Tag: burnout

Beating burnout

Linda

via GIPHY

Have you returned to work after the holiday period and feel a bit like this kid?  You’ve had a break yet you don’t feel rested and rejuvenated?  You certainly haven’t relished going back to work.  It feels like you’re on a merry-go-round you can’t get off.  It’s possible you could be at risk of burnout.

In a recent interview psychoanalyst Dr Josh Cohen explained “…that with burnout, the body collapses, so it is an involuntary rest…You feel you can’t move or do anything anymore but actually it’s accompanied by … a kind of overstimulation of the nervous system.”

Concerningly, the International SOS Risk Outlook Report 2024 published at the end of last year noted that “80% of surveyed global senior risk professionals predict burnout will have a significant impact on businesses in the next year. But only 41% of them feel that their organisations are equipped to deal with it.”

In the first few days of the new year media reported on a case where the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in favour of an employee who claimed work-induced burnout.  The employer, a large retail chain, was ordered to compensate the employee over $30,000.

Burnout, its causes and consequences have been covered in previous blogs.  You can read them and access the resources collated within them through these links:

Burnout, unfortunately, remains an ongoing workplace issue.  It has significant costs to a business as well as to individuals and society.  So as another year begins we have collated some updated library resources for you.

Whether you are self-employed, an employer or an employee there’s something below to help you balance work and life, and build resilience to ongoing work/life stresses.  Read on…


via GIPHY

Your Burnout Is Trying to Tell You Something
Kandi Wiens, HBR Online, January 16, 2024
Research has established that burnout is primarily the result of psychologically hazardous factors that occur at your workplace. Not being given the resources or time you need to manage your workload, for example, or working in an environment where you have insufficient control and autonomy, are known burnout triggers. No two experiences of burnout are exactly alike, and recovery requires that you pinpoint the unique workplace conditions that are contributing to your stress. One way to do this is to use your self-awareness skills to tune in and discover what your experience of burnout is trying to tell you — indeed, what it’s been trying to tell you all along. Here are some of the vital and lesser-known messages that burnout can reveal, and what to do about them.

From LinkedIn
(Access to full courses are available with library registration)

Managing Burnout
Hope in the face of burnout
For many professionals, remaining constantly connected and on task can feel like a requirement for success. Long hours and chronic exhaustion are normalized—if not celebrated—in many workplaces. A lack of boundaries between work and life can cause workers who previously felt fulfilled to feel resentful and unhappy. In this course, Melody Wilding teaches you how to spot the signs of burnout, complete an inventory to determine if you are burned out, and how to recognize the distinction between internal and external causes of burnout. Melody explains ways you can address behaviors, conditions, and mindsets that lead to burnout—including overworking, unproductive responses to stress, and negative thought patterns. Finally, she shows you how to craft a strategy to prevent burnout, focusing on creating more sustainable goals, setting boundaries, finding support, and understanding what self-care is and is not.

How to Beat Burnout, Exhaustion, and Stress
Burnout is often assumed to be the consequence of overwork. But this is only partially true—exhaustion is merely one facet of burnout. In this audio-only course, learn about the factors that cause these overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficiency; how you can prevent burnout from happening; and what you can do to recover from it. Dr. Jacinta M. Jiménez breaks down the key mismatches that usually cause burnout, as well as how to use the PULSE framework to guide your recovery. She also shares a few easy habits to help you build resilience, how helping others can help you heal your mind, and how to beat negative thinking with curiosity.

Burnout / Selhub, Eva M
“Chronic, unmanaged stress–at work, at home, or in other areas of life–can lead to burnout. Burnout For Dummies shows you the way toward understanding and overcoming this all-to-common condition of modern life. Many of us find ourselves living in a state of constant resignation, which sucks the joy out of life and can be detrimental to our physical health. The tips and exercises in this book can help you minimize stress, become more resilient and create a happier, healthier, and more satisfying life. Mindfulness and resilience guru Dr. Eva Selhub offers a science-based plan that you can use to destress, build inner resources and coping skills, and start enjoying life (and work) again.” (Catalogue)

All the gold stars : reimagining ambition and the ways we strive / Stauffer, Rainesford
“All the Gold Stars looks at how the cultural, personal, and societal expectations around ambition are driving the burnout epidemic by funnelling our worth into productivity, limiting our imaginations, and pushing us further apart. Through the devastating personal narrative of her own ambition crisis, Stauffer discovers the common factors driving us all, peeling back layers of family expectations, capitalism, and self-esteem that dangerously tie up our worth in our output”– Provided by publisher” (Catalogue)  Also available as EAudiobook Libby

Slow Productivity : The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout / Newport, Cal
“… Long before the arrival of pinging inboxes and clogged schedules, history’s most creative and impactful philosophers, scientists, artists, and writers mastered the art of producing valuable work with staying power. In this timely and provocative book, Cal Newport harnesses the wisdom of these traditional knowledge workers to radically transform our modern jobs. Drawing from deep research on the habits and mindsets of a varied cast of storied thinkers … Newport lays out the key principles of “slow productivity,” a more sustainable alternative to the aimless overwhelm that defines our current moment. Combining cultural criticism with systematic pragmatism, Newport deconstructs the absurdities inherent in standard notions of productivity, and then provides step-by-step advice for cultivating a slower, more humane alternative. From the aggressive rethinking of workload management, to introducing seasonal variation, to shifting your performance toward long-term quality, Slow Productivity provides a roadmap for escaping overload and arriving instead at a more timeless approach to pursuing meaningful accomplishment. The world of work is due for a new revolution. Slow productivity is exactly what we need.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The book of burnout : what it is, why it happens, who gets it, and how to stop it before it stops you / Aisbett, Bev
“Australia’s bestselling anxiety and mental health author, Bev Aisbett, tackles a growing mental health emergency: burnout. Burnout happens when we take on too much, when we think we can do the impossible, at the cost of our wellbeing, our health and even our quality of life. Although the term is often casually tossed about, burnout is no joke – it can impact every area of your life and leave you depleted in every way. After two years of the pandemic and lockdowns, working from home, homeschooling, widespread stress and being on our computers and devices 24/7 and constantly available, the danger of burnout for so many of us is all too real. It can happen to anyone. Using humour, straightforward language and her signature illustrations, Bev clearly explains what burnout is, who is at risk, how to recognise the danger signs and, finally, how to step back from the brink, providing insight and techniques to ease burnout and stop yourself going up in smoke”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)  Also available as EAudiobook Borrowbox, EBook Borrowbox, EBook Libby

Dear work : something has to change / Ross, Sara
“… Do you find yourself striving for big goals but running on fumes? Are you ever stuck in the frustrating cycle of overworking and under-living? Do you love the work you do–or at least used to–but feel overwhelmed by it?
When it comes to work and our relationship with it, something has to change. This doesn’t mean you need to bound out of bed every day in love with your work, nor do you need to settle for dragging yourself out of bed surviving your way through it, but you can feel a greater sense of aliveness engaging in it. Dear Work transforms traditional advice by using the power of brain science to show you how to boost your Work Vitality Quotient so you stand out, bringing your best, most energized self–without burning out.
Sara Ross, chief vitality officer and leadership expert, will show you how to: Identify the four “success traps” that limit your potential by luring you into thinking you’re doing what it takes when really what you’re doing is taking from you. Adopt a “yes, and” mindset to work better with stress and feel fueled and fulfilled in the process. Expand your approach to self-care to strategically identify when slowing down is needed and when accelerating in a different direction is even better.
In a world that refuses to let up, reigniting your take-on-the-day vitality will be your competitive advantage at work and your path to pursuing a fully lived life outside of it as well.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Balance your life and work : how to get the best from your job and still have a life
“There’s so much pressure to succeed at work that sometimes ‘real life’ tends to take a back seat. With the rise in flexible working and increased options to work from home, the boundaries have become even more blurred, and your relationships with friends, family, and children can all suffer as you try to cram everything into a ‘normal’ day. Whether you want to re-evaluate and improve your current situation, or opt for a complete change of scene with a career break, this book helps you figure out your own priorities and take positive action to make your life easier. It features:
Step-by-step guidance and actions plans;
Common mistakes and advice on how to avoid them;
Advice on how to identify flexible options in your life;
Ways to avoid stress and burnout;
Top tips and ideas to bear in mind for the future”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Burnout

Linda

It’s getting to the time of year when, on top of an already stressful few years, demands and pressures increase.  A continued level of stress can lead to burnout.  Burnout, if not addressed, can lead to reduced workplace and personal productivity and long term health issues.

Back in July we featured a guest author post on the Stages of Burnout by Jess Stuart
In this post we build on Jess’s article and look at some of the other resources the Wellington City Libraries collections offer on recognising, addressing and recovering from burnout.  Different aspects can contribute to burnout – work stresses, lifestyle, individual personality traits or a combination of any of these.

In her recent article How to come back from burnout: 7 offbeat ways to recharge your life, clinical psychologist Karen Nimmo, lists burnout’s symptom’s as “… similar to mild to moderate depression. There’ll be sleep problems, low motivation/energy, persistent low mood, lethargy, irritability, exaggerated emotional responses, disinterest in favourite activities and people, a general heaviness”.  She then lists some small tweaks you can make to your life if you feel you are approaching or have reached burnout.  (Note the recommendation that you “Read a whole book“). 

The Mayo Clinic also provides a checklist of symptoms if you feel you may be suffering job related burnout and suggests some actions you can take to improve the situation.

Other websites with more information include The HelpGuide’s Burnout Prevention and Treatment, while Health Navigator NZ offers Tips to Avoid Work Stress and Burnout.
The Harvard Business review offers a more indepth article with Beating Burnout (available via Business Source Premier database on the library website).

As an employer however, is investing in resources for employee mental health the right answer to the question?  In a recent article McKinsey asked if you are solving the right problem?  Their research found that many employers focus on individual-level interventions that remediate symptoms, rather than resolve the causes of employee burnout.

 If you want to understand more about burnout, the causes, process and ways to deal with it, try these recent publications, all held in our collection.

Burnout to brilliance : redefining peak performance / Stuart, Jess
“Learn how to achieve peak performance without burning out in the process. We live in a constant state of overwhelm and exhaustion whilst simultaneously striving for high performance. It’s not sustainable and it’s why burnout has become so prevalent. That was before the global pandemic which exacerbates the level of change and uncertainty leaving peak performance even harder to achieve. Busyness is fashionable, we wear it like a badge of honour but it doesn’t lead to high performance. Quantity does not always mean quality and being busy does not mean we’re productive, in fact the opposite is often true. Understand the difference between busy and productive. Work smarter not harder and master the habits of high performance. Understand the neuroscience behind thinking patterns and how to access a flow state. Learn strategies to cultivate a more focused, clear mind. Be your best without burning out in the process. Overcome overwhelm, reenergise and build resilience. Improve productivity and effectiveness”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)

Beyond burnout : how to spot it, stop it and stamp it out : a New Zealand guide / McAlpine, Suzi
“Following her own first-hand experience, as well as the countless similar scenarios she’s seen in her role as an executive coach, Suzi McAlpine has created a book about burnout to help create environments and organisational cultures that reduce its occurrence…As well as actionable tools and key takeouts, each chapter/section will include information about how to recognise the signs of burnout, and practical how-tos for leaders to reduce its presence in organisations. She also explains how to treat and address burnout when it is present”–Publisher information.” (Catalogue)  Also available in ebook format

The burnout epidemic : the rise of chronic stress and how we can fix it / Moss, Jennifer
“Workplace well-being expert Jennifer Moss helps leaders and individuals prevent burnout and create healthier, happier, and more productive workplaces. We tend to think that burnout is a problem we can solve with more yoga, better breathing techniques, and more resilience. Moss lays bare the real causes of burnout, and shows that self-care is not a cure-all for burnout. She offers actionable advice that will empower readers to feel healthier and happier at work. — adapted from jacket” (Catalogue)

Burnout : a guide to identifying burnout and pathways to recovery / Parker, Gordon
“Are you always exhausted? Unable to feel for others or for life’s pleasures? Find it hard to concentrate and take in what you read? You may have burnout. Burnout is widespread among high achievers in the workplace, in business and in caring professions like health and teaching. Parents with new babies and those caring for the elderly and people with disabilities are also at risk. Although burnout is so common, it’s often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed – most commonly as depression. Drawing on groundbreaking new research, this book hands you the tools to work out whether you have burnout – or not. The good news? It is possible to recover from even severe burnout. The authors show you how to recognise your own burnout pattern, how far you have travelled into burnout territory, and provide a broad-based management approach to help you regain your spark and build your resilience. With fascinating new insights into the biology of burnout, and stories from people who have brought themselves back from the brink, Burnout is a complete guide for anyone who suspects they may have burnout, for their families, for health professionals and employers.” (Catalogue) (Ebook format)

The burnout challenge : managing people’s relationships with their jobs / Maslach, Christina
“Solutions to workplace burnout often involve victim-blaming: Stressed? Try therapy-or a new job. But burnout is a sign of defective workplaces, not workers. Drawing on decades of research, Christina Maslach and Michael Leiter show managers how to recognize burnout and fix problems cost-effectively, improving employees’ productivity and health”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

 

Change makers : a woman’s guide to stepping up without burning out at work / Murray, Katy
“We’ve come some way in the fight to get women into the workplace and delivering impactful valued work. But as the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally affected women’s progression, many of us are close to burnout and considering scaling back our work faced with other responsibilities. We cannot let that happen. Your work matters. It’s ok to want an impactful career and to demand it do more than bring home a pay check every month. But can you re-awaken your change making power with the spectre of burnout looming? In ‘Change Makers,‘ expert women’s leadership coach Katy Murray devises an actionable plan for you to create the space to grow as a change maker and change the world for the better. This book shares the powerful habits, that allow you to step into a more expansive version of yourself at work. These habits are small but mighty. They reshape your brain, shift your behaviors, and create ease-filled change in your leadership, activism, work, and life. As you integrate these strategies into your every-day, you will eliminate burnout. You will find clarity in your purpose again. You will feel more joy, more energy, more momentum. You will expand your relationships eco-system, and see fresh ways to navigate and even disrupt the systems you find yourself in. You will have a bigger impact in your work and you will co-create a more equitable world. ‘Change Makers‘ leads you through a personalized journey of self-discovery, with practical templates, inspirational real-life examples of change-making women, exercises, and coaching prompts that make a difference. Join the collective of women finding a powerful new way to lead. It’s time to step up”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

The end of burnout : why work drains us and how to build better lives / Malesic, Jonathan
“Burnout has become our go-to term for talking about the pressure and dissatisfaction we experience at work. But because we don’t really understand what burnout means, the discourse does little to help workers who are suffering from exhaustion and despair. Jonathan Malesic was one of those workers, and to escape he quit his job as a tenured professor. In The End of Burnout, he dives into the history and psychology of burnout, traces the origin of the high ideals we bring to our dismal jobs, and profiles the individuals and communities who are already resisting our cultural commitment to constant work. In The End of Burnout, Malesic traces his own history as someone who burned out of a tenured job to frame this rigorous investigation of how and why so many of us feel worn out, alienated, and useless in our work. Through research on the science, culture, and philosophy of burnout, Malesic explores the gap between our vocation and our jobs, between the ideals we have for work and the reality of what we have to do. He eschews the usual prevailing wisdom in confronting burnout (“Learn to say no!” “Practice mindfulness!”) to examine how our jobs have been constructed as a symbol of our value and our total identity. And beyond looking at what drives burnout–unfairness, a lack of autonomy, a breakdown of community, mismatches of values–this book highlights groups that are addressing these failures of ethics. We can look to communities of monks, employees of a Dallas nonprofit, intense hobbyists, and artists with disabilities to see the possibilities for resisting a “total work” environment and the paths to recognizing the dignity of workers and nonworkers alike. In this critical yet deeply humane book, Malesic offers the vocabulary we need to recognize burnout, overcome burnout culture, and find moral significance in our lives beyond work”– Provided by publisher” (Catalogue) Also available in e-book format

The Book of Boundaries : End Resentment, Burnout, and Anxiety– and Reclaim Your Time, Energy, Health, and Relationships / Urban, Melissa
“…Do your relationships often feel one-sided or unbalanced? Are you always giving in just so things will go smoothly? Do you wish you could learn to say no–but, like, nicely? Are you depleted, overwhelmed, and tired of putting everyone else’s needs ahead of your own? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to establish some boundaries… Melissa Urban has taught millions of people how to establish healthy habits and successfully navigate pushback and peer pressure… in The Book of Boundaries, she shows you how boundaries are the key to better mental health, increased energy, improved productivity, and more fulfilling relationships. In her famously direct and compassionate style, Urban offers:
* 130+ scripts with language you can use to instantly establish boundaries with bosses and co-workers, romantic partners, parents and in-laws, co-parents, friends, family, neighbors, strangers–and yourself
* actionable advice to help you communicate your needs with clarity and compassion
* tips for successfully navigating boundary guilt, pushback, pressure, and oversteps
* techniques to create healthy habits around food, drink, technology, and more User-friendly and approachable, The Book of Boundaries will give you the tools you need to stop justifying, minimizing, and apologizing, leading you to more rewarding relationships and a life that feels bigger, healthier, and freer.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library.  We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources.  All enquiries are treated in confidence.

Stages of burnout, triggers and warning signs by guest author Jess Stuart

Linda

Since 2020 workplaces have seen a rapid rise in burnt out managers, business owners and employees and the warnings are there is more to follow. 

This occupational phenomena was included for the first time in 2019’s 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) which defines Burnout as: 

“… a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”

In today’s blog, our guest author, Jess Stuart, has written of her personal experience with and recovery from, burnout and pulls together her research on the topic.

Of her latest book, Burnout to brilliance, she says:

“This book isn’t really about burnout … it’s more about redefining peak performance and developing a roadmap for getting there”. (p.8)

The blog piece below has been reproduced from the author’s website with her permission.  

Research out of AUT suggests 11 per cent of New Zealand workers might be experiencing burnout: physical or mental problems due to stress or overwork.  That’s more than one in every ten new Zealanders.

 We use the term burnout to describe physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.

The World Health Organisation predicts burnout will be a global pandemic in less than a decade and The  World Economic Forum estimates an annual burnout cost of GBP 225B to the global economy.  We know there’s an organisational cost of burnout too with increased turnover, absenteeism and of course the obvious impact on performance. 

 The most common indicators burnout is at play are; exhaustion, a feeling of lack of control, disengaging, trouble focusing, a sense of dread about work and frequent feelings of cynicism or irritability.

Burnout is not just about quantity but the quality of what we’re doing not just how much of it we’re doing.  According to Psychology today; “Burnout is not simply a result of working long hours or juggling too many tasks, though those both play a role”. 

The cynicism, depression, and lethargy that are characteristic of burnout most often occur when a person is not in control of how a job is carried out, or is asked to complete tasks that conflict with their sense of self.

5 Stage of Burnout with symptoms

 In my experience, it’s not poor performers who burnout, we don’t burn out because we’re not capable, in fact it’s the opposite.  The more capable we are the more likely we are to burnout, it’s the drive of the high achiever that leads us down this path. 

High achievers are given more work because of their competence and track record which puts them at higher risk of overworking , having too much on their plate and ultimately burning out.

And of course we can’t say no, for fear of not been seen as up to the job, for looking weak or like we’re not coping. Our cultures and societal norms around this stuff keep us pushing until we hit a wall, saying yes until we collapse under the weight of all the commitments we’ve just made – then we feel like a failure. 

So how do we avoid burnout? What triggers should we look out for?

Well, if you’re tired all the time, despite getting plenty of sleep; if you’re constantly fighting off coughs and colds – always being on the verge of sickness; if you’re struggling to motivate yourself, and not finding joy in the things you used to love or don’t have the motivation to do these things … you’re on notice burnout is close.

In this state, we become less tolerant of those around us. We reach for the wrong food or increase our alcohol intake as a coping mechanism. When we’re exhausted, we tend to choose TV over exercise, or takeaways over cooking, or we skip meals completely because of a loss of appetite – these are all potential burnout signs.

And, of course, the most obvious sign is when we truly hit burnout, and end up in bed, completely devoid of energy and interest in life. This was certainly my experience – but we’re all different.

Most of us know what it’s like to be at our best; we’ve been there before. Likewise, we know what it’s like when we’re about to hit a wall and get sick: when we’ve overdone it, left it too late or burned the candle at both ends.

I like to think of this in terms of a traffic light. We all have green and red zones, and they look different for us all.

The red light stops us completely; it’s our ground zero. The green light is when we’re all go and at our best. The amber light, in between, is important: it’s our warning system. When we slip from green, before we hit red, the amber light gives us an opportunity to act and pre-empt hitting the wall and slipping into that red zone: burnout.

For me, that amber light is a twitch in the corner of my eye, a sore throat and a constant tiredness. It’s noticing I’m less tolerant and a bit snappy with loved ones. This is my amber light; my warning to back off, take a rest and pre-empt the approaching red zone.

Another way to think about this is in terms of the petrol warning light in the car. When you know your tank is nearing empty, stop and refuel, to avoid being left on the side of the road.

So what do these traffic lights look like for you? What do you notice about yourself when you’re at your best, on green? What about when you’re at your worst and close to burnout, on red? And what about that bit in between: what are the early warning signs you get at the amber light? What rating would you give yourself right now and what can you do about it?


Jess Stuart is a coach, speaker and author of five personal development books specialising in mindset, performance and women in leadership.  A well known expert with a background in Senior Human Resources roles and a decade working in leadership development find out more about Jess via her website www.jessstuart.co.nz  Until recently, she lived in Wellington.

Burnout to brilliance : redefining peak performance / Stuart, Jess
“Learn how to achieve peak performance without burning out in the process. We live in a constant state of overwhelm and exhaustion whilst simultaneously striving for high performance. It’s not sustainable and it’s why burnout has become so prevalent. That was before the global pandemic which exacerbates the level of change and uncertainty leaving peak performance even harder to achieve. Busyness is fashionable, we wear it like a badge of honour but it doesn’t lead to high performance. Quantity does not always mean quality and being busy does not mean we’re productive, in fact the opposite is often true. Understand the difference between busy and productive. Work smarter not harder and master the habits of high performance. Understand the neuroscience behind thinking patterns and how to access a flow state. Learn strategies to cultivate a more focused, clear mind. Be your best without burning out in the process. Overcome overwhelm, reenergise and build resilience. Improve productivity and effectiveness”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)

I love Mondays : a guide to finding joy in your work / Stuart, Jess
“Out of the world’s one billion full time workers only 15% are engaged in our work. That means a massive 85% of us are unhappy in our jobs. Is it possible to do work we love and get paid for it? Why do so many of us dislike our job and what’s the impact on our health and happiness? Society models a version of career success that revolves around status, titles and salary not passion, purpose and happiness. This book uncovers the secret to finding work you love and if that’s not your current job, how to find a new one. Including 20 case studies from everyday people who’ve done just that. Master the art of work-life balance and get the job you’ve dreamed of. Discover the joy of finding meaning and purpose in the work that you do, working for a company that aligns with your values, with people you trust, where you get to use your skills and learn. Experience what it feels like to jump out of bed every Monday morning knowing you make a difference and sustain high performance to continue to grow in a career you love.” (Catalogue)

The superwoman survival guide : a book for busy women / Stuart, Jess
“The superwoman survival guide is a guide to surviving your own expectations. Learning to overcome, balance our busy lives, believe in our own abilities and understand how to be amazing, just as you are. This book is not about changing who you are it’s about changing the way you think about who you are. Freeing yourself from the pursuit of a superwoman ideal that’s unrealistic and is making so many of us unhappy. This sense of not measuring up, the need to be more and do more keeps us constantly striving for something that’ll always be out of reach – it exists only in the movies. It’s what I refer to as the superwoman complex”–(Catalogue)

Like a girl : a guide to unlocking your potential / Stuart, Jess
“Do you have a busy, over committed schedule, struggle to find enough hours in the day? Are you busy doing everything in an attempt to please everyone? Longing for a time you can enjoy life, not feel so overwhelmed, to draw breath and contemplate the things that matter? How do we find balance in a world that places so much expectation on us, a life in which we are exhausted yet still busy striving for perfection? How do we navigate the unique challenges we face, overcome fear and self-doubt? Learn how to embrace your authenticity and leverage the strengths we have as women. Discover the empowerment of what being like a girl means. Understand how we build resilience and overcome self-doubt to achieve our goals. With practical advice to help you uncover your brilliance and thrive at life.” (Catalogue)

A rough guide to a smooth life / Stuart, Jess
“Does it feel like you’re always striving but never arriving? What would it be like if life wasn’t so hard, if you had more time and energy? Its the question were all trying to find the answer to; where is happiness and how do we get it? This is a practical self-improvement guide on surviving modern life. Rediscover the art of happiness, find meaning and purpose, and create a life you love. It seems like we live on fast forward. As a result, were living a fast life not a good life, in which we can do more things in less hours of the day but spend less time doing the things that really matter. Over the past few years I have transformed my own life. This involved overcoming challenges, discovering my true self and finding the courage to leave everything I know to walk my own path and make my dreams a reality. I learned a lot about myself and even more about life and happiness along the way. This book doesn’t create happiness for you; its already there inside. It will empower you to realise your potential, improve your life, and achieve your dreams. Jess uncovers the key to creating a happier life and leads by example. Her perspective shines a bright light at a much needed time. Let her guide you, this book will help.” (Catalogue) (E-book format only)