Whether it feels like "the most wonderful time of the year" or not, the holidays are synonymous with extra stress.

The period from late November through January in the US includes the country's busiest travel day, as well as the most calorie-drenched meal Americans eat, and what's generally regarded as the drunkest night of the year.

Insider spoke with four psychologists and hormone experts, who explained how our brains and bodies respond to these seasonal changes and offered suggestions for holiday survival.

The experts all agree that whether your holidays are full of glad tidings or not, the season of near constant get-togethers can be an especially anxiety-producing period. This makes self-care even more important.

"Overall, there's an intensity to the experience that we don't typically have in our day-to-day lives, so often our feelings and interactions feel heightened," psychologist Paraskevi Noulas, an assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health, wrote Insider in an email.

The different layers of stress we may experience "can cause significant anxiety, irritability, and tension," she said.

These schedule changes can disrupt our daily hormone patterns, sending levels of stress-related steroids in our bodies, like cortisol, diving and soaring in real-time.

Cortisol, our primary stress hormone, may go up and down a lot over holiday breaks, Robin Edelstein, an associate professor of psychology who studies hormones and relationships at the University of Michigan, told Insider.

"For some people, going home could be this very comforting experience, which could lower stress, decrease cortisol," she said.

But that is not always the case. For example, imagine you're about to miss your flight, and you're running for the gate.

"Cortisol would go up really quickly," Edelstein said.

This kind of acute stress can influence the hormones of significant others, too. During an argument, one person's cortisol spike could make their partner's skyrocket, which scientists have discovered is often a hallmark of relationship troubles. Conversely, the presence of a trusted partner could help another person feel less stressed when traveling. It all depends on the dynamics of the relationship, the situation, and the people involved.

The holidays can also shift sex hormone levels, which may prompt temporary changes in testosterone in both men and women.

"If you think of sort of the warm, happy, relaxing holiday weekend, that could probably lower testosterone," Edelstein said. "But to the extent that there is competition and conflict, it might increase it."

Oxytocin, another hormone that's involved in some of our closest relationships and bonding experiences, can also wax and wane over the holidays, which may be a good thing during this period of extra pressure. Oxytocin is considered a natural antidote for stress, and it's often called the "love hormone," as it's released during activities like hugging and sex.

"Physical contact, especially kind of caring, warm, physical contact, is related to changes in oxytocin levels," Jennifer Bartz, an associate professor of psychology who studies interpersonal relationships and social behaviors at McGill University, told Insider.

A surge of oxytocin can relax a nursing mother, and it may help us recognize our kin and lubricate social connections, too. (It's even been successfully trialed to boost social skills for some children with autism.)

But a rush of oxytocin, despite it's glowing reputation, doesn't universally provide people with a warm and fuzzy boost. In some individuals, extra oxytocin can trigger anxiety and discomfort, a tendency that researchers like Bartz hypothesize may be linked to more anxious and avoidant attachment patterns.

It's another reminder that how bodies react to the holidays is never a one-size-fits-all equation, and it's dependent on a variety of internal and external factors.

"It's not a pleasing answer, but these things are really complicated and no hormone or neurotransmitter acts in isolation," Bartz said. "Taking a step back and thinking about what might be most adaptive for humans, it probably makes sense for there to be checks and balances, different factors that would make you not behave similarly in all situations."

But any moment-to-moment changes in testosterone or cortisol levels experienced over a holiday trip won't likely have a lasting effect on the body, Edelstein said. This is unlike chronic stress, which can damage both mental and physical health, raising blood pressure and even contributing to obesity.

If the holidays make you feel like you're falling into old, negative behavior patterns with family members and friends, investigate why you're feeling how you feel and what you might do about it, psychologists told Insider.

"As they say, old habits die hard," said David Susman, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. "So you do have to be intentional and [plan out] how you're going to try to be different."

Strategies for breaking out of toxic patterns include clear communication, a change in scenery, or an offer to help others with household chores.

"You need to communicate," Susman said. "The first time you're bringing maybe a boyfriend or girlfriend home, it's like, 'Okay, what are the sleeping arrangements going to be? The first time you bring the baby home it's like, 'Okay, well, where are we going to put the little portable crib?' There are a lot of practical details that I think have to be talked about."

Advance planning can also help is if you know tensions are going to run high at a gathering based on how things have gone in the past.

"'Hey, I'd love if this year we could all pitch in to clean up after dinner,'" Noulas suggests as a prompt, "Or, 'Can we make this a no-politics discussion this year, given what happened last time?'"

The experts we spoke with about holiday stress each said it's even more important than usual at these times to make sure you're getting enough sleep and exercise, finding time to relax and unwind, and putting healthy food and drinks in your body.

If you're traveling or preparing to spend time with others, both Noulas and Susman suggest finding relaxing sounds to surround yourself with, like some favorite music or a podcast.

"The more you're managing your stress level and feeling calm, the easier it will be to speak to mom as your 35 year-old self, not the 5 year-old version of yourself," Noulas said.

Once you're at an event, getting out for a walk, journaling about your day each evening, taking a break from the action when you need it, and even calling a friend to vent if you're feeling upset are all "soothing activities," according to Noulas.

"If the humans are stressful, you find some animals," Edelstein said.

Read the original here:

What happens to your body and brain over the holidays - INSIDER

If youre a human strutting on this little planet we call Earth, theres a good chance that there are some things you arent happy about. But as Victor Frankl said, If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be meaning in suffering.. Meanwhile, if youre looking at ways to relieve stress and have a moment of peace from the hustle and bustle of daily life, heres a list of games and applications that will help you do just that.

Altos has to be on the top of the list when it comes to games that have a soothing effect on a tired soul, at least for me. Altos Odyssey marries eye-pleasing visuals with lulling music and presents an experience that can prove to be cathartic to some. The best part about the game is the Zen Mode that lets you indulge in the game without having to worry about besting your high score or completing some objective.

Altos Odyssey is available on Android and iOS for free with in-app purchases.

If you didnt know already, colouring has the ability to relax the fear center of your brain. That is one reason why you find yourself filling the counters of letters in the newspaper. But with smartphones being more accessible now, the Colorfy application can help you deliver a similar experience. Colorfy is a colouring book application that lets you colour mandalas, cartoons, patterns and all sorts of drawings.

Colorfy is available on Android and iOS for free with in-app purchases.

If trees and music doesnt sound like a good combination already, allow me to further explain what Prune is all about. Prune is popularly described to be meditative and its quite obvious why when you start playing. The game revolves around a bonsai tree that can be trimmed to whatever shape you desire. If youre not too sure about paying for the app, this review by a user on the Google Play Store might help you make a decision.

Absolutely phenomenal. If anyone is on the fence about buying- afraid it'll be boring - you don't need to. Gorgeous music, mechanics, and storyline. It will make you feel emotional despite no words being said and no characters as a medium. The progression of the trees and the allusions to humanity crushing them are just wow.

Prune is a paid app and available on Android (INR 100) and iOS (INR 299).

Have you ever indulged in fluid art? Well, if you havent you need to install Fluid Simulation to see how relaxing playing with colours can be. To clarify, this isnt a game. The application simply provides a plain canvas to let users play with fluid colours that makes for a gorgeous visual experience. Add some soul-touching music to the mix and youll be floating in a bubble of elation.

Fluid Simulation is available on Android and iOS for free with in-app purchases.

A lot of tranquillity and comfort can be garnered from the growing and nurturing a plant. While I really recommend that you actually do this, theres also an application that lets you pander to this activity while youre on the move. Viridi lets users nurture a small pot of succulents that grow in real time. These virtual plants require care and attention just like the real deal. Even when people will leave you, these succulents wont desert you.

Viridi is available on Android and iOS for free with in-app purchases.

Read more:

5 Calming Games And Apps For Android, iOS That Will Help You Relieve Stress: Altos Odyssey, Colorfy And More - Mashable India

THIS WEEK

Personal Emergency Preparedness Workshop: Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; North Delta Recreation Centre; This free personal preparedness workshop will teach you the risks, how to make an emergency plan, and what to do in an emergency or disaster. Register at deltareg.ca (barcode: 437192) or by calling 604-952-3000.

Open Mic Night: Nov. 29, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; Singers, musicians, actors, poets and dancers are welcome to take part in this monthly variety show, the last one before the summer break. Entertain and be entertained with emcee Patti McGregor. Admission is $5 for performers and audience, and theres free coffee and teas. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performance starts at 7:30 pm. For more info call 604-581-6270 or 604-752-3072.

Osteofit Free Try-it Session: Nov. 30, 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; The Kennedy will be hosting a free Osteofit try-it session to promote a course that will be offered in January. Osteofit is a certified exercise, education and falls prevention program for individuals with osteoporosis, low bone density or who are at risk of fractures and falls. Osteofit aims to provide safe and gentle exercises for individuals with minimal previous exercise experience. Find out if this is the program for you at no cost. To register, please contact 604-594-2717.

Get Up and Go! Free Try it Session: Nov. 30, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; The Kennedy will be hosting a free Get up & Go! session to promote registered programs for January. Get Up & Go! provides an entry level exercise program for seniors with balance and mobility impairment who would otherwise be unable to attend a community based exercise class. Come see if this is the right exercise program for you at no cost. To register or for more information, please call 604-594-2717.

Canskate Bring a Friend Day: Dec. 1, 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.; Sungod Recreation Centre; Join us for Bring a Friend Day of Canskate! All skaters aged 3-12 are welcome to join us. The rental shop will be open for complementary skates and helmets and our coaching team will be on-ice leading lessons and games. We hope to see your skater and their friends for this fun session.

North Delta Christmas Tree Lighting: Dec. 1, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; North Delta Social Heart Plaza, 84th Avenue and 114th Street; On Sunday, Dec. 1, the City of Delta will be hosting its North Delta Christmas tree lighting at the North Delta Social Heart Plaza. The event will feature a variety of activities including a public skate at North Delta Recreation Centre (3-4:30 p.m.), face painting, crafts, live entertainment, hot chocolate, food and family activities beginning at 4:30 p.m. The event will culminate in the official tree lighting by Mayor George Harvie at 5:30 p.m.

Celebrate-a-Life Tribute Card Event: Dec. 2-31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Centre for Supportive Care, 4631 Clarence Taylor Cres., Ladner; This event offers an opportunity to honour those who are important to you whether they have passed, or are in your minds and hearts during difficult times. Visit between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Canskate Bring a Friend Day: Dec. 3, 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.; Sungod Recreation Centre; Join us for Bring a Friend Day of Canskate! All skaters aged 3-12 are welcome to join us. The rental shop will be open for complementary skates and helmets and our coaching team will be on-ice leading lessons and games. We hope to see your skater and their friends for this fun session.

A Taste of Reach Charity Fundraiser: Dec. 3, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Tasty Indian Bistro, 8295 Scott Rd., North Delta; Last years tremendously successful Taste of Reach event raised almost $90,000 for Reach Child and Youth Development Society. Dilawri Group returns as presenting sponsor of this celebratory evening at Tasty Indian Bistro in North Delta, featuring gourmet Indian cuisine paired with beer and wine tastings from The Drinks List, Charton & Hobbs and LaStella. A South Asian family who has received Reachs services will share their story to inform guests about help available for children with special needs. Grey Cup champion Marco Iannuzzi will emcee and Delta South MLA Ian Paton will assist with the live auction, with excellent lots including two tickets to the Vancouver Canucks vs. the Arizona Coyotes coupled with dinner and a stay at Century Plaza Hotel. Proceeds from this fundraising evening benefit the Reach Foundation and children with developmental disabilities. Tickets cost $125 and are available at tasteofreach2019.eventbrite.ca.

Vaping, Substance Use and the Importance of Connection: Dec. 3, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Seaquam Secondary School, 11584 Lyon Rd.; Parents and youth, please join us for an informative evening of learning presented by Fraser Health and the Delta Police Department about vaping, substance use and the importance of connection. This evening presentation is facilitated by the Delta School District, in partnership with Fraser Health and the Delta Police Department. Door prizes and refreshments will be available for participants.

Holiday Hazards Cat-Proof Your Home: Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m.; Delta Community Animal Shelter, 7505 Hopcott Rd.; This class is free. Class space is limited so register early. Minimum registration of five people per class. To register, call 604-940-7111. Hosted by DCAS.

A Morning with Santa North Delta: Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; North Delta Recreation Center; Take photos with Santa Claus, enjoy a delicious breakfast, make crafts and go for a skate. Be sure to bring your camera, imagination, a warm jacket, skates and a CSA-approved multi-impact helmet. Tickets are available for $10.50 at North Delta Recreation Centre and Sungod Recreation Centre. Children under the age of 1 get in for free.

Acrylic Art with Dawn: Dec. 7, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; Come spend an afternoon with Dawn and let your creativity and inner artist shine. No experience is necessary in this fun and relaxing atmosphere. Dawn will take you through the steps to build your masterpiece from the blank canvas to a beautiful finished product you will be proud to display. Class costs $15 and all supplies are provided. All that is required is an open mind and a creative heart. To register, please contact 604-594-2717.

Family Dance Party: Dec. 8, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Put on your dancing shoes! Jump about and shake your sillies out at the librarys family dance party. This program is for children of all ages and their caregivers. Come learn songs, dance moves and take a picture with your family in front of our green screen.

Holiday Fun with Cubetto: Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Its never too early to begin learning logic and coding. Cubetto is a friendly wooden robot that teaches the basics of computer programming through stories and activities. Come and create a reindeer costume for Cubetto, and then learn to program Cubetto the Red-Nosed Reinbot to go on a winter wonderland adventure. For children ages 5 to 8. Families are encouraged to participate together. Registration is required at fvrl.ca.

Coffee With A Cop: Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; The centre will be hosting this free information event. A constable from the Delta Police Department will be available in the lobby to answer your questions. Feel free to drop by and have a cup of coffee and discuss any issues you face or thank them for their service. Please contact the customer service desk at 604-594-2717 for more information.

Santa in the Library: Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; George Mackie Library; Introduce children to the love of books and language with a festive Christmas Storytime. Children and caregivers will enjoy interactive stories, songs, rhymes and more. Storytime prepares children to learn to read. Dont forget to bring your camera as Storytime will be followed by a visit from Santa Claus.

Holiday Greetings: Dec. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Tis the season! Drop by the library to create a holiday card. Well provide the paper, markers, crayons and crafty supplies. Enjoy holiday music while you explore your creativity.

Creative Writing Club: Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Calling all young writers! Sign up for Creative Writing Club at the library to explore your imagination and develop your creative writing skills. If you are between the ages of 8 and 12, join us for monthly creative writing activities, story games and writing challenges. Registration is required. Visit the events page at fvrl.ca to register.

Christmas Concert: Dec. 17, 7 p.m.; North Delta Arts Centre, 11425 84th Ave.; Come enjoy a free holiday concert featuring the Delta Concert Band and a local choir. Entry by donation to the food bank. This is an all ages event.

Sungod Skating Club Annual Christmas Recital and Party: Dec. 20, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sungod Arena; Mark your calendar for an evening of family fun and holiday cheer. First, enjoy a wonderful one-hour holiday spectacular show from 6-7 p.m. featuring our Sungod skaters, then stay for refreshments a dessert potluck, a family and friends skate from 7-8:30 p.m., and a very special appearance all the way from the North Pole! Skate rentals are free.

Delta Scottsdale Lions Club Christmas Tree Chip: Jan. 4-5, 2020, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sungod Arena parking lot; This annual fundraiser raises money which is donated back into our community by way of scholarships, hampers, dry grads, community dinners, families in need, the food bank and others.

Ladner Hospital Auxiliary Christmas Store: Delta Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop, 4816 Delta St., Ladner; The Ladner Hospital Auxiliary Christmas store is now open and will continue until Christmas time. Open Mondays 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays to Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 604-946-1455 for more information.

Port Guichon Winter Market: Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Port Guichon Elementary School, 4381 46A St., Ladner; Come out and support many local businesses at the Winter Market. Its a great opportunity to purchase your Christmas gifts, homemade cards, local honey, epicure, books, Norwex, Sweet Legs, crochet items & much more, plus a baked goods sale, concession, 50/50 raffle draw and crafts for kids.

Gray Elementary Christmas Market: Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Gray Elementary School, 10855 80th Ave., North Delta; Featuring 40 tables, a school bake sale and door prizes, come and get your Christmas shopping done at a popular market featuring local artists and vendors. Email grayelementarypac@gmail.com for more info.

Trinity Lutheran Church Christmas Bake Sale: Dec. 7, 12 p.m.; Trinity Lutheran Church, 11040 River Rd., North Delta; Trinity Lutheran Church is having our annual big Christmas sale on Saturday, Dec. 7. We will have lots of wonderful baking (including Norwegian Rosettes and Krumkake), gift baskets and a soup lunch. For more information, please call the church office at 604-584-0111.

Country Christmas Market: Dec. 8, 10 a.m to 4 p.m.; 17276 18 Ave., Surrey; Christmas music in the air, hot cocoa or apple cider around the crackling fire. Enjoy wandering through our new farms country town for those special holiday ornaments, wreaths, reindeer, jewelry and more; many handmade treasures to be found. Meet and greet the baby goats and rescue animals, and dont forget to make a wish on the Christmas wishing tree.

Paint n Palette Paint Party: Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m.; Royal Canadian Legion Branch 289, 1835 56th St., Tsawwassen; Come and join us for a fun-filled afternoon and take home this beautiful Christmas painting. Cost is $40 cash, cheque, or e-transfer; all supplies included, no experience necessary. To register, email catheytylertrp@gmail.com ahead of time to ensure there is a place waiting for you.

Maker Monday: Mondays through Dec. 2, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Start the week creatively. If youre between the ages of 8 and 12, drop in for Maker Monday and engineer something with KEVA Planks. Something new will be designed and made each week; you could be constructing cardboard structures or creating Robot Art on Sept. 30. Some of the other amazing things well be doing are designing electronic inventions with Makey Makey and building with Magformers.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly: Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Deltassist, 9097 120th St.; A non-profit organization. We have a friendly group to help you lose weight. For more info call Eileen Labron at 604-596-0233.

Kennedy Seniors Choir: Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre; Janette Sobkowicz, choirmaster with a bachelors of music degree and 20 years of experience teaching music and conducting choirs, starts the newest program at Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre. Join Janette and seniors from the centre in singing and socializing. For more information please call 604-594-2717 or visit the centres customer service desk. Please note: this drop-in activity requires a punch pass.

Storytime: Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays through Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Tuesdays and Fridays) and 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. (Sundays); George Mackie Library; Introduce kids to the love of books and language with Storytime. Children and caregivers will enjoy interactive stories, songs, rhymes and more. Storytime prepares children to learn to read. Suitable for ages 2 to 6 years.

Relaxation Circle: Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.; Centre for Supportive Care, 4631 Clarence Taylor Cres., Ladner; Are you an adult living with cancer or serious illness and would like to relax body and mind? Then join the Centre for Supportive Cares free Relaxation Circle where you will learn and practice relaxation techniques and experience soothing touch by volunteers, guided imagery and live music by our music therapist. Open to family members and friends too. No need to register, just show up! For more info, call 604-948-0660.

Suicide Grief Support Group: Tuesdays through to Dec. 3, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Centre for Supportive Care, 4631 Clarence Taylor Cres., Ladner; Recent loss due to suicide and want the support of others in similar circumstances? Join a free adult suicide grief support group where you can share your feelings and thoughts in a safe and supportive environment, learn about coping strategies and resources, and develop community with others. For more info and to pre-register, call 604-948-0660.

Settlement Workers Punjabi/English: Alternate Tuesdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Are you a newcomer to Canada who needs help adjusting to your new life? Free and confidential services are offered to help newcomers with all their needs during the process of settling into their new community. Settlement and integration services are free for immigrants, refugees and their families in B.C.

Lego Club: Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Love Lego? We provide the Lego, you bring your imagination. Come play, create, and experiment. Lego Club is a fun afternoon program for kids. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.

Recovery International Weekly Meetings: Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; North Delta Evangelical Free Church, 11300 84th Ave.; Recovery International is a weekly community-based self-help mental health group that offers tools and techniques that participants can use to deal with depression, anxiety, impulse control, anger management and a variety of other nervous and mental health issues. Meetings are led by trained group leaders.

Bridge at East Delta Hall: Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays, 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; East Delta Hall, 10379 Ladner Trunk Rd.; The Duplicate Lite Bridge Clubs is conducting their games in Delta. Cost is $8 per session, including refreshments. First time players are invited to come give bridge a try. Register by emailing ljsimpson@telus.net or calling Lynda Simpson at 604-788-4721. For more info about the bridge clubs, visit duplicatelite.ca.

Settlement Workers Arabic/Mandarin/English: Alternate Wednesdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Are you a newcomer to Canada who needs help adjusting to your new life? Free and confidential services are offered to help newcomers with all their needs during the process of settling into their new community. Settlement and integration services are free for immigrants, refugees and their families in B.C.

Supporting Family Resilience Group: Wednesdays, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Delta office Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser, 4871 Delta St.; The Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser offers a no-cost support group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults who are working through mental health and/or substance use concerns. Facilitated by both peers and counsellors, the group meets weekly at our Delta office. Please register prior to your first meeting by phone: 604-943-1878, or email: info.delta@cmha.bc.ca.

Babytime: Thursdays until Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; George Mackie Library; Make language fun, and start early with Babytime. Help your baby develop speech and language skills. Enjoy bouncing, singing, rhyming and stories. Babytime is a fun, social bonding activity for babies and caregivers. Suitable for babies 23 months and younger.

Parent Time: Thursdays through Dec. 5, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; George Mackie Library; Relax and mingle after the fun social bonding activity of Babytime. Parent Time provides parents and caregivers an opportunity to meet other parents, learn new parenting skills, share information and resources. Suitable for parents of babies 23 months and younger. Schedule: Nov. 28 speech and language with Fraser Health; Dec. 5 breastfeeding clinic.

Mental Health Resiliency Support Group: Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; South Delta; Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser offers a mental health resiliency support group in South Delta for individuals living with a mental health concern or experiencing symptoms. Please call the Delta office at 604-943-1878 or email info.delta@cmha.bc.ca to register for your first meeting.

Knit & Stitch: Fridays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Pack up your needles and yarn, crocheting or any other projects and head to the library. Join members of all ages and abilities to share ideas, techniques and good conversation.

Teen Advisory Group: First Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; TAG is a group of committed teens (ages 13-19) who volunteer their time and energy to help staff develop teen-oriented programs, assist at library events and act as library representatives in North Deltas teen community. Membership is a resume booster and helps earn volunteer hours. There is time to socialize and plan. Did we mention that there is free food? If interested, apply at the library.

Evening Book Club: Second Tuesday of the month, 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Join us to discuss books in a casual setting. New members are welcome. Books are provided.

Poetry Night in Punjabi: Third Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Come hear two published poets/authors read and discuss their work and answer questions from the audience. Held in collaboration with Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Uttari Amrika and Punjabi Lekhak Manch Vancouver.

Cubetto Storytime: Third Saturday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; George Mackie Library; The little ones can get into the action with Cubetto Storytim. Cubetto is a friendly wooden robot that offers a fun first step into the world of programming while encouraging imagination. Kids aged 3-5 can use Cubetto to learn the basics of coding, logic and pattern recognition. There are no screens to stare at and no reading to do. Join Cubetto for a fun, hands-on storytime every third Saturday of the month until November.

Teen Night Pizza & Games: Fourth Tuesday of the month, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Do you love to play board games? Are you between 12 and 19 years old? Then come to the library for a fun night of gaming and free pizza provided by Imperial Hobbies.

Afternoon Book Club: Fourth Thursday of the month, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Join us to discuss books in a casual setting. New members welcome and books provided.

Crossroads United Church Monthly Community Dinner: Fourth Saturday of every month, doors open at 4:30 p.m., dinner starts at 5 p.m.; Crossroads United Church, 7655 120th St.; Crossroads United Church invites you to their monthly community dinner. Come and enjoy this free nutritious meal served in a casual, safe environment. It is a sit-down served meal and is open to anyone who would benefit from good food in a safe, family-friendly setting. For more info go to crossroads-united-church.ca.

Baby Bump Book Club: Last Monday of the month, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; George Mackie Library; Are you a mom-to-be? Have you heard about the new Baby Bump Book Club at the Mackie Library? Check it out on the last Monday of the month. This group is very organic; it can be whatever you need it to be.

Preschool Science Storytime: Last Friday of the month through to Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; George Mackie Library; Join us the last Friday of every month for a special Preschool Science Storytime. A different subject will be featured every month and will include a story (fiction or non-fiction), a group re-telling of the science aspects of the story and a hands-on activity. Lets build preschoolers to become not only good readers but inquisitive citizens too.

Prostate Cancer Support Group Surrey: Last Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (except July and Dec.); Valley View Memorial Gardens, 14644 72 Ave., Surrey; PCSG Surrey provides awareness, support and education for the prevention, treatment and cure for men diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in Delta, Surrey, Langley and White Rock. Spouses and guests are welcome. For additional info visit procansupport.com or call 604 574-4012.

Book A Librarian in Punjabi and Hindi: Available by appointment; George Mackie Library; Learn how to download books from the library, find what you need on the library website, research and learn using the librarys computer-based services, what books you might like based on your interests, basic internet and basic computer. Book your personalized 30-minute session by phone (604-594-8155) or in person.

Delta Music Makers Concert Band: Did you have fun playing in a band in high school? If so, dust off your instrument, contact Curt Jantzen (cjband7@gmail.com), then join us in Ladner Tuesday evenings. The Delta Music Makers Concert Band is a fun group of adults who love to rehearse and play concerts in the community. Especially needed now are trumpets and clarinets, or any instrument except alto sax (that section is full).

Delta Scottsdale Lions Club: Second and fourth Tuesday of each month; The Lions Club, a service club that welcomes both ladies and men, is looking for new members. If you would like to be involved in helping in your community, join us on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Delta Golf Course (11550 Ladner Trunk Rd.) from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Meetings are not mandatory; if you are interested in giving back to your community it is not a huge commitment. For more info call Sue or Al Joys at 604-594-8783.

Canadian Federation of University Women, North Delta/Surrey: CFUW is a national non-partisan, voluntary, self-funded organization working to improve the status of women and to promote human rights, public education, social justice and peace. Every year, CFUW and its clubs award close to $1 million to women to help them pursue post-secondary studies and also provide funding for library and creative arts awards. CFUW clubs provide learning and fellowship through lecture series, book clubs and issues groups, work to prevent violence against women and child poverty, and promote early learning and child care. North Delta/Surrey club meets monthly and is open to all women graduates, students and associates. Call Barb (604-594-6145) or Eleanor (604-589-3631), or email northdeltasurreycfuw@gmail.com for info.

North Delta Newcomers and Friends: NDNF is a ladies social club. Please call and arrange to attend some of our morning walks, coffee times, stitch-and-chats, card games, par-3 golf, potlucks and monthly dinners. For more info please call Kathy (604-583-3691) or Diane (604-543-7345).

Gamblers Anonymous: Has gambling taken over your life or the life of someone you know? Call 1-855-222-5542 to take back your life. Gamblers Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem. Call 1-855-222-5542, email friend@gabc.ca or visit gabc.ca for more info.

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What's happening: week of Nov. 28 - Cloverdale Reporter

Am I in the right relationship? Is it too late to switch careers? Im never as assertive with my friends and co-workers as I want, but how can I change?

Just twenty years ago, if you had told somebody they should see a life coach to answer these questions, they wouldnt have had any idea what you were talking about. Today, life coaching practitioners can be found practically anywhereat counseling centers, gig economy websites, and even Airbnb. They contribute to the transformation economy, a growing collection of industries that also includes retreats, gurus, and adventure travel, where the product is a new and improved you.

We are seeking out experiences that actually change us in some way, that help us achieve our aspirations, the author Joseph Pine, who coined the term the experience economy with his co-author James Gilmore, told Quartz. Increasingly that will be part of the economy where consumers and even businesses increasingly go to companies and effectively say: Change me.

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Life coaches are everywhere in 2019, even Airbnb - Quartz

The Wall Street Journal recently prompted a discussion among executive coaches and their clients by publishing anarticleon the blurred lines between coaching and therapy. The story has stimulated conversations about what constitutes coaching best practices versus overreach. Purists argue that coaches should stay in their lane, keeping subject matter strictly business. In their minds, a coach is a coach, a mentor is a mentor, a therapist is a therapist. These are separate and distinct roles that should be kept separate and distinct.

Or are they?

At its core, coaching is meant to help leaders tap into their full potential so that they lead in such a way that their organizations achieve success. Yet the factors that contribute to leading with full potential and success don't materialize in tidy, separate packages. Leaders are whole people who bring their lives to their work (and their work to their lives) whether they know it or not.

Today's hyper-connected world has made it possible for executives to tackle work projects from home and home projects from work. They might attend a child's soccer game on Thursday afternoon and work Saturday morning. An urgent text from the spouse can sidetrack a business meeting, and an important email from the boss can delay dinner.

For better or worse, our lives are all tangled up. We bring more professional responsibilities home than ever before and more of our personal lives to the office. This can be a wonderful thing, with work colleagues helping celebrate joyful occasions from the home front. That said, it can also compound problems. Dysfunction at the office will often breed stress and irritability at home, and vice versa.

Beyond immediate family obligations and stresses, experiences from our personal history will also influence our work performance for good, bad and in-between. Executives who grapple with imposter syndrome frequently convey that they've lived with these insecurities for much of their lives. Many suspect that feelings of abandonment in childhood can spur workaholism, citing famous and highly successful workaholics, such as Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison, who were both adopted.

Coaching is blurry because our lives are blurry. One area impacts the other with ripples spreading in every direction, all the time. Such entanglements can make it impossible to help executives grow into the leaders they strive to be without delving into highly personal areas. Rather than steering away from deeper topics, I believe a good coach will steer right into them.

While coaches cannot and should not solve for all issues that come up in an engagement, they can help their clients clearly recognize them, reflecting back an accurate image like a good mirror. Once the clients can more truly see themselves (behaviors and beliefs), they can better address directly or indirectly related issues, using the best professional resources available to them. Underlying mental health conditions, difficulties coping with traumatic events and suicidal thoughts require the expertise of licensed mental health professionals and a good coach knows when and how to recommend one.

That said, not every personal hardship or challenge meet these criteria, with some better solved by others with different expertise. For example, a clinically depressed executive will have vastly different needs than an overwhelmed, struggling but otherwise emotionally healthy entrepreneur seeking help to create boundaries between work and home life. The latter might not benefit from speaking with someone who has no perspective on the demands of running startups. The advice might be all but useless.

When a coach approaches their work through the widest possible lens, seeking to create the most value for the client and the organization, they will find themselves wearing many different hats, playing different roles on behalf of their client (sometimes even within one conversation!). It's not that coaches are universal problem solvers, being all things to all clients. Instead, coaches will thoughtfully guide their clients through the process of first seeing what's really there (personally and professionally), then clarifying their options for moving toward their highest and best leading.

Coach. Mentor. Counselor. Therapist. Thought partner. It's not about the label as much as it is the outcome. Those who bring the most value to their coaching engagement don't get preoccupied with semantics. They take a holistic view of a person the complete person in order to help them gain a clear picture of and understanding about who they are as a leader, what they want to achieve and what might be holding them back. They solve for the big picture, which is the one that matters most.

Read this article:
Coaching Or Therapy? Forget Semantics And Focus On The Big Picture - Forbes

Well, its that time of year again! We Fergusons have had a great year. Here are a few of our highlights.

As you can see from the enclosed family photo, Bob lost 40 pounds on a low-carb diet. He had to get a second job to afford the diet, because he now eats more red meat than a grizzly bear, but you cant knock the results. The low-carb plan doesnt allow you to eat anything inexpensive like pasta, potatoes or rice. But you can eat as many $12-per-pound steaks as you like. Weve spent so much on food this year, we cant afford to buy him new clothes! His pants are so baggy, he looks like he just graduated from clown school. Still, it beats the stomach staple the doctors were talking about, and he says he feels good.

Speaking of health, Chardonnays nose ring got infected and she missed most of this last semester at junior college. The whole experience has made her think seriously about changing her major from Tattoo Art Appreciation to Life Coaching, but nothings firm yet.

The really exciting news is that Chardonnay finally has a boyfriend a lawyer. No, wait a minute. Bob says Ive got that wrong. The boyfriend isnt a lawyer, the boyfriend has a lawyer. My bad. Kids these days! I could never have afforded a lawyer when I was his age. He must really be smart. Hes living above our garage until the heat dies down at his place, he says. Bob and I used to have an apartment like that, too once the heat came on, you could never turn it off.

Josh is doing well in Golf Course Management; he came thisclose to making the Pros List this semester, except for his low grade in lawn-mowing. Thank goodness he got an A in Watering Grass 101.

Bobs mother is still living. With us. Sometimes shes a little forgetful. I think she would probably be better off in a nursing home, but Bob wont hear of it. He says, As long as youre healthy, why shouldnt she stay with us? Except for the smoking, the drinking, the cleaning, the cooking, the swearing and the laundry, shes not much of a bother. And the kids love her. Theyre always trying to make her comfortable. But no matter how many times I tell them, they still try to turn her oxygen back on when shes smoking.

I suppose this is as good a time as any to explain that newspaper headline in June, Bob Ferguson Arrested in Credit Card Fraud. Actually, it was good news: They finally arrested the guy who had stolen Bobs identity. They caught him trying to charge a Slim Jim and a box of Handi-Wipes down at the Gas and Go Away. Little did the thief know that Bobs credit cards have been maxed out for months, and all the clerks have orders to call the police if he ever tries to use a credit card there again.

The thief is in jail and is still pretending to be Bob, but that will probably change when he finds out about the back taxes we owe from that tax-shelter fiasco last year. Apparently, you cant just skip mowing your backyard, call it a tree farm and start taking an agricultural deduction. Who knew? But if the fake Bob Ferguson wants to do eight to 10 years for tax fraud, thats fine with us.

Which reminds me, be sure to watch Bobs dad on 60 Minutes next week to hear his side of the story. The church calls it embezzlement, but Dad swears it was just a bookkeeping mistake.

Well, thats about it from the Fergusons. Ive got to go pick up Fluffy from the vet. Im not sure I want to see the bill, but really how much could a simple tail reattachment cost, anyway?

Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday,

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News from the Fergusons - Dothan Eagle

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 5:27 a.m. CT Dec. 2, 2019

MANITOWOC - Young Professionals of Manitowoc County unveiled its "Future 15" award winners during its annual banquet Nov. 14 at Knox's Silver Valley Bar & Banquet Hall.

The "Future 15" are young professionals, ages 21-40, "who have given back to the community, showed leadership, and helped in many ways to make the area a great place to live and work."

TheHerald Times Reporterwill share profiles of each of the 15 winners in this series. The profileis provided by The Chamber of Manitowoc County.

Theresa Falvey(Photo: Provided)

Theresa began her journey as a business owner in Colorado, but felt a pull to come back to her hometown and open State of Grace. She feels a strong desire and need to nurture, bring healing and create community both within the walls of her business and the community.

Her mission at State of Grace is to create a space for community and healing, and this mission is why she does everything she does.She creates a space where her and her clients are communing and finding some capacity of healing by just being present.She does this through massage therapy, yoga, Reiki, life coaching, yoga/mindfulness in the schools, and massage and senior chair yoga in the local nursing homes.

Theresa is actively involved in many community organizations, such as Clipper City Co-Op, Big Brothers Big Sistersand Lakeshore Foster Families.

RELATED:Manitowoc Chamber honors this year's Future 15: Here are the winners

Read or Share this story: https://www.htrnews.com/story/news/2019/12/02/manitowoc-county-future-15-winner-theresa-falvey/4195306002/

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Manitowoc County Future 15 winner: Theresa Falvey - Herald Times Reporter

Ready or not, 2020 is on its way. Are you excited to make this year your best year yet?

Unfortunately, more and more people are waking up to the reality that their current lifestyle does not support their health.

Whats a person to do to finally feel healthy, vital, and comfortable in their own skin? Health coaching could be the solution for you.

We all know diets dont work. If diets worked, we would all be living in our perfect bodies and feeling fabulous. The diet industry is in the business of making money, not making health.

The reality is, most people know what they need to do to be healthy, and they dont do it. Eating a donut or a bag of chips is not healthy. So often theres so much more contributing to why you may be still eating your favorite go-to unhealthy treats and not giving yourself true self-care.

Unlike a doctor, your health coach will help you get to the root cause of whats eating you, guide you to kick your Negative Nancy to the curb by learning a more positive way of thinking and, keep you motivated through every step of your healing journey.

Unfortunately, its much easier to race to the doctor, instead of changing a lifestyle habit. We would rather face a health challenge or live with feeling fat, frumpy and less than fantastic. Its not your fault. Your body wants to keep you safe and comfortable. It keeps you in the habits youve been maintaining for years instead of diving into a new unfamiliar routine.

We all want a quick fix, and its much easier to take a pill than to make a sustainable change. Many of our health challenges are simply messages from our body crying out, Slow down. Please take care of me. Listen to me. I need help.

When we dont listen to our bodies, these messages get louder and louder until our illness is full-blown.

Unfortunately, most doctors have a narrow focus on sickness, not health. Your doctor only has a very short time to assess your symptoms, strategize remedies, and get you back living your life.

Regaining your health is about getting to the root cause of not just what youre eating you need to discover whats eating you.

This is not our doctors fault. Many of us never go to a doctor for prevention. Doctors usually see you after your symptoms are extreme. As humans, we push through life and when things get really bad, thats when we look to the doctor for help. Doctors are trained to cure your symptoms with a pill and often we need so much more than that.

Dont get me wrong, I love doctors. If I fall off my bike and need 20 stiches to close my gashing wound or my broken arm, I want a doctor fast! I simply believe that we often need more than a doctor. We need a loving guide on the side to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

But I wonder, what would the doctor have to do to make their jobs obsolete? Maybe people could simply not get sick? Or, doctors could become wellness advocates by focusing on prevention. Your doctor might discuss things like how happy you are, why your boss is so crappy and whats totally stressing you out in life.

Not so surprisingly, these areexactlydiscussions that may keep you well, out of the doctors office and exactly what a health coach will discuss with you.

My clients come to me with information overload. They are confused by all the contradicting information in the health world.

A health coach will help you to sort out all the confusion and achieve your lifestyle goals. Everything from losing 10 pounds, to de-stressing and gaining energy, to improving nutrition, emotional eating challenges and loving your beautiful body.

The best thing about a health coach is you will be listened to and truly heard. Not only are we trained wellness authorities, we mentor, inspire and motivate our clients to cultivate positive health choices.

Health coaches have the time to delve into all your health. The ultimate goal of a health coach is to teach you all the best practices for living a healthier lifestyle now and long after the coaching program has ended.

With the right health coach, instead of struggling, your healing journey will be fun and inspiring. Youll feel supported, safe, educated and have the confidence to finally reach your health goals.

Read Help Clients More by Becoming a Health Coach.

Kathryn Chess is a nutritionist and joyful living coach. She is the founder of Joyful Living with Kathryn Chess, a company dedicated to empowering people to live in the body and life they love. Download a free copy of How to Stay Sane and Slim, Surefire Steps to Reignite the Happy in Your Holidays e-book at kathrynchess.com.

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This is What it's Like to Work with a Health Coach - Massage Magazine

This is a column by Scott DeCamp.

MUSKEGON, MI Billie Roberts III emerged from a somber Muskegon Big Reds locker room with watery eyes late Saturday night at Ford Field. His top-ranked team had just lost to River Rouge in the Division 3 state finals in stunning fashion, 30-7.

It was Billies fourth-straight season playing in the state-title game, and while he and his 2017 teammates were able to bask in the glow of a championship, this marked the third time he had experienced defeat on the big stage.

You might be surprised to know what was upsetting him the most, however, and it wasnt the loss to River Rouge.

What hurts the most is that Big Red football is over for me and its just going to take a while to get over that, he reflected. As far as the loss goes, that comes with the game of football.

Cory Morse | MLive.com

Muskegon football head coach Shane Fairfield hugs Muskegon's Billie Roberts III (53) after losing 30-7 to River Rouge in the MHSAA Division 3 football championship game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

In the heat of the moment, thats an incredibly mature response by a young man whos been a work in progress throughout his four years under the tutelage of tough-love Big Reds head coach Shane Fairfield, assistants Matt Bolles and Don Poole, and the rest of the staff.

Billies comments are sincere, theyre introspective and they reflect the amazing growth that hes made as a person since he first entered the hallways at Muskegon High School.

You need to really listen to Billie. He is an expressive young man, and despite his reputation as a jokester and life of the party, he is uniquely profound in this thoughts and in his ability to listen to people after you scratch the surface.

Also, you need to continue reading this column. It lays out the realities of a football program like Muskegons, the players and coaches who make it what it is, and the tough city Big Reds call home.

MLive colleague Cory Morse, who is a multi-media journalist, and I felt compelled to tackle a project earlier this year. I was first inspired to do so while covering the Big Reds sports teams during the 2018-19 school year for MLive Muskegon Chronicle.

What struck me initially were the relationships forged, the chemistry and the love shown between Muskegon High student-athletes and coaches, such as Fairfield and Big Reds basketball coach/athletic director Keith Guy, witnessed through the access granted by those men, their programs and the school. What moved me to take on such an involved assignment were the complexities that not all, but many, Muskegon High School students face on a daily basis.

The main theme of the project was to examine how Muskegons coaches and educators embrace athletics as means to help young people under their watch better their lives in the long run. The crux of the Muskegon Big Reds series by Cory and me was taking an inside look at the schools tradition-rich football program.

Thats where this column is going. For starters, playing and coaching in the Muskegon football program is both a blessing and a curse. The Big Reds play in a historic stadium, in a football-crazed community. No high school football program in Michigan can claim the same tradition as the Muskegon Big Reds. Some might come close, but the Big Reds boast the winningest tradition (859-280-43 in 125 seasons) in the state by a wide margin and they rank seventh nationally in all-time high school football victories.

Michigan is home to many great high school football programs, but none are on the same plane as Muskegons when you consider the combination of excellence and championships (18 state titles total, six in the MHSAA playoff era) against the backdrop of socio-economic and other challenges faced by many in a community like Muskegon.

Heres just one example: Two peers of players on this seasons Muskegon football team lost their lives in fatal shootings a couple weeks before the season kicked off. In fact, a day later, a few players wrapped up football practice at the school and walked a couple blocks to the site of a candlelight vigil for one of the victims. Think about that. Muskegon is certainly not the only urban area in that state that encounters violence and poverty, but the topic of this column is Muskegon.

Back to the field, when you play for and star with the Big Reds, all eyes are on you. Muskegon is home to MLives Michigan High School Football Player of the Year award winner in each of the last three seasons (Cameron Martinez in 2018 and 2019; LaDarius Jefferson in 2017).

Much like the football program in which those young men played, a ton of pressure comes with such status. No matter what, youre wearing the target in every game you play. Youre the top dog and people line up to take you out, much like the wonderfully talented squads from River Rouge this weekend and Detroit King in 2018 did to the Big Reds in state-finals matchups.

Its difficult just to get to a state championship game. Muskegon has been there in seven of the last eight seasons. The Big Reds have won just once in those seven trips. Keyboard warriors and Internet tough guys write how the coaches need to go, and some are even critical of the teenagers playing a game.

The rallying cry for many critics is that Muskegon should be in the finals every year and should win it. Its a birthright. But what are those critics doing to help these coaches and players succeed? Are they making the countless sacrifices, and the time and emotional investments, that those very coaches and players theyre criticizing are making?

Do critics remember that these coaches are pouring everything they have into their professions, that the players are giving all they can to those coaches and to the program, in order to represent their school the best they can?

Do they remember that Saturdays loss to River Rouge, disappointing as it was, it still just a game and that the primary mission of the adults in the program is first and foremost to mold these young men into productive members of society?

Look no further than Billie Roberts. He was blessed with many gifts, one being an abnormally athletic 6-foot-4, 280-pounder with a world of still-untapped potential, plus a big personality and huge heart to match. Billie has several options to go play for a big-time college football program and, most importantly, the opportunity to better his life and the lives of those around him.

Had he won a state championship this weekend, how will that have bettered his life? It would have been a nice feather in his cap, certainly, and a nice way to cap his high school career. But if that were the best thing in his life, if that defined him as a person, then thats sad. Conversely, if Billie losing in a state championship game is the worst thing in his life, then hes pretty damned blessed.

If anybody had earned the right to express himself Saturday night after the loss to River Rouge, then it was Billie Roberts the player who strapped on the pads and slipped on the uniform and helmet 56 times in his Big Reds career. He was the one flipping 200-plus-pound tires and pouring sweat. He was the one sacrificing, along with dozens of teammates.

Do you want to know how he chose to express himself after his final high school game? He gave coach Shane Fairfield a big hug in the middle of Ford Field. He looked at the big picture.

The coaching staff has been a really big part of my life and success, he said.

After seeing what Ive seen following Muskegon High School athletics in the past year, and especially Big Reds football the good (so much of it is good), the bad and the ugly my No. 1 takeaway is this:

Billie and the Big Reds have won, clearly.

MORE:

Letter from the editor: We didnt just tell a great story about Muskegon football, we lived it for a year

Theres nothing like Hackley Stadium: Muskegon Big Reds home one of a kind

Muskegon High coach uses love and his own tough upbringing to steer players to success

Meet Damon Knox: A Muskegon High success whose story is still being written

Chemistry, role players as crucial as top talent for Muskegon Big Reds

Cameron Martinez to Earl Morrall: 25 greatest athletes in Muskegon High history

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Muskegon Big Reds may have missed out on a title, but we learned so much more (column) - MLive.com

Executive Summary

Coaches have always sought to help their clients improve. Moving forward, strategically applying technology alongside their own judgement, warmth, and integrity will be an increasingly important way for them to do so. The authors describe four key areas where technology can transform the act and the impact of coaching: 1) Technology can help monitor progress towards goals against a clear baseline. 2) It can build a richer picture of what the client is saying (and not saying). 3) It can develop options based on scenarios, simulations, and extrapolations. 4) It can use nudges to encourage and reinforce target behaviors.

Years ago, executive coaching was stigmatized as remedial help for underperformers. More recently, its transformed into an elite, high-cost activity, often reserved for the highest-status executives. But in both cases whether helping the worst or the best performers executive coaching has been inherently small scale, due to its bespoke, one-on-one nature. Organizations have increasingly embraced the idea of internal leaders providing more coaching to their direct reports.

Now, technology is now making it possible for far greater numbers of employees to benefit from outside executive coaching at scale. At a basic level, platforms are making it easier to find and select a coach, to do long-distance coaching via video conferencing or potentially evenholoportation in the future and to manage the administration involved.

Additionally, some coaching tech has enabled coaching conversations without the involvement of a human at a much lower cost. Bots, such as Pocket Confidant and People Squared, allow people to ask questions, work on simulation challenges, and practice their skills in competitive games. Technology and AI permit this to happen anytime and anywhere. Some companies, such as Axa and IBM, are encouraging their adoption to provide large-scale access to coaching.

But perhaps the biggest impact of technology will come from how it enables individual executive coaches (or leaders who act as coaches) to better connect with and serve their clients. This will help to supplement their powers of recall, observation, interpretation, visualization, and encouragement. There are four key areas where technology can transform the act and the impact of coaching. In many cases, the tech solutions have emerged from applications in other contexts, such as sports coaching and customer research.

Of course there are perils to avoid. Too much technology could impede the efficacy and experience of coaching. Coachees could become overly dependent on the answers provided by a bot. Coaches and coachees may hold back, editing what they say for fear of how the app will use their information. The coach may feel overloaded with information, which could result in inertia or confusion.

But in many instances (think humans and chess), weve seen that the mix of human and machine insight is superior to either alone. It may even become harder to coach without technology as its application increases. Coachees will expect it over time, not least because AI and analytics are playing more prominent roles in their lives, from Netflix recommendations to AI-enhanced customer service. Indeed, there are some scenarios in which people prefer the judgement of algorithms to that of humans for example, when they are given advice in response to a question.

Coaches have always sought to help their clients improve. Moving forward, strategically applying technology alongside their own judgment, warmth, and integrity will be an increasingly important way for them to do so.

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How Technology Is Transforming Executive Coaching - Harvard Business Review