Jen Y Insights

Sharing this update that I've written on the Intentional Generations page

I had a conversation this week with a 27 year old builder experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. After a few minutes it was clear that a counsellor or psychologist was the best support for him, rather than a coach. I reflected: not everyone may know the differences between the various "talking/helping professionals".

It was the same for me. In 2017 when I needed support with my mental health I didn't know where to start or who was best to go to for help. Before Christmas we put out some content on Intentional Generations about the differences between a coach, mentor , counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist vs consultant. [shared below]

It's my belief that when it comes to our growth and wellbeing that it's a "one size fits one" approach. It's important to take the time to decide who to go to for support and to invest your time, energy and resources in. I'll put some useful links in the comments below for people who may be seeking counselling/therapy and also specific links for the construction sector. There's some amazing support available out there - free resources, free phone lines and also some incredible trained professionals!

P.S. If coaching or mentoring is something you've been craving or if you've been thinking of making a change this year - in your career, life or way of being - let's have a chat! I'm dedicating the first quarter of this year to supporting people who're ready for a new chapter, for more confidence and/or are needing support and structure to achieve their goals. I've opened up my calendar for FREE 30 minute no-obligation (genuinely) coaching conversations with people interested in learning about coaching. I'll also put links in the comments below that detail my coaching process and some of the client results I'm sincerely proud of :)

An end-of-year freebie from our main page, Intentional Generations 👇

A new podcast episode listen for your ears - sharing in case it's useful to others :)

Our Founder Jen appeared on the Winning in Work podcast and talked about her experiences with mental health distress, the importance of leadership and workplace culture and more. Link to the podcast episode is in the comments below :)

She says: "Always fun to have a great conversation with another dedicated, curious and values-aligned human. Thanks for having me on your Winning in Work podcast, Nikki Pak! My hope is that my vulnerable shares about my experiences with mental health distress early in my career will help whomever needs to hear them."

✨Elina and I (Jen) are BEYOND EXCITED to announce this: we are hosting a 'Rest and Reset' Retreat in Queenstown from Thursday 10th November - Sunday 13th November 2022. In our hearts is a huge desire to create and host an experience for an intimate group of people who've had a big few years, who've been giving others their all or who are perhaps in a space of change & transition and needing the space to get away, to rest and to figure out their next steps.
We've designed this retreat and group coaching experience with many intentional and also optional elements:
💜 good, nutritious food
✨BEAUTIFUL and peaceful location (Kinloch Wilderness Retreat - about an hour's drive from Queenstown airport)
🧘‍♀️ yoga for all levels of mobility and fitness
🙏meditation
💜 group 'Intentional Life Balance Reset' workshops
😍 sound healing
🚗 transport to and from Queenstown airport included in ticket price
⛰ optional: hike in Glenorchy
💆‍♀️ optional add on: massage
💜 This retreat is a gift from us to those who would normally put their team, their family or their work first. It's for those who are givers, leaders and/or changemakers. We're doing this first retreat, as so many people are struggling and as it's a pilot, at a low cost - we've done our market research and most other retreats in the area are decently more expensive.
Early bird pricing is available until Monday 12th September. There are limited spaces available, so if this sounds like a ticket needs your name on it (or someone you care about), please do save your spot soon 🙂
Please don't hesitate to DM or reach out to me via email if you'd like any more information or have any questions - we're here to help and ensure you have a restful, nurturing and valuable experience 🙂
Arohanui (big love),
Jen Young and Elina Lim

Kia ora team! I'm visiting Wellington and Auckland in June and July. Please do reach out if you've been curious about working together in 2022 - I'd love to chat with you :)

Arohanui,
Jen Y

This is absolutely WONDERFUL to see Multiethnic Young Leaders NZ! The launch of the Rangatahi Leadership Opportunities Database is a win for making youth leadership development more accessible. This is definitely worth sharing with all of the young people you know AND if you know of opportunities for youth to contribute them to this database :)

I 100% believe in the power of these opportunities to improve and change young peoples' lives - I've seen it and I've also had the privilege to experience many. I've been privileged to attend and be supported to attend many youth leadership development programmes, including Spirit of Adventure Trust (Spirit of New Zealand), Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand, District 9940 RYLA, RYLA Oceania and now am part of The Coaching Fellowship's 6 month programme. So many people are also deserving of these opportunities and I'm happy to speak about my experiences, give back and/or create connections to lift other young leaders up :)

Feeling a sense of connection, support, hope and purpose are all critical elements for improving our rangatahi's wellbeing and mental health. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this database evolves!

So excited to be able to publicly announce this - my work from the last 4+ years is being awarded and internationally recognised (cries with happiness). A HUGE thank you to everyone's support over the last few years - it started with Jen Y Insights and evolved into Intentional Generations 🥰💜

Sharing in case this post helps others 💜

This is a post for my fellow single ladies 💃. There's a lot of "Happy Valentine's Day" posts out today. For those that are loved up, for those that are happily single, for those that are single-and-ready-to-mingle and to those that are missing someone: the team and I (Jen) send you all love and kindness 😘.
We often talk about treating others with kindness, but how do we do that for ourselves? On a day that's marketed to be all about couples, I know many single people find today difficult to navigate.
For the last few years when I've been single on V-Day I have a tradition of taking myself out on at least one "Jen Date" during the day and often doing a Galentine's evening with girlfriends. Part of the day may or may not involve hoping to find a dog 🐶 to cuddle... Does anyone else do this (asking for a friend)?
This year, having recently moved to a new town and being recently single I've been continuing elements of this tradition. I cared for my body this morning by doing some yoga outside, then took myself out for breakfast and later explored a beautiful rose garden. Taking the time to read and do some writing were also a part of the morning 🙂.
A few years ago I wouldn't have dreamed of taking myself out on dates. What I've learned is that I don't want to wait for someone to treat me the way I desire to be treated - I do this for myself first. If someone lovely comes along in future and does something nice for me, that's a beautiful bonus.
It's so easy to buy into societal narratives of what life "should" be like for us at different ages, what we "should" be doing and achieving. It's exhausting (especially for females), unhelpful and only allows for limited ideas of what a "successful life" looks like. It takes courage to do things differently. So, with everything that's going on in the world, I really hope we can start learning to be kinder to ourselves. Okay, TED talk over haha
Friends: what is something nice you could do for yourself today?

Happy New Year! 🥳 Do you need MOTIVATION or GUIDANCE (or a sign!) for how to begin 2022? This is it, friends! ✨

The free 2022 planning resource is available now through our sister brand, Intentional Generations! And it all started with us here at Jen Y Insights!

An important update 💜

I can feel my heart beating faster and a bit of cold sweat coming on as I write this. The vulnerability is real.
The self care works normally - it keeps me resilient for longer, it helps me to stop and pause when I need to, it stops me spiralling into burnout BUT it's not a magic pill when an extended break is needed. I've recently come to the realisation, with the help of some caring friends, that I need to have an extended pause before life forces me to pause.

In Dr Jo Dispenza's book Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself he talks about the nature of change: 'Change as a Choice, Instead of a Reaction'

"It seems that human nature is such that we balk at changing until things get really bad and we're so uncomfortable that we can no longer go on with business as usual. ...We wait for crisis, trauma, loss, disease, and tragedy before we get down to looking at who we are, what we are doing, how we are living, what we are feeling, and what we believe or know, in order to embrace true change. Often it takes a worst-case scenario for us to begin making changes that support our health, relationships, career, family, and future. My message is: Why wait?

We can learn and change in a state of pain and suffering, or we can evolve in a state of joy and inspiration. Most embrace the former. To go with the latter we just have to make up our minds that change will probably entail a bit of discomfort, some inconvenience, a break from a predictable routine, and a period of not knowing."

Now, I'm choosing a wise move of pausing before a big life event forces me to pause. For the next 4-5 months I'm going to be investing time and energy into recalibrating my life: taking my own medicine. I'm tentatively calling this: "The Intentional Rest and Growth Project".

I've detailed more and also my process of coming to the decision to enter into a season of rest and growth in this blog: https://www.intentionalgenerations.com/blog/taking-my-own-medicine

My last working day for 2021 is next Tuesday 23rd November. I am stopping working for 2 months and taking my own medicine: allowing myself to enter into a season of rest, recovery and reflection. In early January 2022 I'll be moving down to the South Island for 4-5 months and doing a combination of remote work and part time in-person work once I'm settled in Feb/March.

All clients will have full access to the Intentional Generations resource library of support while I’m away and our wonderful team Megan & Gemma will be booking in all catchups and work while I’m away. A HUGE thank you to all clients, friends and supporters for all of the aroha, support and cheerleading over the last 4+ years. I owe it to myself now and to all current and future clients to take the time to put myself and my wellbeing first.

If you would like to connect over coffee while I'm away or would like to book in support for February 2022 onwards, please contact amazing team members at [email protected]

💜💜💜

I cried in a meeting with a client today when asked "how are you?" because I felt safe expressing how I'm truly doing with them. The truth is that there's a LOT going on for me, just like for so many of us.

Working in a role supporting many people's wellbeing and development is wonderful AND can also be very tiring. Add on to the fact that we're going through a global pandemic, my heart is a bit sore, I'm unable to go to Auckland to visit whanau (which is a normal strategy for dealing with life's challenges), numerous clients in NZ are suffering mentally, emotionally and financially, and dealing with people feeling the increasing separatism on a daily basis... it's a lot.

For many, "Covid fatigue" is a reality, so is a build up of fear, anxiety and stress due to ongoing uncertainty. My message for everyone here: we're all doing our best. Whether you agree or disagree with someone's opinion or choice - be tolerant, compassionate and kind. Putting labels on to people or spreading more messages of fear is unhelpful. We can keep communicating with compassion, listening openly and showing empathy.

More than ever we need support and to feel connected, heard and accepted as we are.

Here's what I'm doing to feel supported and resourced during this time:
1. huge work flexibility: being honest with my amazing team members Megan and Gemma when I need to step back from work and just focus on my wellbeing,
2. remembering my privilege AND also knowing that other peoples' experiences do not invalidate my own or what I'm feeling,
3. seeing a psychologist on a fortnightly basis so that I can "debrief" all that I'm supporting 1:1 clients with,
4. seeing a craniosacral therapist fortnightly to help support my nervous system and body,
5. recommitted to daily exercise and meditation,
6. lowering my screen time,
7. reading,
8. journalling + doing more creative activities (including paint by numbers)
9. spending lots of time outside/in nature
10. and I'm making time to connect with loved ones every single day (whether on the phone, online or in-person).

I hope that in my sharing it'll help others realise they're not alone in their experiences. My sense is that we could all do with a bit more empathy and kindness at the moment - to ourselves and others.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you're in need of support.

Arohanui (big love),
Jen Y

Big news... We're celebrating FOUR YEARS of positively impacting thousands of people's wellbeing and over 100 workplaces (first as Jen Y Insights, now as Intentional Generations). To celebrate we have 2 announcements:

[1] We have a NEW be-a-UTIFUL looking website that reintroduces us, our expanded team and our refined vision, mission, values and purpose. It's been a big project and reflects how Intentional Generations and myself have evolved over the last 4 years. HUGE gratitude to phenomenal team members Megan and Gemma for their help on the website and to Jo for her amazing videography and photography skills. Big thanks to our friends at Humankind (especially Kalyn Ponti & Louise Lethbridge) for cheerleading our services to support their team member's wonderful work as well as being okay being photographed while experiencing our offerings 🙂

Website link: www.intentionalgenerations.com

[2] To celebrate our Bday and to give back to the community we're running a GIVEAWAY for a FREE 60 minute wellbeing and culture workshop of your choice for your workplace.

To be in to win, follow these steps:
- Like this post
- Make sure you're following us on LinkedIn / bonus point: Instagram
- Tell us what wellbeing topic you're most interested in. You'll get bonus points for why you think this would benefit your workplace!
- Bonus point: Tag a colleague, friend or family member
One comment = one entry. Enter as many times as you like!

Examples of workshops:
Healthy Mind, Healthy Life
Reintegration Anxiety
My Change Toolkit
Adaptable Leader
Introduction to Mindfulness

Giveaway ends at 4.00pm NZST Friday 22nd of October

If you're our lucky winner we will work with you to determine the logistics - workshop/webinar (location-dependent) - tailored to suit you and your team!

A big thanks to everyone that has supported our journey to helping so many people and workplaces :)

Big news... We're celebrating FOUR YEARS of positively impacting thousands of people's wellbeing and over 100 workplaces (first as Jen Y Insights, now as Intentional Generations). To celebrate we have 2 announcements:

[1] We have a NEW be-a-UTIFUL looking website that reintroduces us, our expanded team and our refined vision, mission, values and purpose. It's been a big project and reflects how Intentional Generations and myself have evolved over the last 4 years. HUGE gratitude to phenomenal team members Megan and Gemma for their help on the website and to Jo for her amazing videography and photography skills 🙂

Website link: www.intentionalgenerations.com

[2] To celebrate our Bday and to give back to the community we're running a GIVEAWAY for a FREE 60 minute wellbeing and culture workshop of your choice for your workplace.

To be in to win, follow these steps:
- Like this post
- Make sure you're following us on Facebook and Instagram
- Tell us what wellbeing topic you're most interested in. You'll get bonus points for why you think this would benefit your workplace!
- Bonus point: Tag a colleague, friend or family member
One comment = one entry. Enter as many times as you like!

Examples of workshops:
Healthy Mind, Healthy Life
Reintegration Anxiety
My Change Toolkit
Adaptable Leader
Introduction to Mindfulness

Giveaway ends at 4.00pm NZST Friday 22nd
*UPDATE* extended until 11:59pm Tuesday 26th October – we forgot it was Labour weekend!

If you're our lucky winner we will work with you to determine the logistics - workshop/webinar (location-dependent) - tailored to suit you and your team!

A big thanks to everyone that has supported our journey to helping so many people and workplaces :)

Sharing this idea in case it helps people while NZ is in lockdown.
Arohanui (big love) xx

We never know who may be struggling unless they tell us. The impacts of bullying and mental health distress are often invisible. Unlike physical injuries we can't see the pain someone is going through. Today on 21st May is Pink Shirt Day, which is a nice reminder to us all to be kind to each other👚💟💟💟

This quote was shared to me a few years ago when I was volunteering at a women in public sector leadership conference a few years ago: "Don't think everyone has it sorted. You can't see who's swimming naked until the tide goes out".

For whoever needs to see this today: be kind to yourself and be kind to others.

Arohanui (big love), Jen Y

p.s. thanks to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand for sending me this t-shirt that I can proudly wear today :)

So, this happened :)

This may resonate. 18 minutes worth spent watching Sunday TVNZ's segment on "Mind Your Busyness" all about burnout.

Watch Sunday MIND YOUR BUSYNESS | TVNZ OnDemand When someone says, "How are you?", what’s your reply? Do you say things like "busy", "flat out" or "under the pump"? For many of us, busyness is a way of life - but it's taking a toll on our physical and mental health. SUNDAY speaks to four Kiwis about their burnout, it’s devastating impact - an...

😍 Hey Team! You know I love to reflect on life's lessons, so to celebrate turning 30 last year I reflected on 30 lessons I've learned during my twenties.
😅 #15: Eating vegetables isn’t always fun, but they are good for you.
Learn to notice how different foods and activities make you feel. It took me until I was 26 to be diagnosed as highly sensitive to different food types, including gluten, dairy, onions and chickpeas. I eat them now at my own peril. Turns out that mum was right: greens are good for you.
Read ALL 30 lessons here:
https://tinyurl.com/tm3scnc6

Tim Morrison timson.co kindly interviewed + featured our Founder Jennifer Young on his The Wellington Hustle podcast!!

She reflects: "It's always a privilege to have the space to reflect on the journey I've been on, the things I've learned and the community of people that continue to provide incredible support".

🎤 Tim asked Jen:
* What was your vision when you started Intentional Generations & Jen Y Insights?
* How did you deal with early setbacks?
* Was there a time that you wanted to give up?
* Were there any traps that you fell into?
* What inspires and motivates you?
* Describe a breakthrough that you're particularly proud of
* What do you see as being your biggest lesson?
* Has your vision always been clear and how has it evolved?
* What would you do differently if you were to start from scratch?

👉 Have a listen and read Jen's story: https://timson.co/wellington-hustle-interviews/15-jennifer-young

We hope that this open, authentic and vulnerable interview helps others who may be wondering what they want to do with their one and precious life, those who may be in their early stages of business or anyone interested in starting a for-purpose venture.

Jen has very little filter, so there's sure to be a giggle or two in there! 😊

My story is featured in Jess Stuart's 'I Love Mondays' book! It’s always a pleasure to support fellow entrepreneurs and to give back to the community.

Sharing my story of how I founded Jen Y Insights + Intentional Generations was a huge pleasure!

I’ve known Jess for many years and it’s wonderful to check in a few times a year about the different projects we’re working on and how we can support each other.

Jess does a lot for many females and is a true example of a woman supporting other women.

Thanks Jess Stuart for everything you do for so many! ❤️
You can purchase Jess' book here: https://www.jessstuart.co.nz/love-mondays

😍 Hey Team! You know I love to reflect on life's lessons, so to celebrate turning 30 last year I reflected on 30 lessons I've learned during my twenties.
😴 #16: Sleep is underrated by so many.
Did you know in 2017 Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings said at an industry summit that Netflix’s real competitor is sleep?! (Don’t believe me? Source) Simply put: when you get a good night’s sleep life is easier in every way. Research, research, research..
Read ALL 30 lessons here:
https://tinyurl.com/tm3scnc6

🎉 A highlight from this month! Facilitating "Your Sustainable Performance" workshop with the incredible team at Humankind.
This session looked at practical mindfulness tools for when we're time strapped + energy management.
❤️ Thanks to the Humankind team (especially "wellbeing warriors" Kalyn Ponti & Louise Lethbridge) for your openness, engagement and shared vulnerability.
❤️ Sharing tools and facilitating conversations about how to have more connected, thriving and energised teams is a privilege and lots of fun!
❤️ I'm sincerely grateful for the opportunity to support your team who are doing so much for other organisations 🙂
👀 Learn more about Humankind: https://www.humankind.nz/about/.

😍 Hey Team! You know I love to reflect on life's lessons, so to celebrate turning 30 last year I reflected on 30 lessons I've learned during my twenties.
❤️ #14: Learning to love yourself can be a journey.
Thinking or believing that we’re “not enough” is a burden that many may experience. This may take the form of "not educated enough”, “not thin enough”, “not wealthy enough”, “not strong enough” etc.
The truth is that you’re not defined by your weight, appearance, money in your bank account, social media followers, whether you have a significant other etc. Learning to love yourself as you are can be journey but it’s one of the most worthwhile journeys you can undertake.
Read ALL 30 lessons here:
https://tinyurl.com/tm3scnc6

🎉 This week's highlight = delivering a keynote on 'Your Ripple of Impact' to 300 year 13 lower North Island leaders at Scots College Wellington New Zealand.
Thank you Scots for the privilege to reflect on and share my own journey since being a 17 year old and everything I wish I'd known at that age - about mental health, not having to have my next 30 years figured out, following one's curiosity, having the courage to take action (& how this inspires others) + keeping privilege and perspective in mind.
👉 Creative Mornings' March newsletter describes why this topic is so important:
"Everything you do has the power to create its own RIPPLE effect. Like an object breaking the water’s surface, our actions can cause a series of ever-expanding waves of impact stretching far beyond our individual reach. ...it’s about momentum, and as momentum builds, even the smallest actions can end up having a profound impact.
One voice can inspire a movement, a single act of kindness can save a life. No matter how minuscule it may seem in the moment, what you do matters."
🙌 Thriving individuals, doing engaging work + connecting powerfully & authentically with others... can you imagine the current and future leadership we'd experience?
Images: At Scots College on day of keynote + some slides from the presentation.

😍 Hey Team! You know I love to reflect on life's lessons, so to celebrate turning 30 last year I reflected on 30 lessons I've learned during my twenties.
👩‍🎨 #13: Being alone does not mean you have to feel lonely.
I learned this lesson when I was in a long distance relationship and solo travelling for the first time in my life. I was in a situation that I’d previously thought would be heavenly: at a resort with a pool in Ubud, Bali. Yet, I had to consciously tell myself it was okay to feel happy and relax, even though there was no one there with me. I learned that loneliness is a state of mind, and often a temporary feeling.
Being single or solo is also seen less favourably in society. While I absolutely love connecting with people, it’s also okay to indulge my introverted tendencies without feeling “less than” or that there’s something wrong with me for liking alone time.
Read ALL 30 lessons here:
https://tinyurl.com/tm3scnc6

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🤸‍♂️ Last week I launched our new blog: 7 Evidence Based Strategies for Completing the Stress Cycle.

One of the books that helped me the most during 2020 was ‘Burnout: the Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle’ by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. I thought that I understood stress but this book unlocked another layer of understanding.

The key is to “complete the stress cycle” - i.e. to remove stress from the body in ways that work for YOU.

😍 Over the coming weeks I'll be sharing ways to complete the stress cycle and some of the simple tips and tricks you can apply to your own life!

👉 In the meantime, you can check out the full blog here: https://tinyurl.com/ao3r10pt

Some of my clients in different countries (USA, UK and Australia) are experiencing different and difficult mental health and wellbeing challenges due to being in lockdown - some for almost a year. One resource I've been recommending over the last week has been the book 'Steady: A Guide to Better Mental Health Through and Beyond the Coronavirus Pandemic'.

Amazingly, this ebook is now available on Amazon for NZD$1!! I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Sarb Johal, the practical clinical psychologist earlier in the week who wrote this book. His advice is very practical, relevant and useful. His genuine desire to help people during this challenging time is evident and appreciated.

If you or someone you know is struggling during this challenging time we're all going through, there's a super cost effective resource to help. Thank you, Sarb, for all that you're doing :)

https://www.amazon.com/Steady-Better-Through-Coronavirus-Pandemic-ebook/dp/B08RJNW2RS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=