Life Coaching ..... Anyone ?

[Crystaltips]

Anyone have experience - or know anything about life coaching. I am sick to death with being out of control in many areas of my life and would be interested to see whether or not this can help.
Thanks

Ta maria I love your idea about informally life coaching each other on mumsnet.

I have tried life coaching - I got to know a life coach called Rachel Pryor (rachelpryor.com I think) through work and, when I was so frustrated at the state of my career, I decided to have some sessions - pricey, about £200 for four sessions (on the phone) I thin. Didn't dare to confess to dh what I'd spent.

Often Rachel did seem to be saying the obvious but I have never forgotten some of the good, common sense things she said. I really liked her. Very easy to talk to. She helped me to move away from the work I'd stopped enjoying, and helped me to organise myself so I could start writing a novel. I was also scared witless about public speaking (ie doing a book reading) and one session with her (free, as I was writing about it so she got publicity!) really helped with that too. She helped me to identify my fears and look at things from a fresh perspective.

I think life coaching CAN help with bogged down-ness but it is bloody dear! However my accountant put it dow as 'training' which I gues it was! And how much do we spend on (invest in) ourselves anyway?

I guess one session costs about the same as a very posh haircut and colour....

I mean Tiamaria not ta Maria!

Bump. No time just now, but will come back later or tomorrow. See you then!

fionagib - Yes, I think an informal life-coaching thread would be fun and helpful! I'm not working outside the home atm but I think a bit of life-coaching would help me to make the most of life. Do you have 3 short term goals that you'd like to achieve?

Mine are:

1. Sort out my clothes that I never wear or don't fit me, and give them to the charity shop or recycle them.
2. Clear the ironing pile.
3. Sort out all the old newspapers and magazines that are lying around the house.

I should be able to do that within 3 weeks.
Shall we have a quick head count to see who is in?

Bump!

sounds good to me

good idea to have a head count - put me in! I will stick to my original list of 3 - should we go for a weekly checkup to see how we are doing and some motivational chat if we are not doing too well? How about Friday?

I mentioned a spreadsheet that I used for my last attempt - it did work really well... I put down the things I wanted to achieve in 1 column and then put dates across the top... then each day I marked off what I had done... made me see what I was achieving... I did this when I was trying to lose weight - marked a simple graph of 3 exercise sessions a week and also marked out 3 meals per day and rated them as good or bad - can not be arsed with calorie counting and think I can judge a good days food against bad... stuck it on fridge... and am now down to a size 14 from 16...

now need to create a chart that will turn me from curent frumpy state into something a bit more svelte in time for sister (tall skinny) wedding in December (am being threatened with something hideous...)

The head count is currently:-

MancMum
mummytosteven
tiamaria

Any more?

MancMum - I'm going to draw up a spreadsheet like yours for me. Friday sounds good for comparing notes on individual progress!

Can I join? Can I join?
MancMum, what a great idea!

My goals for the next three weeks are:
1.) do the ironing that I still haven't done since holidays
2.) sort out clothes I want to keep and take ones I'll never ware to charity shop
3.) clean the car or arrange for the car to be cleaned/valeted
4.) do excercise every Monday, Wednesday, Friday evening to get rid of jelly-belly

I'd love to be in on this but we're off to devon to stay with friends on friday, for a week, and I know it'll be quite debauched - loads of wine, cigs (have blimmin lapsed again!, very late nights, so if it's okay I'd like to join later and postpone my goals until when we get back... but they will be:

1. No ciggies
2. Run 3 times per week
3. Clear up the horror of my workroom

There are loads more things I;d like to add but think I usually fail cos I try to chnage everything all at the same time. Good luck to all with this week's goals!

yes please, count me in and i will stick to me original plan - will check back on Friday!

Fionagib - Time off for hols is fine! I'm off to Devon later in the hols, too!

Okay! It's looking good!

The head count is now:-

MancMum
mummytosteven
tiamaria
hunmummy
fionagib
Kay1

There are others that were here earlier in the thread and any newbies are also most welcome!
Any more takers?

Bump!

This is going really well - so far!! I am feeling very motivated - actually managed to do the complete skin routine this morning and am sat at desk glowing with clean skin... and wearing a top I had forgotten about discovered when clearing out the wardrobe... gym kit at my feet.... feel a fall coming on!!

CrystalTips - are you still around - you started the thread... do you want to talk about where you feel out of control to see if we can help...

MancMum - You're really doing well today!

Crystaltips, boudicca, Caribbeanqueen, StickyNote - It would be great to have you on this thread again. We can help each other.

Bump!

Hi...
Would love to join but am just going to bed..beauty sleep is much needed. Will pick up this post in the morning.

Night night..

Jules x

so, how did we do?

I would like to report against targets:

. Lose a bit of weight by eating better.. no bread, lots of fruit and veg and vits.
---- Not bad - would say about 70% achieved this week - need to plan meals more so I don't grab cheese sanwich when starving and in rush for food

2 Improve skin by making sure I cleanse tone scrub etc at least 10 times a week - twice a day too much of a commitment!
-- V. Good - skin currently glowing like a newborns bum (without rash!) Eve Lom is doing her stuff and the L-oreal perfect slim I have to say seems to work - celluite is improving!!

3. Sort out wardrobe and chuck out all clothes no hope of ever fitting into again and ironing some stuff that fits... I have lived in t-shirts too long and I think ironed clothes just make me look smarter and slimmer..

--Again OK - clothes all sorted - today wore ironed dress instead of ripped jeans and even DH commented! Now own very minimal (capsule?) wardrobe and in desperate need of new clothes!

Plan for this week is to carry on... once down another 7lb, will treat myself to some new clothes

So, how is everyone else doing?

PS feel great - I really feel like I have achieved something - small I know but I am feeling more positive about myself and there is a small chance I could avoid 40 and fumpy if this continues!!

Another good thing to do is to visualise yourself achieving your goals. When you get into bed, take time to relax all your muscles and breathe deeply then visualise yourself, in as much detail as possible, doing the tasks you would like to achieve, imagine completing them by the time you have set and imagine the feeling of satisfaction on completing them.

My goals in one week to:
Spend one hour drawing (sketching)
Declutter bedroom

have not actually had life coaching but have two friends who are seriously considering as a career move and have also got a book called 'your life coach' or something similar. Partly due to the fact I feel like I have lost a lot of control since becoming a SAHM. I think it is a lot about focusing on your goals on one hand and also positive affirmations. One thing it says is that you have to suspend your belief systems and just give it a go, so I am! Will let you know how it goes, I am aiming to lose weight, get slightly fit, have more confidence in all situations and become more positive as I seem naturally inclined towards negativity and pulling out when the going gets tough - believe me if I could have I would have walked away from labour - I need to change that mind set especially as I am trying to have another! Wish me luck!

MancMum - you are doing great! You've made a very good start on three goals.
I think I have given too many goals for myself. One a week will work better + do my belly excercises.

This week I sorted out clothes I want to keep and packed the rest up in 3(!) blacksacks. These are in the boot of my car, and this evening I'll drop them at a charity shop on the way home from work.

My aim for next week apart from excercising is to get the car valeted and washed.
How's everybody doing?

I take my eye off the ball (or thread!) for one day and I'm soooooooooo behind!

So the head count is now:-

MancMum
mummytosteven
tiamaria
hunmummy
fionagib
Kay1
Juliehafrancis
emwi
yingers74
boudicca

Well done, MancMum and hunmummy! Welcome Juliehafrancis, emwi, yingers74 and (especially) boudicca!

I did a 3 week list, and I've got next week to catch up on my goals before hols. I've started, though! I threw out 24 knickers that were past their best, leaving me with a mere 35 pairs to wear!!! I've found that I now look silly in some size 16 trousers as they're too big, so I need to dig out my size 14 ones from the storage cupboard! Trouble is, lots of them date from my 'working in an office' days or are unfashionable, so I think I'll have to go shopping! I did nearly clear the ironing pile, but it has built up again, so I'll try to clear it today. I have got a charity bag that I'm filling, I just need a bit more willpower to be more ruthless with clothes I don't need.

boudicca - It'll be lovely to have you here, whether you want to post any goals (big or small) or not! tm xx

Thank you Tiamaria
goals?! hmm where do I start?
find a means of earning money
loose weight
get fit
finish kitchen
finish bathroom
hoover
get rid of old kitchen appliances/old clothes
throw away yearsworth of magazines
and so on,and so on!

boudicca - Hi!

I'd say to break your aims down into small steps and into short term, medium term and long term goals. For example, I think that losing weight is a medium to long term goal. Eating more healthily (like MancMum) is possible short term and helps the losing weight goal. You can start the earning money one by thinking about what you'd like to do; researching opportunities to do this in your area, researching training available, childcare facilities, etc. You could get a box file and put things in as you gather the info. Getting fit: perhaps going swimming with the kids or going to a ladies only session, perhaps. Walking the kids to or from school occasionally. I might be boring you senseless, so I'll stop there! Does that help at all?