You can follow the links below to read more.
- Darren’s Story – Confessions of a Workaholic
Understanding the roots of individual work values can help make sense of work-life balance choices, encouraging self-reflection, acceptance and compassion – towards oneself and others. To this end, I’ve set out to use this blog to feature a series of “work-life balance profiles“, exploring the personal history behind work-life balance choices, one story at aContinue reading “Darren’s Story – Confessions of a Workaholic” - Sheara’s Story – Behind the Movie Scenes: A Tale of Full-Time Working Motherhood
Work-Life Balance Profile #2 – Sheara Abrahams Why is it that when discussing careers with full-time working mothers, invariably the conversation turns to childcare arrangements and relationship dynamics? Is it just me or are these topics slower to come up in similar conversations with full-time working men? My impression is that however much progress hasContinue reading “Sheara’s Story – Behind the Movie Scenes: A Tale of Full-Time Working Motherhood” - Treat ’em Mean, Keep ’em Keen
Any fans of Back to the Future will be familiar with Michael J Fox’s character Marty McFly’s reaction when asked, “Are you chicken?”. For those who have not experienced the cinematic genius of Robert Zemeckis’ epic trilogy, think red rag to a bull. Throughout the various timelines of Marty’s life, upon hearing those words, hisContinue reading “Treat ’em Mean, Keep ’em Keen” - Marsha’s Story – From high-flying professional to stay-at-home-mum
Work-Life Balance Profile #3 – Marsha* This Work-Life Balance Profile tells the story of a high-flying City professional turned stay-at-home-mum, Marsha, who found working part-time after having children to be the “worst of both worlds”. After a devastating redundancy, she did not return to the workforce and has devoted the past decade to her family’sContinue reading “Marsha’s Story – From high-flying professional to stay-at-home-mum” - What have I done to deserve this?As the end of 2020 closes in, I’ve been reflecting on the writing I’ve done over the course of the year. A year that has taken twists and turns I never could have predicted, not least with the creation of my blog and my apprehensive foray into the world of Instagram. When asked whether anyContinue reading “What have I done to deserve this?”
- Susan’s Story – Climbing High: on Single Motherhood and Social Mobility
Work-Life Balance Profile #9: Susan* Introducing Susan, the subject of my latest Work-Life Balance Profile. Having come across my blog on social media, Susan approached me to share her perspective on finding balance as the single mother of two children, one of whom has particularly demanding needs. The story I unearthed about social mobility, however,Continue reading “Susan’s Story – Climbing High: on Single Motherhood and Social Mobility” - Jhilmil’s Story – “My Work, My Identity”: on competitiveness, co-parenting & surviving job lossWork-Life Balance Profile #12 Introduction to Jhilmil’s ‘Work-Life Balance Profile’ Jhilmil was concerned that she would come across as “shallow” by saying how caught up her identity is in her work. On the contrary, I think that what she expressed is far from shallow, but rather a deep-rooted, universal feeling. Through my blogging, I’ve oftenContinue reading “Jhilmil’s Story – “My Work, My Identity”: on competitiveness, co-parenting & surviving job loss”
- Marika’s Story – The Pursuit of Balance Before, During & After Maternity Leave
Work-Life Balance Profile #13: Marika* *The names and some details have been changed for confidentiality purposes Introduction to Marika’s Profile When I asked Marika, as I ask every person I interview for my blog, how she would quantify her work:life ratio, she gave me not one but three answers. Similar to the distinction that AliContinue reading “Marika’s Story – The Pursuit of Balance Before, During & After Maternity Leave” - Multitasking Mastery: A Seamless Work/Life Blend?I really struggled to decide on the title for the latest addition to my blog’s “Work-Life Balance Profiles” series, Adunola’s Story, “Multitasking Mastery: A Seamless Work/Life Blend”. Really I wanted to add a question mark: “A Seamless Work/Life Blend?”, rather than “A Seamless Work/Life Blend”. But then I thought, that’s my question mark, not Adunola’s.Continue reading “Multitasking Mastery: A Seamless Work/Life Blend?”
- A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 5 Out Now
Episode 5 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN. This episode is a follow-up interview with Sarah Macmull, who was first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in October 2020. It’s rare to hear a feminist extolling the virtues of home-keeping alongside career drive. And it’sContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 5 Out Now” - “It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way” – Finding Balance by Setting Precedents: Katherine’s Story – on setting work-life boundaries as a legal professional & sharing the workload in marriage
Work-Life Balance Profile #18: Katherine Brownstein Introduction to Katherine’s Profile There are so many ‘work, life, balance’ facets to Katherine’s story that my challenge in writing up my interview with her has been how to summarise them concisely: finding balance in a traditionally inflexible profession; sharing “work” equally in a marriage; the conflicting struggles ofContinue reading ““It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way” – Finding Balance by Setting Precedents: Katherine’s Story – on setting work-life boundaries as a legal professional & sharing the workload in marriage” - A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 8 Out Now
EPISODE 8 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now! This episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast‘ features Tom McLaughlan, a retired Government Relations Advisor, who now works voluntarily for a crisis intervention charity. Tom first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in August 2021. In this podcast episode,Continue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 8 Out Now” - A Working Life of Duty, Service & Purpose“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family, to which we all belong.” These are the words that Queen Elizabeth II, a royal Princess at the time, pledged on her 21st birthday in 1947.Continue reading “A Working Life of Duty, Service & Purpose”
- “I Want My Time With You”: Spending Time and Work-Life Balance ChoicesI love this piece of art. Tracey Emin hit the nail on the head with this commission. Such a warm homecoming welcome as I stepped off the train recently returning to London from Paris. Time. The most precious commodity we have. The greatest gift a person can give of themselves. It is the common denominatorContinue reading ““I Want My Time With You”: Spending Time and Work-Life Balance Choices”
- The Pursuit of Balance for Working Parents: Attending School Events
Picture this: Your child has been asked to read a few lines in a class assembly. All parents of the class are invited to attend the assembly, which will last around an hour, at the start of the school day. Although your child will only be performing for a short time, you will be expectedContinue reading “The Pursuit of Balance for Working Parents: Attending School Events” - On Teenage Pregnancy, Teacher Burnout & Finding Balance When You’re “Busy”: Laura’s Story
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 5 Out Now The recording process for this episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ was plagued with quite a few mishaps. Thankfully, my guest Laura Krantz, who is a mother of five, and has spent most of her career working in the most challengingContinue reading “On Teenage Pregnancy, Teacher Burnout & Finding Balance When You’re “Busy”: Laura’s Story” - Working Parents Working at Finding Their BalanceOne of the things I love most about blogging and podcasting is the incredibly vast network it has opened up, creating opportunities to engage with people I wouldn’t imagine crossing paths with otherwise. One such opportunity was meeting and collaborating with the brilliant author and parenting expert, Anita Cleare, whose work I have admired sinceContinue reading “Working Parents Working at Finding Their Balance”
- Work, Life, Balance Lesson #3: How To Find A Work-Life Balance When There’s Housework To Be DoneHousework is an unavoidable, time-consuming labour-intensive reality of adulthood. Whether you own your own home or rent, live alone, with friends, strangers or family members, the house-keeping tasks that make a house a home need doing. The part that home-making plays in a person’s work-life balance varies from person to person. The subject of “domesticity”Continue reading “Work, Life, Balance Lesson #3: How To Find A Work-Life Balance When There’s Housework To Be Done”
- DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: On Finding Balance When You Work and Live With a Disability – Emma’s Story – Podcast Episode Out Now
This is a special episode to mark Disability Pride Month, which falls every July. My guest is Emma Livingstone, a married mum of three, who, in 2018, founded a campaigning movement called “UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement“, to improve care services for adults living with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Emma was diagnosed with CPContinue reading “DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: On Finding Balance When You Work and Live With a Disability – Emma’s Story – Podcast Episode Out Now” - Finding a Work-Life Balance When The ‘To Do’ List is Never Done: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
This solo episode covers the “Work-Life Balance Confession” of a woman named Kerry (*not her real name), who did not want to reveal her identity. Kerry’s work-life balance story originally featured on the blog, and centred on the themes of finding a work-life balance when: 📋 You have a never-ending ‘to-do list’ 🤰 You’re aContinue reading “Finding a Work-Life Balance When The ‘To Do’ List is Never Done: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW” - Emergency Podcast Episode: The Pursuit of Balance When You’re Living Through War
On 7th October 2023, the world woke up to horrific news of a terrorist attack in Israel. The trauma of this attack, and the war that has ensued, is far-reaching and multifaceted. And, as I write, it is still so raw and unfolding. With the help of my friend, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Dr IanContinue reading “Emergency Podcast Episode: The Pursuit of Balance When You’re Living Through War”