Whether you’re gearing up for a new position, jumping ship into a new career entirely, or preparing for an upcoming interview, half of the battle is showing up, and showing up well. Which brings about how you dress and your professional wardrobe. You’ve heard the saying before: “Dress for the job you want”. Yet, in the midst of work obligations, business calls, and family to-do’s, focusing on your wardrobe can be a stretch.
I used to consider investing in my professional wardrobe as a non-priority item on my to-do list. Shopping for conservative suits and elegant blouses was not quite as fun as foraying into the latest fashion trends around. It also explains why revamping my professional wardrobe was always put on the back burner. Yet, as I switched careers, and also became an entrepreneur, I found myself in front of audiences as a speaker, which forced me to re-consider how I dressed, and what dressing for the job I want really means for me. With two kids in tow, a household to manage, and not enough time to get everything done, I was left with solving the dilemma of dressing for the jobs I wanted, on a budget and without too much unnecessary headache.
Considering my shopping trips are now limited for fear of having the whole department store on lockdown because my son wants to play hide and seek, and the significant decrease in my patience genes post-babies, I’ve had to find a system. I no longer wanted to hide from my kids and spend hours at the mall fishing for something professional yet fun. Neither was I attracted by the prospect of
Here are some tips for any busy, time-starved, on a budget working woman and mom to put a fresh spin into your professional wardrobe:
Rent!
Got a special work event and nothing to wear? Or maybe you’re just tired of your same old work outfits, and want a change without the commitment of buying? You can rent work styles at Rent-the-Runway, ranging from distinctive knit dresses to polished tops.
Get it personalized!
Did you know that you can get your professional wardrobe personalized to your taste and office dress code? Companies like MM.LaFleurhelp you do just that! After you answer a few questions aroud your style and office dress code, MM.LaFleurbuilds your personalized Bento box, which consists in an assortment of work clothing put together for you. Once you receive your Bento box, you can decide what to keep and what to return.
Clean up your current wardrobe
First things first, take a look at your current work wardrobe. Is it packed with clothing you haven’t worn in the past six months? One of my cardinal fashion rules nowadays is: “If I haven’t worn it in the past six months, it’s got to go.” It’s helped me clear out the clutter (hello Marie Kondo), while being able to have a clearer picture of what I actually own. I was surprised to find out that in the middle of my wardrobe mess, there actually were some beautiful pieces I couldn’t even see before.
Invest in basics
You cannot underestimate the positive effect of quality undergarments such as Spanxshapewear on anything you wear, especially at work. My go-to’s, like this Spanx higher power shaping brief, are among my favorites.
You’re in charge of your career. Let me say this again: You’re in charge of your career. Which also means that you can make the decisions and take the steps needed to craft the type of work in which you flourish and fulfill your purpose. This also means that contrary to public opinion, your career success doesn’t depend on your boss, your company, or even the state of the economy.
I used to believe you needed a perfect alignment of all the right planets and chakras to create a successful career. That you need a supportive boss, the right opportunities, strong mentors, and a company that believes in your talents. Don’t get me wrong, all these are certainly needed in anyone’s work evolution and growth. Yet, what I found out, is that they’re not necessarily make-or-break deals. You are the only make-or-break deal in your career. That is, if you take full and complete responsibility for your work.
Here are a few ways you can keep taking charge of your career, or regain control over the work you do:
Change the story you tell yourself about work
Much of our lack of success at work is linked to negative mindsets. If you’re telling yourself you will never succeed, or that your boss’ lack of support will end your career, chances are, that’s exactly what will happen. Instead, change the story you tell yourself about your career.
Re-frame obstacles and failures into learning opportunities. Learn to see stumbling blocks into stepping stones, and focus on the fact that nothing can prevent you from succeeding.
Show excellence
One way we lose control over our careers is by giving up on the quality of our work. It can be tempting to do just the bare minimum in a toxic work environment. We may make more mistakes when we’re unmotivated and don’t see a path to success.
Instead, decide to show excellence in everything you do. If you’re sweeping the floor, do it with excellence. If you’re writing a mundane email, do it as well as you can. Someone is always watching who has the power to bless your career. Besides, you’re not working for your boss, you’re working to learn and build a solid professional reputation. So show up with excellence.
Get committed to constant learning
Learning is one of the strongest competitive advantages you can garner in and outside of work. The more you learn, the more you have to offer, and the more indispensable you become.
Don’t settle for the degree or certification you already have. Instead, strive to keep up with your industry trends by going back to school with tools such as the Princeton Review.Take online classes with sites like Udemy or Thinkific. Learn a new IT system. Read books, even if you have to do so on the go with softwares like Audiobooks. Talk to experts in your field. The more you learn, the more you know. The more you know, the more marketable you are.
Opportunity is everywhere: Use it!
Contrary to public opinion, your manager does not hold all the opportunities available to you. He or she may be able to block some opportunities coming your way; but they cannot limit all all of them. You must learn to see opportunity all around you, instead of waiting to be offered a chance to show your skills and talents.
Where is there a need in your team, department, or business? What can you help improve or bring to the next level? How can you volunteer to use your abilities? Identify and take opportunities around you. It may be helping out in a different team, volunteering for a good cause or a different company, or simply speaking up in a large meeting. Take the opportunity where you find it, and run with it!
Build financial stability
What does financial stability have to do with taking charge of your career? Here’s the thing: the less financially stable you are, the more dependent upon your job you are. Which means you may feel trapped at a company or position that is not the right fit for you for the money!
Not having financial stability can lead you to believe that you have limited career options. When you have money in the bank, some savings and financial resources to tap into, you’re freer to make the right career decisions for you. You can decide to leave the job, take an unpaid but favorable internship, or jump ship and start your own business.
Take risks
You learn the most when you step out of your comfort zone, which can mean taking risks in your career. Maybe the next level in your work means leaving your current company and starting your business. Or you may have to make a lateral move into a different department to use your skills and talents to the maximum of your potential. Or you may have to leave your current mega-company for a smaller start-up to follow your passion.
Whatever the case may be, you’ll never fully feel in control of your career until your get comfortable risking your work outcomes.
Build a network
Your network is truly your net worth. There’s a wealth of information and opportunities in the people around you. This is why it’s crucial to build and nurture the right network for you. With the right people around you, you can get the connections and information to build the career of your dreams.
Make a point to attend at least one networking event every month. Keep in touch with your current network, including your mentors. Build a give-and-take relationship with your connections, and ask for what you need.
Start your side hustle
Side hustles are the new job security. By starting your own business on the side, you’re giving yourself a chance to pursue your passions, while freeing up extra cash. This can make you happier, while lessening the pressure to stay at a job that may not be for you.
Besides, the skills you’ll acquire starting and running a side hustle can help you in your day job as well. All around a win-win.
Commit to your personal growth
You’re not just an employee. You’re an all-around individual with a full life to live and grow through. The more you give yourself permission to evolve into the best version of yourself, the more you can show up at work as the woman or man you were created to be.
So take the trip, read the book, take care of yourself. Take the time to have hobbies and passions outside of work. Nurture your relationships, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and learn from them. The richer your personal growth, the richer your career.
Release what’s weighing you down
One of the reasons why we’re not always as successful as we could or would want to be at work is due to all the “unnecessary” stuff we carry with us. That includes negative mindsets, people-pleasing attitudes, anger, bitterness, resentment, and just putting too much on our plates overall…
The more you learn to release all this heavy baggage, the freer you are to excel in your career. You can then truly own the kind of career you deserve.
I remember coming home with my first baby, not having a single idea how I was going to care for this new life. I had all these gigantic, larger-than-life expectations about what I could, and would, be doing as a new mom. Little did I realized that as a working, I would have to re-calibrate most, if not all, of these expectations I had for myself.
Fast-forward almost 10 years later, and my definition of motherhood, as well as my intentions, goals and expectations have drastically changed. For the better, I have to say. I’ve learnt to stop holding myself to impossible standards, such as reading to my babies every single night, or feeding them home-cooked meals every single day. I’ve also given up on comparing my mothering style to that of other women, constantly questioning whether I was doing a good or totally lousy job at it. All in all, I finally made peace with re-defining motherhood as my own brand of working mother, minus the guilt, false beliefs, and the crushing weight of society’s opinions.
Being working moms has absolutely pushed the boundaries of what motherhood has always meant for women and society alike. As working mothers, we’ve had to couple our own unrealistic expectations with that of the world around us, while still striving to shatter glass ceilings and brick walls in the same breath. Then we’ve started wondering why we never quite feel satisfied, bathing instead in a constant cloud of exhaustion and self-doubt. We’ve desperately tried to hold on to the sanctity of traditional motherhood, what with its perfectly ironed bed sheets, prepared meals, and sparkly-clean households. Except we’ve also managed to add to the mix unending to-do lists, corporate ladders and business board meetings. We’ve tried to lean in, only to realize that we were instead leaning out of alignment with ourselves. Now, many of us are slowly stepping back, re-evaluating our own definitions of what it truly means to be a working mother.
For me, redefining my own brand of motherhood has been quite the process, as I struggled, like so many other working moms, with fitting into the “perfect mother” box. From desperately attempting to make it to every soccer game, to minimizing fast-food trips, not to mention keeping up with the astronomical amount of laundry piling up at the speed of the light, I stretched beyond my own personal, physical and spiritual boundaries. Until I could no more… Until it was necessary to find a new name, a new system and some new sense to this thing called being a “working mom”…
This is what it meant for me, and what it may also mean for you, as you journey through your own process of re-defining motherhood for yourse:
Learning to get the help we need:
As I spoke with many working moms around me, I realized how hard it can be for us to ask or get the help we need. Popular culture has turned supermoms and superwomen into such icons to be venerated and celebrated, that most of us have succumbed to the unrealistic call. In the process, we’ve forgotten that it’s ok to ask and get the help we need.
I know I had. Until I gave in and invited services like Blue Apron and HelloFresh into my life, freeing up both mine and dear hubby’s evenings and weekends by ordering out. Or until I made room in my budget to hire someone to help me with housework. I have to say, it took me some time not to feel guilty about what I considered then to be indulgences, but quickly realized were life and sanity-savers. Or to refrain from sharing this with friends and family, for fear of being judged. Without the pressure of having to do it all, I could finally do simple things like sit on the couch with my husband, actually play with my kids, and stop complaining about not getting a haircut in months, minus the guilt and sleepless nights…
Being more present
Piling more on our to-do lists as working moms has also forced us to give up on being present, as partners, friends, sisters and mothers. There are not enough hours in a day, so we unconsciously do more and live less. We’ve traded in being fully present in our lives, for lists of accomplishments and shiny, photo-shopped pictures on Instagram.
I’m re-defining motherhood as a working mom as simply being, instead of getting lost in the illusion of constantly doing. Which may mean leaving the dishes unwashed in the sink to have a conversation with the kids, or make it on time to the school play. Or putting the phone down during my son’s soccer game, and letting business happen as it would. Or just sitting in silence with myself, instead of mentally searching for one more item to cross off my duty list.
Investing in self-care
Self-care is not an indulgence. Let me repeat this again: self-care is not an indulgence. It’s an investment, one that requires of working moms to provide the effort, time and energy to pour into ourselves before, and because of our call to, pour into others.
I had wrongly defined motherhood as this unending roller-coaster of obligations and responsibilities, neglecting my own well-being. There was always something to do at home or at work, so there was no time to drop by the gym, read a book or hang out with the girls. How many of us negatively judge other working moms who take the time to exercise, have regular girls’ night out, or go back to school? Because shouldn’t motherhood be this sacrificial thing we dedicate ourselves entirely to, before trying to fit in everything (and everyone) else? Hence the myth of the frazzled mom escaping her life at Target on Saturday night….
I’m choosing instead to invest in the best version of myself so I can show up as the best individual, including the best mother, I can be. Which may mean re-arranging some priorities, freeing up some time, and putting my mask on before saving anybody else…
Building a legacy
I choose to re-define being a working mom as investing in building a legacy, from making sure we have a reliable life insurance policy to following my dreams, building the business, rising in my career to having the courage to craft my will. These are things I wouldn’t have time to think about before, let alone tackle, because I would lose myself in all the minute details of parenting, from serving as dedicated chauffeur to shopping the latest kids’ designs.
Yet, if we only could release the pressure on ourselves and lift our heads from the smoke of day-to-day details, we might start asking ourselves questions such as: “What am I leaving my kids?”, or “What impact am I really having on my family?”.
Because being a working mom is not just about crossing all the T’s and dotting all the I’s of our over-packed existences, but building a legacy we can leave behind. Because our kids may not remember how sparkly clean the house was when they were growing up, but they may very well recall how their working mother invested in their college fund, starter her own business, or built her best career…
How are you re-defining motherhood as a working mom?
There’s a lot of talk out there about Purpose, how we can walk in our purpose, do things according to our own purpose, be more purposeful, etc…While much of it is so inspiring, many of us also find ourselves asking: “But…what is my purpose? How do I figure it out? And how do I even begin to walk in it when I don’t even know what it is to start with?” This is without mentioning the guilt associated with focusing on our purpose, instead of doing what everyone else seems to be doing, that is going through the motions of work and life, making a paycheck, paying bills, etc…
I know I’ve asked myself the question over and over again. After years of being in a career that did not bring the type of fulfillment I was seeking, I decided to find out what this purpose thing was all about. I knew I had a passion for writing and teaching, yet I had no clue how to fit it in with who I had become, what I was doing, and my current family and personal situation.
The question I kept asking myself was: “How do we get there?”, “there” being that point where we can all get to work and live according to our divine purpose. How do we even figure out what this divine purpose is? And where do we start this entire process, while still paying our bills, catching up on email, and keeping our skin hydrated and moisturized?
One conversation with a dear mentor of mine put me on the path to answering, if not all these questions, at least some of them. He equated the whole process of getting “there”, or anywhere for that matter, to climbing a mountain and reaching the top. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. What if every process we undertake is really just like climbing a mountain? What if this most important process of working and living on purpose is just that, climbing our own mountains of potential to reach the top of our divine purpose. And just like reaching the pinnacle of any mountain, there has to be steps we discipline ourselves to follow:
The Foundation Principle: Building on the skills, lessons and experiences you’ve gathered so far
Where do you start on any new process, especially one as big as fulfilling your divine purpose? What do you build on? Where do you even begin?
Although I spent much time wondering about this, the answer turned out to be simpler than I thought. Start where you are, with what you have. This also means leveraging all the experiences, the wisdom, the victories but also the failures we’ve been through. When I went through the exercise of documenting everything I had already accomplished and learnt, even if it seemed insignificant or not particularly positive, I realized I had more than I thought to get started. It also gave me the motivation and encouragement I needed to get on my own journey of purpose and fulfillment, as I remembered how much I had already done.
Can you think back to everything you’ve already achieved, learnt and acquired, in addition to all the natural skills, talents and abilities you naturally possess? As a matter of fact, can you make an inventory of all you’ve already been through and acquired over time? You may not give credit for everything you’ve accomplished.
The Choice Principle: Choosing the goals and objectives that are appropriate for you
How many times have you made a decision based on what someone else thought? How often have you even shifted the entire direction of your career, business, or even love life towards what some semi-influential person in your life recommended? If you come from most African families, you may remember your mom, dad, auntie or uncle prematurely brag about your bright future career as a “doctor” or “engineer”. That may have been the reason why you struggled in Pre-med, before realizing your acute fear of blood and dropping out. Or walking out of your cubicle one day, throwing your engineer’s hat out, and going back to school for creative writing…
When picking our own mountains to climb, we can be tempted to set other people’s goals and objectives as our own. It may be out of a faulty sense of duty, compromise, or because we’re afraid to pursue our own dreams.
The People Principle: Build a network that pushes you to become your best self
Working and living on purpose also requires you to surround yourself with the right people. People who inspire you, motivate you, push you, mentor you. People whom you can also serve as mentors for. Often, the reason we’re not reaching our potential is because we’re simply in the wrong environment.
In the same way that you’d pick a supportive, able team to help you hike up a mountain, you also need the right people around you to reach your purpose at work and in life.
The Preparation Principle: Gathering your resources to work and live on purpose
What do you need to fully engage in the process of working and living on purpose? If you had to pack a bag on this purpose journey, what would it include? And what would you leave behind?
As I embarked on my own purpose journey, I quickly realized that there were quite a few of the resources I needed that I was sorely missing. I had to work on my mindset, my sense of self-worth, but also on my relationships, my ability to learn and adapt, and my faith. These are some of the most precious resources to gather on the journey to working and living on purpose.
The Resilience Principle: Dealing with opposition
One thing that you can count on as you pursue Purpose in your career, business and life is opposition. There is something about stepping into unfamiliar, uncomfortable and often unchartered territory that makes others, especially those who “knew you when”, uncomfortable.
As you transform through the process of working and living on purpose, you’ll need the appropriate tools to face the opposition that will inevitably come your way. These include a strong sense of self, an extra dose of resilience, and a solid “why” to remind you of the very reason you started this journey in the first place, whatever it may be…
The Courage Principle: Developing the courage to keep going
Following Purpose is hard. For some, it may mean leaving a comfortable, well-paying career to start a business. For others, it may mean transitioning to a new environment or different relationships. While in the beginning, the prospect of being more fulfilled may seem exciting, in the long run, it can be easy to give up when faced with inevitable difficulties, opposition and struggles. After all, most new businesses fail in their first year, mostly because of how hard they are to sustain in the long run.
This is where developing the courage to keep going comes into play. It’s rooted in constant self-affirmation, positive support, and a strong faith in your mission.
The Celebration Principle: Learning to celebrate and moving on to the next mountain
The journey to work and live on purpose is very much a transformative one. While it’s challenging, it’s also so rewarding when we finally make it to the top of our mountains of potential, and achieve the goals that get us to activate our purpose. Yet, how often do we stop to take in the view, take a breath of fresh air, and really appreciate how far we’ve come? Not nearly as often as we should…
Instead, we tend to rush from one accomplishment to the next, burying ourselves under endless obligations and commitments. Before you know it, the same joy, fulfillment and sense of purpose we were starting to feel starts evaporating, diluted by unhealthy pressure.
This is why learning to celebrate and honor every milestone is so important, before moving on to the next goal, the next objective, the next goalpost on our way to fulfilling our divine potential.
Which one of these principles do you struggle the most with?
I love new beginnings, of years, relationships, creations, or carb-loaded family meals. They’re a good time to start fresh, but also to gather the experiences and lessons that have brought us to this point. Like when you start writing a new book and gather all your sources from past research, events and even entire existences…Or when you put together the ingredients to your favorite desserts from your old grand-mama’s recipes with a Pinterest twist here and there…
For me, this past year was no exception. 2018 was all about learning, transitions and work, on purpose. Here are 18 of them, as we close 2018 and jump into 2019:
Working on Purpose makes all the difference!
One of the biggest revelations I’ve had is that there is a difference between working to work, and working on purpose. That is, doing work that answers a calling, work that doesn’t let you wait until you snooze the alarm clock about 20 times before getting up, work that re-energizes you instead of depleting you. I could clearly see the difference between mornings when I dragged myself out of bed to make it to work before, and mornings now, when I look forward to starting my day. Days that no longer end with a draining sense of fatigue, but with a sense of being re-energized despite the fatigue (we’re human after all)…
We’re often taught that we must work to pay bills, take care of ourselves and others, buy nice stuff or just to keep a roof over our heads. What we’re not taught is that work is part of what makes us whole; that in order to leverage its power, we owe it to ourselves to not just partake in the process, but create and enjoy our own work process. It’s not just about loving what you do, but about tapping into your maximum potential, being as effective as you can be and becoming the best version of yourself in the process.
Your mindset is key
As I made the big leap from one career to entrepreneurship and to an entirely different career, I had the opportunity (and the shock) to realize how powerful our mindsets are. This is not just about implementing empowering mantras, or adopting some daily meditation practice, although these are powerful aids as well…
Rather, for me, it was about coming face-to-face with the full realization that I have been creating my reality all along. Through the sometimes negative words I spoke over myself and my work and life, through my lack of gratitude and less than optimistic outlook at times… I also realized that once you change the story you tell yourself about yourself, your work and your life in general, not only does your perspective shift positively, but your actual results do as well…
Do not resist closed doors
How many of us leave jobs without really leaving them, rehashing the negative aspects of past experiences we tend to take into new opportunities? How many times do we leave relationships only to hold on to the heavy baggage that came with it? Or hold on to past failures, only to weigh ourselves down as we start new ventures?
What I learnt this past year was to not resist some doors closing, but to release the baggage that came with it. For me, it meant releasing past jobs, business ventures and partnerships that weren’t for me, places and even schedules that didn’t allow me to tap into my peak performance level. For you, it may mean letting go of the old job, the failed business, the less-than-ideal relationships, the disastrous launches, so you can take the lessons and actually have a chance to start anew, in a better place…
No experience is wasted
Changing careers has taught me a powerful lesson about no wasted experiences. We often think that we run the risk of losing all the experiences and bonuses we’ve acquired over time by starting fresh. So many of us hesitate to jump ship into a new career, launch the business, write the book, start a family, for fear that we would have wasted all the effort and knowledge we’ve put in so far…
On the contrary, I found myself using skills I had acquired all along through my academic path, my prior jobs, and even in the course of my personal and professional relationships, as I started fresh in entirely new domains. Nothing is really wasted, everything serves a purpose, if only to point you in the direction not to go in…
Transitions are not as hard as you think
Transitions are not simple, in any area of work or life. Entire career transitions can actually be pretty complex. However, all in all, it’s never quite as bad as we picture them to be…
As a matter of fact, transitions are necessary, unless we force ourselves to stay still and not evolve or progress.
My own career transitions required quite some time and some serious dose of chocolate and caffeine, I’m not going to lie. However, what it was not was impossible or out of reach, as I had previously thought, and this even with not as much advance preparation as I would have liked. While you should plan a transition ahead of time, life sometimes happens and you may have to adjust. It’s in the adjusting that you learn the most and have the power to turn the game in your favor…
You’re allowed to start over
Speaking of transition, how many of you have dreamt of starting over, whether in a new job, a new business, relationship, or even environment? And how many have refrained from shaking the boat of convenience and comfort for fear of starting over?
I learnt that starting over, whether at work or in life, begins with giving yourself the permission to do so. The permission to make mistakes, get back up, risk losing a bit (or a lot), and create the life and work you really want for yourself…
Prune your network
You already know how important your network is to your success, whatever your definition of success may be. You also know how detrimental the wrong network can be for you. What may be more challenging, personally and professionally, is to revisit it every now and then and have the courage to prune it so it can be as effective as possible…
I learnt that it’s ok to feel pangs of guilt when it comes to shifting relationships and networks, it’s only human. However, it’s necessary to re-evaluate relationships as you grow, evolve, change and progress, in all areas of your work and life…
Support is overrated
One of the most sensitive questions I raised when going through my own personal and career transitions this past year was: “But who’s supporting me in my journey?” Thankfully, I’ve had precious family and friends to do so all along…
Yet, most importantly, what I’ve learnt is that the whole concept of support when it comes to our own personal and professional pursuits, is a bit overrated. That we are our best sources of support, and that what kills relationships is nothing more than excessive expectations. So what if your girlfriend doesn’t buy from you? Maybe your product is simply not up her alley, or maybe there are deeper issues to look into there…Whatever the case may be, none of us should allow the presence or absence of support to deter us from our purpose…
Network effectively
I wrote earlier about the importance of networks and networking. Even for the most independent among us, we need people along the journey as we accomplish our goals and objectives.
However, what I also realized as an entrepreneur, is that there is such a thing as ineffective networking. That answering to the call of every networking event or coffee break is a great way to scatter your energy and resources without producing any tangible results. As you consider your own networking efforts, ask yourself if they’re helping you to achieve your goals and objectives, and if there’s a mutual exchange happening. If the answer is no, you may want to reconsider…
Stop listening to everyone
While you need people along your journey of success, what you don’t need is to listen to people who have not walked the path you’re treading on. Don’t get me wrong, you can certainly learn something valuable from everyone.
Yet, what I’ve learnt is that I cannot afford to listen to everyone. If you’re called to create something new, walk your own path, and become the best version of yourself, your answer may not be in the Google or even in your sister’s best advice, for the simple reason that what you’re trying to do may not have been done yet…
Trust your gut feeling
Intuition is a super-power, and you already may know it. Yet have you been using and listening to yours? Or have you been instead relying on the Google, your girlfriends’, or your mama’s advice entirely, at the expense of the promptings of your own gut feeling?
What I’ve learnt, especially while transitioning careers and as an entrepreneur, is that your intuition will tell you things no one else can. That more than anyone else, you know what is right for you, your career and/or your business. And that inner voice is part of your competitive advantage, and should not be ignored…
Do what feels good
This may seem paradoxical advice, especially for us working women, who already start the day with a full to-do list and a heap of obligations to attend to. Yet, when we’re faced with a pile of things to do that don’t inspire us, we tend to proceed out of sense of obligation rather than celebration.
I’ve learnt that in order to celebrate and enjoy my work, as well as my life, it has to feel good. Not easy, but good. Not served on a silver platter with a mojito on the side, but good. Not handed to me as a free token of appreciation, but good. It has to spark interest and joy, along with a sense of fulfillment that keeps me going. And if it doesn’t, then I may have to find what does…
Watch your environment
It’s challenging to thrive in an environment that is not ready to receive what you have to say, who you are and how you present yourself. So many of us complain that we’re not able to realize our full potential, yet do not take a second look at what we’re surrounded with…
I’ve learnt that sometimes, changing your environment changes your life. That stepping out of a toxic workspace, negative setting or abusive environment, can mean the difference between day and night when it comes to your progress and evolution as a person.
Self-care is an investment
There’s another seemingly paradoxical piece of advice. Self-care is often neglected and put to the side at the expense of “more important” obligations. Yet, what we don’t realize is that without it, our productivity, creativity and entire sense of being sink altogether. As a matter of fact, it’s an investment in our growth, well-being and wholeness. It can make the difference between being simply busy, and actually being productive and effective.
I’ve learnt to make self-care a priority, rather than an option relegated to the bottom of my to-do list. For me, it means making appointments with me, myself and I at the gym, at the brow lady, and on my favorite chair with a good book, as often as I can. Even if it means sliding down the bed at the crack of dawn in the morning, or missing my favorite show to make it to bed early enough. Not as a luxury, or even an indulgence, but as an effort to invest in the woman I’m becoming.
Do not separate work and life, integrate them!
You know what they say” “Leave your work at work!” In the era of smartphones and laptops, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate work and life, especially for working moms juggling all kinds of responsibilities around the clock. For entrepreneurs, work is actually a lifestyle more than an activity with time boundaries.
Instead, what I’ve learnt to do is to integrate the two. As in fitting in some work during the kids’ naps while working from home, or getting up earlier to get a good head start before heading to a doctor’s appointment. While it can be challenging, it’s also the answer for many of us…
Reframe failure
When transitioning careers, and through my entrepreneurial journey, I was tempted to believe that every mistake or mishap was a negative. Instead of taking failure as an opportunity to learn, I would allow it to stop my progress while I loaded up on chocolate and re-runs of Sex and the City.
I’ve learnt that failure is a necessary step in achieving success. If you don’t fail, you don’t progress. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn. Once I reframed it as an opportunity to learn and move forward, I was finally able to stop stalling and move forward. As a mom, it also taught me to be more accepting of and patient with myself.
Invest in yourself
I’ve had to learn that in order to reap results, I have to invest in myself. There were times when I didn’t think I could afford to buy the course, hire the coach or even putting the time and energy to update my skills.
Yet, making a conscious effort to periodically and regularly make an investment of time, energy and money made all the difference. For me, it means regular self-care, as well as investing in books and courses that help me acquire new skills.
Focus on the process of becoming
Last but not least, I’ve learnt to ask myself: “Is this getting me closer to the person I want to be?”, to guide my decisions in life and at work. Answering this question has allowed me to make the right decisions for my career, business and personal life, rather than focusing on other factors such as money for instance.
Now your turn: What work and life lessons have you gathered in 2018?
In this episode of The Corporate Sister podcast, I’m discussing leaving traditional goals and setting goals with soul as we prepare to enter 2019. Listen in as I share the book that made me change my view of the goal-setting process, and how my own process went from stressful to joyful…
Thanks so much for tuning in and listening to this week’s episode! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please share it by using the social media at the bottom of this post!
Also, leave me a review for the TCS podcast oniTunes!
If you’ve ever worked from home for a significant amount of time, you know that going back to office life can be a shock. From having to wear pants to not being able to access the fridge all day long, getting back into office mode is challenging.
After working from home for almost a year, I went back to office life in my dream career. Although I love what I do, the transition was not without challenges. I had to re-learn getting accustomed to morning commutes, dressing professionally again (read: wearing pants and applying make-up), and actually leaving my home for longer than I had for a while.
Thankfully, I learnt so much from this transition, that it turned out to be one of the best changes I’ve experienced in my career. If you’re going through it, or thinking about it, here are a few tips you can glean from my experience:
Mindset first!
It all starts with mindset! Whatever the reason behind your return to office life after working from home for some time, make sure to be mentally ready and prepared for it. For you, it may be going back to the office after being laid off, or after a maternity or sick leave, or even after running your own business from home for a while. Regardless of the motive behind it, it’s still a significant transition you should pay attention to, especially if you’re taking it as a failure:
Give yourself some time and room to process this transition. If you’re spiritual, you may pray or meditate about it.
Talk to a trusted friend or family member about it to get another viewpoint.
Let go of any negative thought or sense of failure associated with the prospect of going back to office life.
Going back to office life after working from home for some time is a lifestyle change. It’s not just about getting back to commuting and wearing pants, although that will be involved as well. It’s also about changing your daily routine in a way that works for you and your loved ones, especially as a working woman and mom.
Popular wisdom has it that it takes about 21 days to adopt or change a new habit. Take the time you need, preferably before you return to office life, to cement your new habits and schedule. It’s also helpful to talk to your spouse and loved ones, and get their support through this transition.
Plan for it
Planning is not only necessary as you prepare to get back to office life, it’s actually crucial. From planning your wardrobe, to structuring your days and weeks ahead in advance, it will take some time, resources and energy to prepare for it.
A few weeks prior to returning to a cubicle or office, consider making a list of everything you will need. Make a list of people to reach out to, and coordinate with in order to accommodate your new schedule and obligations. As a working mom, don’t neglect to plan for additional childcare or help with the household chores, as your time will be more limited.
All in all, getting back to office life after working from home for some time is a process that requires mindset, lifestyle and planning changes. While it can be challenging, it’s one that you can grow through and learn a lot from.
How have you transitioned from working from home to office life?
