I’ve used to-do lists and planners to try to bring some order to things, to help me remember what needs to be done, and to keep track of goals. I’ve been using habit tracking to help me maintain healthy routines. I’ve had to reassess what is really important to me, and figure out how that changes over time, and sometimes I’ve quit things, giving present-me some room to breathe and to better support future-me.
Read MoreWriting is an important skill to have in a variety of professional contexts, and while there certainly are differences between writing an email to your boss, writing a blog post, and writing a book, there are also common skills between them that can help level up your written communication across the board.
Read MoreI wanted to make sure I was being mindful and deliberate about how I interact with the people around me. Am I choosing to act in ways that I know will be beneficial to my coworkers? It takes time to develop trust and empathy in a new group, but there are a couple questions you can ask yourself to help understand how to better work and interact with the new people around you.
Read MoreAfter years of negative environments, in an effort to avoid getting stuck in a toxic and unhealthy atmosphere again, brains can get so far into constant vigilance mode that they go too far and end up struggling to trust anything, which can be unhealthy and isolating itself. Regaining trust after it's been broken is hard, whether that's trust in another person, the tech industry, or yourself. It takes time, but as a helpful twitter bot has also reminded me, it is possible.
Read MoreSaying no to more things allows me to do better at the things I choose to say yes to. Remember that you couldn't realistically say yes to every single opportunity that comes along even if you did want to do them all. In an industry that isn't necessarily going to treat you well or value your contributions, being able to do these things yourself and take care of your own physical, mental, and emotional health becomes even more critical.
Read MoreMy routines for public speaking, looking at talk preparation, travel and logistics strategies, and things to think about doing before, at, and after a conference.
Read MoreHow to maintain some boundaries between having a brand and being a regular person on the internet: Post as if someone you don't know with no sense of boundaries is going to be reading this content with a fine-tooth comb three years in the future.
Read MoreWhen you’re severely burnt out, cynicism and pessimism become coping mechanisms, because if you expect mistrust and misalignment from the beginning, you won’t be negatively surprised by them, as if the expectation of hurt will keep it from stinging quite so badly. Snark becomes a shield you hide behind because it’s easier to do that than to deal with being disappointed by another colleague or company.
Read MoreYou know how the Sims have social meters that get all red when they don’t get enough interaction with other Sims? That’s me, except with alone time at conferences. Here’s some strategies I’ve developed for surviving conferences as an introvert.
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