I'm honestly not sure why we were never taught about menopause when we were younger. Or why it's difficult to get answers to some questions about what's going on with our aging bodies. Or why many people in their 40s and 50s feel alone in the process. So I decided to try to start to normalize menopause. Check out my site here and be part of the conversation! 

Shameless plug here: I've recently enjoyed the services of Stitch Fix, which offers a curated clothes-shopping experience. Once you create your profile and indicate the styles you typically like or would like to try, a personal shopper will send a selection for you to try. I've found some fabulous pieces through Stitch Fix and have really enjoyed experimenting with putting some new types of clothes in my rotation. And now, for just the next 24 hours (until July 9, 2021), if you use this link to sign up, you can enjoy $50 off your first purchase. Plus, I'll get $50 off my next one too! You win/I win! (Here's the long version of the URL: https://www.stitchfix.com/invite/gh5mdtbbc2?pbid=11202548&sod=w&som=c) Happy shopping! 

Summer is officially underway, which means that surely there will be some time for reading in some way, shape, or form. Here's a list of some good ones, compiled by The Skimm. Any of them look good to you? 

Around the world, countries that are led by women are showing greater ability to handle the virus than countries led by men. Which made me think of a post I wrote for Booth Company a while back about the benefits of having diverse leadership: 

AMC’s popular series Mad Men depicts the inner workings of an advertising agency as set against the historical backdrop of the 1960s. The agency is led and largely staffed by white men; the few women (also white) in the office are generally part of the typing pool or some other lower-level (read: nonparticipatory) position. Although fictional, the agency portrayed is actually pretty spot-on when it comes to how business was run half a century ago. And while we might be able to say that in the intervening 50+ years we’ve vastly progressed as a country in terms of diversifying the workplace, we still have some work to do, particularly when it comes to company leadership—according to a report done by McKinsey & Company, companies with greater diversity in their leadership rankings were more likely to be in the top quartile in terms of financial performance.

The importance of diversity in the workplace can’t be overstressed. With our country’s shifting demographics, especially as more people identify with multiple subsegments of traditional groups, B2C businesses need to not only accept but reflect the differences among their target audiences and will do well to shift their thinking to be able to understand how to more directly impact different consumers.

So the question becomes how can companies develop a more diverse leadership organization? In solving that, it’s important to look at two different types of diversity that exist within individuals. A study by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) proposed that inherent diversity (the traits a person is born with like skin color and gender) combined with acquired diversity (traits a person gains from experience and learning) creates 2-D diversity. The study suggests that, without this mix, companies are missing out on opportunities for greater innovation and performance because the work is being driven solely by people who think alike and see the world the same.
​
The CTI study further shows that part of what stagnates growth in diversity at companies is a general corporate culture that doesn’t allow for new voices or new thinking. A company might say that employees are welcome to speak up, but if leaders don’t actively encourage it, many voices simply stay silent. Also, when people don’t feel able to make decisions, the default is what’s always been done, which won’t generate innovation and change. Leaders should be open to new ideas, no matter how wacky, and their employees should feel safe presenting them. Create a feedback loop and prove that you act on what you hear and that you can suggest actionable and helpful feedback to your employees. Finally, leaders should be sure to share credit for success—and failure. Nothing is as deflating to an employee who has worked hard to hear her boss take all the accolades, and similarly, it’s difficult for employees to bounce back and learn from mistakes when they don’t feel their leadership supports them.

To excel in your business, your company must create transformative change in its thinking. To do that, it’s best to empower your employees to dig deep and create previously unimagined solutions. And if you think that won’t work, think again: even in the white-male-driven world of Mad Men, they found that a woman’s voice did best in marketing products to women. If they can find “out of the box” advancement there, your company can too. 

If you had told me two months ago that, come spring, we'd all be keeping our distance and battling an invisible enemy, I would have laughed. How could it possibly be? My gym would never close its doors to members! I would never have to wait more than a respectful distance in the grocery checkout line. And never would I dream that a haircut might be months away. Life is different, for certain, during this uncertain time. 

​It's OK to be anxious. It's OK to angry. It's OK to be sad. Feel what you feel. And keep on keeping on, until the day when we can get life back on track and be, once again, not apart. 

I've never understood why February doesn't already have more than 28 days in a regular year, so it sure is fun that the month gets to come close in number to the others today. For some interesting Leap Day facts, check out this article. And enjoy the day while it's here! 

I always hated it. It was boring. It was pointless. It was a waste of time. But my English teachers unfailingly assigned it. Diagramming sentences. Ugh. The worst. 

Interestingly, my mother (who is a mathematician) absolutely loved it. Still does. She exclaims over the tidiness of organizing a sentence into neat little artistry. I think it was the logic of it all that drew her in. I found her predilection odd, though. 

Still do. And I still think diagramming is a waste of time. And so do many others, apparently, according to this NPR article. What about you? Were you made to diagram as a student? Did it help? Leave a comment!  

I know I just posted a reading list. I love those. Can't help it. And yet even still, I feel compelled to talk books again. Because as the new year approaches, we all have an opportunity to dive into something new. 

I read some great ones in 2019, including A Man Called Ove, The Alice Network, and Education. What about you? Comment with a great book, and I'll try to check it out! 

The year is nearing its end, and gift-giving season is upon us. If you're needing to find a gift for a book-lover in your life (or if you just want to splurge on yourself), check out this list of the must-read books of 2019, courtesy of The Washington Post. Enjoy! 

A while ago, I wrote a blog for the Booth Company that addresses ways to manage stress at the office. What do you think? Give a shout in the comments! 

Five Ways to Reduce Stress at the Office
 
            There are hectic deadlines. There are quickly shifting priorities. There are performance demands. There’s tension and there’s conflict. The unfortunate reality of any given working day is that there’s stress. And, without some sort of release, stress can build to a point that it can cause harmful physical problems, including headaches, fatigue, and even chest pain. To try to avoid that, here are five tips to help combat stress at the office.
 

1. Environment: Start with your personal space. You might not realize it, but if your desk is cluttered, it could be contributing to your stress levels. Tidy up and organize, and your body might respond by feeling calmer. Also, if your company approves, consider bringing in a houseplant. Studies have shown that houseplants can reduce stress—plus they can be a visually appealing break from a computer screen. 
2. Create a buffer. Sometimes, you might just want to get away from it all, but your workload won’t let you leave. If office rules allow, think about having a pair of headphones and some good calming music (classical music or light rock, for example). You’ll have the soothing tones, you’ll reduce auditory distractions (particularly in an open office environment) as well as other interruptions, and you might feel as though you’ve stepped into a new world, all of which can help lessen the tension of the day.
3. Take breaks. Even if for only a few minutes at a time, breaks can help boost your energy levels and let you refocus on the task at hand. Even better is doing some stretching, which can relieve strain on your shoulders, joints, and neck. If you can spare a few extra minutes, move around some—especially if you’re able to get outside. Fresh air and movement can greatly reduce stress. And if it’s possible, suggest a walking meeting instead of one in a conference room—everyone can feel a little better as they increase energy and stretch out chair-tired muscles.
4. Control your reactions. Workplace conflict can create growth opportunities for all involved, but it can also create a high level of stress. Although you can’t control how your peers handle a situation, you can definitely control how you do. If you feel that your emotions are running too high during a conflict, especially if you’re getting overly angry, try to step back from the situation. Take deep breaths, measure your responses, and be respectful of the other party’s position in the issue. You might find that not only will your stress levels decrease, your coworker’s stress levels could decrease, and you might be able to find a faster and better resolution to the problem.
5. Take care of yourself outside of the office. It’s hard to battle stress if you’re not healthy, and good health starts with how you care for your body. Eat the right foods, drink plenty of water, and get the right amount of sleep. Also, get active--exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress, and it helps keep your body fit and able to take on whatever the workday throws at you.

 
Although stress is an inescapable fact of workplace life, taking a few simple steps to curb it can help make each day more productive and can even lead to reducing its ill effects. Try some of these ideas to see what works for you.