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Contemplating Life’s Choices

Contemplating Life’s Choices

Healing from burnout | Connecting with your inner wisdom

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  • Your Career: RedefinedI’m delighted to offer the career evolution program that combines my experience designing learning and development programs for Fortune Global 500 companies and providing strategic leadership advising to tech & HR executives with a lifetime of contemplation and self discovery work. This 12-week program is designed to guide you through: – understanding where you are and what matters in your next steps on your career journey – how to be future-ready in the midst of change – the steps to take to move from vision to reality Each session balances the latest research and wisdom while focusing on activities that ensure you continue to move forward in your career journey.
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  • Awaken

    Awaken

    The critical part of breaking the burnout cycle and escaping the Resilience Trap is choosing what’s right for you. During burnout it’s easy to feel like there are no options or only drastic options to take. Awakening to the possibilities lets us know that we don’t have to rage quit or keep putting up with…

    Heather MacDonald

    July 13, 2026
    AI, Burnout, Career, Coaching, Life, Reflection, The Resilience Trap
    Burnout, Careers, Change, Job Search, Layoffs, Learning, Life, mental-health, Networking, Reflection, self-care, Wellbeing, Wellness, Women in Business, Women in Tech, Women in the Workplace, Women of Color Experiencing Burnout, Working Mom
  • Breaking the Burnout Cycle

    Breaking the Burnout Cycle

    The Resilience Trap happens when the exact things that helped you succeed also contributed to the burnout cycle you’re in. If you’re burning out because you’re doing it all, being passed up for promotions because you’re too valuable in your role, or you don’t know how to stop burning out the Resilience Trap can help…

    Heather MacDonald

    July 11, 2026
    Burnout, Career, Coaching, Life, Reflection, The Resilience Trap
    Burnout, Careers, Coaching, health, Layoffs, Life, mental-health, Reflection, Resilience, self-care, Wellness, Women in Business, Women in Tech, Women of Color Experiencing Burnout, Working Mom
  • The Resilience Trap

    The Resilience Trap

    Burnout is not a one-and-done event. Often for high-achieving women burnout is part of the Resilience Trap. The things that often make women exceptional at their work can also set them up for burnout. The push to be more resilient, adaptable, and to lean in can be the exact thing that brings you success or…

    Heather MacDonald

    July 10, 2026
    Burnout, Career, Life, Reflection, The Resilience Trap
    Burnout, Careers, Coaching, Consulting, health, leadership, Life, mental-health, Public Speaker, Resilience, Salt Lake City, self-care, Utah, Wellness, Women in Business, Women in Tech, Women of Color, Women of Color Experiencing Burnout, Working Mom
  • AI is Not Taking Your Job. Execs who want more for less are.

    AI is Not Taking Your Job. Execs who want more for less are.

    If you are 1000000% on the AI bandwagon this is the post that will probably have you not wanting to stick around. I’m not here to change anyones mind, I’m here to offer some perspectives that may help you find the signal through the noise.

    Heather MacDonald

    May 8, 2026
    AI, Burnout, Career, Life
    AI, artificial-intelligence, Burnout, Careers, Ethics, Layoffs, leadership, Learning, Life, mental-health, technology, Writing
  • Why Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Matter More Than Ever

    Why Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Matter More Than Ever

    I’m once again dealing with burnout and I’ve realized the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. The team I am honored to lead and the compassionate leadership team I am surrounded by has helped me navigate some of the most chaotic times of my working life. The working world needs human centered leaders if we…

    Heather MacDonald

    May 7, 2026
    Burnout, Career, Life
    AI, Burnout, Careers, leadership, Life, lifelong learning, mental-health, self-care, technology, WomenInTech
  • Day 4 | Seasons

    Day 4 | Seasons

    Have you ever thought about your life and career like the seasons? Life brings shifts, from ambitious pursuits to periods of personal challenges and change. It’s ok to embracing whatever seasons you’re in because just like the seasons of the year your season of life will eventually shift and change too.

    Heather MacDonald

    May 3, 2026
    Burnout, Career, Life, Reflection
    blog, Burnout, Careers, Life, love, mental-health, Reflection, Seasons, Writing
  • Day 3 | AI for All?

    Day 3 | AI for All?

    There are a number of challenges and considerations to implementing AI tools in organizations. I no longer think the best approach is to give everyone AI tools and hope for the best. I feel AI, like any other tool, should be considered strategically and with clear outcomes and guidelines to support ethical and responsible use.…

    Heather MacDonald

    May 2, 2026
    Career
    AI, artificial-intelligence, Careers, Future of Work, Learning, technology, Women in Tech
  • Day 2 | Hello, It’s Me

    Day 2 | Hello, It’s Me

    One thing I’ve learned about burnout is sometimes it makes the easiest things feel really hard. Responding to a message from a friend suddenly feels like being asked to draft a 20 page research paper. Making dinner, even when you normally love to cook, feels like being asked to run a marathon. Facing the world…

    Heather MacDonald

    May 1, 2026
    Burnout, Career, Life, Your Career: Redefined
    Burnout, Careers, Goals, Learning, Life, mental-health, Reflection, self-care, Wellness
  • Day 1 | Working Through Burnout, Again

    Day 1 | Working Through Burnout, Again

    Welcome to day one of my modified work schedule to deal with burnout. Again. Join me as I see if it’s possible to work through burnout while still being present at work, navigating new leadership, and ongoing changes. If you’re experiencing burnout or chronic stress and feel alone join me as you are not alone…

    Heather MacDonald

    April 30, 2026
    Burnout, Career, Life
    AI, artificial-intelligence, Burnout, Careers, leadership, Life, technology, Women in Business, Women in Tech
  • New Year! New Me?

    New Year! New Me?

    The pressure to set New Year resolutions can be daunting, especially when feeling uncertain or exhausted. It’s important to acknowledge that goal-setting can occur outside the traditional January timeline. One can discover personal rhythms, embracing a gradual approach and honoring life’s current season without the need for drastic self-overhauls.

    Heather MacDonald

    January 2, 2026
    Burnout, Career, Life, Reflection
    Burnout, Careers, goal-setting, Goals, Life, motivation, personal-growth, Reflection, Writing
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