Very interesting article, Katarina. I have definitely experienced all of this as I navigate my career. I also took an optional break due to toxic work culture and second guessed my decision for months after. At the end of the day I had to choose myself and what would be meaningful to me, ignoring what others may or may not think. Seems like you are on the same track!
Im glad to hear you found it interesting, Andee :) it is indeed always hard to know what's right / not until later but a bad work culture rarely gets fixed so often only way is to change the environment
I agree with that, the best way is to change the environment. But here's the part that I still struggle with. I have worked at several places and most of them are toxic for one reason or another... hopefully I can find a good environment one day!
ugh yes, that resonates all too well with me. I then realized that any place where there's more than 1 employee can turn toxic ha. Maybe that's just how humans are, I dont know.
For instance, in my prior role I had last-minute meetings scheduled on random Saturday mornings. Naturally, I was always on edge because of that and this was not sustainable.
In my current job, it's a smaller team of ~20 and I know I wont ever have a last minute weekend meetings but my team is very nosey when it comes to my personal life and sometimes don't "read the room" well on what's appropriate to ask / say. Personally, I've decided I can live with this over last minute saturday meetings and simply keep my responses to personal questions vague.
One way I have dealt with all this is to actively pursue interests outside of work, focusing on things that are meaningful to me and really matter. That's why I write on Substack. I love to cook, so my first newsletter was born. I love to save money with small practical habits, so I started my second newsletter (https://habitstosave.substack.com/).
Working on these projects helps me focus less on work toxicity and channel my energy into positive things.
Sound advice, Katarina. As Joseph Campbell said, "Follow your bliss." We should also care less what others think of or want from us.
Another great read Katarina! Best advice I've received when it comes to work is to work around your life, not live around your work.
glad you liked it! yes, that should be the core of our relationship with work and life - work to live not live to work!
Very interesting article, Katarina. I have definitely experienced all of this as I navigate my career. I also took an optional break due to toxic work culture and second guessed my decision for months after. At the end of the day I had to choose myself and what would be meaningful to me, ignoring what others may or may not think. Seems like you are on the same track!
Im glad to hear you found it interesting, Andee :) it is indeed always hard to know what's right / not until later but a bad work culture rarely gets fixed so often only way is to change the environment
I agree with that, the best way is to change the environment. But here's the part that I still struggle with. I have worked at several places and most of them are toxic for one reason or another... hopefully I can find a good environment one day!
ugh yes, that resonates all too well with me. I then realized that any place where there's more than 1 employee can turn toxic ha. Maybe that's just how humans are, I dont know.
For instance, in my prior role I had last-minute meetings scheduled on random Saturday mornings. Naturally, I was always on edge because of that and this was not sustainable.
In my current job, it's a smaller team of ~20 and I know I wont ever have a last minute weekend meetings but my team is very nosey when it comes to my personal life and sometimes don't "read the room" well on what's appropriate to ask / say. Personally, I've decided I can live with this over last minute saturday meetings and simply keep my responses to personal questions vague.
I hear ya!
One way I have dealt with all this is to actively pursue interests outside of work, focusing on things that are meaningful to me and really matter. That's why I write on Substack. I love to cook, so my first newsletter was born. I love to save money with small practical habits, so I started my second newsletter (https://habitstosave.substack.com/).
Working on these projects helps me focus less on work toxicity and channel my energy into positive things.
You and me both. Substack is a great outlet for that