Jen Ottovegio Coaching

January 20, 2026

Last week I wrote about personal agency — the idea that you still have choices, even when life is demanding.

That got me thinking about which wellness tools actually support people when things are hard — and why so much of what gets labeled “wellness” makes me squirm.

Why "Wellness" Feels Like A Bad Word

Every January, "wellness" shows up loud and shiny. New routines, new ways to transform your life, new visuals of calm, focus, and productivity.

And meanwhile, a lot of people I know are just… trying to get through very real, very demanding seasons of life.

So here’s the reframe I’ve been working with:

Real wellness isn’t about feeling good all the time.

It's not about being happy.

It’s about building skills you can actually use when things are hard.

Snow Chains: Not Glamorous, But Very Effective

I keep coming back to the image of snow chains as the perfect metaphor for wellness.

They’re not glamorous. You don’t think about them much — until the road turns icy. And then they matter a lot.

But the key isn’t just owning them. It’s knowing how to put them on before you’re stressed, cold, and stuck on the side of the road.

That’s how I think about nervous system regulation, emotional literacy, communication skills, healthy habits, self-reflection, and more. Practice them in calmer moments so you're resourced and ready when sh*t hits the fan.

That's why I coach. That's why I facilitate groups and run workshops. That's why I started Zest, my corporate wellness business.

To help folks cultivate the skills of nervous system regulation, wise discernment, and integrity-based action (in both happy and hard times).

Inspired by this personal mission - and a friend's honest disgust with the word wellness - I wrote a longer piece on my blog today. I share what I believe wellness is, what it isn’t, why so many people feel like they’re “bad at it,” and what it actually looks like in real life when things are messy or intense.

👉 Read the Blog Post Here: Wellness, Redefined​

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Ways To Build Confidence With Your "Snow Chains"

Invitation #1: A Guided Meditation

A lot of wellness advice boils down to some version of “just learn to let go.”

For many, that doesn’t feel safe to do — and that’s not a personal failing. There are very real, trauma-based reasons why letting go can feel threatening to the nervous system.

That’s why I don’t think “letting go” is something you force or rush.

It’s something you practice in micro-moments — small, contained experiments that slowly teach your nervous system: this is safe enough, right now.

I recorded a 22-minute meditation that’s designed to support this. Not bypassing. Not pushing. Just gently exploring what release feels like in a way that keeps you resourced and oriented.

And over time, you build the wisdom to know the difference between:

• when letting go is supportive
• and when holding on is actually protective

▶️ Meditation: Letting Go: A Guided Meditation to Relax, Release Tension & Stop Overthinking​

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Invitation #2: The Monthly Reset Ritual

Every month, I host a simple, drop-in virtual gathering to help you set an intention and choose the 1 wellness-supporting priority for the month ahead. A way to design the tiniest next-step and set yourself up to feel supported in that.

If you want to practice being more intentional with your time, this is a damn good place to start.

👉 Register Here​

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Invitation #3: A Quarter of 1:1 Coaching

I admit - the snow chains reference feel very cute to pair with myWinter Foundations coaching program. It also genuinely feels like the right metaphor.

We aren't buying bright, flashy convertibles right now.

We are buying snow chains.

This Q1 Coaching Immersion is designed to help folks find more steadiness, develop skills, and build more capacity. Planting the not-so-glamourous seeds.

So when spring/summer comes... we are convertible ready. (Have I taken the metaphor too far? 🤣)

If you’re curious about coaching or wonder about it at all, I invite you to book a quick call. Would love to chat with you to see if it's the right fit.

👉 learn more about coaching​
👉 schedule a chit-chat​

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Lastly, my business grows exclusively by word-of-mouth. So, if you think the snow tire metaphor (or any of these invitations) might support someone you know... please forward this along!

Warmly,
Jen 💙