Are you feeling like you’re searching for a needle in a haystack when it comes to finding the right support? When outside forces are pulling on your attention, you can find that your internal reservoir of resilience can be running low. It may surprise you to learn that wellbeing is the centre of the work I do with return to work and career coaching. There is an interplay across ALL the responsibilities and roles that we have, and often personal wellbeing falls far down the to-list for a parent. That’s why I want to introduce you to the Balance Collective Wellbeing Library, where you will find all the must-read articles in one place.

 

I’ve been creating weekly articles for nearly eight years and appreciate that you might not have the time or energy to sift through the pages to find what you need. Heck, in this very moment, you may not even KNOW what you need, just that you are open to some new tools, techniques and perspectives to help you through. So, today, I am going to pull together the articles that I think will have the greatest impact on you. Some may include book reviews; titles I recommend you pull into your real or virtual library. Others will give you actions to do, right away, that will enable you to take some time and build what you need. 

 

Without further ado, I present the Balance Collective Wellbeing Library!

 

Taking care of yourself is crucial to your overall wellbeing, which is why I encourage you to understand what that phrase means to you. For example, when I ask you to take some time to rest, what you do visualize (apart from, I DON’T HAVE THE TIME!!?)? Reframing WHAT rest can look like is a great start. 

 

Guilt is a strong emotion and can drain a person if it is not confronted. With this in mind, use the questions in this blog to help you reduce your feelings of guilt, wherever they are situated in your life. Often, comparison to others can lead to guilt – across work, home, parenting, friendship, finances and more – and can leave you feeling lacking. I found “The Comparison Cure” by Lucy Sheridan eye-opening, and even if you only read my review, I believe it will help you put a stop to some of the negative thinking patterns. 

 

Finding the time to look after yourself can be difficult, often this is aggravated by outdated concepts of what a balanced life looks like. So start refocusing on yourself, by understanding what a balanced life Is, right now, then start crafting boundaries to hold space for your needs. If there is an internal critic that gets in the way, then these four questions will help you break down that negative chatter. 

 

More established readers of this blog will know that I have a raft of book recommendations (if you want, you can see them here). However, for the sake of brevity and pace, I’m going to encourage you to grab just one. A Toolkit for Modern Life (53 ways to look after your mind), by Dr Emma Hepburn, has a wonderful balance of theories and support, with visual representations that help us focus on both concepts and coping mechanisms.

 

If you are feeling overwhelmed and can’t seem to find the headspace to tackle your wellbeing, I encourage you to delay and be more intentional and constructive with your worry time, by planning it in. So often the issues and concerns we carry just get in the way of our ability to problem-solve. Don’t believe me? Then check this out! 

 

There is a limit to the support that I can give. This is why I have created (ever-evolving) “resources and advice to support parental wellbeing”. It’s worth having a look through, if not just for yourself, but to familiarize yourself with the people and places that exist for support. 

 

Having gone through these articles and tools, I hope will have an action plan in place. You may be feeling lighter and have an idea of what and who you need to reach out to help you maintain the intention of YOUR wellbeing at the centre of your plans. 

 

I want to leave this article on a hopeful note and consider how you can craft your career to become a more positive part of your life. How? Very simply, be more playful. Whilst this may sound unconventional, the following two articles help explain this idea and give you tools to take them forward. 

 

I’d love to know your thoughts on these suggestions. Are there any other blogs of mine that you feel should be included? Let me know below! Please also share this with anyone you think would benefit from focusing on their wellbeing right now! 

 

 If you would like to join in with over five hundred people, who happen to be parents, who are creating a career to enjoy, then come over to my Facebook Group. There we connect and share tips, and I host my monthly Ask Me Anything Sessions. 

 

Finally, if you are interested in learning more about my coaching packages, you can find details on my website. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.