Reworked: Health and Happiness at the Centre of Your Career

by Stephanie Fitzgerald

We're raised to believe that we will have jobs and work. Our school system is designed in part to educate us so we can find a good job afterwards. Yet no-one ever tells you  how  to work. No one ever sits you down and tells you how to be at the center of your work, how to get the most out of your role and how to be happy, healthy, safe and engaged in the workplace. Lacking this knowledge, work often veers off and feels wrong. Panicking, we change and start again somewhere else, thinking 'it's not me, it's the job'. And then the process begins again.

In a post-COVID19 world where redundancies are high, and job opportunities are low, never has it been so essential to learn how to be happy and healthy at work. Literature advocating that you 'love it or leave it' is not applicable or helpful in a squeezed job-market. Not many have the privilege of being able to up and leave their job, and even if you do there is no guarantee of happiness if you don't know the rules or understand how to work well and be well at work.

Unless you do the work, you can change jobs as often as you like but still never find the elusive happiness you seek. Jumping from job to job will not provide you with the answers, unless you can first rework yourself and shed yourself of the burden of inherited cultures, past beliefs and historical mistakes.

Reworked  utilizes neuroscience, evidence-based psychology and two decades of working in health and wellbeing to teach you how to be happy, healthy, safe and engaged at work. These are the four key pillars which run throughout the book. A book to empower, inspire and ignite a passion for happiness at work,  Reworked  will teach you everything you need to rethink, reimagine and reinvent yourself, as you always wanted to be, in the workplace.

224 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2023

Reviews

[Camila Galluzzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

highly, highly recommend reading this if your are feeling burnt out at your corporate job or starting a new role!

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like your typical self-help book about work-life balance. And it is, but I was surprised it was also somewhat refreshing.
Stephanie Fitzgerald focuses on 4 pillars we should rework our approaches towards - being Happy, Healthy, Safe, and Engaged. Sounds simple, and it should be, but where this book is different from others: it doesn't tell you to do work on those and you are on your own to figure out how, but the author actually puts down questions for self-reflection across the book for you to go through. It seems like you visit a therapist and are being asked those questions, and that's the best thing about the book as you are not left alone to figure out what to do with all those smart suggestions you will never actually apply in another case because "easy to say, hard to do".

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on a lifelong perspective of work -- and keeping things in check for a healthy, happy life. This is the book I wish I'd had in my early 20s! The author covers the basics of stress, burnout, the value of work and money, psychological safety, teamwork and/or working alone, and being your authentic self at work. The chapters on burnout and stress are fairly cursory but are hallmarks of this day and age and I suspect the assessments surrounding happiness, health, safety, and engagement will resonate with many -- if not all -- readers since many, many people are dissatisfied with their jobs and life's work. Highly recommend!

[Emily Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

As with most non-fiction books, I’ve found parts of this book useful. I’ve taken some snippets to my leadership sessions at work, and it has given me ideas to think about.

* ARC from Netgalley *

[Markie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book "Reworked" offers a refreshing and insightful perspective on how to find happiness and fulfillment in the workplace. The author emphasizes that while society prepares us for the pursuit of jobs, it often neglects to teach us how to navigate our work environments effectively and find personal satisfaction within them. This book fills that void by providing practical guidance on how to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of work.

In today's post-COVID-19 world, where job opportunities may be scarce and redundancies are high, the importance of understanding how to be happy and healthy at work becomes even more significant. The author acknowledges that not everyone has the privilege of simply leaving their job and starting anew. Instead, they emphasize the need to rework ourselves and let go of the burdens of past beliefs and experiences in order to find true happiness and fulfillment in our current roles.

"Reworked" draws upon neuroscience, evidence-based psychology, and the author's own experience in health and wellbeing to provide practical strategies and insights. The book focuses on four key pillars: happiness, health, safety, and engagement. These pillars serve as a framework for readers to reevaluate their approach to work and make necessary adjustments to enhance their overall well-being.

The author's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex concepts easily understandable. The use of research-based evidence adds credibility to the book's teachings, giving readers confidence in the strategies presented. The emphasis on personal empowerment and igniting a passion for happiness at work creates a sense of possibility and motivation for readers to take action.

Overall, "Reworked" is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their work experience and find greater happiness and fulfillment in their professional lives. By providing a roadmap for self-reflection, growth, and reimagining one's relationship with work, this book empowers readers to take control of their own happiness and create a more meaningful and satisfying work life.

[Lynnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The employee should be at the center of the workplace and be happy, healthy, safe, and engaged. These four components are key to a thriving workplace well-being for both the employer and the employee.

This book has 15 chapters covering money, physical and psychological safety, stress, burnout, management, teamwork, workspace considerations, a chapter on quitting, and more. Dr. Fitzgerald prompts you to use the techniques outlined in the book to improve your well-being at work. “Keep close the knowledge of what works for you and how you reworked your work life to keep yourself happy, healthy, safe and engaged. Never settle for anything else” (p. 239).

The book is easy to read, keeping concepts, tips, stories, and activities boxed out for the reader to notice easily. Take the time to read these. Reflect. Do the work. I especially like the chapter summaries. You will be inspired and prompted to move forward. While there is not a specific chapter on nutrition, the overall theme of achieving workplace well-being and the techniques presented can also be applied to how you nourish your body.

Some advice may not be what you were expecting. For example, your mental health is not your employer’s or manager’s responsibility. Also, be ready to look in the mirror… maybe you are playing a dominating role in the toxic team energy.

The author’s expertise as a psychologist is in mental health, i.e., there is little practical information on improving nutrition or physical health. Generally, if you are happy, healthy, safe, and engaged, you can make good food choices at work and not self-medicate through food and alcohol, and your health should not negatively impact your work and vice versa.

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly good for giving you the tools to identify the real issues in your work and improve them. It is refreshingly practical and down-to-earth, and gives lots of tips and examples, without telling you what to do (there's no one-size-fits-all). It is firmly based on science and psychology and clear and easy to understand. The hard part can be doing the changes - but they do work! It's suitable for almost any career, for both those considering a career change and those not, but especially good for anyone fed up with their current role.

[Catherine Ritchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read. This is accessible and not an intimidating read. It is jam-packed with a variety of different learning techniques - it isn’t someone lecturing you, but instead Steph welcomes you to reflect, challenges gently and gives so many practical examples. Written with humility, humour, clarity and in plain English. Whatever led you to pick up this book, you will gain so much from this read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. Parts made me think deeper and question previous ideas and thoughts. I found it quite helpful with where I'm currently at. Its a book I can see re-reading probably a few times as a check in reminder and for reassessing.

[Kunal Adnani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Lucas Stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt a little preachy at times but it helps to give perspective. It feels like the author sometimes questions her own assessments and opinions.

[Hayley Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent. A real good hard look at all the things that help you feel healthy happy safe and engaged at work. One of the best I've read about your well-being at work and Beyond

[Eli Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like the comforting and wise friend you turned to.
Will reread this book often so I may not forget the insights, tips, and realizations.