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Coaching & gentle support for
spacious, connected, meaningful
lives on campus and beyond
Let's re-imagine
life in higher ed!
For faculty, senior administrators, & staff
in higher education
Art History Professor & Higher Ed Coach
Welcome! I'm Karen.
We are already good enough, just as we are.
We can create lives in higher education that
nourish us.
Self-compassion is a gift to ourselves and
everyone around us.
We are whole people, with lives and
communities beyond campus.
We are not alone. Meaningful connection
and support are available to us.
We can choose a slower pace of life.
We can re-imagine success, on our own terms.
I believe that
I'm so glad you're here.
One small, intentional choice at a time,
we can create more supportive lives, more sustainable careers, and a more humane academia.
![What if we work softer?
At this time of the year, as we accelerate into the semester, I hear faculty talking about working harder: “If I worked harder, I could [insert superhuman accomplishment here].” Or we berate ourselves: “I can’t seem to get myself to work harder.” The thing is, we are already working as hard as we can. We’re working ever harder, we’re not catching up, and it’s not making us feel very good.
What if we worked softer instead? What could working softer look like for you?
Some ideas:
—Take the “easy way”
—Accept help when it’s offered
—Don’t over-prepare
—Get comfortable
This might look like scheduling meetings to start an hour later in the morning, having your partner order out for dinner, or generating just 3 questions for in-class discussion rather than 10. Or it might mean working from home on a day when you don’t have a compelling reason to be on campus.
How will you work softer today?
#WorkSofter #AcademicLife #Professor #ProfessorLife #Faculty #FacultyLife #FacultyDevelopment #HigherEd #HigherEdLife](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/467645862_17999982605695166_8516716100756290750_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=z_mSQeM5ym0Q7kNvwHbXHw_&_nc_oc=Adk1X4WOwjZ45zSnsbEH-pGuMR5QBfrrP7CK-i3rOtxw3qvKhCsfchcbw5BXhru_mY4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=iQGtPO4S91WitKznrKTEIg&oh=00_AfdmFs61rhkXObPEJSjQNo2I_h7zUQHQmlw5bKG9Rlx6pQ&oe=690679EA)
![5 Questions when you are asked to serve on a committee.
Sometimes when we are invited into a leadership position, feelings of urgency & obligation can get in the way of discerning whether we actually want to participate. Here are five questions to clarify your thoughts about a new commitment.
Start with these three basic questions:
—Do I have the energy for this work? Y/N
—Am I excited to contribute? Y/N
—Will my labor by valued & recognized?
Y/N
Follow up with two more questions to help you tap into a more visceral response:
—Am I already dreaming of a freak accident that will get me out of this commitment? Y/
—If I won the lottery tomorrow, would I still choose to serve on this committee? Y/N
If you decide it’s not a good fit, you can invert some of these questions into your reason for declining. You might say, “I’m putting my energy this semester toward my [tenure file / writing / new course ] and I can’t take on anything else right now.” Or, “This year I’m choosing to put my labor into [something worthwhile] which has been very [rewarding / appreciated].”
Service requests are coming in fast at this time of year - take care of yourself out there!
#AcademicLife #Professor #ProfessorLife #Faculty #FacultyLife #FacultyDevelopment #HigherEd #HigherEdLife](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/467536684_17999982833695166_3284465553770630845_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=UGBlFJoqFQgQ7kNvwFdsrTY&_nc_oc=AdkO1PHCfOF5HEG1tH5uwFuOFN5TdFe8697fWiNu3hvgfNa2kkQF2WPmklmm4XLn0T4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=iQGtPO4S91WitKznrKTEIg&oh=00_Affj15J9yMKBakatcYYpe98f0gY8Q6ZBtt5zK1V8HKbfsA&oe=69066F30)
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