Archive for the 'Working for others' Category
Struggling to stay at your new job while living with chronic health conditions? Struggling to keep your job while living with a chronic health condition? Then you might want to tune into Downton Abbey, Season 1, to see what to do and what to avoid . Maybe they should make a series called, “Working and [...]
When I woke in the middle of the night for the 3rd time to go to the bathroom (incontinence again!), I found myself muttering. Of course, the middle of the night is the worst time to think about anything, and I was panicking about what wouldn’t get done today. One thing I’m good at is [...]
I don’t know how many times I’ve written the words, “Chronic illness is unpredictable in how and when it will show up”. Each time I’m reminded of it, I shake my head in amazement. Because it’s so true. I just celebrated my 60th birthday and a client (I’ll call her Laurie) was asking what I [...]
Employee with chronic illness?
The other evening, we were out with friends and discussing some of the people we all know who are experiencing health issues – how they were managing and how it had changed lives. Bobby looked thoughtful. He said that one of the guys in the group of 50 he manages, (I’ll call him P), has [...]
How do you set boundaries?
FYI: Names and details in what follows have been changed to respect privacy. Imagine this: You return to work after missing 2 days of work due to a virus. Your supervisor calls you into her office and tells you that you’ve been sick a lot lately, you don’t seem to be taking care of yourself, [...]
Does this sound like you? Living with chronic illness and thinking about changing your career. But haven’t a clue how or where to start. Then my article, “Career planning when you live with chronic illness”, is what you need to get started. ( No surprise here – I outline a strategic approach.) It’s published in [...]
Is it all in your head?
A lucky few get a chronic illness diagnosis quickly and easily. For most it’s a long and difficult road. Along the way, you might wonder if you’re being self-indulgent. Maybe you even question your sanity. It’s easy to think that others do, too. I spent several years living with painful but vague symptoms. I went [...]
Keep filling the bank
Chronic illness, unlike acute illness, isn’t static. It continues to reverberate. I’ve been writing about Maestro James Levine’s (my post on grieving) cancer and the back injury/surgeries that have kept him from performing. As it turns out, the man he replaced at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa, will not be at the podium at [...]
Is the health care reform bill a step toward ensuring that anyone living with chronic illness will receive “adequate” medical treatment? Or is it just more help for the healthy? I don’t have the answer. But I’m delighted that in the increased attention on the burden that chronic illness places on individuals and society when [...]
Since hanging my shingle as a “chronic illness career coach”, the question I get asked most often is: “Should I disclose my illness when interviewing for a job?” Naturally, as a coach, I have more questions than answers. But there is one guideline I’ve found is worth following: If symptoms get in the way of [...]
