The Illusive Work-Life Balance — and What you Can Do Instead

I am a monthly contributor to BytheNorth Nonfiction book club.

Welcome back to Read the North, your new favourite non-fiction book club. 

Inside you will find:

• A book recommendation

• A hosting guide complete with a cookie

• Discussion questions to dive deep into the book 

  
  

Introducing… 

Work-Life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team that Flourishes by Dan Pontefract

In many parts of Canada, March is the month gardeners start dreaming. Seed catalogues come out, soil gets tested, and plans are made for what to grow in the season ahead. It's the time of year when we start asking: what do I want to cultivate this year? Which is exactly why there's no better time to crack open Work-Life Bloom by Dan Pontefract.

Favourite quote: "People are rivers, always ready to move from one state of being into another. It is not fair to treat people as if they are finished beings. Everyone is always becoming and unbecoming."

Summary: 

Work-Life Bloom by Dan Pontefract reimagines the relationship between work and life; not as a balance to strike, but as a garden to cultivate. Through his bloom model, Pontefract challenges leaders to invest in the whole person; their purpose, belonging, and growth so both people and organizations can flourish. It's a practical, human-centered roadmap for anyone who has ever felt there should be more to work than what they've been experiencing.

Perfect for readers...

• Who have people reporting to them and want to bring out the best in their team.

• Who dread Sunday nights and find work more draining than energizing; this book meets you exactly where you are.

• Whose job is to create environments where people thrive and need both the language and the evidence to make the case for why work-life bloom matters.

• Who don't want to climb the corporate ladder but still want to do meaningful work, feel connected, and go home feeling good about their day.

Your hosting guide

The cranberry oatmeal cookie is made of simple, wholesome ingredients: oats, dried cranberries, cinnamon; nothing extravagant, but everything intentional. Dan's bloom model works the same way. It isn't about radical reinvention or chasing prestige. It's about identifying the core ingredients that make your life nourishing and making sure they're all in the mix.

Discussion questions

1. Work & Happiness The Mappiness study found paid work is the second worst activity for happiness; just ahead of being sick in bed and 80% of working adults get anxious on Sunday nights. Does this resonate with you? What would need to change for work to feel less draining?

2. The Great Reconfiguration Dan reframes 2021–2022 not as the "Great Resignation" but the "Great Contemplation." Reflecting on that time in your own life; what were you questioning, and did it lead to any shifts in how you think about work?

3. The Work-Life Bloom Model Looking at the model on pages 38–39, which factor resonates most with you and is there anything you feel is missing?

4. Your Personal Legend: What drives you? What is your sense of purpose, and how closely does your current work align with it?

5. People as Rivers & Loneliness Dan quotes: "People are rivers… everyone is always becoming and unbecoming." How does this shape how you see your own growth and how you support your team? And were you surprised that loneliness costs 25 billion annually; what role do leaders play in addressing it?

Now for the yummy part… the cookie of the month:

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies see the recipe and the results: The Illusive Work-Life Balance — and What you Can Do Instead — By The North

If You’re Exhausted for “No Reason,” Read This

I am a monthly contributor to BytheNorth Nonfiction book club

where I pair a cookie with a book. 

Here you will find:

• A book recommendation

• Discussion questions to dive deep into the book

• And a hosting guide complete with a cookie recipe

Introducing… Feel Better by Dr. Shahana Alibhai

Summary: 

Feel better is a practical guide to understanding and managing emotions without being overwhelmed by them. Drawing from her experience as a family physician, her own journey through postpartum depression, and her work with thousands of patients, Dr. Alibhai presents a framework called the "4 A's"; Acknowledge, Awareness, Acceptance, and Action to help readers recognize emotional patterns, resist suppressing feelings, and use emotions as informational clues rather than obstacles. The book introduces concepts like the Emotional Bed, the Optimal Health Pyramid, and techniques to help readers build emotional intelligence and resilience.

Perfect for readers who love:

• Anyone feeling stuck or wanting to understand why they react the way they do

• People who feel overwhelmed by their emotions

• New parents, especially mothers

• People who prefer science-backed, practical advice over abstract theory

Your Hosting Guide

Discussion questions:

1. Which of the 4 A's (Acknowledge, Awareness, Acceptance, Action) is hardest for you and why?

2. How does viewing emotions as information rather than problems change your relationship with difficult feelings?

3. What patterns did you discover about your own "Emotional Bed" and emotional triggers?

4. Are you more like rubber or glass when facing adversity? What shaped your resilience?

5. What's one specific change you will make in how you manage your emotions after reading this book?

A cookie that fits the theme:

Sometimes the simplest things bring the most joy, and we need to notice and savor them. A sugar cookie is not fancy or complicated, but when you pause to enjoy it; the sweetness, the texture, and sharing with others you are practicing the awareness and presence the book teaches. Recipe details can be found here: If You’re Exhausted for “No Reason,” Read This — By The North

3 Things I learned baking cakes in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion

It's been about three years now that I have been undertaking a baking and book challenge. It all began in 2020 when I embarked on creating 30 types of cookies, coupled with 30 equity, diversity, and inclusion tips over the span of 30 days. In 2023, I decided to shift my focus to crafting 12 cakes and delving into 12 books. The book-reading part was relatively easy, and I managed to read 29 books. However, creating the cakes demanded some skill, and there are three lessons I learned throughout the year of baking cakes that I can relate to my work in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

1. Preparation is Key: Just as in baking cakes, preparation is crucial when implementing any equity, diversity, and inclusion initiative. You can't bake a cake without all the necessary ingredients. I recall a time when I ran out of baking powder, prompting a frantic text to my neighbor for assistance. Similarly, as an EDI practitioner, take the time to understand your stakeholders. Listen and ask questions of leaders and employees. Understanding the issues related to EDI is vital before commencing. Surveys and focus groups are valuable tools to gauge the organization's sentiments on inclusion.

2. Know Your Oven and Know Your Company: Every recipe provides an estimated baking time, but you need to watch it and understand your oven. Similarly, in the corporate realm, understanding how your company operates is essential. Is the organization more top-down or flat? Do you need multiple meetings with leaders to clarify details? Consider cultural differences—will your program work universally, or do you need to tailor it for different locations? These details are crucial.

3. It's Not About Looks or Awards: Just as not every cake turns out aesthetically pleasing, receiving EDI awards doesn't necessarily reflect the true state of a company's commitment. Some cakes may crack or require adjustments, but the taste matters most. Likewise, I've witnessed companies receive EDI awards, only to discover internally that the reality for employees is quite different. Beware of companies boasting about numerous inclusion awards, as some of these might be "pay-to-play," defeating the purpose of genuine recognition. Be cautious and focus on meaningful progress rather than accolades.

In 2023 I got better at making cakes however I do not think I will do a cake challenge again.  So in 2024 I am focusing on 24 bars and 24 books. Follow me on Instagram at @steph_redivo

*EDI = equity, diversity and inclusion. You may use other terms such as EDIB for Belonging or IDEA for Accessibility.  Feel free to use whichever term you want.