This past summer season, Boston set a new record of 13 rainy weekends in a row. It’s far from the worst thing happening in the world (understatement of 2025), but Bostonians wait all year for that sweet summer air and you can see it taking a toll on people’s moods.
It has made me think about one of my favorite lines from Jennifer Moss in her book “Why Are We Here? Creating A Work Culture Everyone Wants.” She talks about how over 60% of employees globally are “dining al desko” - aka eating lunch at their desks.
Can we use this stinky streak to encourage a behavior change that would be beneficial for our wellbeing all year round and, gasp, take a few minutes to step away from lunch al desko and instead dine al fresco? Or at the least… away from our devices?
Jennifer Moss shares the research that just 20 minutes of social lunch with a coworker each week reduces mistakes and boots job satisfaction.
Of course this isn’t feasible for everyone, and there are certain days where it just may not be in the cards. But, what might life look like if you protected some time for yourself every day and not just on the weekends? What are some other small but impactful actions that improve wellbeing at work?
Building Systems Around How People Work Best
When my daughter was born, everyone told me to make a baby book. But staring at those beautifully blank pages, I knew myself well enough to know that they’d sit on a shelf collecting dust, silently reminding me of one more thing I “should” be doing.
So, I tried something different. I set up an email address in her name and began writing her messages - sometimes attaching a photo or video, other times capturing a funny phrase, small moment, or hard-earned parenting insight.
She just turned 6 and there are 239 messages from me. While that may make any inbox 0 warriors reading this crawl in their skin, it makes me smile. 🙂
What I wouldn’t give to have these kinds of notes from my own mom, now that she’s gone. My hope is that one day, my daughter will find comfort and connection in these words and maybe a deeper understanding of both herself and me through reading them.
The point behind my post, decorated with the wordiness of a sentimental mama, is this:
When we give ourselves (and our organizations) permission to do things differently and build systems around how people actually function best, we create cultures that are more human, more effective, and more connected.
Whether in parenting or in the workplace:
🔹 Know your strengths.
🔹 Trust your instincts.
🔹 Remember: doing things your way isn't wrong just because it's not the norm. It might be the exact thing that creates something meaningful and helps you avoid the regret that comes from doing nothing at all.
IGAN SPARK Conference 2025
Between the year-end sprint at work, the holidays, and 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠, this stretch from Halloween to January 1st can feel like a black hole of chaos. (Anyone else? Bueller?)
What if the most productive thing you did this season… was 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛?
As a recovering perfectionist and Type A planner, I used to think rest was something you earned 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 getting everything done. But when I created my “Power of Rest” program, the research (and my own burnout recovery) taught me something powerful: 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
Even a 5-minute mental break every hour can significantly boost mood and help sustain attention. Small rest = big results.
Here’s the challenge: many of us 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 this… but we don’t 𝑑𝑜 it.
If slowing down feels uncomfortable, that’s normal - it’s a new skill for many. In this clip, I share one mindset shift that can help quiet the guilt and give yourself permission to pause.
What helps you integrate calm amidst chaos? I'd love to hear your go-to strategies - the more we see others modeling rest, the easier it becomes to give ourselves permission to do the same.
Learn more about signature programs and speaking style: https://www.aspirewithaileen.com/corporate-wellness
If you're ready to book a consultation to discuss your speaker needs: https://aspirewithaileencalendar.as.me/corporatewellness
Keynote Speaker Impact: How Practical Wellness Tools Changed Lives at the IgA Nephropathy Conference
It’s one thing to give a keynote. It’s another to know it made a difference. What means the most about being invited back for a third year isn’t the stage - it’s knowing messages are resonating.
This year at the The IgA Nephropathy Foundation SPARK Conference, I shared new content about how patients and caregivers can tap into different forms of rest to support their minds, bodies, and spirits. Whenever I speak, my goal is simple: help every person walk away with at least one practical tool they can use in their daily life.
I didn’t expect to hear from two audience members who had used tools from last year’s session:
😮💨 One woman shared that she began a simple breathing practice and no longer needs a medication she once relied on.
😴 One man said he now naps daily and feels noticeably happier and more energetic (a major win when managing chronic illness).
Running your own business can feel isolating, and I sometimes wonder if I’m making an impact. But these moments remind me why I do this work AND inspire me to let others know when they have made a difference in my life!
A reminder for all the helpers: you may never know the depth of the good you’re doing.
PS This was my first time having the honor of a graphic recorder - shout out to Paul Williams for his incredible work capturing messages during the session!
Why Self-Compassion Is the Missing Piece in Your Wellness Toolkit
I wish the woman in this photo knew she was doing a phenomenal job.
My grandmother-in-law turned 100 (!!) this year and our family traveled to Virginia to celebrate her. This photo is from the first time we flew there with our daughter.
When I look at it now, I feel endless self-compassion for the new mama I see. I was sleep-deprived, had never flown with my baby, and was just two months into navigating my mother’s terminal illness - traveling back and forth to CT to care for her and tending to the daily realities of motherhood in places I never imagined I’d be.
It’s easy to look back and give ourselves grace… but what if we could offer that same grace in the moment?
Back then, negative self-talk was second nature - constant comparisons to other parents, judgment about how I was doing. Over time, I began learning and practicing self-compassion, and it changed my life. Now, I get to share it with others.
It might sound a little “woo-woo,” but as self-compassion expert Dr. Kristin Neff shares, thousands of studies around the world have shown that self-compassion:
✅ Reduces anxiety and depression
✅ Increases motivation and accountability
✅ Builds inner strength and emotional balance
✅ Helps us care for others without burning out
Practical tools by Dr. Kristin Neff can be found here: Self-Compassion Practices
So… how do you talk to yourself when you’re going through something hard?
If you don't love the answer, consider this your invitation to explore what life feels like when you have your own back.
It can be one of the most powerful levers you can pull to impact your wellbeing at work and out in the world.
From No Responses to Multiple Offers: How to Optimize Your Resume
If you've been sending out dozens of applications without hearing back, you're not alone and the problem might not be your qualifications.
As a Boston-based Career Coach and Workplace Wellbeing Speaker, I've seen countless talented professionals struggle in their job search simply because their resume doesn't showcase their true value. The right resume isn't just a formality; it's your most powerful marketing tool, and when done correctly, it can turn months of radio silence into multiple interviews within weeks.
I worked with a client whose story perfectly illustrates how a strategic resume overhaul, combined with expert coaching, can dramatically accelerate your career transition and even add tens of thousands of dollars to your compensation package.
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A career coaching client came to me after he had spent months job searching but not getting any interviews. He was really well-qualified for the roles that he was going for but wasn't getting any traction. When we started working together, we redid his resume completely. He was really selling himself short and he was doing it in part because he was using a resume template that just didn't serve him in his years of experience.
So when we worked together, those first applications that he submitted with that new resume immediately brought on interviews. And through working together, he ended up landing an offer. And we worked through process of negotiation, everyone's favorite topic. And he actually increased his offer by $25,000. So, this was all within one and a half months of working together. Now that's atypical. It all depends on how big of a shift you're making, what the job market's doing.
These are results that my clients see. After over 15 years of career coaching in Boston, it doesn't get old and is the most rewarding part of working with people one-on-one!
What Organizations Are Saying About This Workplace Wellbeing Speaker
See what event organizers are saying after hiring Aileen to speak. Real stories, real results.
“Aileen is always a pleasure to work with - organized, dedicated, kind, and knowledgable.
Her sessions are engaging and informative and our employees have enjoyed learning from her over the past 4 years!”
- Carissa Buurstra, Akamai Technologies
“Aileen "gets it"! She’s an expert in this space and has a real knack for making people feel at ease. After seeing her speak at the 2024 MetroWest Conference for Women, I knew she’d be the perfect fit to present to our internal team.
Aileen offered thoughtful guidance throughout both the planning and execution of the event. She asks great questions to understand the needs and goals of the workshops during the planning process.
A great partner - and just a genuinely nice person to work with, to boot!“
- Colleen Ciccone, EG America
“Aileen is simply the BEST! We’ve had the pleasure of partnering with her for the past few years, and each time she hosts a webinar, we receive glowing feedback from our employees.
Her calming presence, engaging style, and thoughtful insights make every session impactful. We always look forward to working with her and will absolutely continue to do so.”
-Abbey Wells, Apellis Pharmaceuticals
“Even before presenting, Aileen takes the time to understand the organization and audience. We've had her present to our employees on two separate occasions and both times, the experience feels tailored to our group. Her topics are varied and we appreciate that she curates her presentations depending on broad and current organizational events - there is always so much from which to pick.
She has a personable style that draws you in, no matter the topic. Aileen is easy to work with and professional in her delivery and communications, ensuring a seamless process. My experience has been great so far. We hope to invite Aileen back in the near future.”
-Clo Xavier, Bristol Myers Squibb
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Aileen on our company's wellness initiatives. She was attentive and really listened when I spoke about our goals and desires.
She was super easy to work with and made sure to cater to our company's specific needs. All attendees also liked the sessions.”
-Leicia Henderson, America’s Test Kitchen
“Aileen provided an excellent presentation on work life balance, including strategies to reduce stress and avoid burnout.
These topics are highly relevant to my firm, and our attorneys and staff now have the tools to promote self care. We look forward to future opportunities to work with Aileen!”
-Adam Ponte, Fletcher Tilton PC
“Aileen was a joy to work with. She was able to deliver an impactful message to a wide range of audience members. What was most unique about Aileen was that she was able to connect with a large group of people on a personal level. I haven't seen that done in a presentation before and Aileen absolutely nailed it.
She is responsive, responsible and easy to work with. She truly cares about giving a high quality presentation. We will definitely have Aileen back.”
-Lissa Johnson, Mosa Mack Science
I’ve seen firsthand how the right message can spark change. Let’s talk about how I can help inspire your audience.
My Why: The Heart Behind Workplace Wellbeing
We all have moments that clarify our purpose—those quiet affirmations that we’re on the right path. For me, those moments often come through the people I meet and the stories they share after my talks. But the roots of that purpose go much deeper. In this post, I’m reflecting on the personal legacy that fuels my work, the values passed down from my mother, and how they continue to shape the way I show up for others with empathy, intention, and heart.
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At the end of one of my keynotes, a woman came up to me with tears in her eyes and she said, thank you so much for this. This came at the exact right moment in my life. Now a favorite quote of mine is, to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived is to have succeeded. So this quote is actually one I use in the eulogy for my mom. And she really is the inspiration behind much of my why. She instilled this passion for helping others, of really being of service in the world in me from such a young age. And it's that sense of purpose really from her that's been a huge driver for my entire career. Knowing that I can help people feel like the load of life is lighter and helping them feel more hopeful about the future, that's what this is all about for me. And also, it feels like a way of honoring my mom's legacy.
My Burnout Story
Burnout isn't just a professional interest for me—it's personal. My journey into understanding and supporting others through stress and burnout began with my own experience. This lived experience deeply impacts the work I do today. In this post, I’ll share how my story shapes the way I support others and why a mix of empathy, evidence-based tools, and realism makes all the difference in burnout recovery.
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One of the things that I think helps me in providing support to employees and organizations on stress management and burnout is my own burnout story. In 2019, after 42 weeks of pregnancy and 36 hours of labor, I became a mom. And only a few months after that, my own mom was given a terminal cancer diagnosis. She ended up living for two years, but we had a little pandemic sprinkled in there for good measure. And those few years of transitioning to becoming a new mom caregiving for my own mom, as well as my business really pushed me past that edge and led to my burnout in 2021. So while you don't need to have experienced burnout to support others, I do think it really helps me show up with more empathy. And not only do I bring in evidence-based strategies for stress management and burnout recovery, but I bring this realistic perspective about what's feasible because there's nothing worse than when you're burnt out,
being told, hey, here's the solution, and it's something that's completely untenable. So one of the things I hear in the feedback from my programs is that people appreciate that vulnerability in my share and that they also feel more inspired and hopeful that recovery is possible because of that story as well as the tools that I share.
Out-of-the-Box Wellness: The Session Companies Repeat
Sometimes, the most memorable well-being lessons come with a bit of shock value—in the best way. What started as a niche, unconventional topic has become a more mainstream conversation about holistic wellness. And the best part? Years later, participants still tell me how this session transformed how they shop, choose, and care for themselves. In this post, I’m sharing the story behind that program—and why lasting impact is the heart of everything I do.
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Let me tell you about a time that I scarred people for life, but in a good way. So one of the most enjoyable parts of the well-being programming that I do is that I get to be creative and really approach well-being from this holistic perspective. So one of the more atypical programs that I run is called You Are What Your Skin Eats. And it's all about the products that we use and the impact that they can have on our health. And this used to be a pretty out of the box topic, but now it's way more mainstream of a conversation. And one of the things that I find most rewarding is that I have people who attended that program seven years ago who say every single week it still guides their decision making. And that's really the whole goal behind why I do what I do is to really see that impact being lasting in people's lives.
Helping Teams Thrive: My Workplace Wellbeing Offerings
Effective workplace wellbeing programming isn't one-size-fits-all—it requires flexibility and a deep understanding of your organization's unique needs. What truly transforms this work is the opportunity for ongoing collaboration. When organizations and wellbeing professionals become thought partners, they create a dynamic relationship that evolves with employee needs. The result isn't just better programming—it's the continuity of care that builds trust, drives engagement, and creates lasting cultural change within your organization.
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Three of the main ways to work with me for well-being programming are employee off-sites, ERG-focused events, or conference keynotes. So pretty much you name it, I can support you. I do programming as short as, say, 30-minute stretching and yoga sessions as a certified yoga instructor to as long as half-day programming. One of my favorite things that's happened in my work as a speaker is having organizations that I've partnered with since 2018. These are some of the most rewarding because we become thought partners for one another. Each year I meet with these organizations and we say, okay, what are the newer challenges? What are the things that employees really want to have addressed? And then I can come up with new and innovative programming to really support those challenges and needs. Being able to see those familiar faces, build those ongoing relationships really helps me feel like I'm making that longer term impact and having that continuity of care that's so valuable in this space.
Bridging the Gap: Real Solutions for Employee Wellbeing
Career Coaches and Workplace Wellbeing Speakers offer unique value through our dual perspective on talent retention. Having witnessed thousands of career transitions firsthand, we understand exactly why employees leave—and what makes them stay. This allows us to address specific challenges that broader wellbeing programs often miss, effectively bridging the gap between organizational initiatives and individual employee needs. This targeted approach creates tailored solutions that complement existing HR efforts, ultimately strengthening retention and boosting workplace satisfaction where it matters most.
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Hi, my name is Aileen Axtmeyer, and I'm a Career Coach and Workplace Wellbeing Speaker. One-on-one, I help people land work they love, and then I work with organizations to help them retain that talent. I have the unique perspective of having almost two decades of coaching experience and seeing why people leave their jobs. And it's such a joy to get to be on the other side of the table and try and help organizations keep those people around. My background in psychology, counseling, and other stress management modalities gives me that kind of versatile, tool to add to organizations toolkits. A lot of organizations will have bigger programs or bigger solutions for well-being but sometimes more of those unique topics for employees at hand get lost in the shuffle. And that's where i really like to be of service to be kind of the bridge of any gaps in well-being programming to make sure all employee challenges are being addressed.
Embracing Eustress: When Stress Becomes Your Secret Advantage
In our pursuit of stress reduction, we've overlooked a powerful truth: not all stress harms us. The workplace wellness conversation often focuses exclusively on eliminating pressure, but what if some stress actually fuels our growth?
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Do you know what eustress is? About 90% of people say no when I ask them in my wellbeing workshops. And I think that's part of the problem. We talk about stress all the time, but this important part of the conversation is being left out. Eustress means good stress. It's when we're pushed just outside of our comfort zone and we're challenged and we have to rise to the occasion, but we're not quite overwhelmed. So think about when you're using a new skill at work, or maybe you have that big presentation And you feel confident about doing it, but you still have to really be on for it. Those are those times when we grow personally, we grow professionally, and we need those. It's part of the human experience. When we think about employee well-being, we think about stress management, we need to acknowledge this big piece of the puzzle. And for the other piece, we can talk about strategies and tools that help tell our brains and our bodies that they're safe when they might be telling us otherwise.
Burnout Recovery Starts with THIS Simple Strategy
Don't underestimate the power of a five-minute break. While wellness initiatives often focus on major interventions, these tiny pauses between meetings can significantly impact your workday.
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One of my favorite tools to give employees for stress management as well as burnout recovery is five minute breaks. Now, don't roll your eyes. This is a tiny thing, but I promise it makes a big difference. So there's actually a lot of science and research behind this that shows that when we have tiny, tiny breaks, even as short as those five minutes between meetings or even just throughout the day, our brains have that ability to recover. It can be really restorative. And in fact, participants in one study in 2021 from Microsoft saw that they had a 40% lower reduction in stress levels and they were 13% more engaged in their next meeting.
A lot of times when we think about well-being, we think of these huge interventions or these huge changes, but I think sometimes those aren't accessible and these little micro moments, those micro actions can be incredibly powerful as well. People need accessible, simple, practical and implementable strategies more than ever before.
From Stress to Support: Helping Employees Thrive
Every wellbeing initiative begins with understanding your unique needs. Whether you approach me with a specific program in mind or employee feedback highlighting concerns, my consultation process creates space to discuss challenges and define success. I love designing targeted programming that makes employees feel seen and valued—even when underlying circumstances can't be changed. This collaborative approach transforms workplace challenges into opportunities for meaningful support.
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When I work with organizations for wellbeing programming, I always start with a consultation. So sometimes people come to me really dialed in on exactly what they want to do, date, time, location. Other times they've maybe just gotten some employee survey results or have been hearing some pain points, and they're trying to brainstorm different ways to address those challenges. I want to be that place where you can talk about those challenges, think about what success really looks like for a program, and then help you get where you want to go. An example would be Leadership Development Day for a big organization I did this past summer. They had a return to office mandate for an extra week per month. And there was a lot of stress, anxiety, and they knew this was going to add some more challenges to those employees. So I couldn't fix that. I couldn't change that. But I knew that I could listen to some of the things that had been shared and address that specifically in my programming so that employees feel seen, heard, and valued, which is a key to burnout prevention.
How One Employee Transformed a Wellness Training into Everyday Kindness
I recently had the opportunity to support an HR team onsite and it was with an organization that I do company-wide well-being programming for. I had done a program called the Science of Kindness, only a couple months prior. While I was at the organization, I used the restroom. When I went to wash my hands, I saw this basket there, and it had all these different products, and it said: “Use what you want, take extra time to take good care of yourself, and leave things for other people.”
Next to the basket was a sign that said “Year of Kindness” and it had an employee's name. I ended up going and talking with that employee and she shared that she had attended that Science of Kindness training and that it really impacted her and inspired her to do more good for both herself as well as for those around her. She shared that it really made a difference in her life.
This is my dream in action. Whether speaking at a large conference or with a small team onsite, I never want people to simply think, ‘Oh, that’s interesting,’ and then go back to life as usual. I want them to feel inspired and empowered to incorporate these tools well beyond our time together.
In every session, I offer multiple tools with the hope that each person walks away with at least one that really resonates and feels applicable to their life beyond our time together. Each time I hear that someone has taken action, it’s a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to create positive change for both ourselves and for those around us.
Learn more about signature programs and speaking style: https://www.aspirewithaileen.com/corporate-wellness
If you're ready to book a consultation to discuss your speaker needs: https://aspirewithaileencalendar.as.me/corporatewellness
Tech Boundaries
Ever find yourself doing the "just one more scroll" dance at midnight? Or perhaps you've mastered the art of the "five-minute email check" that mysteriously transforms into an hour-long digital rabbit hole? Don't worry—you're in good company!
Most of us have experienced that moment of shock wondering "Where did the time go?" as we emerge from a tech trance.
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If you feel like there's not enough time in the day, here are some strategies to create different relationships with technology to improve that feeling. So the first step is we have to be self-aware. Get a sense of your screen time statistics, but not just for your phone. Check out your relationship with your laptop as well.
Now I know for different people, there's different realities of how possible it is or doable it is to close the laptop, give it a bedtime. But for some of us, we can explore hmm, is there room to create a little bit more of a boundary and say, this is the bedtime for the laptop, this is the bedtime for my phone, and create some space for yourself in those ways. The second thing is when we integrate any tool to elicit behavior change when it comes to our devices, know that these things are addictive. Habit change is also very hard. So understand that willpower will wane at a certain point. When it happens and that tool or strategy loses its impact, the key is to recognize, hey, you're human, and then try something new.
Salary No No
In today's job market, there's a persistent question that haunts many job seekers: When is the right time to discuss salary during the interview process? While pay transparency laws are gradually reshaping the landscape, many job seekers still find themselves navigating murky waters when it comes to compensation discussions. The conventional wisdom of "never bring up salary first" might seem outdated in today’s world, but there's more nuance to this advice than meets the eye. Let's dive into why timing and leverage matter when discussing your worth with potential employers, and how to strategically approach this delicate conversation in a way that maximizes your negotiating power.
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This might be controversial, but no, do not bring up salary in a job interview. So the good news is hopefully this video will be outdated sooner than later with new pay transparency laws coming into effect in different states. And, hopefully the way of the future is that everyone always just shares the salary range in a job description. But for the world we're living in now, sometimes we have no idea what the salary will be. And I completely understand that you want to be intentional about your time and energy, but you don't want to bring up the number first because you don't have leverage in that instance. A lot of times organizations are now asking you your salary requirements in earlier stages of interviewing. So you definitely want to be prepared with doing your research and having that band or that range, but you never want to bring it up first. You want them to want you and see you as the best candidate first, and then get that leverage before bringing up salary.
Translating Experience to Resume
Crafting a resume that truly reflects your skills and achievements can feel daunting, especially when writer’s block strikes.
But don’t worry! In this post, we’ll explore two simple yet powerful strategies to help you break through the mental roadblocks and turn your day-to-day tasks and accomplishments into polished, professional resume language.
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Maybe the most common question I've received over the last 15 years of career coaching is, how do I translate my experience onto my resume? Two strategies for you. One, a lot of times we get in our own heads and we get writer's block when going to write a resume. So get out of the computer screen, close the apps, and instead imagine that you're speaking with a friend or a career coach, and they're just asking you, hey, talk about your day to day. What do you really do? What are some things you accomplished? Or you can even look at your calendar for the last couple of months and let those events, those deadlines that you've put on there remind you of what you've done. You can use a voice memo recorder or dictate and then from there we can polish that up into resume language and jargon. Second strategy, just look at the job descriptions for the roles that you're targeting. Let their language remind you of what you've done and then align your language to match that.
Hope that these strategies help you get your writer's block away.
Adding an Answer After an Interview
It’s happened to the best of us: You’re walking out of an interview or reflecting on it hours later when suddenly, a better answer or example comes to mind—one that could have showcased your skills and qualifications even more effectively. While this can be frustrating, there’s a professional and strategic way to handle it.
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What do you do if you're interviewing for a job and you think of an answer or an experience of yours after the interview that could actually better showcase your skills and qualifications for that role? So of course you don't want to do this after every round of an interview, but sometimes this does happen because our brains are much more capable of having that creative problem solving and thinking when they're not under stress. So if it happens to you a few minutes or hours after an interview where you think of a better example, and especially if it's not reflected in your resume or application materials, here's what you do:
When you send your thank you email, start by thanking them for their time and for sharing more about the role. Then say, as I reflected further on, your question regarding ABC, it reminded me of an example I failed to share with you. You give one to two sentences about that that demonstrates your fit for the role or your school skills or qualifications and that's it. Then you wrap up with your enthusiasm and looking forward to next steps. Hope this helps you!