curve ball at our balance.

This is not meant as a finger-wagging “I told you so.” Sometimes even the very healthiest of us gets the flu. But you have a much better chance of staving off the germs that your child brings home, the headaches and backaches that you might be prone to, the fatigue that has plagued you in the past, if you pay attention to your health.

Unfortunately, most of us spend more time taking care of other people and other things than we do taking care of our health. We make sure our children eat nutritious foods, yet we skip meals. We let our exercise routine go because it clashes with another family member's schedule. We sacrifice our sleep staying up late to get things done. But part of taking care of other people, particularly our children, is to model healthy living. So how do you fit in exercise, relaxation and all those fresh carrots and green vegetables when time is so limited in your life already?

Start by reclaiming ownership of your health. Good health is about integrating all aspects of your life—body, mind and spirit. It's more than adding three hours a week at the gym to your schedule. It's about obtaining a general sense of well-being. Take a step back and look at your health from a more holistic perspective—exercise is just one part of the equation. Examine how you are treating your body. Are you respecting it in terms of nutrition, movement and rest? Are you tuned in and paying attention to how you feel?

See Your Doctor(s) Regularly
If you haven't seen your general practitioner lately, make an appointment for a full physical exam. That includes checking your cholesterol and blood pressure levels and, if you've been feeling particularly stressed or tired, having your thyroid and adrenal gland checked as well. This will give you a base measurement from which you can go forward.

While you're looking after yourself, schedule an appointment or medical screening with your dentist and optometrist as well. You'd do it for your car, so why not your body? In particular, if you're experiencing any unusual symptoms, don't ignore them. Lumps, bumps, knots and fatigue are your body's way of saying that something requires your attention. Tell the appropriate health-care provider about them.

Click here to read entire article

News You Can Use - What's really on a woman's mind...

...and why everyone should care

Shelley Page, The Ottawa Citizen

According to the gossip rags, the coquettish cast of Desperate Housewives has decided a new book called The Female Brain is indispensable on the set.

Click here to read entire article

About Lisa Martin

Lisa Martin is a certified coach who inspires working mothers to achieve success that's balanced.

Author of Briefcase Moms: 10 Proven Practices to Balance Working Mothers' Lives, Lisa is a sought-after expert and speaker on work-life balance issues. Known for her very personal and practical approach, Lisa coaches working mothers to know what they want and get what they want.

With 20 years of entrepreneurial and corporate experience, Lisa is also the founder and president of Briefcase Moms - a work-life coaching and training company that helps organizations attract, engage and retain working mothers.

A mother herself, Lisa's powerful presentations and programs have helped thousands of women define success and balance on their own terms.

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Contact LisaMartin
For more information on Briefcase Moms® programs, customized private coaching with Lisa or inviting Lisa to speak to your organization, please contact her at (604)988-9394 or lisa@briefcasemoms.com. Or,visit http://www.briefcasemoms.com

 

 

 

November Balance Teleforum

Title: Well-Being Wisdom: Start Feeling Great Now

Date: Tuesday, November 14 at 10-11 am PT/1-2 pm ET

Find out how Lisa's practice of Well-Being will help you create a healthy body, mind and spirit. This practice supports you to pay attention to what makes you happy, to commit to wellness and to silence your inner critic.

There is limited seating...so don't delay. Click here for more information or to register.

Briefcase Moms Gets Second Printing

It happened.  We sold out all our first editions and had to do a second printing.  It's great to see Briefcase Moms getting into the hands of working moms worldwide.  Keep your eyes peeled for a special "Second Printing" sale in November.

Briefcase Moms' most popular tools

Book- Practical, entertaining and inspiring, this book is for working mothers who want success in all areas of their lives---career, family and personal fulfillment. These ten transformative and proven practices, designed for women at any stage of working motherhood, are about defining, establishing and maintaining life balance. They will help you make the right choices, take action and live the life you want. Find out why so many working mothers have used this plan to map their path to balance.

Journal - The e-Journal is the digital companion piece to the Briefcase Moms book and helps you put the "Check Your Balance" sections of the book into action. It comes complete with all the "Check Your Balance" questions and assessments and provides plenty of space for your personal thoughts and journaling.

Home Study Program - Are you unable to attend the 90 Days to a Balanced Life Program during the day? We recorded the 9 sessions of the live program and have made them available in this Home Study Course. Receive all the benefits of the Briefcase Moms® Program at a time of your choosing and at your pace. The course is delivered digitally and includes audio recordings, the book in pdf format, as well as the eJournal/Workbook.

Balance Teleforum™ Audios- Get your copy of the 60-minute Balance Teleforum™ recordings (available to listen on your computer or downloadable MP3 format). The Teleforums are loaded with 'how to' tips and techniques you won't want to miss. Click on a recording below for more information.

Briefcase Moms Community- Become a member of the Briefcase Moms Community TODAY and receive hundreds of dollars worth of inspirational tips, and invaluable tools and strategies that will help you refocus and realign your priorities.

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