Wild Women Part 1: Inspirational Female Bosses

                       Off the back of Trump’s inauguration and his views on women I felt it was important to outline some of the women who have shaped and inspired me both personally and creatively. I’m going to go in chronological order and start with those who inspired me when I was young.  

 

 

 

Jacqueline Wilson  

 I cannot overstate the importance of my favourite author growing up. My love of language, reading and writing is based on my mother and grandmother buying me each and every new Jacqueline Wilson book. My grandmother was a primary school teacher, and as soon as I was old enough she always instilled the importance of reading as widely as I could. I was obsessed with Jacqueline Wilson’s story telling and how relatable it was and how it really felt as though a friend was telling you a story - this has become a theme in my own personal style of writing and this blog.  I also met her at book signing and she was LOVELY.

 

My Mother 

 Continuing with the theme of people who shaped me when I was young, it’s only as I’ve gotten older that I’ve realised how much of an inspiration my mum was and still is to me. This can be summed up by my favourite item of clothing of my mum’s when I was growing up - a t shirt with a list of wild women, including Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin, Rosa Parks, Debbie Harry, and Joni Mitchell. The most inspiring part of this list, however, was that the last name read ‘AND YOU’. I’ve always remembered this and particularly tried to hold onto it when I feel low. My mum’s support, much like the memory of the t-shirt, is embedded deeply and is always constant. On a more practical level she’s inspired me by setting up her own successful therapy business, buying her own house, running self-development courses and always supporting me in everything I do.  

 

Check back on Rachelrelates next week for part 2 of this series on ass kicking women … :)

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How Being Creative Can Actually Support Your 9-5

                      All too often we hear of the struggles of combining a job you’re passionate about but pays nothing with holding down your 9-5.. Well I’ve actually found that since I started this blog it’s been the opposite and here is a few reasons why..

-         I don’t feel creatively stifled or resentful. This is a big one – you can often feel like you’re going nowhere if you do a mundane office job but if you’re pursuing something you’re passionate about alongside that then you feel like you are making some sort of tracks in the area you hope to eventually get paid work in.

-          I’ve got better at organizing my time. I’ve had to! Otherwise there’s no way anyone can hold down a job and give creative projects the time and attention they deserve. Also when a chunk of your time is spent doing something you love you want to split your time and make sure enough is given to your chosen creative outlet.

-          My work ethic is better. Because you raise your game naturally for something you want to do and are passionate about this for sure rubs off on other areas of your life like actual work and exercise for example. The determination I have has also massively increased in all areas of life!

 So don’t give up on what you really want to do and just focus on the fact that you won’t be in your day job forever as long as you work hard enough and have passion. But in the meantime you may as well make your boss love you whist you’re still there – you may even get a pay rise and you can put it towards pursuing your true calling ;)

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Anxiety in the Workplace and How to Manage

                     So generally I think it’s really important to talk about mental health in the workplace. I can only speak for myself but my work place anxiety is very specific – I have a deep rooted fear of messing up, being fired or generally being told I’m not good enough. I can even remember my first job – just working behind the tills at a shop, I would be terrified to give someone the wrong change or not clean an area properly after the shop closed.

It’s very physical for me. Like if I’m physically away from something or someone I don’t think it can hurt me so I avoid people and situations I don’t think I can deal with. My symptoms are also very physical such as shaking and feeling like I'm going to throw up. As you can imagine, this doesn’t work very well for meetings or bosses who sit right next to you… and productivity can massively suffer too making you feel even worse – talk about vicious circle.

It’s easy to feel all of the below..

“It’s all going to go wrong”

“I’m not meant to be here”

“My boss is going to shout at me”

But the good news is there’s small ways to overcome these thoughts which can lead to big change! Speaking to your boss, doing breathing exercise at your desk and having a proper lunch all help. Also trying to really focus on the below positive mantras:

Affirmations – changing your thought patterns:

“I am meant to be here”

“You’re doing it just right”

“I’m in control”

Trying to really stay in control and top of your workload helps, lists and regularly checking in with your boss is great for this. Buy some nice stationery with some inspirational quotes and keep it at your desk for motivation!

Drink lots of water – always have some at your desk and have a proper breakfast – fruit/ porridge for example!

A support system of colleagues is also vital to make work that bit more fun and pull you out a rut or a low period if you feel like you’re in one. This also makes you feel much less alone which lovely. On that topic… you’re not alone at all, so many people suffer with imposter syndrome at work or get stressed or depressed at work and struggle to organise themselves and feel overwhelmed.

Try and constantly remind yourself of things you did well and times when you and boss have got on really well and really hold on any positive feedback to get you through the lower times.

And lastly – the most important one SWITCH THE F OFFLINE AFTER WORK! This one took me years to learn but it’s so important. The only way you will give your all at work is if you’ve re charged your batteries fully and gone off emails and everything.

Good luck – and go forth and be a boss man/woman – you can do it!!!

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