Bringing Out the Best of Yourself at Work

Meredith

My job rocks. I get to do what I love! On top of that, I work with a lot of incredible people in a fun, but challenging industry. I would say I got pretty lucky and hit that jackpot, even when my job is driving me crazy, which is inevitable. Keeping my sanity at work though isn’t always an easy task, no matter how much I love my job…

As marketers, we are tasked with doing way more than taking a pretty picture and coming up with a clever caption for a social post. Automation is running wild, CRM platfroms continue to shift the industry, and maintaining a brand while creating leads all come with that. In a world where you can order something and have it shipped the same day, there is more pressure to respond immediately and 24/7 unless you want a social media crisis. There is also a lot of room for critisism because the results of marketing are public. The data we can obtain now is insurmountable and everyone organization has to find out what actually matters. Testing, copy-writing, photography/videography, graphic design, reporting, designing, SEO, etc. are the new standards we set for ourselves.

Through all the ‘hustle and bustle’ of marketing or social media, any job for that matter, it’s important to make sure your prioritizing mental health. So with that being said, I have only ONE tip for you this week.

  • Prioritize

That means, you. Make sure work isn’t taking over your life in a detrimental way! When all I can think about is work, I know it’s time for me to take a break and escape my own mind for a bit. Unfortunately, I can’t give 100% of myself to work 100% of the time if I’m also stressing over it at the same time. Yikes, right?

Others have a different way of making sure they find balance. And I found this Forbes article is really useful in trying to get that, plus it gives real examples for more tips. You are only able to do what you can in the workplace, so make sure that your mindset is about doing it to the best of your ability.

Prioritizing yourself also means your job duties. Checklists, keeping track of my to-do’s, and setting aside time for follow-ups, are the only ways I can stay on top of everything! It’s how things don’t fall through the cracks, but it’s not fool-proof because I can confirm that a few things still do on occasion. Don’t beat yourself up, because that doesn’t help anyone (including YOU) either. Dr. Darria Long explains in a TEDTalk that we are all BUSY, so ask yourself what is more important right now. I love the comparison of triage she uses! (Long, 2019)

Prioritize means knowing what AND when you need to do your job, but also when not to. Put your best self forward and make it enjoyable, or your work will suffer. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn, but I hope you’ll join me in the same journey!

 

Listen with an empathetic heart, take yourself into consideration, prioritize responsibly

 

References

Long, D. (2019). An ER doctor on how to triage your busy life. Darria Long: An ER doctor on how to triage your busy life | TED Talk. Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.ted.com/talks/darria_long_an_er_doctor_on_how_to_triage_your_busy_life

Stahl, A. (2021, February 15). 5 ways to prioritize your mental health and achieve work-life balance. Forbes. Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2021/02/15/5-ways-to-prioritize-your-mental-health-and-achieve-work-life-balance/?sh=702ddb336e31

Pandemic Zen

What To Do When the World is Ending…

Meredith

“Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety” (CDC, 2019). 

COVID-19. Probably ranking in the top 3 conversation topics, small-talk questions, arugement starters, etc. It seemed like a joke that no one really took seriously until the world literally shut down in March of 2020. What started as shock, became a lot of uneasiess since everyone had wildly different opinions and restrictions changed (…and still do) often. At least in Texas.

With new variants, more cases rising and lives lost, it seems like there is almost no end in sight. How do you keep your sanity while the world ends? Glad you asked! Keeping My Sanity this week is all about what to do when the world is ending, aka when you are living through a pandemic.

  • Form Your Own Opinion AND Stay Open-Minded 

Everyone is going to have their own bias. We all have our opinions on masks and vaccines and mandates and the list goes on. Stay informed, but don’t overwhelm yourself with information overload. If you have noticed a theme from my last couple of blogs, good. Doing your own research is something that helps my stress-level because I can feel confident in resources that I trust or are credible. I still don’t have all the answers, but when I get stressed about a new peice of info after a nonchalant mention, I have to go look it up and find out if that’s true or maybe it was the accidental aftermath of The Telephone Game.

Either way, my biggest tip to stay ahead of fear is knowing what to look for. My opinion on things shifts from time to time, but that’s okay too. Don’t worry if yours does too! Admitting you learned something new or had an experience that changed your mind, is no shameful thing. It should be looked at as a strength.

  • Respect Others  

I feel a bit weird saying this, because it should be common sense. But as a young adult, I have found that there are a lot of adults out there that really don’t care about anything unless it effects them directly. Again, we all have our own opinions on this, see above. If you don’t believe in the vaccines, okay then don’t get one. That also means taking responsibility when necessary and not pushing people that are vaccinated to a point of discomfort. If you think you’re invincible then fine, whatever, but people have died so maybe don’t brag on and on. If you don’t want to wear a mask, like myself, just wear it when it’s needed or there is a guideline in place. I’m no exception to any rule, so might as well just be respectful when I can. Another thing on this that feels like it should be common sense, understand what personal space is. Some great insight on having respect while being somewhat light-hearted is George Washington’s Rules of Civility, from MountVernon.org. I found it pretty interesting too!

  • Find Your Balance 

Some people lost jobs, some started new hobbies, some lost loved ones, some tested positive today. If you are working from home or part-time or found your new calling, then embrace what is happening around you and figure out what is best for you. When I find myself nearing burnout (work, school, or personal life) I have to think about what I need to do to calm myself down. For me it’s probably binge-watching a show or reading a book to take my mind to a new world, allowing all troubles to still be there when I’m finished and can focus better on the task at hand. Not everything can be done all at once. Life is different now, it will never go “back to normal” even IF the virus magically goes away. Some more resources on how to get help are:

  1. Mental Health America
  2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
  3. National Alliance of Mental Illness

For now, I am happy to wear a mask on an airplane to see collegues for a work conference or celebrate a wedding that got pushed back. I think the pandemic made everyone a little more empathetic and forced us all to slow down. Time will heal us together. But, I hope your sanity stays in tact!

 

 

 

 

 

References

(ASPA), A. S. for P. A. (2021, May 14). Mental health and coping during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. HHS.gov. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/mental-health-and-coping/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, July 22). Coping with stress. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/cope-with-stress/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fdaily-life-coping%2Fmanaging-stress-anxiety.html

Covid-19. Mental Health America. (2021). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://mhanational.org/covid19

Covid-19 resource and information guide. NAMI. (2022). Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/NAMI-HelpLine/COVID-19-Information-and-Resources/COVID-19-Resource-and-Information-Guide

Mann, S. B. (2021, April 21). The Telephone Game. IcebreakerIdeas. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://icebreakerideas.com/telephone-game/

Rules of civility during the COVID-19 pandemic. George Washington’s Mount Vernon. (2021). Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.mountvernon.org/education/for-students/rules-of-civility-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

 

Grad School Books

Four Tricks to Master That Graduate Program Stress

Meredith

The feeling of getting accepted to this graduate program at St. Edwards University, is something I hope I never forget. It was being proud of myself for this accomplishment, opportunity for obtaining a stronger title, learning something that I’m passionate about, and the world was my oyster. The feeling of actually being in graduate school is the total opposite. It is feeling confused, frustrated, stressed, and defeated. All in one assignment! When it gets to the absolute worst point though, something brings you a little bit closer to a feeling of curiousity…

Even though I haven’t exactly ~mastered~ keeping my sanity through grad school, there are a few tricks to making sure your mental health doesn’t suffer.

  • Ask for help

This is a NEED. As someone who truly wishes I never had to do this, I have learned the hard way that it should be the only way. Another thing I learned, is that people are more than willing to and it was surprisingly easy. Yeah, I know. My student success counselor truly cared about how I was doing, my professors have been thrilled when I ask for help, my sister loves answering phone calls from me crying! Okay, that last one hasn’t happened in a long time, but you get it right? Utilize the people around you when you need it! They are people too. I promise that no one wants to see you fail. And now, there are so many resources around today like Talkspace and BetterHelp. Ask for help when you need it and don’t be afraid to, because people want to.

  • Take time to enjoy what you enjoy

It’s no secret that I am not someone who loves most outdoor activities. Hiking is, super not my thing. But ya girl does love to read books, bake goodies and do absolutely nothing but hang out. If you want to put on some pj’s, eat popcorn and chill then count me IN baby. School sure does get in the way of that – aside from the pj’s and popcorn, there are plenty of long nights. But when I make sure that I still have time to read and bake and just enjoy my time with who I’m around, I can trust myself to put everything I can into school. I’m not throwing together an assignment or angry about why I don’t have the exact answer and stress myself out for no reason.

  • Remember why

Shortly after starting, the idea of grad school seemed pretty lackluster. Everyone is very supportive! Until you have to start prioritizing homework. It’s a wonderful learning opportunity! Until grades become the main goal instead of education. That feeling of accomplishment and pride is what I hold onto though. Remember that this is a chance to make yourself stand out and gain insight.

  • Know you aren’t alone

Turns out, my classmates also have lives of their own and a job too. Crazy how much we have in common! My teachers even went through this before and most have other jobs too. Crazy, again! Some of my friends that are also obtaining a master’s and my partner is in school too. Even if someone around you doesn’t exactly understand “the stuggle” of school, there are a lot of people that do because I found a ton of resources like this one by UC Davis after a quick Google search!

The time will come when I get to walk across that stage and the world is my oyster again. The reason I’m doing this is for me. To better my overall knowledge, become what I’ve dreamt, be a leader. Most of all, to help someone else someday.

 

 

 

 

 

References

5 tips for grad school stress. UC Davis Graduate School of Management. (2021). https://gsm.ucdavis.edu/blog/5-tips-grad-school-stress

Betterhelp Affordable Online Therapy Services 2022. BetterHelp Affordable Online Therapy Services 2022. (2021). Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.betterhelp.com/online-therapy/

Master of science in Digital Marketing and Analytics. Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Analytics | St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. (2020). Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.stedwards.edu/graduate/master-science-digital-marketing-and-analytics

Talkspace. (2021). #1 rated online therapy, 1 million+ users. Talkspace. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.talkspace.com/?_ga=2.1836277.554901112.1643681672-646860274.1643681672&_gac=1.152515019.1643681674.Cj0KCQiArt6PBhCoARIsAMF5waja4I-Y25Xc8z66EDgMRF6BloNg_yAmsz7v4fsfjRQo9NAsgwmZVBEaAndOEALw_wcB

home for sale picture

The Perfect Time to Buy a House & Five Tips on How to Cope With Being Wrong

Meredith

Perfect timing. Is there such a thing? Maybe, maybe not! Maybe we create it.

Cue the applause because I just bought my first home! Shortly after, my parents retired and bought a new home as well. And finally, my grandparents also decided it was time for them to find a new house and they were the finale of this whirlwind process for me. Congrats to us all around, especially since the market has been “on a wild ride” this year according to CNN. How do you know when to buy to house? It’s all about perfect timing and keeping your sanity, so buckle up for some tips to get you through this wild ride!

The first time the idea to actually purchase real estate came to me about 2 years ago. The only reason was… I was tired of paying rent. Later on in life, about 8 months ago, I wanted to start putting down roots. My career was starting to take-off and I was able to get more help than I ever had before, despite the pandemic. I was ready to take my relationship to the next step, and we would both save money. The timing could have been better, I had just started graduate school and work seemed busier than it usually was that time of year. Why did I still feel ready then?

1. Get a good real estate agent

This seems like a no-brainer and you might be thinking, well duh Meredith. I say that because mine was incredible. Former collegue turned friend, which a lot of people questioned, was the best first decision I could’ve made. If you don’t have a friend that is a real estate agent you feel comfortable working with, DO YOUR RESEARCH. It’s a very personal process (still not sure why so many people needed to see how often I order food delivery, @ my bank statements) and having someone you really trust, while understanding your needs as a human being rather than just a checkbook.

2. Never stop asking questions

It’s really easy to get caught up in all the moving parts of this, doing everything you can do as fast as possible. Sometimes, people care more about the sale. If you aren’t quite sure about a certain decision or are questioning why, you should. Trust your gut and start doing your research or ask your amazing real estate agent from tip #1. Thanks Noel!

3. Compromise

“I definitely want a huge backyard” – Me, before seriously diving into what matters. After about 10 houses, you start seeing a little clearer that certain things are not as big a deal as you originally thought or maybe decided to care about something else instead. Nothing is going to be absolutely perfect, unless you make it feel that way! And this is not about building a new home… So, no arguements allowed here. Kinda feels like there would probably have to be compromises there too anyways?

4. Relax

Contrary to how you may feel in the moment, it’s not the end of the world. It is stressful. But, it’s going to work out. And if you need more stress relieving tips, then you should check out Ally’s blog for coping with all of it! Great reminders to keep you in the present.

5. Have a great support system

This is the most important. When those stress tips don’t help and you are feeling anxious, it’s okay. But when you feel like that, it will be so much more bearable talking to someone. A friend, significant other, parents, coworkers. You’d be surprised at how many people care about you I bet!

Following those five steps, led me to the perfect house at the perfect time. Trust yourself, do your research and don’t be afraid to talk about how you feel. It creates perfect timing. Wishing you the best of luck, happy house hunting!

References

6 ways to cope with the stress of buying a House. Do It Right. (2021, May 5). Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://www.ally.com/do-it-right/home/tips-for-managing-homebuying-stress/

Bahney, A. (2021, December 28). The housing market was on a wild ride this year. here’s what to expect in 2022. CNN. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/27/homes/us-real-estate-market-2021/index.html

Maintaining Mental Health and Positivity on a Daily Basis

Meredith 2 Comments

Life isn’t always fair. We’ve all heard it before when things don’t go our way. Or you know, when a pandemic takes over the world? Life isn’t fair, which has never really been that… comforting. For me at least! As much as I would love to say I’m an expert on mental health, that wouldn’t be true. BUT, I have had experience with it. My friends do, my family does, my LinkedIn connections, the list could go on. A collegue of mine (shoutout to Jason Wange) created a network of industry positivity on Facebook, which is one of the reasons I was inspired to write my blog about maintaining mental health in everyday life.

Sometimes work gets the best of me. Sometimes it’s being overwhelmed in grad school. Sometimes I really miss my friends and family. Sometimes the dog gets out and I have to chase him around the neighborhood in the rain for 30 minutes because he thinks we are playing, then I get pink eye from getting gross water in my contacts. Not all days are winners, right? That’s not really the point though since we’ve established that life isn’t fair already. The point is that even through mental health challenges, through a global epidemic, through everything life isn’t fair about, YOU are what matters. So, take care of yourself and be a light for others who may not have the strength to that day.

“Leave people better than you found them.” – Marvin J. Ashton

In Keeping My Sanity, you will read about where life takes me personally and professionally. Spreading kindness, positive vibes and mental health tips (from actual experts) along the way. This week was just an introduction, but there will be a lot more where that came from! And for anyone who might be ‘losing’ today, you should know you are not alone and that you matter to me.

 

More blogs on mental health that I found to be the most helpful on behalf of Sanctuary Centers, written in 2021 by Laney:

 

 

References

(on behalf of Sanctuary Centers), L. (2021, March 5). 7 blogs to help your mental health. Sanctuary Centers of Santa Barbara. Retrieved January 16, 2022, from https://sanctuarycenters.org/blog/7-blogs-to-help-your-mental-health/

Vaitkevich, N. (2021). Pexels. photograph. Retrieved 2022, from www.pexels.com.