Recipe For Success

How is your spring going, so far? This is the first time I've spent April and May in S Oregon. Usually, I'm back on the east coast by now, getting ready to start a hospital contract in Boston. I'd heard that it could be quite warm out here, but this year has been particularly chilly. We even had snow on Mother's Day!

I won't be working in Beantown this summer. Instead, I've decided to make the best of being out here and I just accepted a contract with a local hospital. I've had the same agency and recruiter ever since my first assignment in 2015. Now, I'm not only in a different location, but I have all new people representing me and I've got to get ALL my information to them. I've been spoiled. Staying with my previous agency for all that time meant the details weren't an issue. Now I'm trying to pin down all my pertinent information, track down piles of documents, and I'm uploading and downloading for what feels like hours on end! At times it's felt like a massive task and then, I remember Break It Down Brandi. She's one of the Superpowers my coach introduced me to. Her mantra is: Breathe and take one step at a time. She reminds me to stay present and connected and to ask for help.

Can you think of a time when you wanted to do something and it felt overwhelming? Maybe you wanted to lose weight, build up some muscle strength, declutter your home, eat more healthy (for yourself and your family), try a new career, or go on a big trip. These are just a few possibilities and they're all part of self-care, by the way. Almost anything new and different can seem big and scary and throw us into fight, flight, or freeze mode.

Here's one way you could look at the situation. What if you wanted to make chocolate chip cookies and you've never baked and never seen anyone bake before. The idea of all the steps it might take could be

intimidating unless we take Break It Down Brandi's suggestion:

Take a deep breath.
Start with a recipe. Maybe you have a cookbook left over from long ago or you can look one up on the internet.
Think about what you want in your cookies -- maybe you like oatmeal or coconut or you're a purist. The more specific you are, the better your Google search will go.
Once you have a recipe, see which ingredients you already have and which ones you need to get. Also, do you have the right utensils and baking sheets? Make a list to take with you to the store.
At this point, or anytime during the process, you might want to ask a friend to help. They might have a favorite recipe or it might be fun to bake together.
Notice how much time it takes to bake and allow for mixing and even clean up and give yourself enough time.
When your cookie jar is full, pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

You can do this for almost anything. If you're having trouble with small, specific steps, I can help you. Email me and we'll set up a time to look at what's putting you in overload. Remember, be care-full.

Happy Healthy Hump Day,