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You are doing enough, much, much more than enough. Much more than any generation of working mothers has done before. I see you. Carrying your little one with one arm while typing an email with the other. Joining that call, first thing after being up three times in the night. Feeling that tightness in your chest when childcare calls just before your important presentation or customer call The fear is real, isn't it? I remember it so well. It didn't feel like fear exactly, it

In a recent newsletter I described the archetype of our times, Superwoman. In particular why she is not so super and why she will damage us deeply. I shared that she will drive us into the ground, harm our well-being and make us feel stressed and unfulfilled. We know we are essentially exactly the same animal as we were hundreds of thousands of years ago as we evolved and so is our male / female biology. However our roles and responsibilities and opportunities have changed.

It was around four years ago, i.e. March 2021 when my health, vitality and energy took a big turn for the worse. Lock down was still very much a thing the Covid pandemic was about to enter its second year and like many of you I was working at home, alone and online. I recall that feeling of just not being able to get stuff done in a reasonable time period to a standard I felt was required. I had headaches all the time and all I wanted to do was sleep and so I did and when I

Recently I delivered, along with my friends at the Life Sciences Access Academy, a webinar. The title of the event was 'Superwoman is a Myth' and so I thought it timely to revisit her and her legacy again in article format Who is she? She is the archetype of our times. She is great, she gets stuff done, she takes charge, she has boundless energy. She appears so attractive, be her and you can have it all and who doesn't want it all? She feels like a really good way to operate

The Hidden Cost of Perfection For countless women in today's corporate landscape, perfectionism isn't just a personality trait, it's a shield, a driving force, and sometimes, a prison. Some of us wear our perfectionism as a badge of honour. Some of us use perfectionism as armour to protect us from the sting of criticism. Behind the meticulously crafted presentations and flawlessly executed projects often lies a complex web of shame, fear, and an exhausting pursuit of the unat

Let's be honest, this is a really challenging time of year for many of us. December can feel like a performance review crossed with an extreme endurance sport. You're juggling spreadsheets, end-of-year targets, team reviews, Christmas parties, the school nativity or end of term production and the silent prayer that your energy doesn't completely disappear before the big day. Sound familiar? Grab a cuppa, and let's navigate this tinsel-covered minefield together. The Working

That familiar whisper just before a presentation: "You're going to mess this up." The nagging voice as you write an email: "They'll think you're stupid." The constant companion telling you "You're not good enough" despite your achievements. Welcome to the inner critic, the workplace bully living rent-free in your mind. Understanding Your Inner Critic's Origins This voice, harsh and unrelenting, isn't actually yours. Like an unwanted inheritance, it's often a collection of cri

In the quiet moments between work, responsibilities, and daily life, many of us find ourselves drawn to familiar comforts: hours of television, endless social media scrolling, another glass of wine, bag of crisps or a packet of chocolate biscuits. These activities, often dismissed as mere bad habits, are actually profound messages from our deepest selves. They are silent signals that something fundamental is missing. The Unmet Needs Behind Our Behaviours What we perceive as m

In the constantly changing worlds of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and corporate life, many professional women find themselves caught in an exhausting cycle of perpetual accommodation. If you're constantly putting others' needs before your own, feeling overwhelmed by others' expectations, and silently carrying resentment about your inability to say "no", you're not alone. Understanding the Deep Roots of People-Pleasing The tendency to prioritise harmony over personal boundarie

For many women in the corporate world, the inability to say "no" and maintain healthy boundaries has become an unspoken epidemic. While the desire to be helpful and accommodating often stems from genuine good intentions, this pattern of people-pleasing can exact a heavy toll on both professional growth and personal well-being. The Corporate People-Pleasing Trap In today's business environment, women often find themselves caught in a difficult bind. Society has long conditione

Procrastination - we've all been there. That nagging feeling of dread when faced with a task, causing us to put it off until the last minute. While procrastination is a common challenge, for many women it can have a particularly profound impact on our personal and professional lives. The roots of female procrastination often run deep, stemming from a complex mix of societal expectations, workplace dynamics, and internal struggles. As women, we frequently find ourselves juggl

Have you ever felt like you're somehow fooling everyone, despite your achievements? If you have you're not alone. Imposter syndrome, that nagging feeling that you're a fraud about to be found out affects countless professionals, particularly bright, accomplished women. Why Women? Research suggests that up to 75% of successful women experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. The phenomenon particularly affects high-achieving women who, despite their proven tr

In today's 'always on' world, the importance of self-care cannot be overstated. Yet, many of us struggle to prioritise our own well-being. This article explores the reasons why you might find it challenging to look after yourself and engage in self-care practices. 1. The Guilt Factor One of the primary reasons people neglect self-care is guilt. You might feel selfish for taking time for yourself when there are so many other responsibilities vying for your attention. However,

In the realm of professional success, the high achiever stands tall, a beacon of accomplishment and ambition. Yet, beneath the gleaming surface of accolades and promotions lies a treacherous undercurrent, a poisoned chalice that threatens to undermine the very foundations of their success. The Allure of Achievement From an early age, high achievers are often lauded for their exceptional abilities. Top marks in school, leadership roles in university, and rapid career advanceme

According to the Deloitte Women at Work report 2022 46% of the women surveyed report that they feel burned outfel burned out How do you know if this includes you....? Burnout isn't a medical diagnosis however it is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a "syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. If the following resonates then it is possible you are heading in that direction, it occurs much more freque

In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, many of us cling to the comforting notion that we can control our lives and surroundings. We plan meticulously, set goals, and try to anticipate every possible outcome. However, this desire for control often stems from a deep-seated fear of uncertainty. This article explores the myth of control, the anxiety surrounding uncertainty, and offers practical suggestions to help you let go and find peace amidst life's unpredictability. The Myt

You got through the week. You made it to the weekend, or the holiday, or that rare evening where nothing is on the calendar. You told yourself: this time, I will rest, but you can’t So why are you still running? Not physically, perhaps. You might be sitting still. But inside the hum never stops. The mental checklist. The low-grade vigilance. The inability to fully exhale. You stare at the ceiling at 2am, exhausted beyond words, and yet somehow... wired. If this is you, I want

Not true actually, She's Just the Wrong Gender for the Emotion She is Showing..... in the workplace I’ve heard this so many times and the comment is ‘women are too emotional for business’. This is not true. We have all seen at work, and are especially seeing now in the world lots of emotion on show, in full view, amplified and repeated. What we are seeing is ANGER and RAGE and HATE and INTOLERANCE and more. These are all emotions aren’t they? These are all emotions that men

And the data proves it. We have a problem. Not a new one, but a worsening one. We live in a culture that celebrates grinding. We wear busyness like a badge of honour and talk endlessly about work ethic, hustle, output, and productivity. Some of us admire the people who reply to emails at midnight and brag about not having taken a holiday in two years. Here is a question: how much better would you feel, perform, and lead if your rest ethic was as strong as your work ethic? Not

Women have never had more access to opportunity to power than we do today. We are feeling the call to step, be more and have greater impact at work, at home and in our communities. However, we are reluctant. We have no more bandwidth, time or energy. We are saying no to the very things we want to do For far too long we have believed that the only way we can be taken seriously and get results in the world is to behave like SuperWoman. Strong, capable, dominating, frantic, ine