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You’ve come a long way baby but have you got the balance right? 5 tips for balancing your career and time

January 17, 2023 ciaramoore36

The slogan “you’ve come a long way baby” comes from a Virgina Slims cigarette commercial in 1968 and signifys the start of the womens movement in America. The advertisement showed an image of a confident, tall, slender, trouser suit-wearing woman, career getting female. Fast forward and women over fifty and their career pathway have come a long way from years ago. There are three times more women aged 50-64 working part-time than men (The State of Ageing in 2020) however despite a rapid increase, the employment rate for women aged 50-64 is still nine percentage points behind men (The State of Ageing in 2020). This is in part to pension age rise in 2011 and more recently the cost of living however it’s apparent that more and more women at fifty are still active within the workforce.

Many women in our network are also stepping into their best roles at board level or reinvigorating their careers and setting up their own businesses. Listening to you we know this extended career pathway is not without its challenges and comes with its own unique challenges. This is especially true for those of you in the sandwich generation, who need to juggle caring for children, or support university aged children, care for elderly family members, as well as their own professional ambitions, which can be daunting at times. In fact all a bit of a juggling act.

To help manage your busy lifestyle, here are five tips:

1) Prioritize your time wisely – When you’re trying to balance a career with other obligations such as parenting, older-age caretaking or any other responsibilities you may have outside of work, it’s essential to prioritize your time wisely. Set realistic goals each day and focus on what needs to get done first. Break large projects into smaller tasks that are easier to finish in shorter amounts of time.

2) Increase efficiency – One way to maximize your productivity is by becoming more efficient in how you use your time. For example, when possible try to consolidate errands or combine tasks that require similar steps; you’ll save yourself a lot of valuable time this way. Also look for ways to automate mundane tasks such as bill payments so that you can concentrate on the things that matter most.

3) Utilize technology – Technology can be invaluable when it comes to increasing productivity. Try using apps and automated software programs where applicable; this will help lighten your workload considerably and give you more free time during the day. Technology can also come in handy when setting up alerts or reminders so that important tasks don’t get overlooked or forgotten about altogether.

4) Ask for help – Don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed; friends, family members or even professionals can provide assistance with activities like childcare or elder care on an occasional basis if needed. Delegate to university aged children where possible and help them to be as independent as they can. Having reliable people available can make an enormous difference in terms of stress relief and peace of mind while allowing you to stay focused on your job performance without worrying too much about household tasks slipping through the cracks.

5) Stay organized – Staying organized is one of the most effective ways to manage a busy lifestyle since it allows all areas of life (job duties/responsibilities as well as personal obligations) to move along smoothly and efficiently without getting bogged down by chaos due to disorganization. Investing some time upfront into developing systems or processes (list-making/follow-up calls/filing systems etc.) will make life much easier in the long run so don’t overlook its importance!

Finally, don’t forget YOU, allow yourself time to eat well and exercise.Taking care of your body through exercise and diet is key for women. Staying physically active and eating well will not only improve and maintain your general health but increase concentration in the workplace thus allowing for a continuing successful career.

Author: Ciara Moore

Ciara is the founder of female leaders at 50. and an advocate for lifestyle medicine.

Health & Wellbeing

Feeling run down and not getting any healthier? Here’s why you should consider Lifestyle Medicine.

January 8, 2023 ciaramoore36

The importance of lifestyle medicine is that it provides evidence-based solutions to help prevent and manage chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. It also helps us maintain overall physical, mental and emotional well-being. The six pillars of lifestyle medicine focus on healthy behaviors like eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, maintaining supportive relationships with family and friends, reducing stress and quitting unhealthy habits like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.

Staying healthy as a female over the age of forty is especially important due to the hormonal shifts that our bodies go through during this time. Our metabolism slows down while we gain more abdominal fat and tend to lose muscle mass – all of which can lead to an increased risk for chronic illnesses and health problems. To combat this trend it’s important to start improving your lifestyle now.

Reducing substances like alcohol and smoking is essential in order to protect your body from damaging toxins while maintaining optimal health. Sleep plays an important role in helping the body recover from everyday activities as well as promoting good mental health. Nutrition is key for both preventing disease as well as managing existing conditions. Eating a balanced diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables helps ensure proper nutrient intake for energy throughout the day and a strong immune system against infection or illness. Relationships are important for social support as well as providing accountability when trying to stick with new habits or accomplish goals that require dedication over time.

Exercise should be incorporated daily in order to boost energy levels and provide physical benefits including improved muscle tone, better posture, weight management and stress reduction. Finally, reducing stress is essential in order to stay mentally healthy by taking breaks from work or other difficult situations that may cause undue strain or anxiety.

The combination of these six pillars of lifestyle medicine will create a healthier version of yourself by establishing sustainable habits that you can keep up with long term in order to maintain your wellbeing now and into the future – no matter what stage of life you’re currently in!

Feeling run down and like you’re not getting any healthier?

Lifestyle medicine is a great way to take control of your health and well-being. It’s a comprehensive approach that focuses on implementing healthy habits and behaviors in order to prevent or manage chronic disease.

With the Healthy Active Women Lifestyle Medicine Programme, you will learn how to make lifestyle changes that will have a positive impact on your health for years to come. You’ll be given all the tools you need to make lasting changes and feel better than ever before.

Ciara Moore

Ciara Moore a certified personal fitness trainer (ASFA) and a certified complete health improvement facilitator.

Contact CiaraMBmoore@outlook.com

career

Women in tech – the future is female

January 7, 2023 ciaramoore36

Women in technology are often under-represented due to the fact that a lack of access to education and resources, gender stereotyping, and the historical dominance of men in this field. Women often face the challenge of having to prove themselves even more than their male counterparts; they may also experience unconscious biases within the industry. This can be discouraging and demotivating for young women considering careers in technology or digital change.

How do we ensure women are involved?

To ensure that women are involved in digital fields, it is essential to make sure that there is equal access to educational resources, mentorship programs, internships and job opportunities. Additionally, companies should develop protocols to monitor hiring practices for gender bias, create a safe environment free from harassment with clear support systems in place, and offer flexible working arrangements that allow female employees to juggle their roles as mothers or caregivers while still pursuing successful career growth. Training programs could also be created specifically targeting female professionals looking to enter digital fields; these would provide technical skills training along with an introduction into understanding the industry dynamics and culture.

We can further encourage young women’s involvement by creating awareness about the many opportunities available through campaigns that highlight successful female tech professionals as role models and mentors. How many can you name in your company? Are you in contact with them? Are they visible? Offering scholarships or grants specifically targeted towards women entering technological fields would also be beneficial. Furthermore, organizations such as STEM clubs could be utilized to give young girls exposure and hands-on experience with coding or other related technologies which could help spark interests in pursuing digital change or tech careers.

Staying ahead of the curve

In order for women in digital change stay ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation, it is important for them to stay informed and updated on new advancements by attending events like conferences or hackathons which can provide networking opportunities as well as valuable insights into current trends within their chosen field. Joining online communities such as online forums or groups is another helpful way for women in tech stay connected with other like-minded individuals who share similar interests while maintaining an active presence on social media networks is also a great way for them to build visibility among tech professionals both locally and internationally.

Keeping it personal

In addition to keeping up with industry developments and trends, it’s important that female professionals continue honing their personal skills by engaging in self-development activities such as reading books related topics or taking courses aimed at helping them improve their understanding of technical concepts.

Finally, seeking out mentors who can provide guidance from within the same profession can help increase knowledge base through sharing personal experiences within specific industries whilst providing valuable advice on career development journey.

Ciara Moore

Ciara Moore is a Digital Change & Engagement Director working in the NHS. she also is the founder of Female Leaders at 50

New thinking

Mentorship Programmes for Female Leaders over 50

January 7, 2023 ciaramoore36

Mentorship is an essential part of professional development. Whether you’re in the early stages of your career or an experienced leader, having someone to provide guidance and advice can be invaluable in helping you reach your goals. For women over 50, mentorship programmes can be especially beneficial, offering insight and experiences I from a more mature perspective.

Here are five tips on how to set up a successful mentoring programme for women over 50.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Tips for setting up a programme

Identify Your Resources
The first step in setting up a mentoring programme is to identify the resources available to you. Look at who you know that could be potential mentors—people who have experience and expertise in the areas you’re interested in learning about or working in. This could include people within your organization, alumni of your university or college, or members of professional associations related to the industry you’re interested in joining or advancing in.
Establish Your Goals
Once you identify potential mentors, it’s important to establish your goals for the programme. What do you want to achieve through this relationship? Are there specific skills or knowledge that you want to gain? Is there something specific that you want to accomplish? Having a clear understanding of what your goals are will help ensure that both mentor and mentee get the most out of their time together.
Develop an Agenda
Once your goals are established, develop an agenda for each meeting with potential mentors. This should include topics that will be covered during each session as well as any materials that need to be shared ahead of time (such as articles or reports). It’s also important to include break times throughout the meeting so that everyone has a chance to take a breath and process what has been discussed before moving on to the next topic.
Set Boundaries
It’s also important to establish boundaries between yourself and your mentor before beginning the programme. This includes agreeing upon expectations around commitment levels, communication frequency, confidentiality, and other issues that may arise throughout the course of the relationship such as fees (if applicable). Setting these boundaries ahead of time helps ensure both parties are comfortable with the process and expectations are clearly outlined from day one.
5. Create Time for Reflection Finally, make sure there is time built into each session for self-reflection so that both parties can take stock of what was discussed during their meetings and think about how it applies in their own lives going forward. Reflection helps ensure progress is being made towards achieving objectives set forth at the beginning of each session as well as providing an opportunity for feedback from both sides on how things can be improved going forward if necessary .

Conclusion: Setting up a successful mentoring programme is not easy but it can be incredibly rewarding if done correctly! By following these five steps—identifying resources available; establishing clear goals; developing agendas; setting boundaries; creating reflection time—you can create a safe space where both mentor and mentee feel comfortable sharing ideas, knowledge, and experiences with each other while making progress towards reaching common objectives together! With these tips in mind, why not start building your own mentoring network today?