Stories, Articles, Case Studies + more psychology and coaching insights.
 

3 tips on balancing a career & young kids

Insights | Article

Three Tips on Balancing a Career and Young Kids
As a working mum and Occupational Psychologist specialising in workplace culture and change, I'm often asked how parents can balance senior level jobs with the demands of young children...

This article offers three tips designed to help you think about what work-life balance really means to you.
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 15.4.24
Reading Time: 5 mins

 

HOW TO MANAGE THE MENTAL LOAD THIS FESTIVE SEASON

Insights | Stories

How To Manage The Mental Load This Festive Season

The build up to Christmas can be a time when I go into juggling overdrive! Rather than being merry and bright, I can find myself feeling frosty with dark circles under my eyes. Here are five ideas I’ll be experimenting with this year to help me manage the mental load...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 7.12.23
Reading Time: 2 mins
 

10 TIPS FOR KEEPING IN TOUCH DURING MATERNITY LEAVE

Insights | Article

Ten Tips For Keeping In Touch During Maternity Leave
There can be a lot of anxiety around being away from work for an extended period.

One way to ease the transition back to work after maternity leave is to take advantage of Keeping in Touch (KIT) days. While KIT days are nothing new, there remains a lot of uncertainty around what they are and how to use them. This article offers advice and guidance on how to make the most of the benefits they can offer.
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 24.10.23
Reading Time: 4 mins

 

NAVIGATING THE CHANGE FROM NURSERY TO PRIMARY SCHOOL

Insights | Stories

Navigating The Change From Nursery To Primary School

The whirring thoughts and feelings that accompany change begin well before the main event, such as the first day of school, and continue for some time afterwards. It’s completely natural to experience a whole spectrum of emotions as we let go of what’s familiar and connect with a new environment and routine...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 3.9.23
Reading Time: 3 mins

 

LET’S TALK ABOUT OVERWHELM

Insights | Article

Let's Talk About Overwhelm
Because Balancing Work and Family Life is Tough

Everyone feels overwhelmed from time to time and it’s a completely normal response to everyday stressors – which include keeping on top of to-do lists, balancing childcare pick-ups with client deadlines, organising kids’ parties, attending kids’ parties… and the list goes on. However, feeling constantly overwhelmed to the point of burnout can impact our physical and mental wellbeing...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 21.6.23
Reading Time: 4 mins

 

CAN PARENTS REALLY PRACTICE MINDFULNESS?

Insights | Stories

Can Parents Really Practice Mindfulness?

What does mindfulness mean to you? I used to think of mindfulness as a luxury. A zen-like state that I aspired towards but had zero belief I’d ever reach. I admired the thoughtful, reflective states of the individuals I saw on social media talking of retreats and meditations, but my hectic lifestyle just didn’t seem to align...

...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 3.5.23
Reading Time: 3 mins

 

what does it really mean to ‘have it all’?

Insights | Stories

What Does It Really Mean To 'Have It All?'

When Jacinda Ardern recently announced her resignation, the news was quickly met with a flurry of headlines questioning whether it’s possible to balance leadership and little people. I think these stories missed the point. Stating: “I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice”, Jacinda’s open acknowledgment that her work and home life priorities have evolved in my opinion marks a positive shift in the narrative around how we define work-life success...

...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 30.1.23
Reading Time: 3 mins

 

THREE STEPS TO MAKING MEANINGFUL NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Insights | Article

Making Meaningful New Year's Resolutions
Three simple steps inspired by psychology

It’s that time of year again when our social media feeds are flooded with good intentions and goals as we look to kick-start 2023 as we mean to go on. There’s no doubt that it’s mentally satisfying using the turn of the year to make a change or try something new. However, fast-forward to February and often these lofty ambitions are beginning to fall a little flat. Why is that? .
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 29.12.22
Reading Time: 2 mins

 

Women with power: more than luck

Insights | Article

Women With Power: More Than Luck
Psychology & workplace gender equality

There’s still a need for significant mental toughness to overcome many of the roadblocks women encounter on the way to the top of organisations. So what more can be done to support women in achieving their career ambitions? .
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 28.11.22
Reading Time: 5 mins

 

Empowering Returners After parental leave - THREE TIPS FOR MANAGERS

Insights | Article

Empowering Returners After Parental Leave
Three tips for managers

Leading and supporting team members through any change requires that managers tap into essential emotional and social skills to engage, align, motivate, and inspire. Empowering returners after parental leave is no different.
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 27.10.22
Reading Time: 6 mins

 

sleepless nights when returning to work

Insights | Article

Sleepless Nights When Returning To Work
From ‘foggy mind’ to ‘positive mindset’

There are some specific mindset shifts we can make to help boost our psychological strength through sleep-deprived times.
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 29.9.22
Reading Time: 6 mins

 

NAVIGATING CHANGE: RETURN TO WORK COACHING

Insights | Article

Navigating Change: Return To Work Coaching
What our clients say has benefitted them...

There’s no doubt that the return to work after parental leave can feel confusing and – at times – chaotic. It can be exciting, unsettling, challenging, rewarding, and everything in between.
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 20.7.22
Reading Time: 5 mins

 

THREE TIPS ON MAKING ‘HYBRID’ WORK FOR YOU

Insights | Article

Making 'Hybrid' Work For You
Three tips to help balance effectiveness and wellbeing in your hybrid working week

With the challenges of the last two years highlighting the equal importance of effectiveness and wellbeing, now is a great time to consider how best to plan your week in a way that supports both productivity and personal welfare.
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 14.7.22
Reading Time: 5 mins

 

how to balance work when the kids are home sick

Insights | Article

How to Balance Work when the Kids are Home Sick
Three psychological insights to help you navigate sick days

We’ve all been there. You’re getting ready for another week of carefully planned work-life juggling when suddenly sickness strikes. Those constantly spinning plates start to wobble as you wonder: what’s going to give?
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 2.5.22
Reading Time: 4 mins

 

break the bias within organisational culture

Insights | Article

Break the Bias within Organisational Culture
Taking steps toward an inclusive culture

This International Women’s Day, consider: What’s the message shared by the accepted actions, beliefs and behaviours in your organisation? Is it aligned with the story you want to be told?
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 8.3.22
Reading Time: 3 mins

 

When to press pause on your personal goals

Insights | Stories

When to Press Pause on Your Personal Goals

Sometimes it seems like the different life values we hold are in conflict, causing feelings of frustration, disappointment & guilt. This could be a signal that it's time to press pause on certain goals, breaking them down into more manageable bitesize chunks...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 6.1.22
Reading Time: 2 mins

 

Behaviour Matters: Creating a Positive Hybrid Team Culture

Insights | Article

Behaviour Matters: Creating a Positive Hybrid Team Culture
How to set your team up for positive & inclusive hybrid working success

Guidance on creating connection, ensuring effective communication & supporting constructive challenge...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 31.10.21
Reading Time: 6 mins

 

what’s the value of hybrid working? finding the fit for you & your company

Insights | Article

What's the value of hybrid working?
Finding the fit for you and your company

A look at the value-add of hybrid working for parents & how to act on the opportunities it offers...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 9.9.21
Reading Time: 6 mins

 

RETURNING TO WORK: WHAT I LEARNT FROM BABY NO.1

Insights | Stories

How my return to work reflections after my first child will positively influence my maternity leave

“I don’t want to do this anymore”. I never thought I’d say this about a career I’d given so much to before having a baby. But motherhood changed me...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 3.9.21
Reading Time: 5 mins

 

PARENTHOOD: IT’S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT

Insights | Stories

Parenthood: It's a Marathon not a Sprint

Running a marathon & raising children have quite a few things in common......
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 2.8.21
Reading Time: 2 mins

 

holidays with kids: why bother?

Insights | Stories

Holidays with Kids: Why Bother?

Three ways chaotic family vacations can still benefit your work-life rythym...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 30.6.21
Reading Time: 2 mins

 

energy-boosting techniques for busy parents

Insights | Article

Three Energy-Boosting Techniques for Busy Parents
Tips from psychology to help you recharge

The intensity of blurred work and family life boundaries over the last year has been exhausting, leaving very little time for self-care...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 4.5.21
Reading Time: 4 mins

 

Working parent imposter syndrome

Insights | Article

Working Parent Imposter Syndrome
When it happens and how to tackle it

If you’ve ever felt like a fraud among other professionals or parents, you could be experiencing Imposter Syndrome. And you wouldn’t be alone...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 30.3.21
Reading Time: 6 mins

 

What Do Working Parents Really Need In 2021?

Insights | Research

What Do Working Parents Really Need In 2021?
How to provide the right individual, team & organisational support

Whether returning from maternity leave to a now virtual workplace, or navigating simultaneous home schooling and remote working, 2020 presented numerous unique challenges....
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 1.2.21
Reading Time: 3 mins article, 30 mins paper

Download Research Paper (1.3mb PDF)

 

How To Find Work-Life Balance While Home Schooling

Insights | Articles

How To Find Work-Life Balance While Home Schooling

We've got a lot on our plates right now. The everyday tension between what’s urgent and important has once again been intensified as many parents...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 23.1.21
Reading Time: 2 mins

 

The Working Parent Identity Crisis

Insights | Articles

The Working Parent Identity Crisis
Why it happens and what you can do about it

Where do I belong? This short question sums up the heavy load of emotions I felt when I returned to work after...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 23.1.21
Reading Time: 8 mins

 

How Can an Occupational Psychologist Help You Find Your Work-Life Balance?

Insights | Stories

How Can an Occupational Psychologist Help You Find Your Work-Life Balance?

What’s an Occupational Psychologist...? Good question! I’m asked this quite a lot, so I thought it might be helpful to share what I do and why...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 23.1.21
Reading Time: 3 mins

 

Why Founding Parenting Point Helped Me Find My Work-Life Balance

Insights | Stories

Why Founding Parenting Point Helped Me Find My Work-Life Balance

I’ve worked for several years as an Occupational Psychologist helping people to develop and grow during key points of change at work...
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Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 23.1.21
Reading Time: 3 mins