The KINDfulness Approach: Managing Stress and Living Your Best Life with Jen Schwytzer

00:00.94
Debra Coleman
All right. Well, here we are. Another episode of have a seat conversations with women in the workplace podcast. And so excited because joining me this week is Ms. Jen Schweitzer.

00:12.33
Debra Coleman
Did I say that correctly, Jen, by the way?

00:13.86
Jen Schwytzer
You did. You did.

00:15.70
Debra Coleman
Thank you. I apologize. I should have major podcast host, uh, to do is to verify last name ah with, uh, she is our ah life coach and a founder of kindfulness coaching.

00:28.16
Debra Coleman
So excited to have you here with me today, Jen.

00:30.80
Jen Schwytzer
I am so excited to be here. Thanks for having me.

00:33.54
Debra Coleman
Absolutely, absolutely. I just, first of all, love kindfulness coaching, and I love that you put an emphasis on the word kind.

00:41.45
Jen Schwytzer
Wow.

00:41.56
Debra Coleman
um Just seems like we just can't get enough of that these days, especially, so appreciate that. um But let's take it back just a beat a little, and um you have actually such a unique perspective with your background in social work, foster parenting, and mental health.

01:00.33
Debra Coleman
What a beautiful like trifecta there.

01:00.69
Jen Schwytzer
Yes.

01:02.64
Debra Coleman
How did those experiences kind of inspire you or did they inspire you to start kindfulness coaching?

01:03.61
Jen Schwytzer
No.

01:10.23
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah, it's such an interesting way that things kind of happen for people. And it definitely happened for me. So I've been a social worker um for almost the last 20 years. And I love what I do. and I worked in the community settings, I've worked in insurance companies, I've worked in the medical setting. And each job I had, I just knew that there was a little bit more that I could provide that I wasn't providing. And so for me,

01:43.16
Jen Schwytzer
um you know, I think it's cliche, but once the pandemic hit, I decided to kind of just take a step back and really think about what else could I be doing? How else could I serve people? What what could I do a little bit differently and get the impact that I was really looking for? And so I thought, well, why don't I give coaching a shot and see what that looks like? And so that kind of led me, you know, I think it's a I think it's a really great kind of um trajectory of social work to coaching because you already have like all of that background ingrained in you. You're empathetic. and

02:22.99
Jen Schwytzer
you know, you know how to work with people and talk to people. And it just kind of carries over into the coaching world. So I think it set me up really, really nicely. And then that big empathetic heart that I have led me into foster parenting, which also took place around 2021 after the pandemic.

02:40.69
Jen Schwytzer
And it was really my husband's idea.

02:41.66
Debra Coleman
Hmm.

02:43.08
Jen Schwytzer
And I have to give him all the credit. He led us down this path.

02:45.16
Debra Coleman
Aww.

02:46.52
Jen Schwytzer
And here we are today, you know, three years later, four years later, um still doing what we're doing.

02:53.75
Debra Coleman
Oh, I love that. I love that it was your husband's idea too.

02:57.22
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

02:57.22
Debra Coleman
That is so neat. I mean, of course, you know, it's, it's a group decision, so to speak, but it's nice to hear.

03:01.50
Jen Schwytzer
Yes. Yeah.

03:02.90
Debra Coleman
Yeah. Oh, and foster parenting. What? How rewarding.

03:06.72
Jen Schwytzer
Oh, challenging, rewarding, loving, frustrating all at the same time.

03:10.93
Debra Coleman
i I can imagine. That's parenting, right?

03:15.09
Jen Schwytzer
Yes, exactly.

03:15.64
Debra Coleman
No, there's no need to preface it. ah hu Well, I can absolutely see how those three intersect and um absolutely see how you easily transition, I say that lightly, from that so from social work to coaching, because you're right.

03:30.13
Jen Schwytzer
No.

03:31.08
Debra Coleman
I can see a large component of social work being a coach.

03:34.57
Jen Schwytzer
Yes, absolutely, absolutely. And I think it just, you know, it was a very smooth transition for me. You know, I don't want to say it was easy, but it was a very smooth transition.

03:44.74
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Wow. Well, we are we are benefactors of that transition for you.

03:49.19
Jen Schwytzer
great

03:49.55
Debra Coleman
So we thank you from the other side of the monitor. We we thank you for that.

03:52.69
Jen Schwytzer
Thank you.

03:53.71
Debra Coleman
but Oh, boy. Well, um you have you you emphasize so many wonderful topics that you cover in your coaching practice. um But one ah topic I thought that would be interesting to sort of ask you about while I have you in the so-called hot seat is setting boundaries.

04:11.34
Debra Coleman
I think many of us, especially women, um Like yourself, professional women who are also raising a family, um ah setting boundaries without that feeling of guilt.

04:22.36
Jen Schwytzer
yeah yeah

04:22.69
Debra Coleman
ah you know The messaging is out there. Make sure you say no, set those boundaries, but then how do we deal with the guilt side of that? That absolutely always kicks up, at least it does for me. ah What are your thoughts on that?

04:33.32
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah, absolutely. And I think you know you're so right, especially as women, we put so much pressure on ourselves to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and make everything perfect and to fit everything in. And it's just impossible. And so one thing that I would definitely suggest doing is just taking a step back and figuring out like, what's realistic here?

04:55.37
Jen Schwytzer
You know, what, what can I actually accomplish in the time that I have without taking away or sacrificing from what's most important?

04:59.94
Debra Coleman
Hmm.

05:04.33
Jen Schwytzer
And that's, you know, for me, I've identified, you know, what's most important to me, my priorities, my family is number one.

05:08.88
Debra Coleman
Hmm.

05:12.13
Jen Schwytzer
And so when I make any decisions, I have that at the front of my at the front of my brain, and I'm always thinking about that. If I say yes to this, what would it be taking away from? What would I be saying no to as a result? And so I really try to make my decisions around what's most important to me and how do I fit in what is the priority here? And I felt like, you know, just again, recognizing those realistic expectations and figuring out like what's most important to you.

05:46.97
Debra Coleman
It sounds like, like you said, prioritizing what's most important.

05:49.38
Jen Schwytzer
ah for

05:50.41
Debra Coleman
And that can be tough to implement.

05:54.03
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

05:55.18
Debra Coleman
If you say, well, family is important to me, I want to put them first, but I need to put my job first because I may be the primary breadwinner or I contribute to the household that way.

06:02.86
Jen Schwytzer
yeah

06:04.98
Debra Coleman
So it's hard to like, okay, well who, but but I think ultimately you, unfortunately you do kind of have to make that choice.

06:11.55
Jen Schwytzer
yeah Yeah, yeah. And I think we're the only ones that can make that choice. It's up to us to decide and you can still be a breadwinner and you can still be you know the person in charge of the finances and you can still be you know a career woman or um you know at the top of the food chain at your agency or organization, you can still do that and put your family ah ahead.

06:38.02
Jen Schwytzer
And I think it's just like making that choice and deciding like this is what I'm going to do. And, you know, I'm going to do the best I can in the time that I have, but I'm the only one that's going to put my family first.

06:53.46
Debra Coleman
I absolutely love that statement. I'm going to do the best I can with the time that I have.

06:58.48
Jen Schwytzer
her

06:59.12
Debra Coleman
That is empowering right there because just you saying that, it sort of took a load off. It's like, you know what?

07:04.15
Jen Schwytzer
you

07:04.60
Debra Coleman
this I'm doing the best I can with the time that I have, friends.

07:07.59
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

07:08.29
Debra Coleman
so Do you think in and and in an effort to help us set those boundaries that it helps if we vocalize that sort of our goal? If we sort of bring in maybe our family members or our close orbit, you know, whoever's close to us saying, look, I'm trying to do better in this area and I may need your help or I may need your forgiveness if, ah you know, what do you think it helps to vocalize that?

07:28.46
Jen Schwytzer
yeah

07:30.73
Jen Schwytzer
Absolutely. And I think there's a statistic, and I'm not going to remember it off the top of my head, but it talks about like accountability and holding yourself accountable, but also having like an accountability buddy. So you can put that out there. like When you speak out what you're thinking or what your goal is, you're way more inclined to reach that and get to that than if you don't speak it out loud. And so telling someone, letting someone know,

07:57.51
Jen Schwytzer
you know, hey, just a gentle reminder, you told me that, you know, you weren't going to schedule anything this week. And I saw something pop up on the calendar. And so it's just like, oh, yeah, thank you for that. And so just really, you know, holding yourself accountable and having someone else hold you accountable absolutely can help support those boundaries.

08:19.65
Debra Coleman
That is such good advice. I love that. Especially an accountability partner. to And if someone taps you to be a partner, please be honest and don't be afraid to be that person.

08:23.59
Jen Schwytzer
Well,

08:27.93
Debra Coleman
You know, just say that because you're actually doing them a favor.

08:28.13
Jen Schwytzer
Wow.

08:30.57
Debra Coleman
You know, don't enable.

08:30.94
Jen Schwytzer
Exactly. That's exactly.

08:32.51
Debra Coleman
the

08:33.05
Jen Schwytzer
That's what they asked for. Give it to them.

08:34.78
Debra Coleman
Yeah, thanks exactly. Exactly. Oh, I love that. That's so true. Well, that kind of piggybacks on um the next question I have, which is sort of centered around stress and burnout, another area that I know you are an expert in.

08:48.64
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

08:49.79
Debra Coleman
um You do emphasize helping helping us ditch that chronic stress and burnout. um What could you offer in the terms of maybe like a mini practice or maybe a mindset shift that we can use maybe in our day to day routines to help ease some of those feelings of stress and burnout?

08:56.32
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

09:03.11
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

09:09.47
Jen Schwytzer
Absolutely. So I have a couple of just like small tips that you can implement into your day. And again, for everyone, this is different. It's going to be like what works for you. So recognizing that what works for your neighbor might not work for you. And what works for me might not work for you. So recognizing that, you know,

09:28.39
Jen Schwytzer
You can you can implement small changes that are really going to make a difference but it has to be something that is Important to you and so for me something that's been really important is getting out of the house So 10 minutes a day.

09:42.50
Debra Coleman
Mmm.

09:43.40
Jen Schwytzer
I am outside getting some fresh air. I'm taking care of a my mental health by just changing up my environment, getting away from the computer. I can be somebody that sits at the computer all day and I'm like, oh shoot, I haven't eaten my lunch or I haven't refilled my water.

09:59.73
Jen Schwytzer
I haven't drank any water today. So taking care of yourself throughout the day, giving yourself that space to breathe, step up from your computer, just get away for a moment. It can be totally game-changing to how you show up the rest of the day so that you feel like, okay, I'm productive again. I can get everything that I need to get done done before I go home where I want to feel present with my family.

10:26.03
Debra Coleman
Hmm. So true. And i I, and it can be done.

10:30.55
Jen Schwytzer
Yes.

10:30.72
Debra Coleman
Like you said, it can be done. It's a matter of circling back up to what you said before, setting those healthy boundaries in order to enable you to do those activities.

10:39.45
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah, yeah. And it's it's all about you know taking care of yourself in some way.

10:44.13
Debra Coleman
Hmm.

10:44.68
Jen Schwytzer
I worked with a lot of people that said, you know I just don't have the time to do it. And I you know i have to challenge that because you know if a crisis came up at work, you would have the time to to manage it.

10:48.16
Debra Coleman
Right.

10:55.43
Jen Schwytzer
You would have the time to put into that. If a crisis came up at home, you know I listened to this TEDx talk about you know a woman who said, I have no time in the day I can't get anything else done. And then the next day she had like a basement flood and it's like, okay, well, I just spent six hours, you know, cleaning up the basement flood, but I thought you didn't have any hours in your day. Like if something comes up, you're going to find the time to do it. And so make that something, something for you.

11:27.00
Debra Coleman
That's right. Something for you. Because it sounds like it's a, it's a low key case of put your oxygen mask on first sort of thing.

11:33.21
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

11:34.95
Debra Coleman
Because if if mom or, or head of house or, or our leader is stressed and burnt out, that's going to to have a domino effect on everyone else that they touch.

11:44.41
Jen Schwytzer
100% and they think you know when we go back and talk about you know the guilt that you were referring to earlier Like that is meant to take away the guilt because you are saying to yourself if I can't fulfill my own needs How am I gonna fulfill? Everyone else in this family's needs or my co-workers needs or my job needs if I fill up my own cup first if I put that oxygen mask on I can do that for everyone else and so the idea of doing that like If you continue to tell yourself like I need to do this in order to meet all of my other responsibilities, that can help take some of that guilt away.

12:24.11
Debra Coleman
That's true too, because that could be a boundary or a barrier to actively trying to, okay, okay.

12:27.86
Jen Schwytzer
yeah Yeah.

12:30.77
Debra Coleman
Yeah, that's good. ah orchestra i In today's workplace, you know, after 2020, it seemed like things, I think we, you know, ah we appreciated the down, the zen, you know, that we kind of like leaned into that a little bit.

12:45.41
Debra Coleman
And now it's kind of like we're ramping back up into that.

12:48.22
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

12:48.29
Debra Coleman
and I'm sure i'm I'm preaching to the choir here. I'm seeing women kind of like buy back into that hustle culture again.

12:54.67
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

12:55.55
Debra Coleman
And it just makes me sad. I'm like, no, no, how can we hold on to that?

12:59.38
Jen Schwytzer
Right. Right. Right. Like that doesn't help anybody.

13:01.35
Debra Coleman
well Right. Right. Right. Oh, but if you find yourself struggling, there are coaches like Jen who can help you find that center again.

13:11.53
Debra Coleman
Is that um sort of what you help us with?

13:13.36
Jen Schwytzer
Yes. Yes.

13:14.64
Debra Coleman
Like help? Yeah. Okay.

13:16.10
Jen Schwytzer
Absolutely.

13:17.36
Debra Coleman
Oh, I'm telling you. i So then it it sounds like practicing or prioritizing our mental well-being. It kind of goes hand in hand with our physical well-being.

13:30.01
Jen Schwytzer
Yes, 100%. Because if we're not prioritizing our our mental health, you know you could be experiencing some of those symptoms that lead to that burnout or that chronic stress, which is like stomach aches or headaches or just that constant fatigue.

13:45.03
Jen Schwytzer
And so when you're feeling like all of that overwhelm, when you're feeling like you're always trying to catch up, that is going to have an impact on your physical health.

13:45.50
Debra Coleman
Hmm.

13:54.79
Jen Schwytzer
which, if it's not addressed, like can lead you down a really scary path. And you know I think that as somebody who's experienced burnout, like it's not somewhere you want to be. like It is not a badge of honor to to wear. It is not like exciting on that side of things. like you know, to feel healthy physically, mentally, and to be doing something that, you know, brings you some kind of joy, you know, it it really makes a difference in how your outlook in life and how you show up with your friends, how you show up with your family, and how you're showing up like at your job.

14:30.18
Debra Coleman
So that is it, how you are showing up. it really i think I don't think people realize that the back flow that happens, like it it it backs up on you and then it manifests in other ways that, like you said, aren't good.

14:37.94
Jen Schwytzer
sweet

14:41.44
Jen Schwytzer
Yes.

14:43.77
Debra Coleman
um That's interesting that you that you say you also went through a period of burnout or you know you recognize that in yourself. what What did it take for you, if you don't mind me asking, like how did you know you hit that baseline?

14:53.56
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

14:56.42
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah, so you know we our body gives us so many clues, and oftentimes we ignore them.

15:01.90
Debra Coleman
and

15:03.66
Jen Schwytzer
And I was somebody that absolutely ignored all the warning signs that were going off.

15:03.93
Debra Coleman
yes

15:08.84
Jen Schwytzer
And I would just show up to work every day, and I just would not even be excited.

15:08.97
Debra Coleman
and

15:15.93
Jen Schwytzer
I wouldn't be i just felt like disconnected from myself, what I was doing. I would come home and you know I couldn't make decisions. I was experiencing like that decision fatigue where I've made decisions all day long and that was the last thing I wanted to do when I got home.

15:26.59
Debra Coleman
Mmm. Yes.

15:33.46
Jen Schwytzer
and I just realized like I wasn't showing up in the way that I wanted to. There was just something that was wrong that I needed to fix. I'm a fixer. I'm a type A personality.

15:44.44
Jen Schwytzer
like like something is very wrong here. And I don't know what it is. And again, this was during COVID. And it's like all of us had this great idea, like, I'm going to rethink my entire life in this moment. And for me, that was like, okay, well, this is the chance. Like, I'm not working right now. You know, things are very slow. Like, what can I do to like, get out of this funk that I'm in?

16:09.08
Debra Coleman
Oh, god and so you decided that's when you made that pivot in your life and in your career to make some serious changes.

16:13.28
Jen Schwytzer
Wow.

16:15.80
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah. Yeah. And I yeah think, you know, my husband, I talked to my husband one day and I was like, I think I want to be a life coach. And he's like, cool. Like, what does that mean? And I was like, I don't really know.

16:24.53
Debra Coleman
lot Let's find out together. Yeah.

16:27.97
Jen Schwytzer
Exactly. Exactly.

16:30.80
Debra Coleman
I love it. I love it. Oh, what a team. That's a total team right there.

16:33.68
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

16:37.25
Debra Coleman
Oh, gosh. Well, I can certainly appreciate what that did for you and what you were experiencing at the time, because it's it's it's a true manifestation and one that I know people sometimes get a little bit of an eye roll like, yeah, yeah, stress burnout.

16:43.13
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

16:50.35
Debra Coleman
But it really is a ah real thing. And it's one that we should pay attention to.

16:52.65
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

16:54.31
Debra Coleman
Yeah.

16:54.66
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah.

16:54.67
Debra Coleman
and

16:54.94
Jen Schwytzer
I mean, if you're unhappy and you, you know, there's something more out there like, and and I think that was my messaging. Like when I first started, you know, coaching was like, you know, going from that feeling of unhappiness and feeling like something's missing to like finding yourself again and finding that joy in your life and your career.

17:15.89
Jen Schwytzer
And, you know, whether that's in the same role or a different role, like what are you actively doing to make it better?

17:22.98
Debra Coleman
Yeah, exactly. Take some ownership.

17:26.50
Jen Schwytzer
ah Yeah.

17:27.03
Debra Coleman
h Yeah, exactly. And sometimes maybe that's a little, when I feel stressed and burnout, a little bit of it, it has to do with the sense of I lost control somewhere.

17:36.73
Jen Schwytzer
yeah

17:37.41
Debra Coleman
And you just kind of pointed that out a little bit, like take ownership again, gain control back.

17:38.59
Jen Schwytzer
Yes. Yeah.

17:42.54
Debra Coleman
Yeah, that's just a one strategy of, I'm sure of many, you know, that you can implement.

17:46.08
Jen Schwytzer
yeah

17:47.03
Debra Coleman
Wow. ah Well, while we're kind of talking about work and the workplace, um I know you also put a slight focus on amplifying our voices um and encouraging us to speak up, especially in the workplace.

17:56.80
Jen Schwytzer
Yes.

18:00.66
Jen Schwytzer
Okay.

18:00.94
Debra Coleman
And we have heard that. There's so many, like, you know, so many, you know, ah you've you've seen it blogs, articles, YouTube videos, like ah just post everything about speaking up, leaning in, having a seat at the table, all of that, which is so fabulous.

18:13.76
Debra Coleman
I celebrate all of it. But in your expert opinion and in your experience, why do you think that finding our voice can be such a powerful tool for our wellbeing and career satisfaction?

18:26.99
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah, I work with a lot of people who are in the helping profession. So like social workers, mental health therapists, teachers, nurses, who have never had that opportunity to ask for what they need. And so when I'm going into, I work a lot with teams and I work a lot with um agencies that employ those helping professionals. and teaching them to ask for what they need, it has really gone to decrease some of the stress and the overwhelm that they're feeling in that in the workplace setting, but also get them the support that they need. Because sometimes like you know these these agencies have the resources or can get the resources, but they have no idea that this is what their employees need. And so asking for the support that you need

19:16.11
Jen Schwytzer
we you know I work with a group of social workers and we you know talk about like losing staff members to you know turnover and you know high caseloads.

19:24.84
Debra Coleman
Mm.

19:26.23
Jen Schwytzer
And they don't have the opportunity to always talk about that and feel validated and feel like supported and come up with like tips, tricks, and tools to manage things a little bit differently.

19:38.52
Jen Schwytzer
And so gaining those tools and resources has helped like reduce some of that turnover. that that we're experiencing, you know, social work, teaching, nursing, such high rates of burnout. And in an effort to like ask for what you need, you're actually getting support to stay in your role and learn to like, love the job that you're in again and feel like you're doing what you set out to do.

20:02.16
Debra Coleman
Hmm. Love the job that you're in again and to set out. That makes a lot of sense. A lot of sense. Cause I think when you get to that point where I feel like I need to speak up, maybe things have gone off track a bit.

20:14.39
Jen Schwytzer
Ah.

20:14.97
Debra Coleman
Um, and like you said, maybe like work dynamics have changed and you need to speak up in order to kind of like lend your voice to the the solution possibly, or to at least share some of your discomfort or challenges.

20:22.25
Jen Schwytzer
Yes. Yeah.

20:27.73
Jen Schwytzer
Absolutely. Because I feel like some people just you know give up. and And that was me. like When I was going through burnout, I just gave up.

20:32.79
Debra Coleman
Mmhmm.

20:34.53
Jen Schwytzer
And I'm like, I can't make this better.

20:36.97
Debra Coleman
Yeah.

20:37.19
Jen Schwytzer
But I didn't try anything.

20:38.55
Debra Coleman
Mmhmm.

20:39.10
Jen Schwytzer
And I didn't have those conversations. And so to have those conversations, we have a lot of employers right now that are really putting a heavy focus on mental wellness. And so you know if that is the case for you know where you work, like they want to bring in the tools and resources to support you.

20:55.70
Jen Schwytzer
and to allow you to feel heard and supported. And so if your employer is is offering that, take them up on it.

21:03.64
Debra Coleman
here absolutely Yeah. Because that's a many times that's a part of your whole benefits package as well.

21:07.55
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah, absolutely, absolutely.

21:08.61
Debra Coleman
Right? So yeah. Oh, and can I say, I love that your your clients primarily, or you know, bulk of your clients do are operate from a service oriented industry. That's so lovely to hear that you're there to support because we forget that, hey, they need support too.

21:23.55
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah. Yeah.

21:23.69
Debra Coleman
They're lifting a humanity up basically.

21:26.10
Jen Schwytzer
Exactly.

21:26.10
Debra Coleman
And so those are the Yeah.

21:26.89
Jen Schwytzer
a

21:28.58
Debra Coleman
Oh yeah. Thank you for calling that out. As someone who's worked in nonprofit for the bulk of her career, like my career, I absolutely love celebrate that, that you support.

21:33.00
Jen Schwytzer
and Thank you. know

21:37.18
Debra Coleman
That's wonderful. Oh yeah. Speaking up, so important. I have found, and maybe if I'm not the one to do it, if a coworker is, I'm like low key, like high fiving her. Like, thank you.

21:46.82
Jen Schwytzer
yeah

21:47.50
Debra Coleman
Thank you for saying what I didn't have the courage to say.

21:49.86
Jen Schwytzer
Exactly, exactly. And maybe even coming together and be like, okay, how do we do this?

21:54.82
Debra Coleman
Yeah.

21:55.04
Jen Schwytzer
Like, you know, team up with your colleagues and just, you know, figure out, okay, who has the bigger voice and who, you know, who maybe has the better relationship. Do whatever you need to do.

22:04.91
Debra Coleman
Yeah, exactly. That's right. Share in the empowerment. We're all in this together, right?

22:07.89
Jen Schwytzer
Exactly. Yes.

22:10.33
Debra Coleman
So speak up, because you never know if the person next to you may be like, yeah, yeah, I'm same, same, yeah.

22:13.53
Jen Schwytzer
Right. Exactly.

22:15.47
Debra Coleman
Totally. But more importantly, as you pointed out, it is for your well-being and for your sake of feeling valued and appreciated. it It'll all lend, kind of roll into that, right? There's not, take a pill, we'll be better in the morning.

22:27.64
Debra Coleman
Sometimes it's you're it's a marathon, right?

22:29.91
Jen Schwytzer
Yes.

22:29.92
Debra Coleman
And it it takes, okay. Yeah.

22:32.25
Jen Schwytzer
Yes.

22:32.93
Debra Coleman
It takes a while, but we have to at least be start somewhere but somewhere.

22:36.09
Jen Schwytzer
Start somewhere. Absolutely.

22:37.88
Debra Coleman
Oh, well, it is so obvious that you are a supportive advocate for self-compassion, Jen, especially in this crazy, often demanding, you know, workspace we're we're all in these days, whether you're an entrepreneur or W2, you know, whatever your profit, nonprofit, it is a little topsy-turvy right now.

22:50.35
Jen Schwytzer
Yep.

22:56.89
Jen Schwytzer
yeah

22:57.12
Debra Coleman
Um, so what in, in your context of the work you do, what does kindfulness mean?

23:04.33
Jen Schwytzer
It's all about being kind to yourself.

23:06.92
Debra Coleman
Hmm.

23:09.47
Debra Coleman
Yeah. Being kind to yourself. Why is that so difficult?

23:15.22
Debra Coleman
Like if someone trips, I'll help them up.

23:15.65
Jen Schwytzer
but

23:17.02
Debra Coleman
But if I trip, I'm like, Oh, just suck it up and stand up. You know, it's like, why would we do that?

23:19.43
Jen Schwytzer
Exactly. yeah I know you know. I think there's such a focus on you know being kind to others and supporting everyone else. What about us? like If we're not going to do it, who is?

23:30.06
Debra Coleman
Hmm.

23:32.40
Jen Schwytzer
and so i you know I was going through ah ah a struggle a couple of years ago and I had A friend of mine just say, give yourself grace. And I was like, I have never done that before.

23:41.88
Debra Coleman
Hmm.

23:44.35
Jen Schwytzer
And it is so difficult to give ourselves that compassion that we deserve. We work really, really hard. We wear a lot of hats. And to give yourself a little bit of kindness, a little bit of grace, a little bit of compassion, whatever you want to call it, it goes so far and it can really change the way you look at everything in your life.

24:07.96
Debra Coleman
So well said. I mean, just listening to you right now, I'm finding myself, like my breathing is a little slower and I'm just like, okay, she's right.

24:13.50
Jen Schwytzer
oh

24:15.70
Debra Coleman
I need to, you know, you think you are, but when, until you have a conversation like this from someone in the know, like yourself, you're like, okay, maybe I was doing it wrong. You know what I mean? Not wrong, but like, now that I know better, I'll just do better.

24:26.73
Debra Coleman
You know, that kind of thing.

24:27.06
Jen Schwytzer
Yeah, we can all do a little better.

24:27.77
Debra Coleman
Yeah. There you go. I love it. Oh, that is so, I love it. Kindful. That is very kind. Oh, well, if some of my listeners are listening and they're just like, I need more of Jen, please tell us where we can find you and connect with you to learn more about what you offer.

24:44.75
Jen Schwytzer
Yes, you can find me on the web at KindfulnessCoaching dot.com. You can also find me on Instagram at KindfulnessCoaching.

24:53.23
Debra Coleman
Oh, brilliant. And I have all those links and I will definitely drop them in the show notes so they, you can connect easily with Jen to learn more about ways that she can work with you to help you learn to be more kind to yourself.

25:05.83
Debra Coleman
And that will, act that will trickle out to others. So you're actually doing everyone around you a favorite as well.

25:08.74
Jen Schwytzer
Yes. Exactly.

25:13.52
Debra Coleman
Trust me, as somebody who's like in the early stages of menopause, I need all that. like all that you know My husband will tell you, Jen, please, yes, help her find her zen.

25:17.35
Jen Schwytzer
so um

25:21.73
Jen Schwytzer
but

25:22.16
Debra Coleman
because ah But yeah, I love that. Oh gosh. Well, before I let you hop, do you have time for one last bonus question?

25:31.26
Jen Schwytzer
I sure do.

25:32.38
Debra Coleman
Oh, wonderful. Alrighty. So Jen, as we have clearly demonstrated, you are a busy lady. You are a mom, you are a working woman, professional, a wonderful team partner to your spouse. Um, but when life does get a little crazy, as you've kind of spoke to earlier, what do you do to help you reset and rebalance? What helps bring Jen back to zero?

25:55.72
Jen Schwytzer
I read fiction.

25:57.59
Debra Coleman
Ooh.

25:58.71
Jen Schwytzer
I read fiction because it it clears my mind. My brain is going all day long. I am doing mental health therapy and coaching during the day and it's a lot.

26:09.63
Debra Coleman
Mm.

26:11.68
Jen Schwytzer
And everyone says, Oh, what self-help books do you read? I don't read any. I read fiction and I get lost in a world of fiction and I try to read every single night.

26:21.10
Debra Coleman
Oh, bra the love it.

26:23.70
Jen Schwytzer
ah but

26:24.74
Debra Coleman
Love it. I am a reader myself. So I am like a bobblehead over here shaking my head. Yes. Yes.

26:31.74
Debra Coleman
Oh, well, good for you. That is fantastic. Oh, that's great. And see, you are prioritizing yourself by making time to read with your busy family life.

26:37.94
Jen Schwytzer
yeah

26:40.25
Debra Coleman
So you will practice what you face.

26:41.20
Jen Schwytzer
Sometimes it's only two or three pages, but it gets done.

26:44.43
Debra Coleman
Hey, that's still a W.

26:46.87
Jen Schwytzer
Exactly.

26:47.59
Debra Coleman
Yeah. Oh, that's wonderful. Well, for those of us on the other side, please keep that up because we are selfishly the recipients of all of that and um resetting and rebalancing that you get to engage in.

27:00.04
Debra Coleman
So thank you for sharing how you do that.

27:01.34
Jen Schwytzer
Thank you. know Love it.

27:02.24
Debra Coleman
yeah Oh, well, I hate to cut this short because I could absolutely keep you on. I have a million more questions like, Jen, how do I do this? I'm like taking furious notes as you're talking. I'm like, ah, oh. But I truly appreciate you taking time this afternoon. This was such a wonderful conversation, but it really opened my eyes to ways that, like we mentioned earlier, just things to pay more attention to and ways we can maybe engage with ourselves better.

27:26.65
Jen Schwytzer
Thank you so much for having me. It's been an absolute pleasure.