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   Volume VII, Issue I                                                                      Winter 2014
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January 14-- A Morning of Leadership Development: Bridging the Generation Gap & Dealing with Difficult Conversations

 

January 16-- Women's Leadership Circles of Bennington County only 2 slots left!

 

February 5-6-- Enneagram for Leadership Development

 

Quarterly Quote:

"And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years."

          -Abraham Lincoln
Great Link!   

 

Here is the TED Talk that Dan Buettner presented on How To Live to 100. Fascinating ! (19:39)

  

How to live to be 100+ - Dan Buettner 
How to live to be 100+ - Dan Buettner
 

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Greetings!

   

Happy New Year! I love turning the calendar to a blank slate of what we'd like to create for ourselves in the coming year. I've been thinking a lot about what it takes to have a long, meaningful life, as my grandmother recently passed away at the age of 95. In fact, all of her sisters made it into their 90s, largely in good health.  

 

It reminds me of the research on the Blue Zone, an investigation into communities in the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives, and what we can learn from them. I think my grandmother and her family lived in alignment with many of the principles, and I'm curious about how in today's working world we can try to apply them at work, where we often spend a significant amount of time, and where our health and vitality impact our effectiveness and satisfaction. Join me in the exploration!

 

Warmly,

Kerry    


The Blue Zones 

An Interesting Nugget
   

Dan Buettner, a National Geographic writer and researcher, traveled the world learning about what it is that allows people to live long, healthy lives. In his book The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest, he distills nine main principles. (They are listed for everyday living activities, and I've added some examples in parentheses for the workplace). As you read them, consider with me ways to incorporate them into the workday.

 

1. Move naturally -such as walking and gardening, using fewer laborsaving devices. (At work, take the stairs, walk to a colleague instead of emailing, take a walk at lunch).


2. Find purpose -and pursue it with passion. (Ideally, work is a great place to express your values and purpose).

 

3. Slow down-Work less, rest, and take vacations. (All the research shows we need periods of recovery and rest to be productive over the long-term.)

4. Stop eating ... when you're 80 percent full. (Limit eating out, bring a healthy lunch and snack.).

5. Dine on plants-Eat more veggies and less meat and processed foods. (Advocate getting junk food out of the office. Nobody needs cookies and chocolate hanging out near the coffee maker.)

6. Drink red wine- Do it consistently but in moderation. (OK, I can't really advocate this one at work...
)

7. Put loved ones first- Keep family a priority. (Work can become a 24/7 endeavor if we're not careful. Create boundaries, schedule family commitments on your calendar, have family dinners.)

 

8. Feed your soul -Engage in spiritual activities. (While in our society we typically don't talk about faith at work, research shows having a personal connection to spirit and the deeper meaning of life leads to more life satisfaction. Some personal reflection on this in a busy workday can help keep you focused and grounded).

9. Right tribe-
The people surrounding you influence your health more than almost any other factor. (At work, find people who want to take a walk, eat healthier, share your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Minimize time spent with negative people).

 

Reflection Exercise
Moving from Theory to Action 

 

To support you in adopting Blue Zone principles:

 

Take the online life expectancy estimator, Blue Zones Vitality Compass.

 

 

Of these Blue Zone principles, is there something that you'd like to make a change in?

 

To support your goal, here are some questions to identify environmental cues to support your commitments. These prompts are adapted from Change Anything by Dan Heath and Chip Heath.

 

 

1.     Build fences- What rules can I create to help me? (eg., reduce frequency of ordering a fancy coffee drink to once a week on Fridays).

 

2.     Manage distance- What can I do to keep good things close to me and bad things difficult? (eg., bring fruit and healthy snacks to work and keep it where you'll see it).

 

3.     Use reminders- Are there cues that can help you remember your commitment? (eg., actually schedule planning time into your work calendar for a long-range goal so that you can reach it little-by-little).

 

4.     Engage your autopilot- Are there standing commitments you can set up once that can then become automatic? (e.g., 10 minute daily walk after lunch for the next six weeks to make sure you stay on task).

 

5.     Use tools- While technology can often be a distraction, can you use your phone, computer, and other objects to support your commitments? (eg., set your phone alarm to remind you to take a stretch break every hour).

  Book Review
 
The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom

Angeles Arrien

 

This highly regarded book is relevant to the topic of Blue Zones as a way to consider your life purpose- or to reconsider what's important in the second half of life. This mid-life reflection is an opportunity to realign yourself with your core values to leave an authentic legacy. Arrien introduces the Eight Gates of Initiation that can deepen relationships, reclaim unexplored talents, and shift your focus from ambition to deeper meaning and purpose in your life. A thoughtful, introspective book bound to leave you with new insights and awareness.

 

Photo of KerryKerry Secrest is a leadership coach for individuals and organizations who inspires the best in individual and organizational performance. 

For more about Kerry, click here:

Please feel free to contact me with comments, questions or to find out how I can support you or y
our organization!

Watershed Coaching, LLC
904 Upper Dummerston Rd.
Brattleboro, VT 05301 · 802-451-0842