Avoid burnout, keep mentally and emotionally fit with PPFs

Past, Present, Future (PPFs) self-application for preventing burnout- for myself, for my clients, AND for you.

The PPFs explained:

PAST: Remember the past and be grateful, PRESENT: savor what we have in the present and FUTURE:  anticipate the good things the future holds with hope.

PAST:

This past weekend I received a phone call from my client thanking me for helping her to learn premortems so that she was prepared for a very important (and last-minute) work meeting that went so well she is still reeling with joy.  At that time I was able to savor her thanking me as she remembered the past week and how it had gone so well, despite the stress of the preparation along-side other work she had to do.

I can relate to having a lot to do while having other stressful situations at work (or home) to deal with at the same time.  That’s why premortems are so helpful: they help you see possible future glitches in a plan and prepare for them.  More about that in a later blog will come, now we are focused on the PPFs of life to carry on with a good attitude.

My PAST for this week is, of course the conversation with my client and the satisfaction that she is overjoyed with the outcome of a premortem.  For this is am very grateful and pleased.

My PRESENT right now is the beautiful sunshine streaming into my window and the sunny yellow buildings vis a vis from me.  I am savoring the color and the light, breathing in the present moment and just being for a moment.  I am enjoying this moment, and breathing.

My FUTURE for today is a near future activity:  I am meeting a friend for lunch (it’s not a normal occasion these days, so I am really looking forward to this).  I haven’t seen my friend for months.  I have already looked at the menu online and am looking forward to a rice noodle salad and an affogato for dessert. MMMMMMmmmm!  I really look forward to catching up with my friend and her life, and I know she and her family had covid, so I want to find out how everyone is doing, too.

This is a stressful week with meetings, appointments and lots of teaching, so remembering the chat with my client and anticipating this little lunch interlude in the week is making me smile and keeping my attitude a positive one. 

Now it’s time for you to try PPFs:  

What can you remember from the past right now that brings you joy?  Where is that joy coming from? Let it come and enjoy the past experience once more.

Then what can you savor right now?  Maybe it’s a cup of coffee or tea during your mid-morning or afternoon break.  Maybe you can go for a walk and enjoy the beauty surrounding you.

What can you look forward to?  I have a very very future plan to visit a dear friend who recently moved to Germany.  But that is far future.  I have two nearer future activities to look forward to:  a small family Thanksgiving dinner and a friend coming to dinner on Saturday, and the very near lunch meeting today is like a cherry on top of my sundae.  I hope you can find (or make) some things you look forward to and that those activities can give you strength when life is difficult.

Now, make a PPF Plan:

You need to make a plan to remember the past, savor the present and anticipate a hopeful future and practice it.  If you do make PPFs a habit, it will help you get through tough times.

Everyone knows it’s hard to make changes so I give you these three tips to plan a change:

·      Make a plan how you are going to set PPFs in motion

·      Tell a friend for support- and allow them to check up on you

·      Fix your environment for positive success (eg: turn off the news until further notice, or buy treats to enjoy in these next difficult days)

If you want to talk more about the difficulties you are having and how to fix your life for the better, just give me an email.  

Have a positive rest of the week!

Patricia Jehle                           patricia@jehle-coaching.com