Summary
This article is all about showing yourself some love and standing up for what’s right, especially for all the amazing women out there in the workplace. We’re diving into feminist and psychological insights to highlight the importance of setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and being a fierce advocate for your own happiness and success. Get ready to rock your workplace with a culture of respect, empowerment, and equality!
Introduction
In today’s wild and “wonderful” workplaces, creating a vibe of respect and advocacy is key to making everyone feel valued and included. That’s where honoring yourself and others comes in – it’s all about recognizing each person’s worth and treating them like the rock stars they are. This article is your guide to navigating the world of self-love, boundary-setting, and advocacy, especially for women kicking butt in the workplace. With some scholarly wisdom and a whole lot of attitude, we’re gonna shake things up and make work a place where everyone feels respected, empowered, and supported.
Honoring Self: Setting Boundaries and Self-Care Swagger
The first step in being a workplace warrior is honoring yourself. That means knowing your worth and making sure you’re taking care of numero uno. Setting boundaries is crucial – it’s all about drawing the line and protecting your physical, emotional, and mental well-being (Brown, 2018). By laying down the law and saying no to burnout and stress, you’re showing yourself some serious love.
When I wake up in the morning, I do a series of stretches in bed as I recite gratitudes for everything: The Sun, my bed, my children, my home, my work-everything. I then sit at the edge of my bed, and breathe-deeply, returning to this side of life gives me hope. It helps that the rising sun peers through the blinds in my room. That morning light symbolizes hope. Smile, say thank you.
You know how whenever you see a baby, you’re instantly happy? You beam a smile, excited to meet this new creation? No? Just me? Well, okay. I just gush all over the place when I meet a baby. They make me happy! I treat myself the same way. I make it to the bathroom, and I’m met with my wide mirror. That’s where I can see myself! So I greet myself: “Hey, Queen! You’re so beautiful! Ready for another day? You’ve got this!” And I proceed to recite my affirmations of how great I am: “You are smart; capable, fierce, wise, loving, healthy…” And don’t let anyone tell you it’s crazy to talk to yourself.
That is the foundation of self care, changing your mindset about yourself! It’s like giving yourself a big ol’ bear hug.
Decide to take up space today. And get ready, because throughout the day, some things will test you. Someone will ask you to do something you know in your core doesn’t work; it’s almost like you’re being played with. You know a task is not an effective use of your time, yet, it’s projected to you as if it’s the most important thing to get done. Prioritize what needs to be done, and tackle each task one at a time. Breathe. Remember your office jargon. Remain professional. And to do that, you must breathe, take a beat. As in, don’t be quick to respond to emails. I had trigger fingers in the past. Oh, my comeback emails were laced with just enough professionalism and underhanded insults like, “please refer to my previous three emails where I answered this question. If you need further assistance, happy to slowly explain it to you…” Don’t do that.
Step away. Don’t be quick to react. You want to respond appropriately. These are boundaries. And know when you can simply say, “No.” I will begin adding, “No. This doesn’t align with my schedule today. Can we find a better time…?” Resetting your brain is crucial to avoid emotional reactions and burnout. I have a stepper next to my stand up desk (And hell no, I don’t stand at it all day). If I’m just attending a meeting, I get on my stepper; after a call, I get on my stepper. You could also take a quick 15-minute walks. It’s beautiful outside right now. Even a quick visit on social platforms is healthy (so long as 15-minutes don’t turn into an hour of unproductivity-I know, it happens). Frequent short breaks help you remain fresh, in control, and sharp.
Whether it’s getting enough sleep, eating your greens (or subbing for supplements), or just chilling out with your favorite Netflix show, self-care is your secret weapon for staying strong and resilient (Neff, 2011). So grab that face mask and get ready to slay the day!
Advocating for Self: Making Your Voice Heard and Going for Gold
But wait, there’s more! Advocating for yourself is all about speaking up and going after what you want. It’s about owning your voice, standing tall, and grabbing life by the horns (Ybarra, 2019). For women in the workplace, that means breaking down barriers, smashing stereotypes, and demanding the recognition and opportunities you deserve. Speak up.
And hey, advocating for yourself also means standing up against the BS – like harassment, discrimination, and all that other nonsense (Gupta, 2020). It’s about being a fearless ally, fighting for diversity and inclusion, and making sure everyone’s voices are heard. I can attest that nothing is more powerful than having an ally at work. When women come together in allyship, it is a force that makes the patriarchy quiver in their boots. So let’s have each others’ back. Sometimes, your allyship is the difference between someone losing their job, and things getting resolved. Also, each person deserves respect. And today’s injustice may be experienced by that person; the next time, you may need that support in the face of a slight. Because when we all lift each other up, we create a workplace where everyone shines.
Conclusion
In the end, it’s all about spreading the love and being fearless in the workplace. By showing yourself some serious self-love, setting boundaries like a boss, and advocating for yourself and others, you’re creating a workplace culture that’s all about respect, empowerment, and equality. So go ahead – embrace your inner Sojourner Truth, Frida Kahlo, Simone de Beauvoir, Yuri Kochiyama, Toni Morrison, Angela Davis, stand up for what’s right, and make your workplace the kick-ass environment it was always meant to be!
References:
– Brown, B. (2018). Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life. Zondervan.
– Neff, K. (2011). Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind. HarperCollins.
– Ybarra, V. D. (2019). Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements. Beacon Press.
– Gupta, A. (2020). Inclusion: Diversity, The New Workplace & The Will To Change. Simon & Schuster.
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