
Ten Tips for Navigating the Transition to Secondary School
There are many twists and turns in our parenthood journey, and supporting our children through the transition to secondary school is one of them.
This article offers practical strategies based on the psychology of change to help you and your child navigate this important milestone.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 14.8.24
Reading Time: 3 mins
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.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 15.4.24
Reading Time: 5 mins
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.
Read more →
Date: 7.12.23
Reading Time: 2 mins
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.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 24.10.23
Reading Time: 4 mins
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...
Read more →
Date: 3.9.23
Reading Time: 3 mins
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...
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 21.6.23
Reading Time: 4 mins
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...
...
Read more →
Date: 3.5.23
Reading Time: 3 mins
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...
...
Read more →
Date: 30.1.23
Reading Time: 3 mins
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?
.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 29.12.22
Reading Time: 2 mins
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?
.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 28.11.22
Reading Time: 5 mins
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.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 27.10.22
Reading Time: 6 mins
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.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 29.9.22
Reading Time: 6 mins
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.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 20.7.22
Reading Time: 5 mins
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.
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 14.7.22
Reading Time: 5 mins
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?
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 2.5.22
Reading Time: 4 mins
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?
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 8.3.22
Reading Time: 3 mins
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...
Read more →
Date: 6.1.22
Reading Time: 2 mins
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...
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 31.10.21
Reading Time: 6 mins
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...
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 9.9.21
Reading Time: 6 mins
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...
Read more →
Date: 3.9.21
Reading Time: 5 mins
Insights | Stories
Parenthood: It's a Marathon not a Sprint
Running a marathon & raising children have quite a few things in common......
Read more →
Date: 2.8.21
Reading Time: 2 mins
Insights | Stories
Holidays with Kids: Why Bother?
Three ways chaotic family vacations can still benefit your work-life rythym...
Read more →
Date: 30.6.21
Reading Time: 2 mins
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...
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 4.5.21
Reading Time: 4 mins
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...
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 30.3.21
Reading Time: 6 mins
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....
Read more →
Author: Jayne Ruff
Date: 1.2.21
Reading Time: 3 mins article, 30 mins paper
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...
Read more →
Date: 23.1.21
Reading Time: 2 mins
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...
Read more →
Date: 23.1.21
Reading Time: 8 mins
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...
Read more →
Date: 23.1.21
Reading Time: 3 mins
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...
Read more →
Date: 23.1.21
Reading Time: 3 mins