It is that busy and exciting final week as Christmas Day approaches. This is my favourite time of year because I meet up with friends and family and make merry with Christmas cheer and perhaps an occasional cheeky beer. My goal this Christmas is to make a little time for me to relax and put my feet up following my very busy school year and then think about what I want to achieve in 2016. Having some fun is also at the top of my to do list which usually involves family, friends and silly games.

I would like to wish all my students, clients, friends and family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I will see you in 2016.

As 2016 draws near, I have been looking back at my coaching experiences of 2015 and identify where I made significant progress followed by areas that I need to grow and improve.

Looking back over my student feedback forms I have noticed there is a familiar theme. Many of them commented that they have improved their confidence and self-esteem, built coping strategies which are tailored to their needs and now recognise that ‘they’ are responsible for their behaviour, actions and happiness.

As I coach my students and work with them on their journey of change, I realise that they have also taught me a lot over the year and have enabled me to grow and become a better coach and mentor. There is always an opportunity to learn in everything that we do.

During my sessions I use music to relax my students. They learn how music can help them emotionally, assist them in expressing their feelings and it helps me to build rapport. They have introduced me to some very different music, some of which I now have as personal playlist favourites at home.

I spend a lot of time learning about their world so that I am familiar with the things they do, what they are talking about and what they are listening to. This enables me to quickly build rapport and create a relationship based on trust and mutual appreciation. Young people are more likely to open up and talk about what is bothering them if you are familiar with their environment, give them time and actively listen to what they have to say.

My area for improvement is to continue to learn more about young people and how they live their lives. By building a better understanding of how they think and what they do will help me to improve my skills as a coach and mentor. I have already enrolled on an ‘Adolescent Autism Awareness Diploma Course’ which I will start in January and I am looking forward to developing new skills in this area.

If you know of a young person that would benefit from working with me then please do contact me.

It is that time busy of year where everyone is rushing around shopping, organising Christmas things and socialising on top of the usual weekly routine. It is so important to incorporate time for yourself amongst the hectic Christmas schedule.

I teach Mindfulness to my coaching students as a strategy for stress relief and it is very effective. Being mindful of ourselves and others is so important and even more so in December as the demands of Christmas take their toll.

Mindfulness is simply the act of concentrating on your breathing, being aware of your breath and being aware of what is going on around you in the present moment. The more you do it, the more the simplicity of it becomes clear and the benefits manifold.

Mindfulness helps you to:

• Focus your thoughts
• Create a mental environment that is harmonious, peaceful and conducive to clarity of thought
• Calm your mind and reduce stress levels
• Be non-judgemental in your own thoughts, feelings and beliefs
• Be aware of how you behave towards other people
• Listen to your inner voice and allow it to be heard
• Notice the simple beauties and pleasures in the world around you
• Be kind to yourself instead of wishing things were different all the time, or driving yourself to meet impossible goals
• Accept yourself as you are, rather than judging yourself all the time
• Be calmer and happier

Why not be more mindful this December and see how calm your lead up to the festive period could be. If you want to know more about Mindfulness or know of someone that would benefit from it then please contact me.