Member since July 2022
Chris Coladonato has a simple but radical belief: the most powerful thing a driven, high-achieving human can do right now is slow down. Not to do less. But to learn how to thrive without burning out.
As the founder of Connection Catalyst, Chris is a speaker, coach, and facilitator who helps busy professionals incorporate rest into their everyday lives; not as a reward for finishing everything, but as a basic human need. Because you are a human being. Not a machine.
Her signature talk — Rest Isn't a Four-Letter Word — is part keynote, part exhale. Blending personal story, science, and just the right amount of nudge, Chris gives audiences something rare: an actual experience of what it feels like to slow down. Right there in the room.
For organizations, the outcomes are real: clearer thinking, better decisions, less burnout, more presence. For the person in the room, it's more personal. They leave feeling calm, clear, and like they remembered who they are underneath all the doing.
Chris is a former member of the ATD International Board of Directors, a Certified Forest Bathing Guide and creator of the Color Me Unplugged coloring book series.
Want to offer your audience the gift of slowing down? Book Chris for your next keynote, workshop, or retreat experience.
My passions are creating coloring books, hiking, walking in nature, paint by numbers, disco music (and 80s too!) and sewing.
My friend Tracie told me a few months ago: you used to burn the candle at both ends and throw a third wick in just for fun.
She was right. I can see that now. I couldn’t then. I thought that’s what success looked like. More meetings, more projects, more volunteer work — always convinced that if I just kept doing, someday I’d find my way. And I kept getting rewarded and promoted, so I kept going.
And yet, for years I kept saying I wanted the world to stop for just one day so I could catch my breath. I needed a pause button. A Calgon take me away moment. I wanted the entire world to stop — except me — so I could finally catch up.
It took me years to realize that nobody was going to give me that. That if I wanted that pause, I would have to give it to myself.
For most of her adult life Chris Coladonato wore busyness like a badge of honor.
Twenty plus years in corporate. Always on and always available. Always the one who could handle more. She kept getting rewarded for it so she kept going — through lunch, through vacations, through every signal her body was sending that something needed to change.
It took burning out completely to finally stop. And a cancer diagnosis to make her realize just how deep the always-on went.
The shift didn't come from a dramatic pivot or a life overhaul. It came from small things. A walk without her podcast. A coloring page instead of her phone. Silence instead of music. Time in nature that slowly gave her back her clarity, her calm and something she hadn't felt in years — herself.
Now Chris helps others find their way back through small sustainable shifts that actually stick. Because rest isn't a reward for finishing everything. It's what makes everything possible.
Part keynote, part exhale. Rest Isn't a Four-Letter Word helps audiences finally understand what rest really is and what becomes possible when they actually give themselves permission to do it.
Blending personal story, science, and just the right amount of nudge, Chris takes audiences on a journey of why we treat rest like a four-letter word, to the reality that the pace of modern life was never designed for the human operating system we're all still running. And then she shows them what becomes possible when we finally stop. Clearer thinking. Better decisions. More creativity. More presence. More of themselves.
Rest isn't presented as a weekend retreat or a vacation you haven't booked yet. Chris shows audiences what rest actually looks like woven into a real, busy life.
This isn't a talk about tips and tactics. Chris creates an actual experience of what it feels like to slow down — right there in the room. Audiences leave not just understanding why rest matters. They leave having felt it.
In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to just breathe can feel impossible. With endless to-do lists, demanding schedules, and digital distractions, it’s easy to move through life on autopilot - always busy, but rarely present.
But what if slowing down wasn’t a luxury, but a strategy for success?
In this talk, Chris Coladonato will introduce the power of intentional pauses: small but impactful moments of stillness that can transform how we work and live. These pauses aren’t about stepping away from responsibilities; they’re about creating space to reconnect with our purpose, focus, and clarity.
Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, Chris will show attendees how to integrate mindful breaks into their daily routine to reduce stress, sharpen focus, and bring more clarity and balance into their lives.
This talk is for those who feel caught in the hustle of constant busyness and are ready to break free.
Feeling drained or disconnected? Nature holds the key to recharging your energy, calming your mind, and igniting your creativity. Whether you're seeking peace in the chaos of your day or a deeper connection to yourself, this talk is designed to help you find grounding in the natural world, wherever you are.In this inspiring and restorative talk, Chris Coladonato will guide you through the transformative power of nature - whether it’s the tree outside your office window, the sunlight filtering through your space, or a moment of stillness in a nearby park. Nature is always there, and it’s more accessible than we realize.Drawing from personal experience and scientific research, Chris will show you how small, intentional moments in nature can reduce stress, boost your mood, and spark creativity - while fostering a deeper sense of presence and connection. You’ll leave with practical tools to integrate nature into your daily routine, even amidst a busy schedule. It’s about creating space to pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself.
A series of nature-inspired coloring books with each pattern hand-drawn from a photograph taken in nature. They are designed to help you slow down, de-stress, and find calm.
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Need a giveaway your attendees will actually use? This 4" x 6" printed coloring booklet has 11 nature-inspired abstract designs for busy humans who need a moment of calm. Great for conferences, off-sites and retreats.
Send QueryMy friend Tracie told me a few months ago: you used to burn the candle at both ends and throw a third wick in just for fun.
She was right. I can see that now. I couldn’t then. I thought that’s what success looked like. More meetings, more projects, more volunteer work — always convinced that if I just kept doing, someday I’d find my way. And I kept getting rewarded and promoted, so I kept going.
And yet, for years I kept saying I wanted the world to stop for just one day so I could catch my breath. I needed a pause button. A Calgon take me away moment. I wanted the entire world to stop — except me — so I could finally catch up.
It took me years to realize that nobody was going to give me that. That if I wanted that pause, I would have to give it to myself.
For most of her adult life Chris Coladonato wore busyness like a badge of honor.
Twenty plus years in corporate. Always on and always available. Always the one who could handle more. She kept getting rewarded for it so she kept going — through lunch, through vacations, through every signal her body was sending that something needed to change.
It took burning out completely to finally stop. And a cancer diagnosis to make her realize just how deep the always-on went.
The shift didn't come from a dramatic pivot or a life overhaul. It came from small things. A walk without her podcast. A coloring page instead of her phone. Silence instead of music. Time in nature that slowly gave her back her clarity, her calm and something she hadn't felt in years — herself.
Now Chris helps others find their way back through small sustainable shifts that actually stick. Because rest isn't a reward for finishing everything. It's what makes everything possible.
Part keynote, part exhale. Rest Isn't a Four-Letter Word helps audiences finally understand what rest really is and what becomes possible when they actually give themselves permission to do it.
Blending personal story, science, and just the right amount of nudge, Chris takes audiences on a journey of why we treat rest like a four-letter word, to the reality that the pace of modern life was never designed for the human operating system we're all still running. And then she shows them what becomes possible when we finally stop. Clearer thinking. Better decisions. More creativity. More presence. More of themselves.
Rest isn't presented as a weekend retreat or a vacation you haven't booked yet. Chris shows audiences what rest actually looks like woven into a real, busy life.
This isn't a talk about tips and tactics. Chris creates an actual experience of what it feels like to slow down — right there in the room. Audiences leave not just understanding why rest matters. They leave having felt it.
In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to just breathe can feel impossible. With endless to-do lists, demanding schedules, and digital distractions, it’s easy to move through life on autopilot - always busy, but rarely present.
But what if slowing down wasn’t a luxury, but a strategy for success?
In this talk, Chris Coladonato will introduce the power of intentional pauses: small but impactful moments of stillness that can transform how we work and live. These pauses aren’t about stepping away from responsibilities; they’re about creating space to reconnect with our purpose, focus, and clarity.
Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, Chris will show attendees how to integrate mindful breaks into their daily routine to reduce stress, sharpen focus, and bring more clarity and balance into their lives.
This talk is for those who feel caught in the hustle of constant busyness and are ready to break free.
Feeling drained or disconnected? Nature holds the key to recharging your energy, calming your mind, and igniting your creativity. Whether you're seeking peace in the chaos of your day or a deeper connection to yourself, this talk is designed to help you find grounding in the natural world, wherever you are.In this inspiring and restorative talk, Chris Coladonato will guide you through the transformative power of nature - whether it’s the tree outside your office window, the sunlight filtering through your space, or a moment of stillness in a nearby park. Nature is always there, and it’s more accessible than we realize.Drawing from personal experience and scientific research, Chris will show you how small, intentional moments in nature can reduce stress, boost your mood, and spark creativity - while fostering a deeper sense of presence and connection. You’ll leave with practical tools to integrate nature into your daily routine, even amidst a busy schedule. It’s about creating space to pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself.