Month: January 2026

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365 Coaching Tip: 364th & 365th – A FULL YEAR!

December 30th Coaching Tip: Eat Slow. Eat Less.

Not only do I need to go slow, but now I’m coaching myself on my overall wellness, with a supreme amount of focus and discipline to eat slowly and eat less. No more whoofing down some food quickly. It’s not worth it! Now it’s about eating slowly, taking a break, walking around the home, doing a quick chore, then having another bite of food, then a few steps, etc. There is no need to risk eating fast, nor eating more than a helping. Zero reason; it’s not worth it.

When I say eat less, many of the books on longevity indicate that these seniors stop eating when they get full, or right before they get full. They walk after eating, intentionally. Some even indicate that they eat just 80% of a full meal. I’m implementing eating less; for example, today I had two spoonfuls of tuna salad, with no bread or crackers. Eat slow and eat less.

December 31st Coaching Tip: Celebrate, I Did It!

At the beginning of 2025, I set a goal to blog about a coaching tip every single day of the year. It’s one thing to set a goal, but it’s another thing to be committed to the goal, implement a new habit of thinking about and then writing about a daily coaching tip. I did it, yes, I did it. Did I fall behind a few times throughout the year? Of course I did, of course. But the key is that I was disciplined and committed to the goal and was intentional about taking time to catch up. In fact, today is January 15, 2026, and you’ll notice, I am finishing my last coaching tip of 2025: Celebrate, I did it! Am I a lil late in getting it done? Yes, I am.

It’s my hope that you have enjoyed reading these 365 Coaching Tips as much as I have enjoyed capturing them, writing them down, editing them a lil bit (they definitely need to be edited by a professional editor), and sharing them on this JenWilfong.com blog. How am I celebrating this significant achievement? I ordered myself a gift, that will arrive today via Fed Ex; it’s a gift that I buy myself during key times in my life, times and moments that I truly want to memorialize. For example, one of the gifts was bought when I started received stock options as a leader at Caterpillar back in 1997; another time was when I started my second real estate LLC; and another was when we were returning from an amazing trip and concert in Portugal. Celebrate when YOU accomplish a significant goal. Celebrate that you DID IT!

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365 Coaching Tips: 361st, 362nd & 363rd

December 27th Coaching Tip: Strive For Normalcy.

There’s alot going on with me and my health; there’s alot going on with the holidays and the upcoming new years; and there’s alot going on with geopolitical happenings across the globe. My goal right now is to strive for some normalcy. What does that look like right now? Resting in the hospital, I decided that I might as well finish a couple things online that I had put off in earlier December. I have finished an AI course thru the University of North Florida and completed my continuing education for my PCC Coaching renewal; those both are now posted to my Linked In profile. Why do it now? I’m striving for normalcy, after this shocking and unexpected last week’s health crisis. This mattered, I’m still relevant.

I was also working diligently to get normalcy with my strength (walking and standing regularly), hydration (moving from chewing ice to now able to drink liquids), and nutrition (starting very slowly to eat again, very small portions). The progress to do these three things gave me hope. It will take time, but striving for normalcy is working. It’s good for the mind, heart, mind and soul.

December 28th Coaching Tip: Go Home.

Yesterday at 2pm, striving for normalcy allowed me to slowly eat a small meal of chicken, mashed taters and gravy, and some pudding. Part of me was scared to eat, as I had only had broth for a couple days. I took it slow, one small bit at a time. Immediately upon finishing this first “normal food” meal of three that I would have to eat before being released, I made myself get up out of bed and walked the fourth floor in the hospital. I walked more than all the patients on the entire floor combined; I was striving for normalcy and wanting to prove that I had the strength to go home. Today, after my third, small meal of normal food was consumed, all three doctors agreed with me: it was time to be released and go home to rest, go very slow, and recover.

My partner and I loaded up a cooler with all the flowers that I received, grabbed my personal items, and we headed home. That transition was exhausting, but I was going home.

December 29th Coaching Tip: Go Slow.

It’s a Monday, and what a better way to start the week than coaching myself to go slow, prioritize rest and recovery. I grabbed a black Sharpie marker and made a couple Post-it notes that I put on my bathroom mirror and on the refrigerator, both of them at eye lever. Because this health episode was so severe and scary, I knew I had to write down my priorities so that I would stay acutely aware and focused on them. I also told key people in my life the following: Go Slow. Eat Slow. Eat Less.

Go slow, Jen, go slow.

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365 Coaching Tips: 358th, 359th & 360th

December 24th Coaching Tip: Be Determined.

Here I was, on Christmas Eve, facing a health crisis with little to zero sleep for five days, while having IV’s and tubes connected to me, and a body filled with meds to handle the intense pain, but I had to remain determined to get better. Digging deep, I was determined to be nice and grateful to the nurses/CNA’s/cleaning crew, determined to take notes of everything that was happening to my body so that I could be more prepared during the doctor visits, and also determined to keep walking to maintain my strength.

The Lord gives us challenges, and every single time he has done that, I have trusted him. Yes, my determination sure helps me, but His presence and my trust in Him gives me a determination that comes from the depths of His word. Be determined. Honor Him.

December 25th Coaching Tip: Be Peaceful.

As I laid in my hospital bed, all by myself in this room, I was spending time praying this special morning. Sweetly and suddenly, I noticed light, grateful, resilient, and peaceful tears gently rolling down by face. It was Christmas and the Lord and I were having a conversation about peacefulness, in this state that I’m in. Being content, right now, was important. If I was supposed to be in the hospital, by myself on Christmas morning, then let it be with a peacefulness. Embrace where you are, be content, and be peaceful.

What a peaceful and meaningful Christmas morning, all by myself, that I will never forget.

December 26th Coaching Tip: Be Grateful.

My partner arranged for me not to be alone very much. Although it is Christmastime, she researched on Care.com for registered nurses who would be willing to be with me in my hospital room while she flew to be with her father for Christmas. This nurse was so lovely; she actually came by to meet us both on Dec. 24th. We all agreed that it could work, and bring me a sense of stability and allow some freedom for my partner.

I was so grateful that we could make this happen for everyone. No one was alone on Christmas very long at all, in our lil world. Be grateful for those who are willing to help. Look for the helpers.

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PALS

Being socially connected with our “PALS” leads to health benefits. For example, recent medical research is indicating that when visiting hours in hospitals freely allow friends and family members to be around the patients, the recovery by the patients is both quicker and healthier.

But what I’m talking about are other “PALS”. And yes, these also have health benefits. This is the acronym that I have created for myself, that I put in my iPhone calendar when I complete one, two or three sets of P: Pushups, A: Abs, L: Lunges, S: Squats. The last 2-3 years, I’ve really been focused on staying in touch with my people PALS. I’ve also made it a point to do these exercises. But yesterday, I gave these four key exercises a name: PALS.

It’s already having an impact on me because it is easy to remember, and more motivating to say to myself than just saying, “I need to do my exercises.” Get yourself some PALS.

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365 Coaching Tips: 355th, 356th & 357th

December 21st Coaching Tip: Uneasy? Get Checked Out.

Early Sunday morning and I just didn’t feel right; I actually felt uneasy. I haven’t felt uneasy more than five days in my life. Listen to your body; listen to your gut; follow your instincts; don’t delay. Go get checked out.

I drove myself to a quiet ER and was checked in immediately. Couple hours later I was admitted and had a very serious situation happening. If you’re uneasy, get checked out.

December 22nd Coaching Tip: Have A Health Advocate.

When you are about to undergo some killer testing, make sure you have a health advocate that can speak on your behalf. And when I say killer testing, I do kind of mean it. Today had me facing and enduring lots of x-rays and some contrast/dye injected in me to see where the problems were in my body. As the day progressed from 11:40am to 11:40pm with numerous x-rays, hours upon hours of intense pain and loosing my cookies, there were times when me and my health advocate couldn’t even speak in full sentences. For example, when I needed to throw up, I said, “blue” (the blue barf bag). When I said, “pink”, I indicated that I needed some relief, a quick swipe of a pink sponge on my lips. We made it thru it together, and I’m so grateful that my health advocate and partner was with me in the hospital, hated that she saw me in such strife and horrid conditions. However, she became the best ER nurse during these killer tests.

Who is your go to person when you’re in dire straits, heading to the ER, or in the hospital or going thru some killer pain/testing? If you don’t have a person, get yourself a health advocate. Get it in writing too, as a “Health Care Power of Attorney.”

December 23rd Coaching Tip: Embrace Sisu.

As I was in the hospital, I was beyond exhausted due to excessive vomiting and intense pain, and I was lacking five nights without sleep. However, I was facing a very significant decision for my current and long term health. Thank the Lord that I have been in outstanding physical and mental shape, especially these last 2-3 years as I have focused on being a senior athlete. However, as I faced a big decision with meds in me, lack of sleep, and pain, I knew that I had to dig deeper that I had ever dug recently.

My bestie in Holland, Maleena, reached out to me once she heard from my mother that I was ill and in the hospital. She sent me a couple paragraphs on the word: Sisu. It’s a Finnish concept meaning extraordinary determination, resilience, guts, and perseverance in the face of extreme adversity. It embodies a mindset to keep going when ALL odds are against you, often described as stoic grit, inner strength, action-oriented, tenacity, willpower and overcoming obstacles, and then bouncing back with unyielding resolve.

I embraced Sisu (pronounced “see-soo”) during the evening of Dec. 23, and the early morning hours of Dec. 24th. Although I hadn’t eaten anything and slept very little since Dec. 18, faced extreme exhaustion due to this and the horrid vomiting, I dug deep and embraced Sisu. What did I do? I got out of my hospital bed, still tethered to two separate lines, and walked in place, danced, did squats, moved! This was purposeful, intentional, and wellness coaching of myself. I was all alone, just me and God. It worked; my doctors noticed an improvement in my health situation before noon on Dec. 24th. Sisu! The greatest gift from God on Christmas Eve.

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365 Coaching Tips: 352nd, 353rd & 354th

December 18th Coaching Tip: Yearend Review.

Today was my day to dedicate time to finish my yearend performance review. I compile and track results throughout the year, and also save key feedback and wins in a separate folder. As I pull the draft together, it’s actually a good reminder of how many people that I was able to coach and help improve their business, team, etc. My goals that were set at the beginning of the year were achieved, and due to numerous reasons, I accomplished more than originally intended. I kept close track of the changes and accomplishments.

How do you prep for your yearend review? My tip is to stay on top of it throughout the year, so that it is actually easy to pull together. Don’t wait.

December 19th Coaching Tip: STOP.

Sometimes when you don’t feel well, it stops you. That happened to me late yesterday and today. The feeling was stop. Stop everything; sometimes your body is sending signals due to stress. Today was that day, so I stopped.

December 20th Coaching Tip: REST.

Yesterday was the stop sign. Today was continued resting. Stop. Rest. Do nothing. That’s my tips. Stop. Rest. There’s a phrase out there: IYKYK. If you know, you know.