The Comeback dives into the topic of returning to work after maternity, women changing careers, and the social implications women come up against in the working world with juggling a family with a career. Watson discusses her struggles with onramping after being a stay-at-home mom for seven years, and how the stories of fellow women inspired her transition.

Watch the video below to learn more about the stories of two women Keller featured in her book.

Moms returning to work after maternity deal with many challenges, which are discussed during this interview. To see what all three women had to say about onramping, watch the video below.

Epidemiologist Steven Blair, a professor of public health at the University of South Carolina, has spent 40 years investigating physical activity and health in adults. Even if you adhere to the federal health officials recommended 30 minutes of physical activity a day, you’re still spending 8 hours sleeping, 8-10 hours sitting at a desk, and another hour or so sitting at a kitchen table, watching TV, or reading in a chair. Basically, we’re sitting for most of our lives. This, Blair speculates, can lead to serious health risks, and possible death.

Blair headed a study at the University of South Carolina where he reported on adult men and their risk of dying from heart disease. Of those who reported 23 hours a week of stationary activity (which is the minimum amount for those who work at a desk all day), even those who regularly exercised had a 64% greater risk of heart disease than those who reported only 11 hours a week of stationary activity.

These new facts are just starting to get attention from and researched by scientists.

Blair’s studies are finding that people who sit more have less desirable levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides and even waist size, which increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and a number of health problems.

Basically, our bodies are simply shutting down.

Dr. Tony Yancey, a professor in the health services department and co-director of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity at the University of California, Los Angeles, along with Dr. Blair, offers us the following tips to staying active throughout the work day.

• Take a 10-minute activity break at a scheduled time every day
• Park farther away from the places where you work, shop, play, study and worship
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Put printers a short walking distance away from your work or study space instead of right next to it
• Replace desk chairs with stability balls — or use a standing desk to get rid of the chair entirely — to burn more calories while working.
• Fidget, stand up and stretch at intervals during meetings

It may not sound like much, but an Australian study found that these types of mini-breaks, just one minute long throughout the day, can actually help lower blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol and waist size.

So what are you waiting for? Get up, and move!

Source: www.workingparents.net

The process of onramping (re-entering the workforce after taking a career break) is based on communication and action. As an onramper you need to keep your employer informed. In doing so, you may be able to salvage your career!  OnRampers pay attention and you very well can recover your occupation.

Here are some tips on making sure your job is still there when you onramp, no matter how long you were gone for.

• Before offramping, notify your employer as soon as possible of your intentions.  Unless you have an emergency medical condition, you must give 30 days’ notice. Stay away from e-mails or phone calls. Ask to meet in person to discuss your work leave
• Discuss your options with your supervisor. Ask about continued health benefits during your leave. Inform your employer the significance of your job. If you plan to take a leave longer than the companies’ allotted time span, ask about working part-time or working from home. You may find that your employer is willing to be flexible in order to keep you in the company.
• Try and stay connected even when you are not working. Meet with colleagues once a month to stay updated and e-mail your supervisor regularly. Read trade magazines and blogs to keep yourself informed.
• In order to preserve important skills, offer to volunteer in the office when you have free time. It will show your employer the importance of the company to you, as well as your willingness to work.

Although offramping may seem intimidating, by taking the proper measures you may ensure a smooth onramping process. Your supervisor wants you to succeed, so be honest and open. Show your dedication and be welcomed back to the workforce.

How do you know if you are just unsatisfied with your current position in a specific company or if you need to completely change careers? Quintcareers.com, a website dedicated to helping individuals with searching for jobs, came up with a quiz to help people figure out if they need to change careers or just their jobs.

Some of the questions ask you to answer based on the statement that best describes your current feelings about where you are professionally.

To take the quiz, please click here.

Women now receive three Bachelor’s degrees for every two earned by men. They are graduating in near equal numbers from law and medical schools, and received 44% of MBAs in 2007, Forbes.com reported from the U.S. Department of Education. However, it is emphasized that most women remain primary parents and take on the majority of household responsibilities.

Here are 10 jobs that women are taking over:

Accountants and Auditors
Percent Female: 61.8
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $47,000

Meeting and Convention Planners
Percent Female: 83.3
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $42,000

Financial Managers
Percent Female: 54.7
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $50,000

Insurance Underwriters
Percent Female: 62.8
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $51,000

Medical Scientists
Percent Female: 56.9
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $50,500

Education Administrators
Percent Female: 62.6
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $57,000

Tax Examiners, Collectors and Revenue Agents
Percent Female: 73.8
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $47,500

Veterinarians
Percent Female: 61.2
Median Annual Salary: $79,000 (BLS website)

Human Resources Managers
Percent Female: 66.8
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $55,500

Budget Analysts
Percent Female: 59.3
Women’s Approx. Median Annual Salary: $64,000

1. Reconnect with old coworkers
2. Create and maintain an online presence
3. Join a professional or industry group
4. Use your alumni directory to contact people in your business field or in the company you are looking to work for

For more information go to DegreeDriven.com.

Perhaps you are having some of these exact thoughts, but have no fear! There are plenty of ways to determine whether or not a career change is right for you. But before making any decisions for a career change, it is always important to assess your current career situation.

Make a List of Likes and Dislikes of Your Current Occupation

Of course the reason you are having doubts about your career is because you are thinking of the negatives (dislikes). You must realize that all careers will have some sort of faults. But the question is do your dislikes outweigh the likes? There is no way to determine whether changing careers is right for you unless you examine your likes.

• What do you really like doing when you’re at work and or what do you really enjoy generally speaking?
• What truly is your passion?
• Are you fulfilling these likes at your current job?

Whatever you do, do not rush weighing out your likes and dislikes. The only way to really grasp what career path you want to follow is by reflecting on not only your job, but yourself.

Ease into the Transition

At this point you should already have set up child care, whether it is with a babysitter, a daycare center, or even a relative. In order for your child to adjust to the new surroundings, have your child begin a day or two before you return back to work.

Without having to drop your child off and rush to work, you will be able to comfort your child in those first moments and alleviate their anxiety. In doing this, not only will you reduce your child’s worries, but you will alleviate yours as well

Create Day-to-Day Lists

It is essential to write a list regarding your child’s needs a few nights before you return from maternity leave.  The morning of your first day you will be so overwhelmed of what you need to do to prepare for work that believe it or not, you might forget to pack something vital for your child – like extra diapers.

The night before your first day back in the office pack everything your child needs for the next day. Perhaps your list might look a little like this:

• Full bottles of milk
• Formula
• Diapers
• Baby wipes
• Extra clothes
• Pacifier
• Blanket
• Teddy bear

If your children are older, make lunches the night before and pack a few of their favorite toys, books, and movies.

Map Out the Morning

Sit down for a few minutes and consider about how long it will take you and your child to get ready in the morning. How long will it take you to shower and prep? What are the needs of your child from the time they wake until you step out the door?

Go over this plan with your partner. Make sure you both are delegated responsibilities with your child in the morning. That way you both have enough time to shower, eat, and dress. Preparing in the morning will definitely be a team effort between the two of you!

Generate Back Up Plans

Whether the issue is the common cold or the weather, there will be a day when your usual caregiver will be unavailable. That is exactly why it is imperative to have a back-up plan. The last thing you need when rushing to get ready in the morning is to scramble to find other means of childcare. See if a relative or family friend would be willing to be placed on your “back up plan” list for emergency situations.

Get Lots of Sleep

Your first week returning to work after maternity leave will be exhausting to say the least. Make sure to get a sufficient amount of sleep the night before your big day back. Request your partner to take care of any late night wakings from your child.

And the Best Part – Treat Yourself

After all this planning and transition, you deserve a reward! Plan some sort of treat to revive yourself from the first week returning work after maternity.

Maybe you choose to have body massage on Saturday morning. Perhaps plan a Sunday morning breakfast in bed to spark romance with your partner. But as a mother, your treat might be to spend quality time with your child taking a stroll in the park. Whatever your reward may be, make sure to give yourself some enjoyment. You deserve it!

Sometimes, the worst problems encountered when onramping after maternity leave is with the company. Here is a list of some of the best maternity leave practices for mothers returning to work after maternity to look at and discuss with their employers.

• Look for company values –Talented people with kids want to work for companies that demonstrate strong family values. Talk to other female employees; discuss maternity options with HR, etc.
• Offer enough time – As more time progresses and the baby gets a bit older mothers will start looking for the office job again. Don’t force the return too soon – give mothers time to want to come back to work.
• Plan it out – Don’t diminish the joy of parenthood with stressful ambiguity. Discuss work coverage and re-entry before maternity leave begins and plan what may be planned.
• Be flexible – If your company allows new moms to work from home, you can reduce down time as well as earn loyalty and gratitude.
• Paternity leave – In Germany moms and dads are allowed to split their legally allowed leave time. Talk about gender diversity and see what offers your husband can get to stay home with the newborn.
• Part-time – Can your previous employer offer part-time employment? You have time with your newborn while also working to help support the family income.
• Show your enthusiasm – Send new mothers some flowers, a onesie with the company logo or a gift certificate to show support and appreciation. Showing the company cares will make the mother want to return to her old job.
• Support network – First time moms may not know how to find the right work life balance. Why not ask experienced working mothers in the organization to write down and/or present some tips for new working moms?

Share these tips with your employer and you might be surprised at how far they take you!