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Home Alone for the Holidays!

 

The thought of being alone during the holiday season often brings to mind a sense of isolation and sadness but it doesn't have to. Whether you're alone for personal choice or life has hit some bumps along the way, there are ways to help you navigate the holiday hazards, and maybe even enjoy a few of them. 

 

Accept the facts.

Avoiding the facts won't help but setting some expectations for yourself can go a long way. If you need to tell yourself "Holidays are going to be rough, and I probably won't enjoy them, but I will make it through" then do so. Despite what all the marketing and holiday hype tells us, it is okay to hate every minute of the holiday. 1

 

Redefine your expectations.

Watching TV, shopping, even just a trip to the corner store for a gallon of milk can be an emotional roller-coaster. All around us are depictions of holiday cultural expectations. But remember, there is no ONE way to celebrate. Don't lock yourself into one set of expectations that you must meet to be happy.  

In fact, just think for a moment about all the ways people spend this time all over the world. Not all cultures involve family gatherings, presents, and similar rituals. People have found other ways to commemorate these dates. Looking at the holiday season from a different angle may help you remove the emotional pressure. Reassessing your expectations for how the season will go instead of how it should go can help.2

 

Make your own happy.

Giving your time to others can be a great way to support your local community and provide the social interaction you may not realize you need. Volunteering can make you feel good about yourself and can also help you build relationships with others. 

If you don't feel comfortable with strangers, be willing to speak up at work or school. Let people know you will be on your own during the holiday and find out if there are others who may be as well. You can adopt each other for the season and celebrate together.3 

 

Treat yourself; you matter.

Nutrition, hydration, sleep, and movement have a huge impact on your mental health. When those things go off the rails, all the negative emotions we’re already dealing with can feel even worse. When that happens, staying up on self-care feels even more impossible. It’s a hard cycle to be trapped in. To the best of your ability, try to tend to your basic needs so your cruddy holiday can at least exist on top of a sturdy foundation. It won’t fix everything, but it will help. 

Give yourself permission to buy that one thing you have wanted but didn't really need. Take yourself to the spa, sports game or a movie, whatever brings you joy. You deserve a treat too. And of course, practice a ton of self-compassion if and when these practices don’t come easily to you, or you can’t manage them on certain days.1

 

Review time.

While there are many reasons and causes for being alone during the holiday season, it can be hard and that’s okay. Be willing to redefine your expectations, and don't hesitate to reach out to others. Togetherness, through volunteering or a shared holiday celebration, will help redefine what the season means to you. Take care of yourself, body and mind, and don’t forget that special fun treat. And finally, most important, YOU matter. 

 

References

  1. "9 Self-Care Tips for Anyone Spending the Holidays Alone". Anna Borges. Self.com, December 11, 2020. <https://www.self.com/story/holidays-alone-self-care>
  1. "Reframe your expectations". PsychCentral, November 18, 2021. <https://psychcentral.com/health/spending-holidays-alone-coping-tips>
  1. "Single and Alone for the Holidays? 6 Strategies for Surviving and Even Thriving the Holidays Alone". Sally Connolly. Mentalhelp.net, December 19, 2011. <https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/single-and-alone-for-the-holidays-6-strategies-for-surviving-and-even-thriving-the-holidays-alone/> 
 

Volunteer Spotlight September 2023 - Alex Green

Alex started his professional career in healthcare in Houston as an intern, where he got to be part of a big project at a large oncology practice and interacted with Doctors, Administrators, Nurses, and other cross functional teams. This ultimately led to a job there as a Contracting and Credentialing Coordinator. He moved from Houston to Phoenix and got an opportunity with a government subcontractor in the healthcare space. There he helped the organization oversee program compliance for a national hospital patient satisfaction survey. He moved from being coordinator to a Project Manager and wanted to get the formal certification. He had a colleague who had recently got her PMP certification and helped him connect with the PMI PHX study group. He earned his PMP certification in July 2021.

The certification helped him land a new project management job with a tech start up in Scottsdale in early 2022. He credits the PMP certification for removing barriers to entry for such a role and believes it helped him to get the job he is currently at. He is grateful for the support provided by Marrisa Atkins, Bob Gates, and Conrad “Skye” Sandoval for helping him in his PMP preparation. The knowledge of budgeting, scheduling, and Agile Project Management which he learned during PMP exam preparation helped him in his new job and positioned him to stay on top of project activities.

He became a volunteer at PMI Phoenix in 2021, as he was thankful for the support he received from the organization and wanted to give back and get involved. One initiative he volunteered for was the 2023 PMI Phoenix Chapter Arizona Project Management Summit. He liked the idea of meeting and working with other project managers of all professional backgrounds to discuss timely industry topics and share and learn from each other’s experience. It was lot of work, but it was quite rewarding for Alex, and he definitely recommends other chapter members to volunteer at events like these to learn new skills and expose themselves to challenges and rewards.

He is an enthusiastic fantasy football player, a Houston Astros fan and likes traveling and weightlifting in his spare time.

He believes PM skills are relevant to any kind of goal setting, whether it’s saving for a trip or getting in shape – all goals are more likely to be obtained using some PM skills. He feels this is a fantastic way to practice PM skills daily.

 His advice for chapter members who are thinking about volunteering is “There are a myriad of opportunities throughout the chapter. Whether you have an area of expertise you are looking to work in or want to branch out and try something new, you can find what you are looking for at PMI PHX.”

His favorite destination to travel is New Orleans, as it has a great combination of food, culture, history and fun and is like Paris. According to Alex it has the best food in the country.

Call for Mentees to Launch new Mentorship Program

PMI Phoenix Chapter is looking for Mentors and Mentees for the  

2022 Mentorship Program!! 

The PMI Phoenix Chapter is proud to offer members and non-members the following exciting, engaging, and rewarding mentorship programs, at no additional cost:  

Professional Mentorship Program (members only) - This program is designed for project management professionals working in the field who need the short-term support of someone more senior. Mentees will engage with their mentor weekly for a few months, in an on-demand, unstructured setting to reach specific personal and professional goals. Mentoring may include a resume or LinkedIn profile review, a mock job interview, career advice, an individual development plan, and insights and recommendations on professional certifications to enhance your skillset.  
Newcomer Mentorship Program (new members within last 90 days) - Are you new to the greater Phoenix area? We have an exciting newcomer mentorship program to connect you with another PMI Phoenix member and help welcome you to the area and give you a local project management professional contact! Mentoring may include: attending chapter meetings and webinars with your mentor (so you are not going alone), introducing you to other chapter and board members, and introducing you to local connections on LinkedIn. This is a great way to quick-start your networking!  
 

Mentoring Requirements 

Be available at least weekly to a paired Mentee to advise and counsel 
Help set and achieve concrete, realistic goals 
Create an open environment for working together 
Communicate effectively and be empathic to how others are engaging 
Provide encouragement 
Facilitate learning 
Give thoughtful, constructive, kind feedback and offer suggestions 
Recommend resources and professional development opportunities 
Maintain enthusiasm for the mission of the PMI Phoenix Chapter 
 

Mentee Requirements: 

Be available at least weekly to a paired Mentor to learn and grow in project management skills and abilities 
Develop and achieve concrete, realistic goals 
Create an open environment for working together 
Listen to my mentor’s advice and guidance 
Be open about what may be getting in the way of my goals 
Be willing to try new things (webinars, classes, workshops, strategies) 
Acquire the skills needed to be successful in my professional development 
Maintain enthusiasm for the mission of the PMI Phoenix Chapter 
If you have an interest, don’t wait! The Mentorship Program cycle kicks off now!  

APPLICANTS:

Mentors: Click here to apply. 

Mentees: Click here to apply. 

Letter From the Board Chair

Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members,  I hope your summer was healthy and safe. Now that fall is almost here, so is our Arizona PM Summit! This extraordinary adventure is waiting for you, ready t...

Culture at PMI

Culture and behaviors are inseparable facets of human existence, intricately interwoven in the tapestry of societies around the world. As diverse as humanity itself, culture defines our beliefs, values, traditions, and customs, while behaviors reflect our actions, attitudes, and interactions.

Within a professional organization, culture is the collective set of values, beliefs, behaviors, norms, and communication styles that define its identity and influence the interactions and work environment of its members. It sets the tone for collaboration, decision-making, and overall organizational effectiveness.

 

So, how does PMI define culture?

“Our culture is a community wide agreement of how we get things done, how we treat each other, and how we can all expect to be treated”.

It includes the following important elements:

  • How we collaborate with each other
  • How we act
  • What it feels like to volunteer or work with PMI
  • Our mindset, behaviors, and attitudes

At PMI, our systems and processes are WHAT we do. HOW we do them, the mindset and behaviors we choose, is culture. When we talk about organizational culture at PMI, we are talking about our communities of staff and volunteers, not the wider project management community.

 

What are the Culture Values and Behaviors at PMI?

  • Make it Easy
  • Aim Higher
  • Be Welcoming
  • Embrace Curiosity
  • Together we can

 

Over the next several newsletters, we will delve deeper into each of these culture values and behaviors. Check out the PMI Culture Hub to learn more.

Volunteer Spotlight June 2023 - Katianna Pappas

Katianna joined PMI about 7 months back and joined the chapter in Feb 2023 to connect with Project management Community and build her network of PM professionals. She became a volunteer in the Program team led by Derick Brownell and was instrumental in organizing the first in person event since COVID. The event had a great turn out with lot of industry leaders and Project Management community members, she arranged the ice breaker event to ensure all participants feel comfortable and connected.

She studied health care innovation as part of her university degree program focused on health care policies and technology which shapes the innovation in this space and is very motivated by technological advances in health care space. She originally started off in IT recruitment, hiring IT NetSuite professionals and managing clients, which made her interested in IT, but wasn’t sure which aspect of IT she wanted to get involved in till she stumbled upon Project Management.

She got a job offer to work on IT Projects along with business development opportunities with a health and wellness organization in the valley.  She has been in this role for almost a year and really likes managing and negotiating vendor terms and agreements. She likes the flexibility of designing scope and giving the projects shape and structure. She was surprised by how much she enjoys doing the Project Manager role and it motivated her to get the PMP certificate last week (Congratulations!).

She finds PMI Phoenix chapter to be very welcoming for the new members and she found it easy to blend in with the community while she was studying for her PMP certification. When asked about her most rewarding experience as a volunteer she says “Seeing the success of our first in person event was a rewarding experience. I enjoyed being part of the process of planning and putting together an event that helped others build connections and community within the Phoenix Chapter.”

Her hidden talent is Cooking! In her own words – “I come from a Greek family who loves to feed people. My dad taught me everything I know about cooking. I always have Tzatziki in my fridge ready to snack on or add onto any dish. Some of my favorite things to make are Lamb Shank, Tiropita, and of course Gyros.”

 

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Her proudest moment in career was just past her first year at her previous company, she closed the largest deal in the office’s history!

Her other passion is cars and watching Formula 1 racing, as she gets up early and stays up late to watch the races on TV and is planning to go to a Live race someday soon!