The latest news and research on how to make the most of a career break, and live a more authentic and purposeful life.
Play: Embrace Playfulness
I have seen first-hand the transformative power of play in both personal and professional settings. Whether it’s taking a break to play a game or incorporating playfulness into a work project, embracing it can lead to greater creativity, productivity, and overall fulfillment. When I was researching how to cure my burnout, I found that play was critical to my healing journey. In this article, we will explore the concept of play, the benefits it offers physically, mentally, and emotionally, and…
Power of Awe: Boost Your Happiness
While there are many factors that contribute to happiness, one powerful and often overlooked emotion is awe. Awe has the ability to shift our perspective and boost our happiness, and it is something that anyone can experience with a little effort. In this article, I will explore the science behind awe, its benefits, and provide tips on how to cultivate the awe emotion in your daily life. Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash What is Awe and Why is it…
Mindfulness: The Secret to Finding Inner Peace and Balance in a Chaotic World
As someone who has had their fair share of struggles with anxiety and stress, I have found that mindfulness has been a powerful tool in helping me find inner peace and balance in a chaotic world. In this blog post, I will share with you what mindfulness is, how it can benefit you, and some practical ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine. Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash Introduction to Mindfulness The term, “mindfulness” has significantly gained popularity…
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The Transformative Effects of Meditation
I was a struggling meditator for years. I couldn’t sit still for more than 5 minutes, let alone be able to meditate for 10, 15, 30 minutes. However, in late January 2023, I made the commitment to try this meditating thing. I went to a meditation retreat for a week, and it transformed my life. Today, I am a believer and practitioner. Meditating is a powerful tool that can help us connect with ourselves and the world around us. By…
Parental Burnout: The Silent Struggle
As a parent, I know firsthand the challenges that come with raising children. I haven’t been shy about talking about my own struggles. From sleepless nights to endless laundry, managing a household can be overwhelming. But when the stress of parenting becomes too much to handle, it can lead to parental burnout. If you’re in this camp, you are not alone. I am deep in it with you. In this article, I will explore the symptoms of parental burnout, the…
How Burnout Affects Healthcare Professionals
On this Labor Day, let’s recognize the people who work diligently to keep us healthy and save our lives. But, what happens when the cost of caring becomes too high? Burnout is a very real problem for healthcare professionals, affecting both nurses and physicians. In this article, I’ll delve into the definition of burnout, the causes of nurse and physician burnout, the symptoms to look out for, and the hidden costs of burnout in healthcare. I’ll also discuss how to…
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Understanding Teacher Burnout
Full disclosure, I am not a teacher. However, as someone who is interested in burnout, a parent, and like the billions of us who lived through the global pandemic, I was interested in understanding the rate of burnout for our educators. According to recent statistics, teacher burnout is becoming increasingly prevalent, with a burnout rate of around 40-50% for teachers in the United States. It’s important to understand what burnout is and what causes it, so that you can take…
Meditation: Science-Backed Benefits for Mind and Body
I couldn’t last five minutes meditating until January 2023. I was not a believer. In fact, I was an anti-meditator. Fast forward, and I can now say that meditation is changing my life. Meditation is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to improve mental and physical well-being. In recent years, it has gained popularity as a tool for managing stress and improving overall health. In this article, we will explore the science-backed benefits of meditating for your…
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Escape the Grind: Why Using Your PTO Days is Crucial for Your Well-Being (and Career)
Balancing your work and personal life is an extremely challenging but yet necessary skill. As someone who has worked in corporate America for 20 years, I’ve often struggled with actually taking a full PTO or vacation day. I vacation with my work laptop just in case, and I typically end up checking in several times a day. I’ll take the “necessary” call during a family vacation, or build the presentation while I’m sitting by the pool. It’s better than being…
From Burnout to Breakthrough
How to Overcome Exhaustion and Rediscover Your Passion As a passionate and driven professional, it can be easy to get caught up in the demands of work and forget to take care of ourselves. I have been there. I’ve been burnt and totally toast. But what is burn-out? And why is it so rampant today? Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash Burnout is a common in today’s workplace, and it can have a devastating impact on our mental and physical…
Time to get real about the impact of this pandemic for parents
It’s been over 8 weeks since my last post, a long 8 weeks. In the midst of this pandemic, we’ve lost child care, experienced reduced salaries, and coped with the stress that working, parenting, care-taking, housekeeping, and generally living brings. Even for those of us who are lucky to still have a job, I must admit that it’s been an exhausting and overwhelming ride. Since May, my 1 year old and I have been traveling back and forth between our…
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Looking Beyond COVID-19: Your Creating Now Jar
We all have that list. The one we keep in the back of our minds, and replay in our moments of solitude. We all have the list of things we wish we would have done and didn’t, or the things we wish we could take back. COVID-19 is forcing us to experience these stages of grief – the grief of the loss of our old lives, routines, commutes, daycares, and the true loss of precious life. Stages of Grief Elisabeth…
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6 Tips to Maintain Your Sanity with Work and Kids During COVID-19
This pandemic is an effing challenge for us as individuals, for our families, for our kids. We’re a bundle of nerves about sick loved ones, or that our loved ones will get sick. Our teams have all shifted to be remote, and as a leader, we need to be sure they are feeling safe and secure, and still meeting deadlines. Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash Meanwhile, you’re having to meet your own deadlines, finish performance reviews (late), attend the 6…
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Creating When Amidst Covid-19
Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash If you are like me, the past few weeks have been a struggle – mentally, physically, emotionally. My wife and I have been glued to the TV, constantly reading articles and checking the status of all the Covid-19 cases in our state. We are spouting out statistics of that latest news nugget that was shared. It is all consuming. We’re home with our 11 month daughter, and my 8 year old step daughter. The…