Mental Backpack
What to do on rough days, feeling pride in your work, and fun
I’m experimenting with the format of this newsletter. Who doesn’t love a little structure!
I was thinking about what I most appreciate from newsletters and what it feels like to read one that stays with me. And I decided it feels sort of like someone packing your mental backpack with delicious thought chocolates and maybe a handy tool or even a fun surprise that will carry you through the week.
I thought maybe you, too, would appreciate receiving a few things for your mental backpack. So I prepared some!
Something to think about. Something to try. And something to make you smile.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think.
FOR THOUGHT (excerpt from Today Was Fun)
I’m a fan of the word “most,” as in “Most work, most days, should be fun.” I’m an optimist, but I’m not unrealistic. Some work just isn’t enjoyable, for whatever reason. I don’t love making slide decks and I’ve spent ages in consulting anyway. Some days you tried your hardest and still you fail in ways big or small. Or someone gets upset about something you did. But you don’t need me to tell you that some days at work are bad. In those moments, it’s fine to not be having any fun.
There’s an old Norwegian response to “How are you?” that you might find relevant on these days:
Oppe og ikke gråter.
It means “up and not crying.”
On a not-that-fun kind of day, up and not crying is plenty.
FOR ACTION
How can you amplify the pride you and your team feel in your work? Can you share it with others in the organization? Can you refer back to your first version and enjoy how far you’ve come? Can you take time to just look at it and be happy?
I’ll be honest, sometimes I’m so excited about a metaphor or a turn of phrase that I’ll just read it over and over feeling pleased with myself. Self-indulgent? Perhaps, but I don’t care one bit. It feels good to applaud yourself!
Within the design world, “crit” sessions are prevalent as opportunities for others to critique your work to make it stronger. But once you’re done with those, maybe you hold a “fawn” session and invite people—or even just the team that made it—to comment on all the things they love about it and the impact it made. Why the hell not?
FOR FUN
Happy performance review season to all who celebrate :)
See you next week friends,
Bree
Please like/share/restack this post if you enjoyed it. It really helps me help more people have better days at work. Thanks, truly.
The first section made think of this poem I enjoy.
This too is rising by Nikita Gill
Everyday is not an opportunity
to improve yourself.
Some days are just there
for you to accept yourself
and look at the clouds.
This too is growth.
This too is rising.
Just existing is enough
on some days.
The flowers do it everyday
and make the world more beautiful
just by being here.
So do you.