Twenty-two percent of women in the InHerSight community say they turn to articles and blogs for career advice. It makes sense. Sometimes a quick checklist connecting with someone else’s story is exactly what it takes to feel inspired to reset your mindset, shift your energy, or take a step forward.
Whether you’re looking for some motivation, exploring new career paths, climbing out of burnout, or just trying to carve out a little more joy in your day, these reads will give you that gentle nudge you need to see and approach your work differently.
Articles on owning your ambition
Hustle culture taught us to measure our worth by promotions, paychecks, and the amount of hours we put in outside of 9-to-5 to be successful. The new wave of ambition is marked by a personal fulfillment and what actually makes life feel good. This article takes a closer look at that shift, highlighting how women are putting their energy into ambitions outside of work, whether that’s health, relationships, passion projects, or reclaiming rest. It challenges the once-coveted ideals of ‘always on’ and that scaling back means giving up, instead framing it as redefining ambition in ways that are more sustainable and self-aligned. For anyone who is feeling the pull between career goals and a softer, more fulfilling life, this one’s a must-read.
There’s No Such Thing as Getting Ahead
If you’ve ever felt restless when your career or personal milestones don’t line up with your ambitious timelines, I’m right there with you. This piece digs into the complicated relationship with time and ambition, including the constant urge to “get ahead” and the anxiety that comes down on you when you don’t. It’s a thought-provoking read for anyone who needs a reminder that progress doesn’t always follow a set schedule, and that holding yourself to rigid timelines just might be what’s keeping you from moving forward.
Where Should Women Channel Their Ambition?
What does it really mean to “make it”? In this interview, Samhita Mukhopadhyay, author of The Myth of Making It, takes aim at the cultural narrative that women should seamlessly balance ambition, motherhood, and self without missing a step. She makes it clear that ambition isn’t a problem for women at work, it’s unrealistic expectations and lack of support that force women to sacrifice their health and wellbeing to meet impossible standards. Read this if you need a reminder that it’s okay to want more, but it’s also okay to demand better systems to make that ambition possible.
The Power of Pivoting: How Women Are Changing Careers
For many years, a long tenure at one company was seen as proof of achievement. These days, longevity is commendable, yes, but it’s no longer a universal badge of honor. Listening to yourself and making a change when something no longer fits is the new cause for celebration, with women 20 percent more likely to pivot industries altogether. If you’ve been thinking about what’s next, this piece offers six concrete steps to prepare for your own pivot.
Articles on reclaiming your energy
Even Leaders Get Burnout. Here’s How They Deal
Leadership often comes with the pressure to be unshakable (my go-to response to chaos is “I’m pushing through”). But strong leaders actually need more limits. This conversation shifts us toward healthier ways to lead that don’t come at the cost of your wellbeing, with leaders sharing how they’re reshaping what strength looks like. Their approaches are simple, yet refreshing, like blocking off calendars for focus time, being candid with their teams, and being more vocal about their needs. For anyone in leadership, or aspiring to it, this is a sign that protecting your energy is not a weakness, it’s actually part of leading well.
Burnout is About Your Workplace, Not Your People
We like to think that burnout is something we can easily control with better time management or stronger willpower, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Burnout often stems from the culture of the workplace itself like unclear expectations, inequities, or unrealistic demands (that disproportionately impact women). This piece reframes burnout not as a weakness in you, but as a sign of deeper problems in your work environment. And while you might not be able to change the culture overnight, the immediate step you can take now is to work toward releasing yourself from some of the self-imposed pressures to power through.
All of my mentors have challenged the idea of work-life balance. Does it really help to measure our success by how well we juggle both when oftentimes that pedestal is too high to reach? This article makes the case that balance is an illusion, an “alluring idea we’re all sold: if we just organize better, try harder, or wake up earlier, we’ll finally find that perfect equilibrium.” The healthier ideal is to work toward alignment, or what my coach calls “work-life harmony.” If you’ve been feeling stuck by chasing balance and coming up short, this article offers three steps to free yourself from the ‘balance trap’.
More Than a Program: A Culture of Women’s Wellbeing at Work
More than 50 percent of women report feeling stressed at work, compared to 39 percent of men. And, as we’ve seen, much of that stress stems from workplace culture, not individual shortcomings. If you’re in a leadership role, it’s on you to take steps in the right direction. Sure, it’s easier to default to the norms and blame said culture for burnout, but if you’re positioned to shift the system with intention and long-term planning, it’s worth taking on the ‘good trouble’. To start, here are three ways leaders and allies can begin to reshape workplace culture to support women at work.
Articles on creating joy
Hate Your Job? How to Have More Fun at Work
Should work be fun? Maybe not in the free snacks and ping-pong tables kind of way, but it should at least be enjoyable. This read makes the point that “fun” doesn’t have to mean surface-level perks, which can’t cover up a toxic culture or poor leadership. Real enjoyment at work comes from feeling good about the people you collaborate with, trusting your leaders, and not dreading every task on your to-do list. It’s a practical take on what actually makes work feel sustainable, and why that matters more than any trendy office gimmick.
6 Simple Ways to Make This Your Year of Yes
It’s easy to picture Shonda Rhimes as someone who has everything figured out. She’s the mind behind some of this generation’s most beloved shows, an author, and a mother. But she, like many of us, felt overworked, exhausted, and weighed down by guilt. That changed when she challenged herself to a “Year of Yes” that became a personal reset and commitment to say ‘yes’ to opportunities that scared her, ‘no’ to obligations that drained her, and ‘yes’ to embracing herself fully. By reframing her choices, she rediscovered joy at work and in her personal life. It’s an approach any of us can adopt to transform our days by choosing to say ‘yes’ to the things that matter most.
This 4-Step Detox Can Help You Stop Dreading Your Task List
More than 70 percent of Gen Z and millennial workers are thinking about changing jobs or careers, which points to something bigger than restlessness. They want work that feels meaningful. This piece encourages us to “intentionally pause,” get clear on what we need to feel fulfilled, and ask the hard question: What do I want from my career, really? From there, you’ll find tools to help you reflect on your strengths, audit your energy, and map out the next steps toward finding career success and enjoyment.
15 Ways to Romanticize Your Work Wins
Social media isn’t the only place to share your accomplishments. I naturally shy away from posting big moments, but that doesn’t mean I should skip celebrating them altogether. Practices like starting a “win jar,” writing a letter to my future self, or taking a new class are right up my alley when it comes to doing small rewarding things that can really boost my morale and bring a bit of joy when I need it most. If you’re looking for some creative ways to give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back, pick one of these ideas to treat yourself.
Articles on taking risks
Own Your Growth at Work: The Power of Self-Accountability
Accountability is one of the most overlooked drivers of impactful performance and personal transformation. It’s a proactive act that calls for us to own our success. We know that it takes nurturing to grow, and we should also know that no one is going to give us the success that we want. We have to work for it. Being accountable can look like seeking mentorship, taking a new educational course, or joining a professional organization. This piece challenges you to ask yourself, “What steps have I taken to move myself forward?”.
Women and Risk-Taking: Why Playing it Safe Holds Us Back
A common theme among women is that we were taught to be cautious and careful in our careers, while men have been encouraged to be bold and take risks. Which is why, men feel comfortable to raise their hand for positions that they’re not even halfway qualified for, while we feel like we have to check off at least 80 percent of state qualifications for a new job or promotion before we’ll even put ourselves out there for it. In this article, you’ll find five ways to build your confidence with risk-taking and five ways to encourage a culture of bold decision making.
How Women Can Build “Experience Capital” to Overcome Obstacles to Career Success
Women are underrepresented at the top of the corporate chain not because they lack ambition or desire, but because the system by design demands more proof of readiness. That’s why building “experience capital” is important. Practices include choosing companies with name recognition, taking on stretch projects that broaden your expertise, and networking with intention. As the writer notes, “women and people of color tend to be overmonitored and under-sponsored,” which means more visibility matters. If you’re working on setting yourself apart and deliberately creating the career trajectory you deserve, you’ll want to read this article.
My Mindlife Reinvention: Why I Quit My Glamorous Job at 50
We’ve all heard that Oprah finally had her big break in her 30s, along with women like Ava DuVernay, who didn’t hold a camera until she was 32, and Vera Wang, who launched her iconic bridal line at 40. In this story, Deborah Joseph took the leap at 50, leaving her job as editor of Glamour magazine to pursue “a whole new world of work,” including writing a book and launching a podcast. This read reminds us that there’s no expiration date on rewriting your career story, and that every stage of life is a new opportunity to grow.
Articles on protecting your wellbeing
Executive Leaders Need to Build a Foundation of Self Care
For women in leadership, the pressure to be “always on” is relentless. Completing priorities at home and at work often come at the expense of our mental, physical, and emotional health. In this piece, the CEO of a major financial firm shares two lessons she’s learned about how to approach self-care differently and lead without losing yourself in the process.
I’m Just Going To Say It: I’m Sort of Starting to Regret My Soft Girl Era
Enjoying yourself matters, but not at the cost of your future. It’s easy to fall into the trap of chasing an instant gratification, but this article calls out how quickly that mindset can spiral when you “work to spend” becomes the default reward. Instead, true self-care comes from building healthy sustainable practices, whether that’s setting limits, investing, or adding to your 401k. If you’re in need of some balance, you’ll find some smart ways to fuel your happiness without adding stress down the line.
Why Self-Care Is a Radical Act (And How to Make it a Priority)
Self-care isn’t just spa days, nail appointments, and hair appointments (though if that’s what sparks a bit of joy for you, go for it). This article makes the point that true self-care isn’t about the Instagram-worthy moments, but about meeting your actual needs even when that feels uncomfortable. Sometimes that makes taking rest when your to-do list is overflowing, setting boundaries without apologizing, or putting your health first. As the writer reminds me us, it’s okay to take breaks “without feeling the need to earn them.” Heard.
The Importance of Self-Care for Productivity in an Office Environment
I work from home full time and fully understand the privilege I have to implement some forms of self-care that may not be as accessible to others, like taking moments of solitude from the comfort of my couch. But I remember the stressors of a physical office all too well. The tips in this article can be applied anywhere, but they’re especially relevant for those in onsite roles where carving out time for healthy habits takes some extra effort.
Articles on finding meaning
Struggling to find meaning and happiness at work? Here’s where you may have gone wrong
Seventy percent of employees believe their jobs define their sense of purpose, yet most admit they’re not engaged with their work. They don’t love what they do, they’re overwhelmed, and they expect their jobs to fill voids they were never meant to fill. This article makes the case to shift that mindset. Work can’t be your only source of joy or meaning. In response, the writer highlights three ways to build a “truly alive life” that extends beyond your career.
Letting Ourselves Dream About Our Careers
Life is fragile and too short to spend in roles that don’t align with who we are. After facing a life-threatening health scare, this writer reflects on what it means to live and work with intention. It’s a powerful reminder that we all deserve to pause, reassess, and choose work that matches our values and passions. Read this essay and reflect on what it would take for you to live and work more authentically.
How To Find A Purpose In Life — And A Job
When career planning starts to feel like an endless transaction, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters: building a path that aligns with your values. This piece offers four strategies to bring meaning back into finding your next role, like expanding your lens beyond industries you think you should fit into and learning how to embrace change with confidence. Whether you’re graduating, considering a pivot, or rethinking what you want out of your career, this helpful read can get you started down the right path.
5 Keys to Meaningful Work (& How to Achieve Each)
Women don’t want to hustle for the sake of hustling anymore. In fact, 44 percent of women said they’ll only put in a high level of effort for work that feels meaningful. It’s a clear sign that purpose, fulfillment, and balance are taking priority over nonstop productivity. This piece outlines the five elements that define meaningful work, and provides guidance on how to weave them into your career pursuits so that you can focus your hustle on what actually matters to you.
