The Midlife Trenches

If you're a midlife woman leading in the public sector, this book is your permission slip.

Inside Midlife Trenches, you'll discover:

• How to recognise burnout before it takes you down—and what to do about it.
• Why "just cracking on" with more lippy and higher heels isn't resilience (it's denial)
• How to navigate toxic workplaces without losing your integrity or your health.
• The truth about leaving well, even when they don't deserve your dignity and grace.
• How to reclaim your boundaries when they've slowly disappeared.
• What success actually means in midlife (hint: it's not what they told you).
• How to stop over-functioning and start showing up for yourself.
• Why you're not broken, you're evolving.
• Practical reflection questions and mantras for each chapter.

This book is for you if:

• You're counting down to retirement, but know you've got 10-15 years left and can't keep running on empty.
• You've survived endless restructures and wonder if your organisation even remembers your contributions.
• You're navigating menopause, ageing parents, and teenagers while trying to lead through crisis.
• You once loved your job, but now you're just exhausted.
• You're the main breadwinner with zero job security.
• You're ready to stop performing "fine" and start living authentically.

Written by Sarah Clein, a professional certified coach, accredited burnout coach, coach supervisor, former counsellor, and someone who spent 30 years in and around the NHS, local government, and national policy roles. Sarah knows what it's like to work in toxic organisations, to be the main breadwinner during restructures, to cry on the stairs, and to wonder, "Is this it?"

She also knows what it takes to rebuild, recalibrate, and create a life that actually feels like yours.