“We spend more waking hours at work than anywhere else. So what if work wasn’t just a job, but a lifeline?”
A few years ago, my life outside of work felt like complete chaos. Parenting challenges stretched me beyond capacity. I was navigating systems, advocating for services, juggling medical appointments - and doing my best not to fall apart. In the middle of all that? Work became my refuge.
Not because it was easy. But because I felt capable there. Grounded. Like I was making a difference and being seen for who I was, not just what I was managing. It started to feel like work was my vacation from my life life - a space where I could breathe, reset, and remember who I was outside of survival mode.
If I hadn’t had that sense of purpose and stability in my career, I honestly don’t know what kind of hole I might have spiraled into.
That’s the power of Career Wellbeing and why it’s not just about job satisfaction. It’s about your whole life.
According to Gallup’s 5 Elements of Wellbeing, the most important factor in your overall wellbeing isn’t your physical health, your finances, or your social life. It’s your career wellbeing: how you experience your work day-to-day.
And here's the kicker - when your career wellbeing is thriving, you’re more than twice as likely to thrive in your overall life. But when it’s suffering, it drags everything else down with it.
That means even if you eat well, exercise, and spend time with friends…if your work drains you, your overall wellbeing will suffer. The reverse is also true: if your work fills your cup, it creates a ripple effect of energy, motivation, and resilience across every part of life.
Let’s be real: work stress doesn’t stay at work. It shows up in the tightness in your chest at night, the tone of voice you use with your kids, the emotional eating or drinking, the Sunday Scaries.
Research from the American Psychological Association confirms that nearly 60% of employees report negative impacts on mental health due to work. And studies from McKinsey Health Institute show toxic workplace cultures are one of the strongest predictors of burnout and even physical health problems.
In other words - how you feel at work affects how you feel everywhere.
Improving work wellbeing isn’t always about changing your job. It’s often about changing your experience of the job.
Gallup’s research shows that feeling seen, heard, and recognized at work is just as important as your role or salary. When people can use their strengths daily, feel connected to a larger purpose, and trust their manager - they’re far more likely to report high wellbeing overall.
Even things like autonomy, clarity, and meaningful feedback can transform your day-to-day experience from draining to empowering.
You don’t need a new job to start feeling better. You need a new lens. Here are three steps to start:
How are you actually feeling at work? Energized or exhausted? Empowered or invisible?
Give yourself the space to tune into what you're sensing about your experience.
Give language to your needs. Maybe it’s more clarity. Or recognition. Or purpose.
Labeling what’s missing helps you communicate and advocate for yourself and with others.
Start with one shift. Have a conversation. Use your strengths in a new way. Set a boundary.
Small, intentional changes can reignite your spark - and your life.
We often treat work as a silo - separate from life. But in reality, work is life for many of us. It’s where we spend our best hours. It’s where we build confidence, community, and contribution.
So if you want to thrive?
Start where you stand. Work wellbeing is life wellbeing.
And if you need support building that? Whether you're a leader shaping a culture, or an individual looking for your footing, I’d love to help.