A tip for summer work boundary holding

I've learnt over the years of working for myself whilst first having one child and then another, how best to make the summer holidays work for me.

 

There was that summer when the school holidays seemed to surprise me. I failed to adequately adjust my diary and juggled my way through and it was hellish. Then last summer saw the final leg of the divorce and I completely downed tools. 

 

This year I'm having a summer slowdown, I've accounted for this by being in a season of deep delivery over the last 8 weeks, gearing up for a gentler pace over the holidays. Attempting more harmony in the way I work i.e. not acting like I don't have children but then also not acting like I don't have gainful self-employment.

 

This is helped by the fact I am now divorced and the children will be spending a a couple of weeks with their other parent; despite all the things that come with being a single mother, I also recognise the privilege I have in this arrangement. 

 

Needless to say despite my planning, a last-minute request to feature on a Leadership Panel has come through for tomorrow. I love being on panels and the extra money is of course helpful and so the hunt to secure childcare started even earlier than I had anticipated. I am sending solidarity to those of you who are in similar situations and get it! (The Bubble App is amazing BTW). 

 

Boundaries around work are a consistent theme in the Leadership Coaching I've been doing recently. 

 

I thought I'd share one of the boundaries I use for myself during the summer holidays in case its helpful for you whether its because you want a break or need to meet the demands of your caring responsibilities. 

 

And it comes in the form of my 'out of office'. 

 

Yes that little old thing. 

 

I was positively influenced to change mine to this when I saw  Charmaine Roche's, I took a 'Coaching for Social Justice' course with her in 2022 which was brilliant and as part of booking on the course, I experienced her 'out of office' and the notion of a 'slow inbox'. I was inspired! I then played around with it, making it fit for my purposes. 

 

Its what I have been using ever since and come today at 2pm when end of term officially comes for my kiddos (and my eldest leaves Primary School…WTAF!?!?), I'll be switching this on….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This manages expectations of the sender, my clients (who will also be receiving an email with my coaching days over the summer) AND most importantly myself.

 

Both a permission slip and practical action step to allow the summer slow-down. 

 

A boundary with self and work. 

 

Feel free to borrow and make it fit for your purposes. 

 

and a question for you…what kind of summer are you planning and what have you put in place to support it happening? 

Group Supervision for 
Ambitious Coaches, Mentors and Facilitators is here! 

 

When life was lifing, having monthly Supervision is what kept the lights on. Literally and figuratively. It allowed me the space to not only continue to work but do some of my best work up to that point. 

Now that life has settled, monthly supervision has continued and is supporting me to elevate and the current iteration of that looks like adding a Group Supervision offering to my private practice. 

 

Its for ambitious coaches, mentors and facilitators who want help in keeping their practice sustainable, navigating the twists and turns of supporting others and want to do the best by their clients whilst keeping themselves well and thriving. 

 

There are 2 groups one for all and one dedicated to black coaches. (If you are a black coach, you can of course choose which group you join). 

 

In the spirit of simplicity, I've created a Google Doc with all the details. 

 

If you're interested, hit reply let me know which group you'd like to register for. 

 

a) My availability for Chemistry Calls are reduced over the holidays until back to school in September. However, if you have any questions ask away here on email or a voicenote/text message on Voxer. 

or 

b) Are you in and would like to know how to pay and secure your place? 

 

Spaces are limited. 

 

We start in September. 

 

I can't wait to supervise with you. 

 

Sending love,