Sandra Fehsenfeld, PhD

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞’𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬

No, you don’t have to be a physicist to see this video!! Today I will share a few insights from quantum physics about energy, and how we can transfer that knowledge to increase our own resilience when we experience challenging situations in our life and strengthen our resilience. Bear with me when I take these complex ideas and break them down for you into easy concepts to apply to your every day life!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17ThmDjUoP/

What cycles do you need to “make or break” to be successful as a career-driven mom?

Here's the thing: we've been conditioned to believe success means optimizing productivity, perfecting time management, and doing MORE. But… spoiler alert… what if the real game-changer isn't about doing more or being more productive at all?

As career-driven moms, especially if you’re in STEM /or academia, we're constantly measuring ourselves against deliverables, tangible outcomes and staying competitive compared to others. But we're missing something crucial: honouring us as naturally cyclical beings.

There are four key cycles most of us are working against instead of with:

🔄 Your menstrual cycle. Well, I probably won’t have to explain that one to you. All those hormone fluctuations can be challenging by themselves – but we don’t have to see them solely as obstacles; they're your body's natural rhythm for when to push hard and when to pull back.

🔄 Your physiological cycles. Guess what… you are more than just your estrogen levels. Naturally, other hormonal fluctuations occur on a daily basis, for example determining your wake and sleep cycle. It’s when we override these natural physiological signals what keeps our nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode 24/7 so you feel constantly exhausted and brain-fogged.

🔄 Your attention cycles – I hate to break it… but multitasking is a myth – even in us career-driven moms as highly efficient time managers. We are just better and faster in task SWITCHING. Our brain can only focus for 30-90 minutes max before needing a reset. Determining when we can best do our focus work vs. creative work or simple “housekeeping” tasks is key to doing more in less time AND be able to rest in between.

🔄 Your energy seasons – Just like nature, you have times for growth and times for rest. Fighting this only burns you out faster.
All the exhaustion you feel… that sense that you're not productive – or capable - enough… is not a sign that you're not working hard or efficiently enough. It's because you're working AGAINST your natural design.

When I learned to work WITH these cycles instead of overriding them, something shifted. I became more effective during my high-energy phases and guilt-free during my slower ones. It wasn't about doing less, it was about doing things at the right time in full alignment with who I truly am.

Your brain, but also especially your body are giving you signals. The question is: are you listening?

P.s.: If you are not getting my newsletter (yet 😉), this is what I talk much more about in there. I’ll drop the link to it in the comments!

💡 A revelation about my mission to retain moms in STEM(M)💡

I just had the privilege of being invited as a test-reader for an incredible upcoming book: "Beyond the Pipeline – Redefining Value, Success, and the Future of Women in STEMM* - Together" by Cassie Leonard (out in August!).

It sparked some insights I want to share...

When I started my business, my mission was clear: flip (or rather balance) the stats. I wanted to help empower STEM moms so they'd stay in the field and go all the way up into leadership (and I still do!).

The numbers are mind-boggling: While 70% of STEM students are female, only 30% reach leadership positions. We're "losing" brilliant women along the way, right at a point where they become moms.

And I want to make one thing crystal clear: This isn't because us career-driven moms not being capable or good enough, or “broken” in any way.
IT'S THE SYSTEM, this rigid, male-dominated, hustle-driven work environment that doesn’t AllOW any space for our needs to be met.

I believed (and still do!) that empowering individuals creates momentum for systemic change. But I've also realized something profound:

Sometimes, standing in your power means LEAVING the toxic system.

This is not about failure – quite in the contrary. It’s standing in or taking back your power, by knowing who you are and refusing to twist yourself beyond recognition to fit a rigid, male-dominated environment.

Pivoting away from STEM might be the best solution for some moms, as long as you're going somewhere you can SHINE. The world still needs our talents and feminine energy!... as it has been clearly shown in multiple studies that workplaces empowering women have higher productivity, happiness, and create something truly special. ✨

So ultimately, my mission remains: Change the system so we can do it all without burning out, without putting ourselves last, without enduring bias and prejudice.

But whether that means staying in STEM and making it work, or pivoting to where you can thrive – BOTH are powerful choices if they are aligned with who you are. You can find out by shifting your focus from the external environment to your own core and create change from the inside out.

Which leaves the real question here: How are YOU going to show up for yourself?

And always remember: You're doing an amazing job. You're capable, powerful, and needed – right where you are at this moment in time 💪

What do YOU need to thrive? Drop a comment below or DM me – I'd love to get this conversation going! 👇