What's in Your Self-Care Savings Account? EP: 41

When anxiety creeps in – and even on peaceful days – self-care is crucial. Listen in as Kelley and Laura engage in a heartfelt talk about this basic need we all have. What is self-care? At its most basic, it's things like nutrition, hydration, good rest, medical and dental care. At a higher level, it's taking time daily to notice how you are actually feeling and attending to those feelings, as appropriate. Its practicing mindfulness, raising one's awareness of the little messages, hints, and clues our minds and bodies give us about the state of our being. "Little things add up," explains Kelley, as she tells Laura how she was introduced to mindfulness practices in her 20's… Her coach suggested she brush one tooth at a time! Developing this practice required her to slow down, be 'in her body,' and attend to what she was doing in the moment. It's paid dividends in multiple ways. And now she thinks of it as one way of making a deposit into her 'self-care savings account.' Laura and Kelley dive into how awakening happens when something no longer works for us and we have to step back and notice what's going on. They explore the practice of putting on 'body armor' each day in order to go out into the world and do whatever it is we do. And they touch on the concept of 'front stage vs. backstage' personas and the work we do around impression management. It might appear to be a casual conversation, but the topics are rich, deep, and thought-provoking. Listen in and let us know what you hear. Kelley's Bio Kelley is a professional coach, speaker and facilitator whose works with individuals, teams and organizations in a wide variety of industries including Healthcare, Technology, Higher-Education and Non-Profits. She is trained as a Certified Positive Psychology Coach (CPPC), Appreciative Inquiry practitioner and certified in the EQ-i suite of Emotional Intelligence Assessments through MHS. Kelley's background in sociology keeps her curious about the interplay of agency and structure and helps her to notice both institutional and self-imposed barriers to success. She is also a credentialed member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and served on her local ICF Board for five years, most recently as the Past President of the ICF-Greater Austin Chapter. When she's not working, you can find Kelley out on a run, volunteering in her community, reading and drinking coffee at the downtown library, spending time with friends, family, and neighbors, and traveling to new and exciting places. Although native New Englanders, Kelley and her husband call Austin, TX, home while their two adult sons now reside on opposite coasts. For More: Email Kelley Vantage Coaching Kelley on LinkedIn