ABOUT WORKINGTHISLIFE
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My name is Marianne Haal and I work as an employment law attorney.
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The idea for Workingthislife came after a period when I was ill.
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I’m healthy today, but the experience changed how I see both life and work. It reminded me that time isn’t unlimited, and that holding back—especially in your own life—often doesn’t make sense.
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I became more aware of how important it is to use what you have, take the space that feels right for you, and live while you actually have the chance.
Not by pushing harder, but by being more honest about what you want and what matters to you.
At the same time, I saw more clearly that many people don’t do more of what they want to do—not because they lack ability or intention, but because they lack knowledge, support, or a sense of safety in their choices.
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Living more in line with what you want in your working life isn’t just about professional skills. It’s also about understanding communication, how the body and mind influence each other, and how to set boundaries and make choices that feel right. It helps to have practical guidance when it comes to direction, priorities, and next steps—whether that means learning something new, changing course, or simply making everyday work life feel more manageable and meaningful.
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Workingthislife was created to bring all of this together in one place. It’s closely connected to my professional background, but it’s really about something broader: supporting people who want to make more conscious choices, trust what they are capable of, and move closer to the life they want to live.
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Today, I give talks and offer online coaching on these topics, alongside my work as an employment law attorney.
Workingthislife is the result of experience, knowledge, and a wish to use time well—by doing more of what feels right, while we have the opportunity.
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Marianne
ABOUT ME
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My name is Marianne Haal. I’m an employment law attorney, a university lecturer, a mentor, and a mindfulness instructor. Like all of us, I’m many other things.
I’m a mother, a partner, and a friend. I share my life with a dog and a cat. I’ve survived cancer. I like to laugh, and I love movies, books, quotes, and music. One of my best friends says I remind him of Elaine from Seinfeld. I’m not sure that’s entirely a compliment—but I do know I enjoy laughing and try not to take myself too seriously.
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I discovered new sides of myself after being seriously ill while my children were still young. I had to find a way back—not only to work, but to life itself. It wasn’t just about returning to a job; it was about finding a way of working on life that I could actually sustain over time.
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One of the most important things I learned was that you can’t hold on to everything at once. You can’t stay exactly where you are and move forward at the same time. At some point, you have to choose what you make room for, and what you let go of.
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These experiences made me deeply interested in how we live, not just in work, but in life as a whole. I believe life should feel spacious, safe, kind—and, when possible, a little funny. We need to create that same sense of space in ourselves, so there’s room to live fully, explore what matters, and do more of what we care about.
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Work is part of life, but it’s only one part. How we use our energy, attention, and time matters across all parts of life.
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What matters to me is how we can use what we have, in the season we’re in—whether that’s at work, outside of work, or somewhere in between. So that we give ourselves the chance to do more of what we care about, and don’t end up looking back wishing we had trusted ourselves a little more