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By Donna Burfield – Joy & Purpose Coaching Far too often, obsessive compulsive disorder is minimised with throwaway phrases like “I’m a bit OCD about cleaning,” but real OCD is nothing like this.   OCD can be distressing, intrusive, exhausting, and incredibly isolating. It affects the mind, body, relationships, and day-to-day life. OCD is also treatable, and with the right understanding and support, anyone living with OCD can reclaim their confidence, peace, and sense of safe

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Some people move through the world effortlessly, filtering sounds, lights, textures, smells, and movement without a second thought. For others, everyday environments can feel overwhelming, too loud, too bright, too chaotic, too fast, or, in some cases, not stimulating enough.   This is the lived experience of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).   SPD isn’t a behavioural issue, attention problem, or a lack of resilience. It’s a neuro

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Tourette’s Syndrome is one of the most misunderstood neurodevelopmental conditions. People often picture dramatic vocal outbursts or media stereotypes, but the reality is far broader, far more nuanced, and far more human than most people realise.   Tourette’s is not a behavioural problem. It’s not attention-seeking, and it has nothing to do with intelligence or capability.   Tourette’s is a neurological difference that causes invol

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), is far more common than many people realise, yet still widely misunderstood. For children, teenagers, and adults living with dyspraxia, everyday tasks that others take for granted can feel physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting.   This isn’t about clumsiness. It’s not laziness, and it definitely isn’t a lack of effort.   Dyspraxia is a neurological differ

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Leadership in midlife is not a consolation prize, a “last chapter,” or something to quietly step back from. It is, in many ways, the point at which your value, capability, and contribution are at their peak. Far from being “past it,” individuals in their 50s, 60s and beyond bring an essential combination of wisdom, stability, strategic thinking and emotional intelligence that organisations and communities need now more than ever.  

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Writing is something many people take for granted, jotting down a note, filling out a form, writing an email, or taking minutes in a meeting. But for those with dysgraphia, writing isn’t simple. It’s a physical, cognitive, emotional, and often overwhelming challenge that can affect confidence, academic performance, work, and daily life.   Dysgraphia is one of the most misunderstood neurodiverse learning differences. It isn’t about

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching Pivoting your career isn’t a midlife crisis; it’s a midlife power move. You’re not stepping backwards; you’re flipping the script and choosing a path that finally matches your experience, energy and ambition.  Here are 6 clear, practical steps tailored specifically for midlife professionals.   Start with Your Transferable Skills   List everything you’ve done, not just tasks, but outcomes .   Ask yourself: What problems do I solve nat

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Advocating for yourself at work can feel uncomfortable at any age, but many people in their 50s and beyond face a unique challenge: the fear of being perceived as “difficult,” “demanding,” or “past it.”   Speaking up for your needs, strengths, contributions and development is not only appropriate, but essential. Most importantly, it is a skill, not a personality trait. And it is a skill you can develop at any stage of life.   This

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Leadership today looks very different from leadership 20 or even 10 years ago.   Organisations are shifting away from rigid hierarchy, command-and-control mindsets, and “power over” structures. Instead, modern leaders are expected to communicate clearly, build trust, lead ethically, and create psychologically safe environments where people feel valued and supported.   For men and women over 50, this shift is an opportunity, not a t

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching Not everyone thinks in words, and not everyone thinks in numbers, and that’s okay.   Dyscalculia is a learning difference that affects how people understand numbers, calculations, and mathematical concepts. For many adults and children, it’s a silent struggle that can follow them through school, work, finances, and daily life. And because it’s less widely understood than dyslexia, people with dyscalculia are often overlooked, mislabe

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Dyslexia is often spoken about as a problem to fix or an obstacle to work around, but the truth is far more empowering. Dyslexia is a different way of processing information. A different way of thinking, learning, understanding, and expressing ideas. It brings challenges, yes, but it also comes with creativity, innovation, and perspective that the world deeply needs.   Whether you are dyslexic yourself, raising a child with dyslexi

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Food is supposed to nourish us, bring comfort, and create connection. But for many people, food can also be a source of anxiety, discomfort, and fear.   What looks like a “simple stomach issue” from the outside can feel like a daily balancing act, scanning labels, monitoring symptoms, avoiding triggers, and trying to work out what your body is reacting to and why.   Living with food allergies or intolerances isn’t dramatic or fussy

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching A career change later on in life doesn’t require starting again; it requires choosing qualifications that recognise and build on the experience you already have. This article highlights practical, credible options to support a confident and purposeful transition into your next career. 1. Coaching & Mentoring Qualifications (Accredited) For those seeking meaningful, people-focused work that uses empathy, communication skills and life

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   For many women and men, this transformation arrives with a confusing mix of emotional, physical, and psychological changes that can leave you wondering:   “Why do I feel so unlike myself?” “Is this normal?” “Why didn’t anyone tell me it would feel like this?”   Menopause and andropause are two of the most overlooked and misunderstood stages of adult life. And the truth is: they don’t just affect hormones, they affect identity, rela

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Living with cancer is not a single moment. It’s a journey, unpredictable, terrifying, exhausting, clarifying, and strangely grounding all at once.   It’s the appointments, the waiting rooms, the fear you don’t say out loud, the grief for your “before” self, and the fierce hope that keeps you going.   As someone who has walked this path, through the long nights and the rebuilding, I know that cancer can change everything. Your body,

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Your thyroid may be small, but it has a big job. This tiny butterfly-shaped gland in your neck controls your body’s metabolism, your internal engine. When it’s working well, you might never think about it. But when it speeds up or slows down, everything from your mood to your weight to your energy levels can feel completely out of sync.   Thyroid conditions are common, often misunderstood, and frequently dismissed as “stress” or “b

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Diabetes isn’t just a condition you “manage,” it’s something that weaves itself into your routines, energy, eating patterns, emotional well-being, and your sense of stability. Whether you live with it yourself or support someone who does, diabetes can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and sometimes frightening.   Understanding the condition, how it works, what symptoms to look for, and where to get help is the first step toward feeli

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Ageing gets such a bad reputation. We’re bombarded with messages telling us to fight it, hide it, slow it, or fix it, as if growing older is something we should apologise for.   But here’s the truth: ageing is a privilege, and somewhere between the grey hairs, the deeper compassion, and the occasional “Why did I walk into this room?” moment, something shifts:   We begin to care less about pleasing everyone else and more about livin

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Dating again, whether after divorce, bereavement, a long relationship, or simply a long season of being happily single, can feel like stepping into a world that has completely reinvented itself while you were busy living real life.   Suddenly, there are apps, acronyms, voice notes, “soft launches,” and people who think holding a fish in a profile photo is somehow attractive. It’s a lot.   Dating later in life also has a beautiful,

By Donna Burfield - Joy & Purpose Coaching   Autoimmune diseases are often invisible, misunderstood, and minimised, even by the people living with them. Many individuals spend years thinking their symptoms are “all in their head,” “just stress,” or “normal tiredness,” when in reality their immune system is working overtime.   Autoimmune conditions aren’t caused by weakness, poor lifestyle choices, or lack of resilience; they’re biological, unpredictable, and deeply exhausting