Texts. Phone calls. E-mails.
Social media. Updates. Endless alerts. It can all be too much. Lately, I’ve
been making a conscious effort to pull back on all the above. Sometimes, a break
is much needed. I don’t like a lot of noise or talking period, so I often find
that unplugging helps. Being plugged into so many different things everyday can
be draining and overwhelming, yet, so many people have made it part of their
everyday lives. I’ve found that I’m much happier, sleep better, and more at
peace when I’m not aimlessly scrolling through my iPhone or worried about what
any and everybody else is doing. Believe it or not, there was once a time when
there were no smart phones. People were present, everyone didn’t know everyone
else’s business, and didn’t over share as much. These days? People have way too
many ways to access each other, and while technology has improved our way of
life in some ways, it’s also become a hindrance in others. Unplugging is
beneficial because there’s great peace in silence, eliminating distractions,
disruptions, noise, and unnecessary pressure and stress. As you pull back some,
maybe you can experience the benefits, too. Perhaps less is more.
As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...