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Staying Connected To Family Could Be The Key To Career Success

4/29/2018

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 My family is weird and I love it.

When I was a kid we went on road trips and stopped at places like the BugFest in North Carolina (Yes, it's a whole event dedicated to etymology - I even ate stir fry with maggots and jello with ants.) We did science experiments for fun, went to Indian Princesses instead of Girl Scouts, and we didn't have TV growing up, but we did play a lot of games.
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Taking a normal picture is difficult when you're having so much fun.
Family is important to me, even with the weirdness (actually especially because of the weirdness!) When I moved away from home and college, I struggled in a lot of ways. It may have seemed easy to others, but I always believe you should remember everyone is fighting a hard battle. Now, I call my mom everyday and I try to get up to see my parents about once a month since I live so close. My brother lives down farther down South and I wish I saw him more, but I always try to soak up as much time as I can get with him.
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Thankful for a family who leaves a hole in the picture, just for you.
There are studies that say staying connected with your family and having a strong social network can actually increase your job satisfaction and how long you stay at your job. If you feel like you have family and friends to support you, your anxiety and stress levels are reduced because someone has your back. I can say first hand, both my parents have had my back throughout my career and I feel like I can take more risks in my job because I know that if I fail they will be there to help me get back on my feet. 

I have to say, I agree that having an outside source to bounce ideas off of is vital rather than always living and breathing your network at work. (How many times has my mom listened to me rant about work or another self-starting business idea? Too many times to count.) It's easy to turn to your best friend at work to sort out problems, but it's important to reach out to unbiased sources as well. My Dad has even left work just to take me to lunch and help me think through what I want to do with my life when I was worrying about whether advertising was the right career path.

Ever been stuck looking for a new job and feeling like you're just submitting your resume to the wide open internet? These days it feels like you have to know somebody to be somebody. Whether your parents are well connected or not, chances are they know someone who can at least get your foot in the door some where. It may not be your dream job or maybe it will be, but hey gotta start somewhere, right? Don't be afraid to ask for help! After all, your mom and dad are probably your best advocates. Just don't let them send your resume along with the baby picture they are so proud of. 
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Always supporting one another, through the big and small moments.
Though I have a strong family connection, I totally get that some people don't have great family dynamics. While the optimist in me says "use your family as a way to learn conflict resolution or how to work through problems" I whole-heartedly understand that some families may be the source of intense stress. So if your blood line isn't right to stay connected to, at least look for a strong social network of friends. However you build your "family" human connection is important for maintaining your mental health and could possibly lead to career success. 

We all get down and no one can do it alone, so take time to thank your family or friends for supporting you - and next time you get that promotion, call your mom. She may have helped you more than you think she did.
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Thanks mom for always being my #1 supporter! And for always picking up the phone, even when it's inconvenient.
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My brother is definitely smarter than me - from computer science to the art of beer tasting, I learn a lot from him and he's definitely helped me in my career whether he knows it or not.
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Strong families also know how to have a good laugh at one another. They teach you humility once you get into the work place.
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They say dogs are a man's best friend. Are cats a woman's?
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This too shall pass.

4/3/2018

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​Anxiety. Just thinking about it makes my palms sweaty.

I never really understood what it meant to have anxiety. I mean as a kid I was always a "worry wart," wondering when my mom was going to come pick me up, scared my illnesses were something much more dire... I even stopped eating carrots and spaghetti for a period of time because I was afraid of choking (don't worry, I've since gotten over this fear and firmly believe I'm developing x-ray vision with the amount of carrots I eat nowadays.)

But then I graduated from college and I started having panic attacks and just generally would feel off for days, even weeks at a time. I didn't necessarily feel stressed or acutely worried about anything in particular, yet here I was feeling like I was going crazy. I felt like no one else understood what I was going through and I didn't know what was wrong with me.

Turns out, it was anxiety. Nothing was necessarily wrong with me and I wasn't going crazy, but I did need to get it under control. It was affecting my daily tasks, my relationships, and my overall health. But if you've ever had an anxiety attack or prolonged symptoms, then you know how hard that can be.

So I want to share some healthy ways I have gotten my anxiety under control. When I start feeling the unnecessary adrenaline rush, the racing obsessive thoughts, etc, these few tips help me stay grounded without needing medication to help me get through those anxious feelings (oh, and a call over to mom always helps too!)

Exercise. It's not only good for your physical health, but also for your mental health. I don't exercise nearly enough and I'm embarrassed to say I barely get 5,000 steps in a day, but working up a sweat can drastically help improve anxiety. Not only does it help chemically release those good endorphins to improve your mood but it also supports your memory and helps you sleep better. All important to helping your body regulate it's chemical balance so that you're more relaxed and less likely to trigger an adrenaline spike. 

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Did you know Mint Tea is a way to relieve stress? When I'm at work and I need to chill out and calm down, I'll frequently grab a cup of peppermint tea and find a quiet spot to get my thoughts together. The menthol in the herbal drink is a muscle relaxant that helps quiet you physically so you can have have a calm sound mind.
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Not everyone experiences anxiety the same way, but for some it can be all "doom and gloom." Whenever I accidentally let these negative thoughts in, I write down in a notebook all the things I'm thankful for. Just by writing down all the good in my life and seeing it on paper can help remind me that "this too shall pass." A mantra that my mom taught me to say when I started to freak out. Some how remembering that nothing is really permanent or if it is, you have the power to change your perspective, can pull you out of those dark places quickly.
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While I like to think I have have a (web)MD, I can't diagnose myself - nor should I! But I can't help looking up things when I'm not feeling well or I notice something off. That's not healthy. It can spin out of control quickly when you read those awful words on webMD *has stomach ache, you have cancer* woof. Instead, write down your symptoms in a journal and track your progress. If you have prolonged headaches, nausea or other symptoms that are associated with your anxiety, rather than try and figure out what illness you might have, try to track down what might be causing those feelings. You may find there is a pattern and you can avoid specific triggers. (Of course if you are really feeling sick and you believe you should go to the doctor - definitely do so. The journal might even help them too!)
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Taking care of your mind is important. Mindfulness is a way to give yourself a mental break so anxious thoughts don't creep in when your guard is down. If you're into syncing your mind and body, try yoga (great for your posture and breathing too!) or if that's not your thing there are a few good apps you can download. Headspace is the one I've tried and would recommend. 10 minute guided meditations that give your brain a vacation for the day - and if you're feeling like you need some more away time, consider booking a meditation retreat!
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For as many things you can do to naturally help reduce your anxiety, there are probably just as many that do the opposite, for example reducing alcohol consumption is a big one I've found helps. Caffeine and sugar are also triggers and while the first is easy for me to avoid because I don't drink coffee, sugar is a horrible bad habit I just can't seem to kick yet. I read that gluten and dairy can also feed anxiety, but I have yet to test this theory... that would basically cut out 75% of my diet, so I'm not ready to go that hard core yet.

The last way to beat anxiety in a natural way is probably a no brainer, avoid negativity. Misery loves company and so does anxiety, so if you're finding you're hanging out with friends that constantly gripe about life or coworkers can't seem to let things go, remove yourself from those conversations. You'll find if you surround yourself with happy, positive people that you'll spend less time dwelling on your own negative thoughts and more time learning to focus on the here and now.
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    Katie is a full-time ad exec and a full-time adventurer based in Richmond, VA. 

    ​"Never ever doubt your worth in this world"

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