A D I G I T A L N E W S L E T T E R F R O M 
A Message From Dr. Helen 
For me, September and January usually feel like new beginnings since I spent a huge chunk of my life in school, and I have been a parent for quite a while.
After such an intense 2020, that feeling of a fresh start feels even stronger than usual. After so many sudden changes and new routines, it is common to reconsider and re-evaluate a bunch of things. I am grateful that I still find my work meaningful, engaging, and satisfying. But, like so many other people, there is no doubt that I am doing certain things differently than I was 12 months ago. If you’re looking for someone objective to bounce career-related ideas off, please consider booking a free 15-minute call to discuss.
To prevent myself from feeling overwhelmed by our restricted circumstances, I tend to take things one or two weeks at a time (for me that is more practical than taking things one day at a time). In lieu of a winter holiday, my “project-to-tide-me-over-until-spring” is a book about navigating some of the common but challenging career dilemmas and setbacks that so many people need to deal with. As newsletter subscribers, you’ll hear about it here first! In the meantime, I hope 2021 is kind to you, 
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Could We Be Facing a Mental Health Pandemic?
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Still in School? Preparing for career success before you graduate.
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WHAT’S NEW?
Workplace Culture & Inclusion Survey
In October 2020, I started working on a survey to measure the workplace culture at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It is a deep dive to explore employees’ experiences with challenging issues like bullying, harassment, discrimination, and racism. It is also an examination of employees’ experiences with inclusion at work. This is truly a collaborative effort. There’s a small team assembled, and I was thrilled to be invited to collaborate by Tina Walter, Thought Leader and Consultant in Diversity, Inclusion, and Modern Leadership.
DR. HELEN’S PICKS
Podcast: Burnout and How to Complete the Stress Cycle Thankfully, some COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and delivered in Canada, the US, the UK and elsewhere. The prevailing wisdom is that by summer and fall, things will be much better. That means we need to get through the winter. Since most of us didn’t take our usual holidays last year and we’re dealing with ongoing restrictions, it can be hard to figure out how to cope. I discovered this podcast episode just before Christmas, and since I found it helpful, I’m sharing it here.
Podcast: Blind Spots in Leadership Another podcast that I’ve been enjoying is a digital safe space to hear stories about race at work – and learn from them. Leaders from business and government trace their personal journeys with race, equity, and inclusion. It’s a low key and easy way to learn from their mistakes and their triumphs.
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