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.

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.

Hating your job is perfectly normal IMO. Maybe you’ve just worked there too long and the little things are now starting to get on your nerves. Maybe you’ve been there just for a while but you can’t take it anymore. Believe me, I’ve been there. But what do you do when you hate your job?

1. Admit Your Feelings

I’m the type of person who can very quickly move to hating a job simply because I’m bored (or haven’t had enough sleep for more than 3 days). If you’re starting to feel negatively towards your job, own it. Try and figure out what it is that’s making you so unhappy. Is it a project that is more difficult than anticipated? A toxic work environment? Micro-manager from hell? Name your issue or issues.

2. Can You Fix It?

Can the issue be resolved? If it’s just a matter of a stressful project, when will it end? If you’re having an issue with your work environment can you move to another team? If it’s something that CANNOT be fixed, are you willing to leave the company based on this or stay and accept the problem?

3. Develop Your Exit Strategy

Ah, exit strategies. My favourite. I’ve done alot of those throughout the years and while they’re alot of work the end result (a better job) has always made me really happy. Start off by listing your current skills as well as what roles you’d be interested in. This is also a great time to make a list of what your ideal job looks like. If you have any contacts in the industry, reach out to let them know what you’re going through. I had casually mentioned to a few people that I needed a new role and within a week, they had found me a new gig.

4. Start Networking (If You Haven’t Already)

Start networking with others in your field or in fields that you want to work in. LinkedIn is great for this. If you know an organisation that you’d like to work for, reach out to the people in the hiring team. This might sound intimidating (I know it felt super intimidating to me) but I did this once after a friend pushed me into it. I didn’t get the role but I also discovered that the organisation wasn’t a fit for me and my experience anyway.

5. DO Remember You Might Not Find a Job Immediately

This is very important. I had been job searching for 2 months straight and still didn’t find a role. It was really demotivating- and at the time, I still HAD a job. Make peace with the fact that it might take you a while to find a job. Because of this, it might make sense for you to check if you have enough funds before you try this next step.

6. Quit

Never have I ever quit from a job without something lined up. I mean I’d love to but as I get closer to 30 I can feel that window closing. If you’re really unhappy in your job and you have the means to, you might want to quit. Personally I feel like life is too short to be working in crappy jobs but also all those bills aren’t going to pay themselves.

Hating your job is tough but it doesn’t have to be something that defines you. You can decide at any moment to turn things around. Yes, society has conditioned us to believe that almost everyone hates their job but it’s possible to work a job that you love too.

So you’ve decided on a career change or you want to learn something new? But the prices for formal education is a bit much for you. No problem. Here are 5 easy ways to upskill yourself without harming your wallet.

1. YouTube

Okay this may or may not be news to you but YouTube actually has pretty helpful tutorials. I dismissed YouTube as a learning source until I discovered that tons of Marketing organisations have YouTube channels with really helpful videos. Simply search the topic you’re looking to learn more about and let the social media algorithms do their magic.

2. Spotify

Spotify has a great array of podcasts on almost everything. If you’re a Spotify user, this is an easy way to upskill yourself while you’re commuting or running errands.

3. Udemy

Udemy has courses on everything and they are always having sales. Simply add courses to your wishlist and you can purchase them when the price drops.

4. Free Resources

Ah, the good old-fashioned way to learn- the library. Pop in to your library and see if they have a book on the topic you’re looking to learn more about. Be warned though, if your library is anything like mine (i.e outdated) you might not find exactly what you’re looking for. I went in for a Copywriting book and while they weren’t able to assist, I did come back with a book on writing Sales Letters (close enough).

5. Free Online Resources

Lots of websites or blogs have resources that can help you learn more. For example, Hubspot has great Marketing resources. Scour your social media network of choice (Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok) and connect with creators or brands who offer free online resources.

Are you going to look into upskilling this year? What is your favourite educational resource? Let me know below.

Salary is great. You can buy pretty shoes. You can go to nice places. You can get through the month without dipping into your overdraft or swiping your credit card. But a decent salary isn’t the only thing that matters when you’re looking for a job. Here are 6 benefits besides salary to look for in a new job.

1. Medical Aid:

This is actually the first thing that I look for in a job and the reason for that is I am a person (in perfectly good health) who really uses her medical aid. I use it for blood tests, optometry, the dentist and visits to my GP where I explain to him that I have bad PMS and he just passes it off . Fun. Seriously though, medical aid is totally unnecessary until you actually need it. To me it’s just a really expensive way of ensuring that when I do get sick, I am able to get proper care.

2. Paid Time Off:

I didn’t think of this as a benefit until I joined my current job which offers 21 leave days. That is practically a whole month. Are there other companies doing this? I need to know. Paid time off is important to ensure that you take care of yourself and avoid burnout.

3. Work From Home:

Again, something that I didn’t think was a benefit until my current role. Work from home, especially if you are an introvert, means less commute time and more time to spend with your family. You might be willing to settle for a role with a lower salary if it is a WFH role (since you save costs on commuting, food and other in-office costs)

4. Training and Professional Development:

A business that believes in investing in their employees is definitely one you want to join. Training and professional development benefits both you and the business so if you come across a business that values this, it’s an automatic green flag.

5. Flexible Work Hours:

As an insomniac, flexible work hours are my favourite thing. You’re telling me when I can’t sleep at 3AM, I can work??? This might sound unhealthy to many but hear me out. If I am wide awake at 3AM and I know I can get work done, why shouldn’t I? It beats me sitting at my desk at 2PM, trying not to fall asleep because I have a deadline to hit.

6. Work Equipment:

Companies that provide their staff with work equipment bring me so much joy. This is another way of a company investing in you and showing that they want you to be able to do the best that you can do. Companies often provide computers or routers for their staff which helps ease costs. Bonus points if you throw in a back-up power supply. Eishkom for who?

What are some benefits that would make you consider a lower salary? I’d love to know below.