Navigating the transition when college students return home for summer break presents both joys and challenges for the entire family. Christina is bringing her son Alex, a freshman at CSU, home for the summer after his first year of college. This episode explores how to adjust expectations and build new relationships with your young adults who have grown during their time away.

• Students change significantly during their time at college in ways parents may not fully recognize
• The entire household develops new rhythms during a student's absence that will need readjustment
• Setting expectations about schedules, shared responsibilities, and boundaries helps smooth the transition
• Moving from controlling parenting to being a "consultant" or "guide" works best with college-aged children
• Giving returning students space rather than bombarding them with questions leads to richer conversations
• Finding the balance between joy of reunion and challenges of changing dynamics requires patience
• Treating young adults more like peers creates respect for their newfound independence

Grab the Free Strengths-First Resume Template - it's perfect for anyone in career transitions, whether with a long career gap, a career pivot, or just ready for a change.
Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

Graduation season brings a complex mix of emotions as we celebrate our children's achievements while also grieving the end of a significant chapter in our lives as mothers. This bittersweet transition marks not only our children's growth but also our own evolution from full-time caregivers to witnesses of their adult lives, prompting us to consider what comes next in our own journey.

• The celebration of graduation represents the culmination of years of hard work and personal growth
• Different transitions exist between high school and college graduations, each with unique emotional impacts
• Leaving the K-12 system after decades can feel like losing an anchor that structured family life
• The "emotional whiplash" of feeling joy and grief simultaneously is a normal part of this transition
• As our children graduate, whether from high school or college, we mothers also graduate into a new phase of life
• This transition period is an opportunity to reflect on what we want in our next chapter

If you're in a season of transition right now, especially as your kids grow up and the house starts feeling quieter, you're not alone. I'd love to invite you to a free coaching call with me—a chance to talk things through, get clarity, and feel more grounded about what's next for you. There's no pressure, no pitch, just one mom to another offering a safe space to figure this out together.

Grab a spot on my calendar using the link in the show notes or email me at Christina@HerNextChapters.com.

Grab the Free Strengths-First Resume Template - it's perfect for anyone in career transitions, whether with a long career gap, a career pivot, or just ready for a change.
Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

Have you ever wished for an easier way to check in on your loved ones' mental health without awkwardness or fear? Today's powerful episode introduces a life-saving communication shorthand that could transform how your family discusses emotional wellbeing.

Born from personal experience, this simple numbered scale system creates a gateway to discuss even the heaviest topics, including suicide ideation. We unpack both the "mood check" (assessing general emotional state) and the more targeted "safety check" (gauging suicide risk) that allow families to regularly connect without overwhelming conversations.

The episode walks through specific scenarios of how to interpret responses, what follow-up questions to ask, and when to seek professional help. We debunk common myths—like the fear that bringing up suicide might "plant the idea"—while providing practical guidance on compassionate responses when someone indicates they're struggling. You'll learn how to implement this system in your own household, creating a foundation of trust and open communication before it's desperately needed.

Mental health conversations shouldn't be taboo, especially within our families. As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, I invite you to take ten minutes to establish your own version of these check-in scales with your loved ones. Program 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) into your phone now, because preparedness is paramount when supporting someone through crisis. Remember that silence doesn't protect our children—connection does. Let's build that connection together, one conversation at a time.

Mental Health First Aid
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

Grab the Free Strengths-First Resume Template - it's perfect for anyone in career transitions, whether with a long career gap, a career pivot, or just ready for a change.
Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

Job searching can take a toll on your mental health. In this episode, I share practical strategies and my GRACE framework to help you stay grounded and resilient.

If you’ve ever felt like job searching is messing with your head… you’re not wrong.

Behind every resume you send and interview you prep for is a whole swirl of emotions: hope, rejection, doubt, frustration. It’s a lot. Especially when you’re doing it alone.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode gets real about what the job search does to your mental health and what you can do to protect it.

If you're feeling drained, discouraged, or like your confidence has taken a hit, you’re going to want to hear this.

I’m sharing practical ways to care for your emotional wellbeing and stay focused on your goals, even when the search feels endless. You’ll also get a simple reset framework you can use anytime you start to spiral.

Tune in if you're ready to make your job search feel a little less like a mental minefield—and a little more manageable.

Need extra support in your job search? Email me or sign up for a free consultation (link ⤵️). I’d love to help

Grab the Free Strengths-First Resume Template - it's perfect for anyone in career transitions, whether with a long career gap, a career pivot, or just ready for a change.
Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

What do a toddler mom and an almost-empty nester have in common?
More than you'd think.

In this episode, Christina (navigating the early stages of an empty nest) and Susan Lee (mom to a 15-month-old) sit down for a raw, honest conversation about the identity shifts that unfold across every stage of motherhood.

Together, they explore how to preserve your sense of self while embracing the ever-evolving role of “mom.”

You’ll hear:

• Why the transition into motherhood feels immediate, while the empty nest sneaks up slowly
• How holding onto something that's yours outside of parenting builds resilience
• The harm of "good mom" stereotypes—and how to resist them
• Parallels between career transitions and parenting transitions
• Why identity loss can happen in both early motherhood and after the kids leave home
• How breaking isolation (even with something small) helps you reconnect with purpose
• Why a strong sense of self is essential to navigate both expectations and doubts
• The reminder that transitions aren’t detours—they’re invitations for growth

Whether you're in the thick of toddler chaos or staring down the hallway at an empty bedroom, or somewhere in between, this conversation is for you.

To receive Susan's Better Work Newsletter:
https://www.heymslee.com

To connect with Susan on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heymslee

Grab the Free Strengths-First Resume Template - it's perfect for anyone in career transitions, whether with a long career gap, a career pivot, or just ready for a change.
Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

We explore the distinction between sleep and rest with wellness coach Alexandra Clifton, diving into practical techniques for calming your nervous system and protecting your energy during major life transitions.

• Vagus nerve calming techniques including intentional yawning to increase oxygen flow and mental clarity
• "Shalom My Body" exercises that combine breathing, body positioning, and relaxation for stress reduction
• The importance of creating a "dopamine and serotonin menu" of activities that genuinely replenish your energy
• How to incorporate rest breaks throughout your day, especially during demanding periods like job searching
• The value of sitting down to eat mindfully, activating your rest-and-digest response
• Creative ways to maintain social connection as a form of rest, like scheduling "FaceTime dinners" with friends
• Recognizing when you're depleted and intentionally choosing activities that restore rather than drain you

Connect with Alexandra on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest @tobreatheagain (with the E at the end of breathe) and join her monthly workshops or digital detox waitlist.

Digital Detox Free Download + Join Waitlist

• https://tobreatheagain.coach/page/diy-tech-detox

Workshop Link

• https://tobreatheagain.coach/events

To Breathe Again (TBA) Social links

• Facebook | http://facebook.com/tbaholisticlifestyle
• Instagram | http://instagram.com/_tobreatheagain
• LinkedIn Personal | http://linkedin.com/in/alejones
• Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/@holisticlifestylecoach

Grab the Free Strengths-First Resume Template - it's perfect for anyone in career transitions, whether with a long career gap, a career pivot, or just ready for a change.
Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

Christina welcomes holistic wellness coach Alexandra Clifton to explore how busy individuals can break free from chronic stress and overwhelm with simple, sustainable lifestyle changes. Alexandra shares her journey from psychology studies to founding To Breathe Again, where she empowers people to cultivate lasting peace through neuroscience-based wellness strategies.

• Moving from survival mode to growth through personalized wellness practices
• Distinguishing between psychological counseling (past-focused) and coaching (future-oriented)
• Using "life pie" assessment to evaluate physical health, mental wellness, emotional maturity, spiritual practice, and social connection
• Understanding neuroscience principles that help strengthen brain health
• Developing emotional maturity to return to joy within 90 seconds
• Stimulating the vagus nerve through yawning exercises to calm racing thoughts
• Monthly free workshops to kickstart your holistic lifestyle journey

• Digital detox experiences for better online/offline balance


Connect with Alexandra on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest @tobreatheagain (with the E at the end of breathe) and join her monthly workshops or digital detox waitlist.

Digital Detox Free Download + Join Waitlist

• https://tobreatheagain.coach/page/diy-tech-detox

Workshop Link

• https://tobreatheagain.coach/events

To Breathe Again (TBA) Social links

• Facebook | http://facebook.com/tbaholisticlifestyle
• Instagram | http://instagram.com/_tobreatheagain
• LinkedIn Personal | http://linkedin.com/in/alejones
• Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/@holisticlifestylecoach

Grab the Free Strengths-First Resume Template - it's perfect for anyone in career transitions, whether with a long career gap, a career pivot, or just ready for a change.
Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

A chance encounter on the ski slopes of Winter Park on April Fool's Day 1995 led to meeting my husband in the most unexpected way possible.

• Brief encounter with a skilled skier who complimented my skiing ability by calling me "Susie Chapstick"
• Had my skis stolen after lunch, causing a frustrating afternoon of riding ski lifts down, filing reports, and borrowing equipment
• Discovered a woman had mistakenly taken my skis just as I made one final check with ski patrol
• Reconnected with the morning's mystery skier on the train ride home when he asked if I ever got my skiing lesson
• We rode back to Denver together, talking the whole way—and that unexpected reconnection became the start of our story (we’ve been married 27 years!)
• Important life lessons about checking in one more time and embracing life's messy, unpredictable moments

If you're in that in-between season and want support navigating the next chapter of your career, reach out to me at Christina@HerNextChapters.com. And if you're a podcast listener who isn't receiving my weekly newsletter, email me to get added to the list!

Grab the Free Strengths-First Resume Template - it's perfect for anyone in career transitions, whether with a long career gap, a career pivot, or just ready for a change.
Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina