Ellie Branch’s Post

🎄 Christmas Chaos? Let’s Turn It Around Does Christmas feel like a mountain you’re struggling to climb? Between the endless to-do lists, family expectations, and the pressure to make everything perfect, it’s easy to lose yourself in the hustle. 💡 Here’s the truth: You don’t have to do it all. And you definitely don’t have to do it alone. If you’re feeling: 👉 Overwhelmed by the pressure to make everyone else happy 👉 Drained from trying to juggle it all and still feeling invisible Then it’s time to put you back at the top of the list. In a one hour, one-to-one session, I’ll help you find your calm amidst the chaos, reclaim your confidence, and create space for what really matters this Christmas - your Joy 😍 It really is good to talk 😀 🎁 Ready to unwrap a more balanced, fulfilling festive season? 📧 Drop me a message, and let’s make it happen. ✨ Because life’s too short for Christmas to feel like a chore 🎄

Serenity Saturday: A Fresh Start for a Festive December 🌟 As we grow older and have a more demanding career and life, we recognise that our mind is the cornerstone of everything we do. Our mind fuels our energy, shapes our perspectives, and drives our actions. With December knocking on our doors tomorrow, it’s a beautiful reminder that every new month is an opportunity to press reset, reflect, and refocus. Grab this opportunity and make sure your life is going in the direction you want it to. As the festive season begins, it’s the perfect time to pause and think about the month we just left behind and the one we’re about to embrace. 🎄✨ Reflecting on our personal, professional, and emotional journeys helps us to be more intentional in our growth and well-being 💪🏼 Here are some helpful questions to guide our reflection and planning for the month ahead. This is for you and me, lets do this together: ❓ What was your most significant achievement this past month? ❓ What was the most challenging aspect of this past month for you? ❓ What was the most valuable lesson you learned this past month? ❓ What is one objective you would like to accomplish next month? ❓ What actions can you take to support yourself in achieving this goal? ❓ Which word best summarizes your intention or focus for the upcoming month? Remember, self-care is not selfish. Taking time to reflect and set intentions is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. As we step into December, let’s embrace the festive cheer with gratitude for how far we’ve come and with hope for what’s yet to come. 💫 👉 How would you shape your December? What would be ending 2024 on a high note look like for you? Would love to hear that in the comments 💬 #SerenitySaturday #MentalHealthMatters #Leadership #data #ReflectionAndGrowth

🌟 The Power of Saying “Thank You” – A Holiday Reminder 🌟 The holiday season is the perfect time to thank those who’ve made a difference this year - whether in your personal life or at work! Here are a few ways we like to say "thank you": 🎄 Christmas Cards A short, personalised note can be one of the simplest yet most meaningful ways to say thanks. 🎁 Gifts A thoughtful gift or hamper is a great way to show that you value their support. 🤝 Say Thank You in Person A face-to-face or phone call adds a personal touch and shows you truly care! 🍽 Take Them Out for a Meal A shared meal is a great way to show appreciation and strengthen relationships, whether it’s a dinner or a casual coffee. As 2024 wraps up, let’s take a moment to thank those who’ve contributed to our success—big or small. Their impact matters! How do you show appreciation to those who’ve helped you this year? Drop your ideas below 👇 Wishing you all a joyful holiday season! 🎄✨ #holidayseason #thankyou #buildingrelationships

Friday reflection question: How about we hold Christmas a little more lightly this year? Everyone I’m speaking to is working really hard. No signs of easing off for Christmas yet, and maybe there won’t be. So if we’re feeling the work pressure, it seems we could do without the Christmas pressure too. Finding the most thoughtful gifts, writing personalised messages in cards, hosting the neighbours for a festive gathering, buying chocolates for the kids teachers, booking and ordering the Christmas food shop, feeling a need to say yes to every festive drinks invite, getting a tree, working out which baubles will survive a toddlers curiosity… The list goes on and on. So what would it look like to hold Christmas more lightly? What can be skipped? What’s the easiest way to get the outcome we want? What is the most important part? Time to release some pressure. Let’s hear all your time and energy saving ideas for this time of year. . . . The Friday reflection questions are an opportunity for us to be curious about our leadership impact over the last week and boost our creativity for the week ahead. It’s pausing and being intentional about how we’re choosing to think, act and behave. It’s about experimenting, thinking differently and evolving our leadership. I’d love to hear your responses here or by DM. Enjoy. Image: adding our wish to a Christmas tree at Petworth House last weekend (chosen mainly because we don’t have a tree yet!) #executivecoaching #reflect #pauseandthink #leadership #christmas #pressure

Tell me I’m not the only one working on LinkedIn posts at 630 am? Anyone else trying to catch their breath right now? I keep finding myself saying “How is it already Thanksgiving and the END of November?” I was recently asked by a group of young moms how I managed being a retail executive with three little kids during the holidays. After reflecting on those whirlwind years, here’s what worked (and what I remember): ✅ Stay super organized with my calendar. It all starts or falls apart there. ✅Maintain my morning meditation. It’s the only way to start the day on my toes vs. on my heels. ✅ Keep my fitness routine no matter what - and do it in the morning as much as possible. Workouts are appointments with myself that aren't to be missed. ✅ Avoid too much alcohol and sugar — they wreck my sleep and start a vicious cycle.  ✅ Delegate whenever possible — don’t be afraid to ask for help!  ✅ Avoid over-scheduling — some of the best and most favorite moments happen when nothing is planned. Most importantly, I’ve always made it a point to savor and celebrate the holiday season. It flies by, and when it’s gone, it’s gone! Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving 🍁

Thanksgiving weekend is special. (Secret ways to enjoy the holiday aftermath) 1. Leftovers, pie & coffee for breakfast: • Leftovers somehow taste even better than Thanksgiving day. • Enjoy a slice of pie with your morning coffee. • Relax and enjoy at least 1 day without rushing. 2. Football and holiday movies: • Watch football or don't. When it's on, and family is around, you know it's Thanksgiving weekend. • Put on Christmas Vacation or Elf. Never gets old. • Stay home and don't feel bad about doing nothing. 3. Black Friday shopping and naps: • Black Friday deals for family, friends AND yourself.  • Amazon and done. • Indulge in afternoon naps. You gotta recharge and relax. 4. Holiday music and gratitude: • Play holiday music...nostalgia. • Reflect on the things you are grateful for. • Share the joy and gratitude with your loved ones. When the Thanksgiving weekend arrives,  I embrace the chance to slow down and enjoy. Now I appreciate: → WHAT makes these moments special. → WHEN to take a break and recharge. → WHO to spend quality time with during the holidays. You enjoy more when you cherish the little things. You feel grateful when you share the joy. Who knows what next year will bring? Gratitude is a mindset. Not an occasion. Enjoy the present. ♻️ Repost or 👍 if you can relate and are enjoying this long holiday weekend.

And Happy Thanksgiving Some who are reading this aren’t looking forward to Thanksgiving Day. Their situation is challenging. They’ve had a hard year. Whether due to travel, a conflict or death, they won’t be sharing a meal with someone they love. They think they don’t have much – or anything - to be thankful for. Maybe that is you. If you are experiencing hurt, hardship or harm, this may be a hard day for you. If that is you, I encourage you to make this word for the day: And. Most people spend most of their lives thinking either/or. Either things are good, or they are bad. It’s raining on the Macy’s day parade, that is awful. Everyone arrived safely for dinner. The turkey is overcooked, it’s going to be terrible. What is the alternative to either/or? Both/and. People can get wet at the parade, and still create memories that last longer than their wet clothes. Everyone is here safely and the turkey is too tough or too dry.  Both can be true. Thanksgiving is about being thankful, not about being thankful, if. It isn’t about a day with no traffic, all sunshine, and your team winning the football game. And. It isn’t about political conversations you dread, not getting a piece of pie, or feeling judged if you brought store-bought food (because let’s face it, you’re not much of a cook). Good stuff and bad stuff will probably happen today, because today is another day of life – and life is both wonderful and sometimes worrisome. Life is about and, not or. And so is thankfulness. We can be worried and thankful. We can be sad and thankful. We can be anxious and thankful. Let’s practice. Put aside your thoughts, positive, or negative about today, and for next 30 seconds look around the space where you are reading this. Notice things you are thankful for and say them out loud (yes even if people are around you). …I’ll wait… Notice what you saw and said. It doesn’t matter what they are. It doesn’t matter if they are big or small. And… Even if you are still anxious, sad, worried or depressed, you feel at least a little better. Which is the point. Life can be hard and wonderful. If you see it as hard, think and. If you see it as wonderful, stop and remember that not everyone sees the same thing. Whatever your thoughts and emotions right now, your day will be better, brighter and more likely to be brimming with thankfulness if you think and, not or.

Hey! Please hear this, As the festive season of Christmas approaches, there's need for us to remind ourselves to focus on what we do best and not get distracted by unnecessary pressures. This is a time to reflect on our goals, even if you are just setting them now. Let's put in our best efforts, and ensure we’re ending the year strong and proud of our achievements so far, no matter how little. However, with the season comes a lot of activities, and unfortunately, not all are positive ones. Bad and criminal activities often increase during this time, so it’s important that you stay vigilant and protect your space & your peace. Very importantly, don’t let anyone pressure you into what you’re not comfortable with. Firstly, stay true to yourself, focus on your goals, and keep doing the right thing no matter what. Also, as you go about your daily activities, please, endeavor to mind your business. Avoid unnecessary conflicts or distractions, and focus on building yourself and your future. These are very important keynotes! Finally, I'm wishing you all a productive and joyful week ahead. Good morning my neighbors!!!

Finding Connection When Apart This Thanksgiving Through Gratitude 🍂  Thanksgiving can be a complex time for many of us. While we often look forward to spending time with family and friends in person, the reality is that it is not always possible due to financial hardships, work constraints, loss of loved ones, and even physical, spiritual, and mental weariness. As I reflect on my journey this year thus far, here are a few things I have been thinking about: 🙏 Acknowledge and give thanks for everything I have rather than focus on what I don't have. While it's not always easy to focus on the positive things, I have learned to appreciate the small victories, such as a safe place to live, a job, food, and a group of people I can call to share joy and laughter. 💖 Checking in with folks I haven't connected with in a while–even if it's one person. During that phone call or text, ask that person for an update on their life and share a bit about what's happening in your life. If someone has been on your mind for a while, that's the person you should call or text. Sometimes, this may even be accepting someone’s call and genuinely listening to that person. 🌿 It's okay to miss out. While being in the presence of family, friends, and others is important, so is self-care. Sometimes, we overextend ourselves even when we are exhausted. While it's great to make an effort to be with others, sometimes we need to rest. Perhaps you can make it home for Christmas, New Year’s, or another upcoming holiday break. I look forward to your thoughts about #socialconnection and #gratitude during #Thanksgiving2024 and the upcoming holidays.

🦃 Feeling overwhelmed by Thanksgiving stress? Hosting doesn't have to drain your energy. Here's how to turn stress into joy: 1️⃣ Control What You Can + Delegate the Rest Make a list of all the tasks and assign them to family members. Everyone can pitch in—you don’t need to do it all. 2️⃣ Set Healthy Boundaries Decide what’s best for you and stick to it. Whether it's limiting conversations that spark tension or choosing a set end time, boundaries make the day better for everyone. 3️⃣ Keep It Simple, Not Perfect Thanksgiving isn’t about a Pinterest-perfect table. It’s about being together. Focus on connection over perfection. Sometimes, simple is more meaningful. ✨ Remember: the magic of Thanksgiving is in the moments, not the menu. ✨ How do you stay sane during the holidays? Share your tips! 👇