-
5 things all Americans can learn from Europe’s work-life balance
Europeans seem to savor life just right: Whether it’s slowly sipping fine wine after work like the French, taking siestas like the Spaniards, or leisurely enjoying a long lunch like the Greeks, Europe seems to own the most enviable lifestyles. From where we stand in the workaholic culture of the U.S., it’s hard not to…
-
Four compelling arguments for a career break
In today’s delicate economic climate, a career break might feel like a career breaker, but here are four reasons why it could be good for all involved The problem with taking a career break is that – even in this day and age – some people tend to regard it as somewhat flaky. Those who…
-
The big myth about changing careers in your 40s
Thinking about changing careers in your 40s? Writer Tracy King explains why it’s the best time to take a risk; despite what we’re taught about stability and a career for life Once upon a time, there was such a thing as a job for life. This was partly a good thing – the security and…
-
Say yes and learn later: risk-taking lessons from entrepreneurs
In today’s uncertain business world, the flexible thrive. And however scary it feels, risk-taking is a strategy that often reaps the biggest rewards. “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” says Richard Branson, explaining the logic…
-
A tool for action: how the 5 Second Rule can change your life
It is a truth universally acknowledged that we wait to be “ready” before doing things in life. But, says motivational speaker Mel Robbins, this hesitation is “the kiss of death”. A few years ago, Robbins, a US-based entrepreneur, found herself in a rut. Things in her life were going wrong, and she couldn’t seem to…
-
Your year in review: What did you achieve in 2018? And how to achieve more in 2019
Looking back, you did plenty, but could you have done more? Here are five tips to do just that next year. It’s the end of the year. Adios 2018, see you soon 2019. It’s a time for testing the physical capacity of your stomach and your patience with your family. It’s also a time for…
-
Try Croatia’s fjaka mindset for a happier work-life balance
Traditionally, back-to-school season means arming yourself with a “bouquet of newly sharpened pencils” (thanks Nora Ephron). But as well as charging yourself up for the challenges ahead, the turn of the season is also a great chance to reassess your work-life balance. Do you struggle to leave the office before 7pm every night? Are you…
-
14 secrets of a kick-ass digital nomad
Dream of becoming a digital nomad? It’s easy to romanticise the idea of working aboard. Say the words “location independent” and images of a hip coffee shop somewhere in downtown Buenos Aires spring to mind, or hazy days spent by a palapa hut on a remote Keralan beach. The reality, of course, is rather different.…
-
What today’s single women really want
An intriguing new report casts light on the priorities of single women in their 30s and 40s, as a growing and influential subculture. US-based research company Hill Holliday/Origin carried out in-depth interviews with over 1,000 single women aged 30-45 who have never been married and don’t have children. They also interviewed single men in that same…
-
This productivity hack will change your life
Ever wondered why you found it so damn hard to focus? At the point where you most need to get down to it, your brain finds every excuse not to: “Maybe I’ll paint the bathroom…” “Hmm, those plants are looking a little dry” “I wonder what that person I met 15 years ago at drama…
-
Golden rules to a happier workplace
A wise woman once said: the key to employee happiness is yoga and ice-cream machines. OK, perhaps she didn’t… But the fact remains that it only takes a few magic touches to lift an office from drudge central to Place I Wanna Be. Flash Pack HQ, for example, would be a flatter realm without the…
-
Are bad job interviews ruining your career?
“I once interviewed this young lady, highly recommended,” says management author Brigette Hyacinth, in a recent post on LinkedIn. “Couldn’t answer a question properly being so nervous. I knew who she worked for and this person wouldn’t recommend someone unless they truly believed in them.” Brigette says she asked some panel members to leave, in…
-
“Why I quit my city job to train as a ski instructor”
Frankie Flower, 31, was firmly entrenched in the London rat race last year, when she suddenly decided she needed a change of scene. Having lived in the capital for nearly a decade, she decided to quit her corporate job and instead pursue a passion for skiing in the Canadian Rockies. Now six weeks into her…
-
Men are the most stressed at work – here’s why
Some bad news if you have an X and Y chromosome and get paid for a living: men aged between 25 and 34 and work in finance are the most stressed workers in the UK, according to the 2018 UK Workplace Stress Report. Surveying over 3,000 workers, the new research also revealed that the most…
-
Direct, not polite: why straight-talking wins in the workplace
The Dutch have a form of straight-talking in the workplace, which, to the average mild-mannered Brit, sounds mildly terrifying. “Bespreekbaarheid”, as BBC Travel explains, means speakability; the notion that there are no taboos, and everything can and should be talked about. “I think the Netherlands are a place where… no-one is going to pretend. [For example], when you…
-
How to make and keep good habits
Ever wondered why it’s *so* damn hard to make yourself go jogging after months of lying on the sofa? It’s a total slog, of course, and the tantalising call of Netflix doesn’t help. But the real reason is that your sofa-slug ways have become a habit. And habits, good or bad, are enormously “sticky” and…
-
Why everyone should be a career chameleon
“Everyone should have at least seven careers in their life,” my dad used to tell us kids growing up. I never really knew what he meant at the time – it sounded exhausting – but now I get it. Job-hopping is no longer the red flag for flakiness it once was. To the contrary: some…
-
6 career break worries that everyone shares
Want to take a career break but keep talking yourself out of it? You’re not alone. Carving time out from a job is a major move, and we all face similar worries in making the leap. Too often, fear gets in the way of what could be a life-changing opportunity. Here’s how to quell your…
-
Why travelling alone gives you the edge at work
We all know the boss who regards taking time off work as a suspect act: something that’s borderline flaky. Like: yes, *technically* you’re allowed holiday but it’s really inconvenient that you’re actually taking it. Naturally they don’t say this (hello, lawsuit), but it’s implied in every suppressed eye roll and reluctant signing of a holiday…
-
At a career crossroads? Take time out to travel
Feel the career fear and do it anyway It’s probably not a good a sign that after 12 years in an industry I once loved, I couldn’t stop thinking about retirement – but who retires at 30? Surely I wasn’t going to have to be doing this for 30 more years, I honestly couldn’t fathom…