Category: Career


Feb
2025

5 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health as a Remote Employee

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Mental Health

Remote work is great. You can wake up late, skip the commute and work in your gymwear- but while it does come with its perks, the flip side is that all that alone time can take a toll on your mental health.

Without the usual office buzz or face-to-face interactions, it’s easy to slip into unhealthy habits that affect your well-being.

Here are 5 ways to take care of your mental health while working remotely:

1. TAKE YOUR LUNCH BREAK!

Yes, I am shouting at you. That is how strongly I feel about this point.

You might think that you don’t need a break because you’re working from home but this is a huge no-no. Just like you would take a break at the office, it’s crucial to step away from your desk. Use this time to eat something nutritious, relax, or even take a quick walk. Giving your mind a rest can boost your focus and productivity for the rest of the day.

2. Make Time to Go Outside

It’s easy to get stuck in the bubble of your home office, but stepping outside, even for just a few minutes, can do wonders for your mental health. Whether it’s a stroll down the street or just sitting in your backyard, fresh air and a change of scenery help clear your mind and reduce stress. The physical movement also releases endorphins, which are your brain’s natural mood lifters. Plus the longer you WFH, the easier it is to slip into a habit of little to no physical exercise.

3. Chat with Your Colleagues

When you’re working remotely, isolation can creep up on you. It’s important to make time to connect with colleagues, even if it’s just a quick check-in. These virtual coffee breaks or team calls provide a sense of community and help break up the monotony of working solo. Talking to others can provide both emotional support and a welcome distraction from work.

4. Set Clear Boundaries

One of the toughest things about working remotely is finding the balance between work and personal life. Without the physical separation of an office, it can be easy to work late into the night or overextend yourself. Set clear boundaries by creating a dedicated workspace, establishing a fixed work schedule, and sticking to it. When your workday is over, truly disconnect from your job to recharge and enjoy your personal time. Which brings us to our next point….

5. Make Time for Self-Care

Whether it’s doing a quick meditation, stretching, or diving into your favourite book, make time for activities that help you relax and recharge. Your mental health is just as important as your job performance, and taking care of yourself ensures that you stay balanced and productive in the long run.

While remote work offers convenience and several perks, it’s important to invest time and effort into managing your mental health to make the most of it. Taking care of your mental well-being while working remotely is essential for staying productive and happy. By incorporating these simple practices into your routine, you’ll find that remote work can be both fulfilling and sustainable.


Jan
2025

5 Ways to Stay Motivated During the Job Hunt

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Job Hunting Tips

Job hunting sometimes feels like a job of its own. Whether you’re facing rejection, waiting on responses or feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of applications, keeping your energy up is key to landing the right opportunity. Here are five ways to stay motivated during your job searching:

1. Create a Routine

Treat job hunting like a job- come up with proper hours during which you will conduct your search. Back when I was in uni graduate all I did was look for jobs. No blogging, no living my life, nothing. That desperation led to me taking the first job that came my way and while that decision did work out for me in the end, I still wish I had made the most of the time that I had at home. Set time for scouring job boards, networking and updating your documents. Having a routine helps maintain momentum and prevents procrastination.

2. Set Small, Achievable Goals

Set daily or weekly targets, such as applying to a certain number of positions, networking with a specific number of people, or improving your resume. Hitting these milestones will give you a sense of progress and keep you moving forward.

3. Celebrate Small Wins

Every step forward is worth acknowledging, whether it’s securing an interview, receiving positive feedback, or making a valuable new connection. Recognizing small victories keeps you motivated and reinforces the progress you’re making, even when things move slowly.

4. Stay Connected and Seek Support

The job hunt can be isolating, so lean on your support network. Connect with friends, family, mentors, or online job-seeking groups. Talking to others can provide encouragement, fresh perspectives and even job leads. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can make a huge difference.

5. Keep Learning and Improving

DO NOT LET YOUR SKILLS STAGNANT!!!

Use this time to upskill or expand your knowledge. Take an online course, attend a webinar or work on a personal project that aligns with your career goals. This keeps you busy while also ensuring you look like a stronger candidate when new opportunities arise.

Staying motivated during a job hunt is tough, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can maintain your confidence and keep pushing forward. Set goals, build a routine, celebrate progress, seek support, and continue learning. The right opportunity is out there and you WILL find it! Remember all you need is one yes!


Nov
2024

7 Signs Your Job Might Be in Danger

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Welcome to The Real World

When your job is in danger, you’ll know it. You’ll see (and feel) it long before the official dismissal. But how do you know if it’s all in your head or something you need to be concerned about?

Here are 7 signs that your job might be in danger:

1. You’re given fewer projects or you’re given dead-end projects

This is an early warning sign that the company is preparing to get rid of you. If your workload starts looker smaller, be wary. Of course if the company is rebranding or restructuring, workloads might be smaller while they try to figure out their way forward. Look at your colleagues. If they still have normal workloads while you don’t, you might be on the chopping block.

2. You’re not invited to meetings that concern your work

This is a very minor sign that could mean your job is in danger or just that you were overlooked. Sometimes meetings are held without those who need to be in the meetings. It can be human error so just weigh this one with the other things on this list.

3. Management seems to have disappeared

This happened to me when I was about to be laid off and it was hilarious to me. I worked remotely and my manager- who was often not available- was somehow even LESS available during the period when I knew that I was going to be laid off at some point. Managers sometimes feel awkward about this so they’d try to avoid you.

4. You’re asked to train someone on what you do

Be very very wary of this. If you’re training someone and management hasn’t discussed you taking on a senior role, they might be trying to pass off your responsibilities to someone else.

5. You’re handing off your work to someone else

This is different from the above because in this case, you will be asked to draw up a specific handover document or a document detailing everything you do. This is to help the person who takes your duties.

6. You’re doing less work

During a round of layoffs at my friend’s company, her workload got so small that we were able to meet for lunch weekly. Since we hadn’t seen each other in years, we made the most of the opportunity but this was a glaring sign that a layoff was looming for her.

7. Your performance reviews are increasingly negative

This could be a sign that 1) you’re doing really badly at your job (in which case there should be a performance plan put in place to help you improve) or 2) you’re just not meeting the expectations that the business has for you. Sometimes businesses and employees just don’t match. It’s no one’s fault. But if you’re getting increasingly negative performance reviews along with a few other items on this list, you might be headed for a dismissal.

While it can be scary to think about losing your job, spotting these signs early ensures that you’re able to make a back-up plan whether this is adjusting your expenses or looking for another job.


Oct
2024

Reimagining What Workplace Success Looks Like

categories: Career

I learnt the importance of decentering your career very early on in life. Or atleast I should have.

Back in 2019, the company my dad worked at liquidated, and we were all shocked. Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected that to happen. But that was the first taste of me learning one of the reasons decentering your career is important. In cases like this, you have to deal both with the financial and emotional fallout. Unfortunately, while I learnt the lesson in theory, the practical application took a bit longer.

When I started my first “big girl job” as I liked to call it, I was only a few months in when I discovered that a colleague, Mary had been forced to leave. Details weren’t clear. I just know that she was upset and people were whispering that she was forced out because of her age.

I cried. Mary had been there on my first day and she explained the system to me (I had no clue what she did at the time but she was an absolute angel). On her last day, she wished everyone well and said she would go spend her time drinking iced tea in her garden.

I felt like I was more worried than Mary was. But a few months ago, I tracked her down and it turned out that Mary is running her own company.

Mary’s story further cemented my belief that you should look out for you because you don’t know when things at a company may change and not be in your favour.

A few years later, I met Peter. Peter was a brilliant data analyst who worked part-time. He was quiet but when he did speak up, he always had something insightful to say. I had no clue how introvert me was so obsessed with Peter but she was. Despite his talent, Peter refused to work -time, prefering the convenience of being around for his family over a career. As a twenty-something it was the first time I had even heard of anything like this and I was fascinated.

Eventually a newspaper article came out that spoke about a toxic workplace- Peter’s former workplace.

All of a sudden it made sense as to why Peter was felt so strongly about his boundaries.

I would later go on to work for a toxic company and realise Peter had it right.

John was someone who worked in my toxic company. Unfortunately he and I had never met. But there I was at a company event when one of the managers asked about him- I don’t even remember his name but I remember the conversation. The one manager said to the other that John was “doing his own thing”. They both shared how difficult it was for them when they were starting out and then the conversation moved on.

I was intrigued, especially since we’d been talking with the recruiter who helped place us just a day earlier. As the conversation turned to former employees, I couldn’t help but notice the subtle smirks and exchanged glances. It became clear that whenever someone left, it wasn’t business as usual – there was always an undertone, almost as if their departure was a failure. The whole vibe was strange and unsettling.

I remember hearing about John and thinking that there was a pretty good chance that I would go the same way- forced to start my “own thing” as a result of choosing to work in this workplace. A couple months later, I watched as my colleague, Kim resigned because “it was time.” I was thrilled for her because Kim was brilliant and I felt like they were wasting her talent. But a few more months later, I discovered Kim had started her own business as while. At the time, I was freelancing so it was like I had started my own business as well.

Their journeys reminded me of the importance of looking out for yourself and that sometimes, the most fulfilling path doesn’t involve a 9-5. Each of them chose a path that honoured their values, even when it meant stepping away from traditional work environments. Whether within a company or on your own, there’s always a way to create a life that feels truly yours


Oct
2024

categories: Career, General Career Advice

We’re encouraged to be “all in” when it comes to our careers, to hustle, and to pour everything into our professional growth. But there’s a hidden cost to centering your identity around work—it leaves other parts of you unexplored and underdeveloped. When you build a well-rounded identity beyond work, you allow yourself to thrive in multiple areas of life, and the benefits go far beyond the office.

The Benefits of a Well-Rounded Identity

1. Resilience in Tough Times

When work isn’t going well- whether due to a bad day, a toxic environment, or even job loss- a well-rounded identity provides stability. Your sense of self won’t crumble because it isn’t solely tied to your career. Other passions, relationships, or hobbies can help anchor you when the ground shifts beneath your feet.

2. Increased Fulfillment

A life built around more than just work is naturally more fulfilling. It means your joy isn’t contingent on a promotion, a raise, or a successful project. (It’s vital to point out that these are all things that are out of your control. YOUR joy should come from things you can control and ideally internally). Decentering your career allows you to find satisfaction in personal growth, hobbies, relationships, or even quiet moments of self-reflection.

3. Better Work-Life Balance

Cultivating interests and relationships outside of work makes it easier to maintain boundaries. This balance can help you avoid burnout and foster a healthier relationship with your job. You’re more likely to leave work at work and be present in the other areas of your life that matter.

4. Personal Growth

A well-rounded identity gives you the chance to grow as a person, not just as an employee. Whether you’re learning a new skill, nurturing relationships, or dedicating time to your mental or physical health, the process of personal growth makes you a more fulfilled, well-rounded individual. Plus you have more to talk about then just work.

Easy Steps to Build a Well-Rounded Identity

Explore Hobbies or Interests

What excites you outside of work? Maybe it’s photography, gardening, reading, or fitness. Dedicate time each week to something that brings you joy. This will give you an outlet for creativity or relaxation that has nothing to do with your career. Cozy hobbies like reading or gaming have helped me destress from work (and opened up a whole new world that I previously knew nothing about).

Reconnect with Relationships

This is something that I am guilty of not doing. When we’re caught up in work, it’s easy to let relationships take a backseat. Make it a priority to spend quality time with family and friends, even if it’s just for a coffee or a walk. These connections are a huge part of who you are beyond your professional life. (Hack: schedule a lunch or coffee date with someone special atleast once a month).

Prioritise Your Health

Whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional health, taking care of yourself should be a cornerstone of your identity. Commit to small habits like regular exercise, meditation, or even just unplugging from work at the end of the day.

Set Boundaries at Work

This is so SO SO IMPORTANT. Set clear boundaries so you can protect your time and energy for the things that matter outside of your job. This could mean not answering emails after hours or blocking off time for yourself during the day. Also, remember that no is a full sentence.

Practice Mindfulness

Being present and mindful in your everyday life can help you appreciate the moments beyond work. Whether it’s enjoying a meal, a conversation, or a peaceful moment, mindfulness can help you shift your focus away from constant work-related stress. Some mindfulness hacks that have helped me include taking my lunch break away from the office and journaling. It helps me focus on the outside world as opposed to just my desk.

Building a well-rounded identity takes time and intention, but the rewards are undeniable. You become more resilient, more fulfilled, and ultimately more grounded in who you are- regardless of what you do for a living. Start small, give yourself permission to explore the other dimensions of your life, and watch how it transforms your sense of self and happiness.


Oct
2024

What Does It Mean to Decenter Your Career?

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Mental Health

For many of us, our careers have become the cornerstone of our lives. It’s how we define success, measure our value, and gauge our self-worth. We hustle, grind, and pour ourselves into work, believing that climbing the ladder is the key to fulfilment. But what happens when that ladder starts to wobble- or worse, breaks entirely?

Decentering your career doesn’t mean you stop caring about your work or abandon your ambitions. Instead, it’s about shifting your focus. It’s about recognising that your career is just one piece of the puzzle- not the whole picture. You work to live. You don’t live to work. When you decenter your career, you give yourself the freedom to place value on other parts of your life, like relationships, passions, health, or personal growth.

For me, decentering began with small realisations. I used to define myself by my job title, by how well I performed, and how much I achieved. But after facing potential retrenchment and the loss of my cousin, I realised that no amount of career success could fill the void left behind. I had to ask myself: What is my life really about?

Decentering your career means accepting that while work can be meaningful, it shouldn’t be the sole driver of your happiness. It’s about finding balance, rediscovering the joy in things outside of work, and creating a life that feels fulfilling- whether you’re working or not.

In this series, I want to explore what decentering looks like in practice, why it’s important, and how it can change the way you view success. If you’ve ever felt burned out, overwhelmed, or like you’re chasing something that never quite satisfies, this is for you. Let’s rethink what it means to live a truly balanced, fulfilling life- starting with our relationship to work.


Oct
2024

categories: Career

For as long as I can remember, my career was the focal point of my life. (You may or may not know that I started writing at 12 and since then it’s always been my dream to have my words published in print). So even as a working adult, I tied my sense of worth and identity to the work I did, how much I achieved, and the praise I received. And I loved it- until I didn’t.

I burnt out too badly at a job I loved and my quick-fix, band-aid solution was to leave and find another job. And this worked. For a while.

It wasn’t until I was staring down the possibility of retrenchment in my “dream job”, with all the uncertainty that brings, that I started questioning what I had built my life around. At the same time, I lost my cousin. The grief was a shock to my system and suddenly, I was reminded how fleeting everything is. My priorities began to shift.

Decentering my career wasn’t easy. It felt like losing a part of myself. But in that loss, I began to see how much I had placed my career at the center of my happiness and how unhealthy that really was. In this series, I’ll be sharing my experiences and insights on why decentering your career isn’t about stepping away from ambition- it’s about redefining what truly matters.


Jul
2024

Remote Work Tips for Beginners

categories: Career, General Career Advice

So you’ve just gotten your first remote job! Congratulations! This is the start of a whole new style of working that you may or may not love. Many people love the idea of remote work but when it comes to the actual thing, it’s actually kinda tough. Here are my tips for acing your first remote role:

1. Do Come Up with a Routine

While it may seem easy to just roll out of bed and log on, creating a morning routine helps you to make the most of your remote work experience. This is also a nice way to ease into the day. Working remotely means no commute so I like to use my commute time to treat myself to something whether it’s a chapter of a book at the beginning of the day or an episode of a show at the end of the day.

2. Set Clear Boundaries

Create a dedicated workspace and regular working hours. Because you work from home it can get easy to give in and keep working or not working hard enough. Keep work and home separate in any which way that you can. This allows you to maximise your work time and home time without the two interlapping and leading you to burnout.

3. Exercise Regularly

One thing I was not prepared for as a WFH worker was the lack of movement. In fact, it got so bad that I had to go to the doctor for circulation issues. Set a timer and make sure that every so often you’re getting up and walking around. Incorporating regular exercise into your day helps prevent health issues and keeps your energy levels up.

4. Remember to Get Out Occasionally

It can be easy to let days go by and then you realise you haven’t left the house in a while. I once went a month without leaving the house. If your job allows, work from a coffee shop or a coworking spot every so often just so that you’re out in the world. Fresh air and a change of scenery can do wonders for your mental health.

5. Take Care of Your Mental Health

Working from home can be isolating. Make sure to check in with yourself regularly. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or lonely, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Prioritise self-care and do activities that help you relax and recharge.

6. Build a Community

Remote roles can get lonely at time but the good thing is YOU get to decide what your community looks like. Whether that’s joining virtual meetups, engaging in online forums, or connecting with colleagues via video calls, make an effort to build relationships and find your tribe. Having a support system is key to feeling connected and supported.

7. Consider Investing in Your Workspace

A comfortable and efficient workspace can make a big difference in your productivity and well-being. Consider investing in a good chair, a proper desk, and any other tools or equipment that can help you create an ergonomic and pleasant work environment.

8. Take Regular Breaks

Working at home means less time chatting with colleagues. But these tiny breaks in a day can add up and personally I tend to get cranky when I’ve spent more than 4 hours sitting at my desk (I’ve done this before and it is NOT pleasant). Schedule regular breaks to stretch, move around, and give your mind a rest. Short breaks can boost your productivity and keep you feeling fresh throughout the day.

With these tips you’ll be guaranteed to make the most of your remote work experience while avoiding the pitfalls. Are there any hacks that you use as a remote worker that I missed? Let me know below.


May
2024

My Top 4 Books About Writing

categories: Books, Career, Reviews

I’ve been writing for a really (REALLY) long time. And while I might not always have been a copywriter or a content writer (or atleast held the title), I have always been obsessed with becoming a better writer.

Okay wait, that statement isn’t exactly true. There was that period in Customer Care when I gave up on writing but I like to mentally block out that time. It doesn’t fit my personal brand of obsessive writer.

Anyway, here are four of my favourite books about writing:

1. On Writing by Stephen King:

This book was a really nice way of me returning to my roots as a novel writer. Part autobiography, part writing manual, this book is told in an easy-to-read manner by Stephen King. This book was incredibly well written and I walked away having learnt a few things.

2. A Self-Help Guide to Copywriting by Dan Nelken:

I picked this up from…someone. I don’t remember who. I do remember it was early on in my Marketing career and I never got around to finishing this book until now. This was a really helpful book that shone light on all of my writing fears. I finished this book in a matter of days and was left feeling like “Hey, you know what? I think I CAN do this writing thing”.

3. How to Freelance Like a Boss by Shea Karssing

This is the most recent book that I read. Like the book above, this one alleviated my fear of writing. More specifically freelance writing. This book had short chapters that were easy to understand and fun to read. Each chapter also ends with a really nice to-do list of tasks that help grow your freelance business.

4. Brand by Alizia Licht:

While not strictly a writing book. Brand was a nice reminder of how important it is to put in effort for your personal brand. For me, one of the reasons I write is to build my personal brand (and I like to focus on my personal brand because it helps me get new writing opportunities). It’s a cycle that I use often which is why this book is here.

Do you have any great books about writing? Drop me a recommendation below.


May
2024

What I Learnt From an Almost Layoff

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Welcome to The Real World

“So at some point during the next few months we’re going to have to let you go. We thought it was important to be transparent with you.”

I blinked. Once. Twice. I wasn’t sure what they wanted from me as a reaction. Was I supposed to be sad? Cry? For a Marketing job that didn’t even seem real.

When I took the job at ABC company, I was excited to “make a difference”. That was how the job was pitched to me. But after about 3 months, I realised there were a few issues. Like the fact that the projects never actually got executed. They planned (and planned poorly) but never actually reached the finishing line. The workload was much smaller than what I was used to and yet the team was always trying to look for shortcuts. It was like they didn’t even want to be a company. It was like they were playing a weird game of pretend.

But this isn’t about ABC and their inability to run a company. This is about the lessons that I learnt after my “almost-layoff”.

Always Have an Emergency Fund

I left a really stable job to join ABC. But from the second I exited, I made sure to prioritise my savings. I felt very strongly that the business would not be able to continue and I did not want to risk not having money when that happened. After a year at ABC, I had enough for a 6 month emergency fund.

Do Not Put a Company First

In order to not offend anyone at ABC, I had stopped posting on LinkedIn and blogging. Nothing was said to me directly but it was clear that they thought by doing these things that I was looking for another job. I was actually trying to build my personal brand and I halted those efforts because of ABC. Which now left ME in the lurch because of their actions.

The Importance of Building a Network

Shortly after being informed by ABC about this, I reached out to a few friends and they were able to secure me a freelance role. It wouldn’t replace my income immediately but it would provide some sort of income.

You’re Not Your Job

This one was tough for me because I have always been a writer. But I haven’t always been a writer for ABC and I had to remind myself of that. Whether I wrote for ABC or myself, I was always going to be a writer- whether it was my dayjob or not.

The redundancy took months to happen and even the process thereafter for paperwork was painful. But the time from the announcement to the actual lay-off was a period where I learnt much about myself, my style of workplace and the company that I had chosen to work for.

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