Well-Being

Do you find yourself trying to do more with less? Is it challenging to find a healthy work/life balance? Can you manage to do all the things while also carving time out for self-care? And is it really possible to juggle it all? And, even if we could, should we? A lot of us try to be hyper-productive and we work harder and faster than ever before. We rely on our “surge-capacity” to sustain us for the long-haul. Many of us also subscribe to the idea that staying busy means we’r

As a professional coach, I often help people through the personal challenges of their work situations. These challenges can be emotionally charged, which is natural when something important to us isn’t going well. One client shared that she drove home from work crying daily and would get physically ill on Sunday evenings, knowing she had to face work on Monday. Her anxiety was significant. It quickly became clear that her job was taking an emotional, mental, and physical toll

Storytime: the idea of “self-care” used to stress me out. I already had a massive to-do list, and now people were telling me I need to add tasks such as “do a face mask”, “take a bath”, etc. on top of everything else, otherwise I’m not apparently not taking care of myself or making myself a priority. The whole thing felt extremely counter-productive, and in my mind, “self-care” was this big production of an event. You want me to take care of myself by adding more to my plate?

At ithrive31 , we believe that strong relationships are the cornerstone of success. Our business thrives on relationships, but effective communication lies at the heart of these connections. Trusting relationships are built on strong communication practices in professional settings and at home. Why Communication Matters Organizations that invest in improving communication skills see significant returns. Research shows a direct link between effective communication and increas

If I ask “What does it mean to be resilient?”, what picture comes up for you? For me it is someone in a boxing match who just took a hit, and yet they get back up. They clearly have some sense of resilience since they got back up. But what, actually, does it mean to be resilient? A few years ago I learned there are different types of resilience, and I found it helpful to break this down. In the case of the boxer who just got back up after taking a hit: Physical resilience: th

I have spent as much time as I can this summer with family and friends. That was not easy, considering I broke my foot and was wearing a boot for the first six weeks of summer. I am now making the most of the next six weeks. My daughter is home from college after her freshman year. I realize I may not get too many more summers with her, so I want to enjoy every moment. We have spent time traveling, shopping, and eating! What about your summer plans? Are you being purposeful t

Good energy is the cornerstone of a thriving workplace community. It can foster a culture of positivity, collaboration, and mutual support among team members. When individuals bring enthusiasm and kindness to their work, it creates a ripple effect that uplifts the entire team. Good energy also cultivates an environment where people feel valued, respected, and encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work each day. This sense of belonging ultimately fosters trust an

It’s amazing what a smile can do! Smiles are more than just facial expressions; they are the language of happiness that transcends barriers. Laughter and joy have the power to uplift our spirits, improve our well-being, and create connections with those around us. Here are 5 ways a simple smile can bring good energy to your life: Betters Mood: Smiling triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones. This instant mood boost can help alleviate stres

A cleanse is done to help rid the body of substances regarded as toxic or unhealthy. Typically when we think of cleansing we think of our physical body. We cleanse our body of foods like gluten, caffeine, sugar and alcohol. The goal is to feel better and increase our natural energy. What if the substances we need to cleanse are not things we ingest but things we experience and feel? Not all toxins are biological. There are toxins that impact our psychological, emotional, and

Oftentimes summer brings a more relaxed schedule and time to try new things. Here are some ideas for branching out while having some fun this season! Go on a road trip: Plan a fun road trip with your friends or family to a place you've always wanted to visit. It doesn’t have to be far away, either! Some of the best spots are located right in your state. Make sure to plan some stops and activities along the way — it could even just be for a picnic at a roadside stop — to ma

Nowadays, the term "wellbeing" is commonly used, but what does it mean exactly? While there are multiple definitions, they all generally refer to experiencing positive emotions (joy, happiness), being free from negative emotions (worry, stress, anxiety), and having an overall sense of life satisfaction (fulfillment). In the workplace, wellbeing exists when employees can utilize their abilities, manage life's typical stressors, work productively, and contribute to their commu

Last year, ithrive31 partnered with Mary Greeley Medical Center to make external coaching available for all their leaders. Through this partnership, we have been able to offer support to leaders in a very personal way. This opportunity sends a message: “We care about your wellbeing.” The message that comes back from leaders who participate is 100% appreciation and a resounding “Thank You, we appreciate you offering this support to us.” It also allows leaders the tools they ne

Transitions are a fact of life. Some transitions are planned and self-initiated, like making a career shift, changing marital status, or moving to a new city. Others happen involuntarily and without much planning, such as dealing with a health crisis, facing the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job. According to Bruce Feiler, author of Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age , everyone goes through a disruptive event on average every 12 to 18 months. Tra

Melissa has an MBA and is a leader in a Fortune 500 global business. Melissa’s business background, strong coaching skills, and passion to help others make her a great fit for the ithrive31 coaching team. She joins the team as a Leadership and Transition Coach and will do both personal coaching and leadership coaching. Here’s a little more about Melissa’s love of coaching and why she joined ithrive31. What was your response to coaching for the first time? My first experienc

We hear it every day: It is important to live gratefully. Multiple studies link gratitude to physical, emotional, and social well-being. Research shows that people who focus on gratitude are happier, more resilient, more empathetic, and have stronger interpersonal relationships. Additionally, they have less stress, sleep better and take better care of themselves. All good stuff, but we all know that life is also hard and so many negatives come at us every day. So, the questi

Happy December 1! Do you know what that means? It means there are 31 days left in 2020. What will you do with the 31 days? How about reflection? My guess is 2020 did not go as planned for you. Me either. Flashback to one year ago today. I was organizing a family trip to the Dominican Republic in February. The first quarter of the new year looked strong for my business. I had a schedule filled with live events and new client engagements. I had plans - personally and profe

Three years ago, I launched ithrive31®, and with it, its bright and colorful brand. The use of bold colors in the ithrive31 logo and other design materials was intentional, but was in stark contrast with “traditional” organizational marketing materials. When I shared the look of my brand with my peers in the corporate space, they were not shy with their feedback: “It looks like it is geared toward women and it may not resonate with men” someone said. “If you are working in

Over the last four days, in honor of INTERNATIONAL COACHING WEEK, I have shared real situations where coaching has made a big impact. Coaching can help you: Get Unstuck – Read Kim’s story on feeling stuck and desiring a new challenge Gain Clarity –Read Joe’s story on working through conflict with his boss Reach New Heights -- Read Bill’s story on being stretched in a new assignment Ensure Accountability – Read Cindy’s story on developing personal accountability Today’s

In honor of INTERNATIONAL COACHING WEEK, every day this week I will be sharing real stories of situations where coaching has made a big impact. Cindy’s Story: Cindy is a rockstar professional businesswoman. She is creative, driven and self-motivated. Like most high performers, Cindy does it all and has multiple irons in the fire. Her challenge was staying on top of everything and meeting the high expectations she has of herself. As a working mom, she balances the craziness

It was hard enough before to be a working mom…balancing professional and personal responsibilities, giving our all at work AND at home. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, children are home from school and daycare, we’re working from home alongside our spouses and stress about our family’s and our nation’s health is at an all-time high. Overnight, we’ve added the roles of full-time teacher or daycare provider, work-at-home rockstar performer, daily meal planner (now