Achieving Olympic-Level Focus: End of Summer Reset
Something I heard from a female executive client yesterday is: ‘While I’m confident in my leadership abilities, I am not so good at pausing to reassess ‘what’s next’ for me or resetting my goals and legacy that I’d like to leave.’
As the summer season draws to an end, I find it an opportune time to reassess and realign my personal and professional goals. In the video below, I share my personal approach to my own summer reset—habits and goals I have focused on during these months.
The Myth of Perfection in Leadership
One of the key takeaways from this is the acknowledgment that even coaches and leaders are constantly evolving. I don’t buy into the myth that leaders have everything figured out when it comes to habits and routines. It’s important to understand that the journey towards improvement is ongoing and that perfection is not the goal. This perspective is crucial for female leaders who often face immense pressure to excel in all areas of their lives.
Reading
I have set a personal rule to read 20 pages a day. This is a manageable target for me that helps me stay committed without feeling overwhelmed. Making sure you choose the right material, create a reading schedule and visit the library for choice and inspiration.
The benefits of daily reading are many! Reading keeps your brain active and engaged, which is essential for maintaining cognitive function. Immersing yourself in a good book can be a great way to unwind and reduce stress. Reading broadens your horizons and provides new perspectives, which can be invaluable in leadership roles.
Training
I want to highlight the significance of strength training, especially for women as they age. I have set a new target of weight training 2 to 3 times a week for 30 minutes. If you want to incorporate weight training into your routine, make sure you set realistic goals, focus on form, and track your progress.
The benefits of weight training include increased muscle mass, improved bone density, and an enhanced metabolism.
Vacations
I want to emphasize the importance of intentionality in travel plans, especially when visiting family. In the video, I share my approach to planning my trip to New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. From planning ahead, to balancing work/rest, be sure to explore new areas of places you have been to before to ensure a fresh perspective.
I encourage you to reflect on your own summer resets and share your experience - what have you done differently? What has stayed the same? Do you notice anything different?
There’s still time before Q4 to implement new habits to ensure you last the distance and finish the year strong - both physically and mentally, in work and in play.
If you’d like a partner for 1:1 coaching, training for your team, or for a speaking (some availability left for this year and IDW 2025) event or learn more about a proven process for sustainable high performance or how to determine ‘what’s next’ for Q4 and beyond, let’s chat!
Finally, my new book, Fearless Female Leadership will be coming out in Q1 2025! If you’d like to be an early adopter and get notified when the book is available, book signing dates/locations, events, book talks, and more, you can sign up here.
To your continued success and cheering you on always!
Sheryl.
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