Joy At Work

Have you ever felt so numb at work you wonder if it’s depression—but know it’s not? In this episode, I answer a raw and honest listener letter from a high-achieving law partner who’s “bored to the back teeth.” We dive into why career success often leads to chronic boredom, especially for smart people with a deep need for novelty and challenge. I unpack the hidden psychological toll of this emotional flatline and why it's not just something to push through. If you’ve climbed the ladder only to feel emotionally dimmed, this one’s for you. I’ll walk you through why your clever brain is desperate for stimulation—and how to spot (and stop) the boredom spiral before it impacts everything else. 🔗 Mentioned in this episode: * 🎧 A Joy At Work Experiment: Create Time to Think [https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/podcast-episodes/create-time-to-think] * * 📥 Download the free worksheet: Get Clear on Your Kryptonite [https://midlifeunstuck.activehosted.com/f/19] * * 🧭 Join the Midlife Unstuck Community [https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/new-blog-1/2020/5/7/youre-not-too-old-and-its-not-too-late-an-invitation-to-join-the-midlife-unstuck-community] * 🎁 Share this episode with someone who’s quietly struggling. Boredom isn’t trivial—especially for the smart and successful.

Have you ever thought, “I just want to do something that matters”? In today’s episode of Joy at Work, I respond to a listener who wants to leave a successful commercial career to work in the charity or not-for-profit space. If that sounds familiar—if you’re craving more purpose or impact—I invite you to pause before leaping. I share what I’ve learned from years of working with midlife professionals who’ve felt the same longing. And I offer questions worth asking before you make a big switch. Because meaning doesn’t always come from where you work—it comes from how your work connects to who you are. 🎧 In this episode: * Why switching to a not-for-profit role isn’t always the magic solution * * How to uncover what’s really missing from your current work * * The difference between industry and role misalignment * * A practical exercise to get clearer on what you actually want * * Why volunteering can offer more insight than job applications * 📥 Free Worksheet: Questions Worth Asking (When You're Feeling Career Stuck) → Download it here [https://midlifeunstuck.activehosted.com/f/11] 💬 Join the Free Midlife Unstuck Community → Join here [https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/new-blog-1/2020/5/7/youre-not-too-old-and-its-not-too-late-an-invitation-to-join-the-midlife-unstuck-community] 💡 If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone else questioning what’s next.

Have you ever gone down a Google rabbit hole after noticing a small ache… and convinced yourself it was something life-threatening? In this episode, I’m joined by my longtime friend and therapist Warren Foot to talk about something I had barely heard of before our conversation — health anxiety. And once I heard what it was, I realised just how many of us might be living with it silently. Warren specialises in helping people deal with anxiety, trauma, and emotional overwhelm. He introduces us to the concept of rigid thinking, the difference between worry vs. anxiety, and shares how unchecked health anxiety can quietly hijack our lives. You’ll hear: * What health anxiety really is (and what it’s not) * The role of irrational beliefs and catastrophic thinking * Why Googling your symptoms makes everything worse * How to reclaim control with “worry time” and action steps If anything in this episode resonates with you, I invite you to take Derailed — my 30-minute life satisfaction assessment to gently explore the areas of your life that may be out of alignment. 🔗 Take the Derailed Assessment → https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/derailed [https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/derailed]

I’m answering a brilliant (and very real) listener question: “Is it insane to resign?” If your workplace has recently been bought out, the culture is collapsing, and you’re feeling an urgent need to escape — this one is for you. I’ll share why your frustration and anger are valid, why it’s NOT insane to want to leave, and — crucially — why pausing, planning, and positioning yourself first is key to protecting your future. You’ll hear: ✅ Why private equity takeovers feel so brutal (and why it’s not personal) ✅ How to handle the emotional vs. logical brain tug-of-war ✅ 3 practical steps to create your Freedom Fund and plan your next move ✅ Why rushing out the door might land you in a different version of the same trap And a gentle reminder: You don’t have to pretend this culture is okay for you. Clarity, not insanity, is what you’re experiencing. Ready to design a sane, strategic exit — and a joyful next chapter? 👉 Join the Midlife Unstuck Community Membership [https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/new-blog-1/2020/5/7/youre-not-too-old-and-its-not-too-late-an-invitation-to-join-the-midlife-unstuck-community] — find clarity, support, and real tools to redesign your work life. Mentioned in This Episode: * Reclaiming Middle-Aged Me Blog [https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/new-blog-1/2018/3/14/reclaiming-middle-aged-me] * Career Design Video on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMsqFF5rcwc] You’ve got this. And if you need a guide — you know where to find me.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the slow pace of change inside your organisation—you’re not alone. This week on Joy at Work, I’m joined by Luke Murphy, Product & Transformation Coach, who has walked this path himself. Together, we dive into the mindset shifts and small actions that can empower anyone—yes, even without a big job title—to become a true trailblazer for change. We cover: * Why waiting for permission holds us back * The four common traps that sabotage grassroots change efforts * Luke’s personal story of transformation and what he learned * Practical first steps to take today if you want to drive meaningful change in your team This conversation is a powerful reminder that real change often happens from within, not from above. If today’s episode sparks ideas for you, I’d love to invite you to start your own redesign journey with my Derailed Life Satisfaction Assessment → https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/derailed [https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/derailed] And to learn more about becoming a Trailblazer, sign up for Luke’s newsletter Disrupt From Within → https://disrupt-from-within.kit.com [https://disrupt-from-within.kit.com] Here’s to building workplaces—and work lives—that bring more joy.