‘Happiest Woman’ Succeeds in Finding Work-Life Balance
Email
Image credit: Mary Claire Orenic
Mary Claire Orenic of California may just be “the happiest woman in America,” according to USA Today.
At 50 years old, Orenic is a senior manager at a global company. She has a husband she adores and a son on his way to college. She might put in 45 to 60 hours at her job during the week but unwinds on the beach on the weekend.
According to experts, Orenic exemplifies a high level of well-being for women in the 45- to 55-year old age group — the largest demographic in the U.S. today.
Gail Sheehy, a journalist and the author of the ’70s best-seller “Passages,” told ABC News that this group was in particular crisis.
“This generation of women at midlife has a lower level of well-being than any other generation,” Sheehy told ABC News. “It’s always been that [when] women got to their 40s and 50s, they were happier than at any other time in their lives. This generation is the most stressed and distressed.”
USA Today asked Gallup-Healthways to identify what contributed to well-being in the midlife age group.
In addition to a good marriage, a strong support network of friends and a positive attitude is important. Gallup-Healthways found that having a career and finding a good work-life balance also helped. For the most part, Orenic has all of this.
Pollsters said that many women at this midlife stage still worked full-time. Orenic said she had no plans to slow down.
“I need that fulfillment,” she said. “I’ve always worked. I’ve usually worked 40 hours. I think I’ll do that when I retire.”
Gallup-Healthways’ data also found that having a flexible work schedule and a short commute was also important for happiness in the 45-55 age group.
Orenic said that she worked from home, just steps from her kitchen, at least twice a week, and when she did go to the office, she drove against traffic.
“To drive an hour, sit in an office and do conference calls and email and drive home for another hour, I’ve lost two hours of productivity,” she said. Orenic said the flexible schedule also allowed her to devote more time to her family.
When she needed to miss a budget presentation to attend her son’s tournament, for example, her CEO allowed it. She can also enjoy a game of basketball with her son, dinner with her husband and children, and walks on the beach.
Healthways shared these three general tips to improve your well-being:
- Take 3 deep breaths: Doing abdominal breathing exercises in stressful situations — or twice a day — can help relieve your tension and make you feel more calm.
- Picture yourself in 6 months: Big resolutions can fail because they’re too unrealistic or vague. Small actions can make an impact if they’re a priority and you take daily steps to reach them.
- Create a gratitude list: Taking the time to regularly count your blessings by writing them down is a happiness booster and can improve physical health and raise energy levels.
Man Discovers He's a Woman at the Hospital 
Head Trauma, Behavior Problems Linked
This has to be the dumbest news story I have ever witnessed!
She is obviously happy because she is head of her company! Her company is also flexible about her hours. Coming and going- and she says she puts in more hours than 40 a week? I have a hard time believing that after seeing her poor milk for her 20 something son.
She says the 2 hours she spends driving is lost productivity. What? Then buy a house closer to work!
Guess I just don’t get this story! What makes her the happiest person in the USA? REALLY???
Just a dumb story!
Posted by: Richard Knapp | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 7:09 pm
She has all of one kid. No wonder she can work those hours and be head of this company. Most new moms nowdays aren’t into this “career thing”. They learned from the last generation. They have more children and a happier home life..I, alone know offhand of four college educated moms in their late 20′s and early 30′s who have NOT gone the career route and are much happier staying home raising their children.
Posted by: Ann | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 7:18 pm
I don’t get her happiness either. I would be happy if my job would just hire me to work 40 hours a week since I have been with them almost 6 years this coming Feb.2012. I feel it is my chance to get full time,40 hours, M-F. after working over 5 years only the weekends that would make me happy at work.
Holly:/
Posted by: Holly | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 7:22 pm
I’m really happy because I chose to stay home with my 3 children and homeschool them. As they’ve grown, I’ve taken on more varied kinds of work that still allow me to be as available to my family as necessary. I love having the flexibility I need to care for my family, including my ailing mother. There are many different kinds of happy.
Posted by: JA Lodin | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 7:52 pm
Her life is no example to be using for a “national publication” to describe the “Happiest Woman”. Give me someone who has three kids (all in different schools and sports), a husband who works over 60 hours a week (because his boss isn’t as flexible) and she is working as an Accountant for $55k a year who has to commute an hour each way to work because the only job she was able to find after beiing laid off and jobless for 1.5 years was that far from home. Now of course both parents have to work to be able to put their kids in private school because the School District they live in is awful and shutting schools down left and right. And they can’t afford to buy a new home in a better District because of their credit and lack of down payment. Then, just then, if they find that woman and she is happy it would justify this title. I swear the media and the government are clueless to the real situation of the Middle-Class family.
Posted by: CelineJ | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 8:15 pm
That woman is only one third as happy as I am…I am 54, married for 32 years to the same man, raised three children, put all three through college with no debt, all three are employed and I ride a harley davidson motorcycle. I have my own bookkeeping business. I ahve a large extended family and lots of friends.
Posted by: Susan Broderick | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 8:25 pm
This woman is the head of a company – she’s the boss – and she only has one child … no wonder she’s a happy camper! Show me a working mother – a bank teller or school teacher – with three or four kids of her own who gets up at 5:00 AM to do laundry before she gets her kids up and running and off the school. Those women can’t call the shots at work, someone else is scheduling them and telling them when they can have “permission” to take time off to go to a doctor appointment or her child’s school function … those are the moms we should celebrate.
Posted by: Judy | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 8:37 pm
I am so glad I’m not the only one who hated this story. She has one grown kid wooptie – do. She is also a manager with flexible hours and works from home. Can we try this same story on a mother of two small children (under four) working and maintaining a home, you know, the average American?!
Posted by: Nurse Bailey | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 8:50 pm
I, too, would be the happiest woman in America if I :
a. had a managerial position that I loved that paid big bucks;
b. my work hours were flexible;
c. had a husband who loved me;
d. lived in a beautiful house;
e. could stroll hand in hand with my husband on a beautiful street in a lovely town;
f. didn’t have to worry about a house payment or bills.
This story is ridiculous. Typical of “World News” with Diane Sawyer or that IDIOT George Stephanopolous.
Posted by: Liz Lemon | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 9:10 pm
yeah, the avg woman doesn’t have what she has… i work part time have a masters/ bachleors but am changing my career to aa degree and make 9 dollars and hour and still don’t have my own place. but i try to be content w/ what i have….
Posted by: susan | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 10:06 pm
How dare you? I have up until now kind of respected the smooth delivery ot Sawyer…But this story insulted the 99% of working mothers who make daily sacrifices for happiest to care for mates, off springs, parents, friends and others…The story showed how shallow your broadcasting really is. So if you are white, making good money, and can live where you can walk on the beach instead of home to care for are parent with Alzheimer, then you have right to be happy? How ignorant you people are , how insensitive? You should be ashamed, but of course you can’;t .you are ignorant and insensitive,,,,,,,,,, You have made and impressive on millions of viewers….you will see the consequences in ratings and email..Dianne, you should have known better, unless this story shows your true colors also.
Posted by: john | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 10:13 pm
Most RIDICULOUS reportage I have EVER seen!!!
Posted by: Julie | November 1, 2011 November 1, 2011, 11:13 pm
Happiest woman in America?? Well of course! This was such a stupid, stupid story. I watched this from my recorded version because I didn’t arrive home from work till late. Who the heck thought of this?? I wondered where the nanny was for her son on the THREE days she has to go to work. Afterall, who is going to pour his milk for him?!?! I’m a mother and I KNOW real, heroic moms AND dads who make huge sacrifices for their kids. Oh yeah….and because of the economy, they’re not “visiting colleges” to send them to right now. This story rubbed salt in a lot of people’s wounds. A responsible journalist would look at the “other side of the story” out there in America.
Posted by: Lynn | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 7:49 am
I agree with quite a few of the posts here. This was a really stupid report. Let see she is happy because she is in upper management at a global company (Seimens), has only one child, evidently does not have to worry about money, can work at home when she wants and lives in beautiful California. Is she part of the 1%? If not she is probably in the top 10%. How does this relate to the rest of us? Get real and tell us how a median or lower middleclass woman is the happiest woman. She probably doesn’t exsist.
Posted by: Edward Cummings | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 10:01 am
I think you all are reading this too literally. I for one, LOVED this story. Its just giving an example of how employers need to be more flexible in allowing telecommuting and flexible hours to allow women to be with their family. Many times, as women, we are told we cant have it all, or that one area has to be sacrificed. This woman in the story is an example of the opposite.
Posted by: JN | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 10:28 am
happy is as happy does ~ she has a lot to be grateful for in life and i think that contributes to much of her happiness, and she realizes this. she takes action to contribute to her well-being!
as abraham lincoln said, ‘most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be’. work with the cards you are dealt with in life and make the most of out living one day at a time. gratitude, compassion and helping others works!! nice story!
Posted by: ruhappy | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 10:40 am
take charge of your destiny. make changes to improve your quality of life ~ i.e., quit smoking, overeating, over drinking, etc. empower yourself!
don’t make hasty decisions you will regret later.
spend less, love more. surround yourself with positive people.
smile and laugh.
drink more water.
remember, most of the world’s population are far less fortunate than you.
Posted by: trustme | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 10:48 am
I don’t know about anyone else, but this story made me feel bad about myself. I am sure that she is very nice and very happy, but it was pretty unreal. I don’t think this was up to par with the type of report ABC usually does. Recommending ways to be happy are one thing, but crowning someone the happiest woman in America is really, really silly. No offense to the subject of the story.
Posted by: Susan | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 7:07 pm
And this makes world news tonight? Give me a break. I also feel like the happiest woman in America with healthy happy children and a beautiful grandchild. My husband also help tremendously around the home., I am a professional and love my job., I also am the thinnest I’ve been in years and exercise regularly. So What? This makes me worthy of the nightly news and maybe USA Today will show up at my door. Unbelievable.
Posted by: Patti | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 7:12 pm
I am very disappointed in the reporting of this story. ABC couldn’t find an average working class women to do a happiness story on? And if they couldn’t, what does this say about the state of our nation?
Posted by: Kelli | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 7:27 pm
”Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” – Matthew 19:21 NKJV NOW THAT’S HAPPINESS. My prayers go to the “happiest woman” & her family, ABC & its news team.
Posted by: Garfield | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 9:14 pm
Are you serious? Who is this piece playing to? I would be ecstatic to have her life, I cannot even fathom what kind of self indulgent selfish princess would not!!
Posted by: Nadine | November 2, 2011 November 2, 2011, 10:29 pm
Who wouldn’t be happy with a doctor husband who makes a healthy dinner every night? And living on the beach?!? And working from home two days a week from her manager office job? You have got to be kidding. This report certainly does not help anyone be happier. Maybe you could report on Kate Middleton next as the happiest newlywed in the world.
Posted by: Susan B | November 3, 2011 November 3, 2011, 10:16 am
This is not an average person! Her husband is a doctor! What money problems do they have!!
How insulting of a story is this and they should be ashamed of them selves for saying that other women do not meet up!
Try losing your job, at 50, to a 26 year old!! Try your husband’s company going out of business after 26 years, and losing your pension!
I eat healthy, I exercise, I do all she does!
But reality hits home when it hits the pocketbook!
SHAME SHAME SHAME on having this story in the news!
Posted by: Carol | November 3, 2011 November 3, 2011, 10:19 am