If you are a professional women working in a corporate office with a 9-5 life, and back to back meetings, 5-minute-lunches and PowerPoint slides are your best friends, and you sometimes just feel like your feet are the biggest source of your daily pain (other than those difficult customers/coworkers/managers) this article is written for you.

We are on our feet a lot. Like, A LOT.

There’s always more to accomplish than there is time to accomplish things. I get it. I lived that life. But if you forget to take care of yourself once in a while and keep your health and sanity in check, you won’t last long. Working in the corporate world is a marathon, not a sprint. (Although at times it may feel like a series of sprints.) On Cubicle Chic today, we’ll talk about a simple and quick way to find relaxation and reduce stress at work. Here it is…

Take care of your feet!! 

Our feet support our entire body weight as we move from meeting rooms back to our desk and back to meeting rooms. What do we typically reward them with, as stylish women in the corporate world? The cruelty of high heels and pointed pumps! With that… let’s talk about the first tip on taking care of your feet.

1. Wear comfortable shoes without compromising on style

The reality is that we wear those torturous shoes for the looks to begin with. So, if the resolution requires us to sacrifice the looks, it’s not much of a resolution, is it? Allow me to introduce me to Miss Madel here… they make perfectly stylish shoes for the corporate workplace, and yet their shoes come with zero compromises in the style department. You can use the code JESSICA10 to get 10% off on your purchase in the next two weeks! What I’m wearing in the photos is the Donna in nude, and I LOVE the color for the spring and summer season. If you wear a lot of black and white, these beauties will add a refreshing pop of color to your outfit.

There are a few other styles offered by Miss Madel that are really pretty –

Miss Madel Lana Orange

Miss Madel Charlie Rose

Miss Madel Mila Baby Pink

2. Utilize acupressure points to relieve feet pain.

If you, especially your feet, have had a long day, try massaging these pressure points that will help alleviate some discomfort. Every point is meant for different kinds of pain/pressure relieve, according to Smarter Healing. Click on their link above to see what each acupressure point is meant to do & how to massage them.

3. Wear well-ventilated shoes (or create a safe space to take them off at work.

This applies to those of us whose sweat glands are unfortunately wired in the downward direction. I’ll be the first to admit I suffer from sweaty feet syndrome (yes, that’s a term, coined by me). The mule design of the Miss Madel Donna shoes is obviously a very ventilating design. But other ways to find well-ventilated shoes include finding the right material. For example, I’ve heard that Rothy’s makes very well-ventilated flats. I haven’t tried the brand myself, but I would share with you guys once I have!

4. Manage your salt intake

It’s a well-known fact that consuming too much salt will cause more swelling. As we age, the swelling may occur more in the feet area or simply shows more prominently. If you want to understand the medical mechanism of how this happens, you can look into what is edema.  But this tip is simple. Avoid that salty food, drink lots of water, and you will be OK!

5. Exercise your feet/leg regularly at work

This is my personal favorite. Whether you’re stuck on a 3-hour spreadsheet spree or a dead-end teleconference that’s not going anywhere, these exercises are perfect for these occasions. On Live Strong, you can find a list of discreet workouts you can do at your desk. Glute clenches, stomach vaccum, or knee lifts… take your pick, and exercise (discretely) away! If you have the luxury of time and space, you can even do some lunges, calf raises, or mountain climbers. All of these exercises are meant to increase circulation to your legs and keep pain and swelling away from you!

Disclaimer: Thank you Miss Madel for sponsoring this blog post. I really enjoyed the Donna shoes and would be wearing it on the regular!

The post The Single Most Effective Technique to Reduce Stress at Work appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

No one knows better than Michael Scott about the importance of friendships! Friends joke with one another, right? (Maybe not so much about each other’s financial situation and mother’s health…) What we do know is that humor is the penicillin for all bad situations.

It’s especially important for the workplace. Between delivering results, meeting goals, getting along with unpleasant coworkers (or even worse, bosses), we don’t often leave a whole lot of mental energy to check on our sanity. Having the right kind of friends is the quickest way to maintain sanity in the work life. In today’s post, we will talk about the 4 types of friends that help you stay happy and sane at work.

Top & Jeans: c/o of Dailylook Elite; Handbag: c/o Palla A-Handbag; use “@cubicle_chic” for 15% off.

Top & Jeans: c/o of Dailylook Elite; Handbag: c/o Palla A-Handbag; use “@cubicle_chic” for 15% off.

4 types of friends that help you stay happy and sane at work.

1. The fellow victim

Whatever hardship, whoever the villain, when you spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week at any place, there will be times and people that make you wish you weren’t there. Whether be it a last-minute project lands on your place because no one wanted to touch it, a grumpy co-worker that has no boundary and holds your ears hostage for conversations you do not wish to have, or a sadistic boss that has no respect for your time…these are times when it makes things so much better if someone else is suffering with you. It’s not as much that the other person is also suffering, but that you aren’t alone in dealing with this misfortune.

You see, trying to explain what’s going on at work to someone else, such as a significant other, a family member, or a close friend, is like trying to sing a song through humming – it takes someone familiar with the issues to get it 100%. If you have a fellow coworker is going through the same exact issues as you are, a comradery automatically forms, and you have an instant alliance. That alone sometimes is the key to reducing perceived pain and difficulty caused by a particular work situation.

2. The sarcastic bitch

Along the same line as having a fellow victim, you need a sarcastic friend who isn’t afraid of being a bitch sometimes (towards your common enemy, not you). I should caveat this by saying that this has to be a sarcastic bitch who has a lot of empathy. This whole dynamic works based on her/his understanding of your situation and willingness (or natural tendency) to bitch at what/who is causing you pain at work. Simply put, this person is an active practitioner of empathy. We all know how venting works and it’s most effective when someone else is not only agreeing but chiming in. It’s also proven in studies that empathy in the workplace makes us happier and more productive.

3. The strategic mentor

If having the first two kinds of friends is how you deal with adverse situations passively, the strategic mentor is how you deal with the situations proactively. Once you’ve vented and moved on from the heat of the moment, it’s time to think about how to prevent the situation from occurring again, or how to deal with it better next time. Sure, more likely than not, what is within your power to improve the situation may be minimal, but this is where a strategic mentor comes in. A strategic mentor is, hopefully, someone a bit more seasoned than you are in the workforce, knows you well, has your benefit at heart, and isn’t afraid to tell you the truth. You need this person to analyze the situation for you with as little bias as possible. The best outcome in talking to a strategic mentor about an adverse situation at work is that you come out of it 1) feeling less bitter because you know you’re not at fault, or 2) feeling secure and comfortable in knowing how to prevent the situation again or how you need to improve in order to avoid such an event from happening again.

Top & Jeans: c/o of Dailylook Elite; Handbag: c/o Palla A-Handbag; use “@cubicle_chic” for 15% off.

Top & Jeans: c/o of Dailylook Elite; Handbag: c/o Palla A-Handbag; use “@cubicle_chic” for 15% off.

Top & Jeans: c/o of Dailylook Elite; Handbag: c/o Palla A-Handbag; use “@cubicle_chic” for 15% off.

4. The cat/dog lover or bearer of good food

There are a few things in life that put you in instant nirvana. Puppies, kittens, and good food are three of such things. Studies have shown that looking at puppies and kitten actually lowers blood pressure. If you’re a cat lover and you happen to have a coworker who is also a cat lover, the cat talk is so therapeutic on an otherwise busy and stressful workday. The occasional cute puppy/kitten GIFs that come through your email may have the same effects. Similarly, the ambiance of the entire office space can be lifted by a box of baked goods, a plate of lunch to be shared by the group or a bag of freshly harvested lemons from someone’s backyard. Don’t underestimate such little joys in life and the people that make them happen – they are increasing the quality of your work life without your conscious awareness.

Top & Jeans: c/o of Dailylook Elite; Handbag: c/o Palla A-Handbag; use “@cubicle_chic” for 15% off.

Conclusion

There you have it. The four kinds of friends at work that will keep you sane and make your work life better. If you already have these four friends, congratulations! Get them a nice token of appreciation when the next holiday comes around. If you don’t have these four friends, it’s time to start paying attention. I suggest trailing the smell of donuts next time you sense them at work. Find out who brought them, and chat up that person!

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenufse

The post 4 Types of Work Friends That Keep You Sane appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Dress: c/o London Times Melissa Midi Dress in Size 6

June is graduation season. As new graduates toss their caps in the air, they are also dreaming of their future, creating new paths, and dipping their toes in fields that may or may not turn out to be their life-long careers. To many, starting out their career with a big name – getting the shiny Fortune 500 company mark on their resume – seems like the correct entry point. We all know the allure and the vanity reasons why these names are good for those shorter-than-you’d-like-resumes. Sure, bigger companies tend to pay better and provide better benefits and boost your resume with more credibility. But what about the fact that you get to “wear more hats” in a small company environment, where you have more opportunities to apply yourself?

As the title conveys, a new graduate has a ton to gain from a working in corporate America.  Aside from the prestige and credit that the name of a big company carries, it’s the perfect place to build a solid foundation when it comes to interpersonal skills, networking ability, and even work ethics, among others. As for wearing more hats and being able to do more in a small company setting, worry about that when you have 5+ years under your belt. You have plenty of opportunities to wear different hats for the rest of your career. Think about building a house – the depth of your foundation matters more than the width. After you’ve got a solid foundation is when you can start to get fancy with applications or showcasing of your skills.

Definition of Corporate America

Before we dive into what makes corporate America the prime place to start a young professional’s career, let’s define what I mean by corporate America. It doesn’t have to be a publicly traded or conventionally “large” company. But to be considered the right environment, the company should:

• have at least 50-100 employees
• have somewhat defined functional groups & established processes
• have a steady revenue stream (you’re not worried about the company going out of business next month)
• have clearly stated and shared & business goals

The defining features that constitute “corporate America” are critical because they have everything to do with the exact benefits that a new graduate would gain from working at such a company.  If you are one of the graduates of 2018 and are considering beginning your career in the corporate world, here’s what you’re in for.

Why Corporate America Is The Best Place to Start Your Career

1. In the beginning, your employer has a lot more to offer than you do

In the first few years of your career, what you give to your employer will pale in comparison to what they can provide you. Everything that you are going to learn in the first year of work is what will propel you and your career forward. Whether be it learning the technical details on how to master your job, getting people to listen & pay attention to you when you have a great idea, resolving interpersonal conflicts when you work with difficult personalities, or simple time management tactics… the list goes on. This is what I call real-world education. In Corporate America, as opposed to small businesses or start-ups, you’re more likely to find professionals who you can model your behavior after, learn specific lessons from, and ample opportunities to hone in on the skills you’ve acquired. Yes, you will work hard and contribute as much as you can. But in those formative years of your career, soak up as much as you can in your work environment. That’s what will count in the long run.

Dress: c/o London Times Melissa Midi Dress in Size 6

2. Low-risk learning in a sheltered environment

When you are a single person on a big rowboat with a big crew, if your oar breaks or if your arm cramps up for a few minutes, the boat will continue to move forward. It may slow down or lose efficiency for little, but it won’t come to a complete stop. This is what I mean by low-risk learning – in the corporate world, results always come from a team. This environment makes an individual’s learning particularly low-risk and safe from creating actual, lasting, and irreversible damage. Additionally, you are hopefully being mentored and developed by someone, i.e. your boss, who will benefit from your progress and improvement. This was never the case when you were in school.

3. A readily available and rich network for you to tap into

One of the reasons why I emphasize that this has to be at least a 50-100 employee company is because this determines the size of the network that your employment brings you. Outside of your coworkers and managers in the department you are in, there are many more professionals that you could reach out to. If you are the passive type of are unsure of your networking skills, there are always company events and activities that put you in the vicinity of other coworkers in the same company. Talk to people. Get to know folks outside of your own functional group. When you are young, this is how you learn about what other paths there are in the business world and what people do in different fields. Heck, this is where you develop your networking skills by talking to people that work at the same company with whom you don’t regularly interact with.

4. Understanding of how a cog helps the wheel turn

“A cog in a wheel” is often used to describe the insignificance or lack of a single person’s impact in a larger environment. But when you first start out with not a whole lot under your belt, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be revolutionizing the company anyway. So, this is the perfect timing to be learning how, a little and new cog you may be, you can fit into this new and complex ecosystem. Take the time to learn the complexity of the organization, the expectation of each functional group, what the check and balance levers are at, and where dependencies and co-dependencies exist. This way when you are more skilled and equipped, you will more effectively and efficiently create impact.

Dress: c/o London Times Melissa Midi Dress in Size 6

5. An existing roadmap when you are directionless or lost

In the beginning of your career, where you end up finding employment isn’t always the result of clear-cut decision making, and definitely not an end-all-be-all. If you are ambitious like I was when I started out, you spend a lot of time thinking about what you want to be 5 or 10 years into your career. When you work in a corporate setting, there are many people that have been in your shoes when they started out. So when you “don’t know what you want to do when you grow up”, there are existing roadmaps for you to follow. Junior to senior. Specialist to Manager. Manager to Director. These are defined paths that make up the corporate ladder. When you don’t have a specific direction yet, it’s simple to just follow a defined path.

Dress: c/o London Times Melissa Midi Dress in Size 6

Dress: c/o London Times Melissa Midi Dress in Size 6

Photos by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post Why Corporate America Is The Best Place to Start Your Career As A New Graduate appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Guys, it’s the return of Career Girl Chat!! It’s been a hot minute since I last interviewed and wrote an episode. The very last career girl we chatted was Jennie Yoon from Casetify and Kinn, and before that, it was Amanda Weiss from Poshmark. And speaking of Poshmark, I actually met today’s Career Girl, Paulina Mo at a local San Diego Poshmark in May of 2015.  Paulina, aka Lil bits of Chic, was one of the local OG fashion bloggers that Poshmark invited to the event, and I was a newbie Poshmarker that wanted to meet other Poshmarkers. We didn’t exactly connect at the event, but I started following Paulina on her Instagram account.

Related:
Career Girl Chat || From HR Intern to Director of Biz Dev at Casetify – How did she do it?!
Career Girl Chat || Work hard, stay humble, and be kind. Opportunities will follow

Fast forward to 2018, with me cranking up my blogging efforts and Paulina being on her maternity leave (Paulina and her husband recently welcomed this little bundle of joy into their world), we had the chance to catch up and I decided to learn more about her professional career in finance, and invited her to share her career experience with Cubicle Chic readers.

Rapid fire questions – what was your 1) college major, 2) your first job, and 3) how many resumes you sent out before you got your first & current job?

Paulina:  My college major was Management Science (Economics), my first job was a cashier at a water park, I only sent one resume to my old boss as a courtesy because she had already recruited me, and for my current job I sent one resume in to be considered for an open position and received a call back shortly thereafter.

When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?

Paulina: When I first graduated, I knew that to be financially secure I would be doing some form of a job like the one I am in today- in the financial services industry, working with finance.

Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they?

Paulina: I am satisfied where I am in my career, I also feel like starting a family has had me rethink my priorities and requirements in a job. Now I like flexibility (work-life balance), a good workplace culture and great benefits.

What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?

Paulina: Mentorship was vital to my success. I had great bosses and mentors who believed in me, but there was one who really invested in me. She recruited me as her assistant when I was a college student and had seen my work ethic when I worked in a bank branch. She mentored me, pushed me to get my securities licenses, went so far to sponsor me in them and opened my eyes to the career track I’m on. I’m currently not mentoring right now but it is definitely something I would like to pay forward in the future.

If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have.

Paulina: I learned very important lessons from failures as they taught me not to repeat the same mistake, one of them being my relationship with credit cards or living outside of my means. Once I paid off every cent of my debt and student loans (which took me 3.5 years) I felt so unburdened and I vowed never to let that happen again. I live within my means, I have a good relationship with money and feel financially secure.

Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this?

Paulina: In 5 years, my son would be 5 years old, I would hopefully (God willing) have another child and be happy in my full-time career and blogging career. I’m sure blogging will have evolved by then but hope that I can continue utilizing it as a creative outlet.  Professionally, I would like to still be challenged and (for lack of better words) kicking butt!

If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience?

Paulina: I look into their track record, or some sort of indication of their work ethic, either by checking on their references or if they were referred by a colleague. I think work ethic and attitude is essential especially in positions that don’t require years of experience because there is a lot of continuous learning so a go-getter attitude is better than an experienced whiny worker!

Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?

Paulina: My go-to office outfit tends to be a fit and flare dress (that is not short of course) with a fitted blazer. I alternate between high heels and black flats. After working in Corporate America for so long I have discovered that this combination is a comfortable yet stylish option!

The post Career Girl Chat || The Finance Girl With a Fashion Blog appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-Bag

Horrible Bosses Are Everywhere

In the corporate world, there is one person that has the power to make your work experience a living paradise or living hell. This person is your manager or ze boss (cue weird foreign accent) as I’d like to say.  We’ve probably all heard horror stories involving a sadistic, lazy, incompetent and all the while demanding boss that ruined someone’s life at work, or their life period. We don’t nearly hear enough stories about the great bosses.  In fact, between 13-36% of American workers report that they have a dysfunctional (abusive, inept, malicious, etc) manager.  Honestly, I can probably write a book based on my own experiences and all my friends and families’ stories combined. But that wouldn’t be news to anyone, would it? The truth is, it’s easy to be a bad manager and very difficult to be a great boss. I sometimes think that perhaps by default, if we don’t try hard, we are all bad managers. After all, we all have what it takes to be a little self-centered, or insecure, or lazy, or just not giving a shit sometimes, amirite?

Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-Bag

Great Bosses Are Rarely Talked About

This is what brings me to today’s post – let’s talk about the qualities that actually make a great boss! In my 10 years of corporate career, I’ve had my share of bad as well as great bosses. But almost every single one of my manager has qualities that I respected and appreciated. I reflected on my experience working with all these managers  (and perhaps wondered what they wished I’d known but they wouldn’t tell me…) and came up with 10 signs that indicate you actually have a great boss at work.

How many of these great boss qualities does your current manager have?

Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-Bag

Disclaimer: I use the pronoun SHE because I like the way it sounds. In my career, I’ve had exactly 6 male and 6 female bosses so far but the ones that have impacted me most deeply happen to be female. That’s also why I am using the pronoun She. Some of these characteristics actually belonged to my male bosses.

1. She asks you for your opinion in your area of expertise and values your expertise

It’s an incredibly empowering thing when your manager defers to you in areas of your expertise.  This great boss of mine always managed to do this to give me opportunities to shine and to have the chance to make an impact instead of telling me what to do.

2. She expects a lot from you and trusts in your ability to complete things

It’s not that she is simply laisser-faire and doesn’t like to interfere with your day-to-day. A great boss actually expects a lot from you. She knows that you will put 100% into everything you do and that you will deliver on time. A great boss doesn’t need to constantly check in with you, ask if you’re making progress, or monitor how you’re doing things. She simply trusts you to deliver when the results are due.

3. She protects her people from outside criticism but delivers it individually and tactically when needed

This is an important character in a manager if she wants a loyal team with members that trust her. She shields her team from others who have directly negative feedback or criticism to her team’s performance. But this protectiveness doesn’t’ mean she would never deliver criticism. A great boss will still let you know where you need to improve, but her feedback is delivered tactfully, purposefully, and with context.

4. She respects her employee’s time

This is a big one for me, personally. A great boss is a good time manager and respects everyone’s time around her. She shows up to meetings on time, doesn’t set up excessively long meetings, and always has an agenda for her meetings. She also shields her team from outside projects that are time-sucks or with unclear/indefinite timelines.

5. You look forward to your 1:1 meetings

As an extension of sign #5 – a great boss makes sure your 1:1 meetings are productive and your time together is well utilized. This means when you have questions, she has solutions or at least suggestions. This means she is an insightful and intentional person and that she respects your time.

Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-Bag

6. She makes it a point to always talk about your development & goals and how you are progressing toward them

If there is one quality that all of the great bosses have, it’s this one. At the end of the day, managers manage people, and people need the motivation to keep performing, improving, and evolving. A great boss works with her employees to craft ways to be motivated, i.e. set up development goals. Even when you’re not 100% clear on what your career goals are, a great boss would guide your thinking and help you find your goals.

7. She creates an environment such that the team can thrive in

A great boss creates a strong team. She knows how to provide social glue and bring people together. She brings people closer, not farther apart.

8. She always makes time for you and is there when you need her within a reasonable timeframe (this requires them to be a good time manager herself)

A great boss doesn’t push your meetings off indefinitely or tell you “I don’t have time” without hearing you first. A great boss is there for her employee in times of need whether be it a meeting or a simple phone call. This, however, requires that she is a good manager of her own time, to begin with.

9. She supports your career moves even if it means you move away from her team

This isn’t about being selfless, or caring and empathetic about others’ goals. A great boss knows that her ultimate job is to develop a person as a whole, and not just to develop a member of her team. Any person’s development, if it goes well, will surely extend beyond what her team’s function requires of any person on her team. If she sees this, she will be supportive and happy for you when you one day tell her that you have to pursue bigger or different goals or simply goals that don’t fall within her team.

Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-Bag

10. She asks for a 30-60-90 day plan at the beginning of a new job

When you are starting a new job, the impact of a great boss is immeasurable. She has the power to set you up to have a thriving future at this new company. An average manager appreciates a 30-60-90 day plan, but a great manager asks for one. Either way, you should always be prepared to do one, but know that if your manager asks for one, it’s likely that she will turn into a great boss.

Does reading this list make you appreciate your current boss more? Did you just realize you have a pretty decent boss yourself? Tell me more below in the comments section!

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

P.S. If you’re wondering why this bag looks so familiar, it’s because you saw it in my last post... except it was the pink side showing. This is a reversible, genuine leather bag! Palla Handbag is the company that makes this bag and has generously agreed to give me a unique discount code for Cubicle Chic readers “@cubicle_chic” – use it to get 15% off if you wind up purchasing one of the Palla bags.

Handbag: Palla A-Bag use my 15% off code “Cubicle_chic” (P.S. They’re also available on Amazon!)

The post 10 Signs That You Actually Have a Great Boss appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Thank you BrainGear for sponsoring this post. Discover Your Highest Gear!

A Typical Work Day Afternoon

It’s 2:30 in the afternoon. You step out of the last meeting you have in the day, yawn for the 5^th time in the last hour as you’re reminded of the mountain of tasks you still need to get to before you leave. The idea of a mid-afternoon pick-me-up sounds not just perfect right now, but necessary. So, you go for the 3^rd cup of coffee in the day.

Tell me this doesn’t give you all the feels. Coffee makes me feel like I can conquer the world!!

For a brief moment, the warmth of the cup in your hand and the hope of feeling 100% focused, energized, and alert gives you a fuzzy feeling. But as soon as you sit down in front of your computer, the bitterness of coffee and your to-do list and triple-digit email inbox brings you back to reality.

As you inhale the coffee (that’s what I do anyway) you yawn some more due to the tolerance you’ve up because your body is so used to high levels of coffee now. As you gulp down the cup, you wonder if it’s possible to OD on coffee.

My Stomach Ulcer Problem

I certainly haven’t heard of people ODing from coffee. What I have more personal experience with, however, is stomach ulcer. Yes, years of working in the corporate world has made me a seasoned marketer but also messed up my digestive system semi-permanently. You see, I got it by drinking coffee in the morning on an empty stomach for years. Probably since college days. I started having problems around late 2016 when things got pretty intense in my first job as a manager.  First, I thought I was having just acid reflux because after meals I would often feel like I am so full that if I bent over I would vomit. After about 2 months of feeling this way, I went to a gastroenterology. And I had an endoscopy. The imaging told us that I developed these micro-abrasions in my stomach lining and they were the results of having over active production of stomach acid.

I was instantly put on medication, a diet plan, and I had to stay off of coffee for at least 2 months. It was torturous and I had to switch to green tea which is total BS (LOL. Sorry, no offense to tea drinkers). But it worked. I also never drink coffee on an empty stomach anymore. Occasionally I’d still get a flare up. But with the right diet management and careful consumption of coffee, I’ve more or less kept stomach ulcers at bay.

An Ideal Coffee Alternative

When BrainGear contacted me, I was ready to jump on the project and try out this novel drink with their patented formula. I had been looking for something that would power me through during the mid-workday lull that we all go through! The drink tastes fruity, slightly sour, not very sweet (which I like!) and basically like vitamin water. So guys, here’s the verdict. I’ve been drinking BrainGear drink for the last 2 months (not consecutively like they recommend though, I will explain later) and I have to say that it really does promote my overall focus and attention at work! 

Now Pay Attention to This

1. BrainGear is really transparent with their ingredients. Even though the formula is patented,  you can actually see everything that goes in this bottle. So you won’t need to worry about unknown or secret ingredients that you can’t read up on!
2. I don’t drink it on an empty stomach like they recommend on the label. Everyone’s digestive system is different, and like I said, mine is of the delicate sort. So I don’t drink anything sour or acidic on an empty stomach out of principle.
3. When I tried BrainGear the first time, I drank just 1/2 of a bottle. I did not drink any coffee that day or anything else that would change my energy level – and I had very slight jitters. They went away relatively soon (within an hour) and it gave me the effect I was looking for. I would recommend anyone who’s trying it for the first time to start small in terms of quantity. Slowly ease your way into the recommended level of consumption to the one label which is one bottle per day (4.5oz).

How I Make It & Drink It

1. Prep orange slices at home. Freeze them overnight and bring them to work in a tupperware!

2. Find an adult sippy cup (OK fine tumbler!)  like this one you see in the photos, make sure the bottle is glass so it’s see-through and the fruit slices on the inside will show! If you’re like me, beautiful things tend to help good habit stick better. So if your goal is to drink more water throughout the day, which it’s definitely one of my goals, you should get a bottle that supports that habit!

3. If you choose to, find a filler like La Croix sparkling water. Or you can just use water. My addiction with La Croix is serious, guys. It satisfies my soda cravings and has zero calories, like what? How did you not win a Nobel Food Prize?? OK. Right. It doesn’t exist…

4. Pour BrainGear into the bottle and leave it in the fridge for about an hour. Fun fact: BrainGear tastes better when it’s cold! Then, it’s ready for you to drink!

That’s it guys- if you ever do try BrainGear, can you tell me how you like it and how you drink it? I’ll let you in on a secret: I actually started carrying the small bottle with me in my purse. LOL. It almost feels like a flask. When I’m too lazy to make the fancy drink, I’ll just carry the bottle with me take a little sip here and there throughout the day.  I love it!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post How to Stay Engaged & Focused At Work Without Coffee appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Recently, I checked off one of the biggest milestones I have so far in my career. I got an intern to manage! This is something that in interviewing with my current job I’d stressed to the team hiring me as something very important on my development wish list. Four months into this job, it came to fruition.

Being a blogger in the career development space, I live and breathe in inspirational and motivational techniques. For years I’ve been actively soaking up knowledge and experience. I’ve been blessed to have many great mentors in my life and have reaped the benefits of great mentorship. I simply couldn’t wait to start imparting wisdom and paying it forward with a work underling.

Being a manager is a transformative experience

So far, it’s been an amazingly rewarding experience. I attribute it to how enthusiastic, committed, dedicated and smart our newly hired intern is. What I wasn’t necessarily prepared for was how much being in the position of a manager started shifting my perspectives. As I prepared for onboarding and guiding the intern, I started to reflect on the interactions and relationships I’ve had with my former managers in different phases of my career. I started to see through many things that were puzzling to me before. A weird sense of sympathy and understanding started to develop. I started to see alternative explanations to when my emails weren’t returned, or when I was given a change in direction without explanation, or when I received sudden, unexpected, and less than pleasant feedback…

My newly developed perspective from being a manager

And I realized behind their actions on the surface, there were things that were either too difficult to explain, too obvious to explain, too unpredictable, or simply didn’t cross their minds. Managers are humans, too. They have their own anxieties and fears, and the worst of all is that they cannot necessarily share them with their employee. It dawned on me that there were probably things that my former managers wished I knew, but couldn’t tell me for one reason or another…

Being responsible for someone else’s success is a scary thing

Imagine your own goals, deadlines, stakeholders, and critics. Now, double that –yes, that’s what a manager essentially faces. Not only is a manager responsible for onboarding the new employee into the company, the culture, the systems and processes, and the people, a good manager is also responsible for help setting and meeting goals for the new employee. A wise mentor once said to me, at the start of any employer/employee relationship, an average manager appreciates a 30/60/90-Day plan, but a great manager asks for one. All of this involves getting to know the employee, understanding their personal drivers and motivators, finding out about their strengths and weaknesses, and eventually helping them establish tangible and realistic goals so they can be successful not only in this job but in their career. To do this, and more importantly, to do it well, takes intentionality, patience, and a lot of empathy. This is why empathy is often deemed as one of the most important qualities of a strong leader.

The manager doesn’t always have the answer

And it isn’t always so easy to admit it. Office politics aside, sometimes it’s hard to admit you just don’t know the answer, especially in front of someone you are supposed to teach and guide. Without an existing mutual trust and respect, “not knowing the answer” sometimes is a tough pill to swallow.

If you sense that your manager is shutting you off when you raise questions, or there is a general lack of response, sometimes what they need is simply a little more time. Be patient. Otherwise, go on step beyond and do your own research, and reach out and ask for validation of your findings. Your manager will appreciate it.

Sometimes we prefer the right attitude over the right qualifications/experiences

Working in large, matrixed organizations can sometimes be described as a constant state of problem-solving. The problems come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are large problems like having a resource constraint. Other times, they could be as small as missing a password. Regardless, a can-do attitude paired with a resourceful mindset can go a long way. Determining whether someone has the right problem-solving attitude is one of the hardest things to tell from an interview and yet it’s one of the more important traits a manager looks for in a new hire. For a manager, finding someone with this mentality can save them precious hours of their own time to be spent on their own projects.

Providing constructive criticism is actually REALLY hard

A criticism that is insensitive and delivered poorly only damages relationships, whereas a suggestion that doesn’t deliver impact is useless. Much has been written about how to deliver criticism, some say to treat them as feedback and not as an actual criticism, others say to be genuine and actually care, while some say to learn to tailor your feedback to the individual’s preference.  The volume of these articles points to the fact that many people are in need of this kind of advice and the fact that constructive criticism is a hard skill to master!

When a manager sees an area for improvement, it’s up to the manager to carefully find the right timing, the right way to deliver the right message. Yes, there are probably insensitive people in authority that will walk all over your feelings when they tell you that you messed up. But if you notice even a trace of reservation or thoughtfulness in your manager’s tone when they offer advice or feedback, trust that they probably thought a lot about it before bringing it up to you. Delivering criticism well takes a skilled manager. If you have one of those, take note that you are lucky!

Concluding thoughts…

I have always heard that being a manager is a transformative experience. In fact, many compare it to the experience of being a parent. There’s something about being responsible for someone else’s growth and wellbeing that inspires growth in and of itself. But what I’ve also realized is that being a good manager takes preparation, being intentional, a humble attitude, and most importantly, a lot of empathy.

All Photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

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Giveaway runs from Dec 20, 2017 to Jan 3, 2018 (concludes at 12:00 AM on the last day). Open to the US, UK and CAN. Winner will be announced within 10 days of the conclusion of the giveaway and entries will be verified by the hosts. Thanks for participating, I can’t wait for you to see all of these awesome bloggers!

The post 4 Secrets Your Manager Wouldn’t Tell You But Wish You Knew appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Ah, health insurance and open enrollment… something all of us have to live with yet none of us look forward to dealing with.  For those of us who work in Corporate America and buy health insurance through our employer, late October and early November is usually when “Open Enrollment” rolls around. When it does, we all collectively sigh a little bit in our heads. Leave a comment that says “UGH YES” if that’s you! Yes, a year has passed and yes, we have to spend time again scrolling through documents and make life and death decisions …just feels so pesky!

But fear not! I’ve taken my own experience and hours of research and come up with a list of 6 questions to help you navigate this process! To make things more interesting, I’ve got an infographic, a cheat sheet for glossaries, and a simple Youtube video, among other things. I posted 6 questions for you to think about in order to prepare for Open Enrollment… are you ready??

Do you know what aspect of your life Open Enrollment impacts?

Open enrollment is a period when you make selections to choose the best benefits that will help you and your family. Part of this benefits package is health insurance, which is arguably the most important part of your benefits package.

But there are other things that are part of your benefits package that you may want to look into tweaking during open enrollment – life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, child care reimbursement, FSA/HSA, etc. Know the different aspects of open enrollment and which part of your life these benefits impact!

Do you understand all the terms and vocabularies regarding health insurance?

Sometimes, they might as well be speaking a different language. I know for myself in most of my 20’s, I probably didn’t understand half of the nomenclature related to health insurance. Co-pay, deductible, HSA, PPO, HMO… they all escaped me. Just like learning a language, practice and experience make new words stick. So keep a useful glossary like this handy and available during open enrollment.

Also, here is an amazing video that explains some of the common healthcare insurance terms in absolute simplicity:

Do you have big life events coming up?

Depending on your age, gender, employment status, general health state, there are many ways to pick your health insurance coverage. But in general, there are a few life events that would dramatically change what kind of health insurance you would require:

Are you planning a wedding next year? You might want to consider your health insurance plan against your future spouse’s. One might be better than the other, so you might want to consider adding him/her onto your plan!

• Are you getting married next year & your future spouse might need your insurance?

If you are getting married, your spouse may benefit from your healthcare insurance if, for some reason, she or he doesn’t have their own insurance or has a less favorable plan than yours. You might want to consider what the premium will be for another person. It’s usually more expensive than your own premium. Getting married is one of the “qualified life events” that allows you to add more people to your health insurance plan, but it doesn’t allow you to change the plan itself. So if your future spouse has different medical needs than you, this is the time to consider that!

• Are you planning on having a baby biologically or via adoption?

If you are, find out about two things – do you have a specific OB/GYN you want, and research on what kind of medical expenses you need to expect (standard pregnancy & delivery related type of expenses as well as genetic testing if you are a bit older and fall into the high-risk group). Based on your answer, there is a list pregnancy related things you should find out from your insurance company to figure out how to best choose a plan.

• Do you plan on having major medical procedures done next year?

If you are, you might want to increase your FSA or HSA contribution, so you have more pre-tax cash hanging around to pay for your planned medical procedure. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,r oughly half of all collection accounts on credit reports are due to medical debt. To the extent that you can prepare, plan for these medical procedures ahead of time!

Does your employer offer a webinar/seminar or benefits fair to go over the details of your options?

If you’re getting health benefits from your employer, around this time (late October & early November) is when they usually host an event where all your employee benefits are explained to you. This is when you go with all your questions ready so you can get one-on-one, individually based answers. Studies have shown that two-thirds of millennials wish they spent more time during open enrollment to look at their selections (see more statistics at the bottom of this post!). Don’t miss your one chance to ask questions and get the answer immediately!

Do you understand the relationship between your lifestyle and your medical needs?

Besides how often you fall sick and how dependent you are on seeing a doctor, there are many other factors in your lifestyle that may change your health insurance plan selection. For example, do you have acne problem and therefore need to see a dermatologist very often? Are you a rock climbing enthusiast and go out into nature to do outdoor climbs a lot, therefore need a plan that will cover your needs in case you get injured? Another factor is your relationship with your physician, whether be it specialty physician or family doctor… do you feel like you have to see this one particular doctor in order to have your medical needs met? If so, you might want to consider choosing a plan in which the doctor is an in-network physician.

Being in California, one of the most interesting things I learned from a study done by Dignity Health is that most Californians don’t choose their insurance plan based on whether their preferred doctors are in the network or not (see infographic at the bottom of the page).  This is just something for you to consider.

What are FSA/HSA and how do I know which one I need?

These are some of the most confusing parts of Open Enrollment, as I found in my own experience. FSA and HSA are similar that they both allow you to contribute to an account tax-free so you can spend the money on “qualified medical expenses” such as copay and other prescription costs.

How they are different though and whether you should choose one or the other, takes more time to understand. Basically, HSA is only for people that are on high deductible health plans or HDHP. And if you’re not on that, FSA is the option for you. Here is a more in-depth comparison of the two savings plan if you are interested to dig deeper.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post Dreading Open Enrollment? Breeze Through It With These 6 Questions appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Blazer: Dailylook; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote on sale for $75 now; Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy

I recently re-read an article I wrote earlier this Spring when I almost died in a car accident. It pulled me back into the reflective mood I was in when I wrote the piece, thinking about how short life can be. It also got me thinking about how grateful I am for the life I have now.

I have had some bumps in the road in my 32-year-old life, but I have by no means lived a tough life. Yet, when I was in my 20’s, I was rarely content. I wished I was someone else. I wished I looked different. I wanted things I didn’t deserve. I sometimes loathed myself, who I was. I struggled mentally and I had major body image issues. There were ups and downs, but the downs defined who I was.

Blazer: Dailylook; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote on sale for $75 now; Heels: Topshop Fringe Sandals

Something changed within me in my late 20’s. Through friends and family, books I read, new interests I developed, places I traveled to, I became a better version of myself. I starting having more confidence. I started caring less about others’ opinion. I became more self-aware but less self-conscious. I developed a better sense of my SELF, a better sense of my identity. I started to be at peace with myself.  I began accepting and embracing my imperfections. 

Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy; Blazer: Dailylook; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote on sale for $75 now

Sometimes, I wish I could go back in time and share what I know now with my younger self. I would tell my 20-something self to…

Stay in the present. Because that’s all you can control.

It was through yoga and meditation that I learned the importance of being present. I’m no expert at either, but I’ve had moments of clarity and relief that comes from focusing my mind on the present. I learned that if you’re depressed, you’re stuck in the past. If you’re anxious, you’re too worried about the future. You can’t change what happened yesterday, but you can try to have a better day today.

Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote

Love yourself first. Because you deserve it.

Also because asking or waiting for others to love you is just too much work. Don’t bend yourself backward to make someone love you. You are already lovable! You just have to love yourself first.

Take the time to get to know yourself. Because that’s who’s responsible for your well-being & happiness

In your 30’s is when a lot of life commitments happen if they haven’t already. Long-term relationships, the prime years of your career, or kids. Not everyone will know what their passion is or what they’re called to do in life. But knowing what fuels you vs. what drains your energy, what excites you vs. what you dread will help you steer your life in your 30’s. Designing Your Life is a great resource to figure this out if you’re wanting some direction in life. It’s one of my favorite books in 2017.

Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom

Try new things and develop new interests. Because you may not have the time and energy to later.

I saw some of my friends moved from hobbies to hobbies. Today, it’s bowling; tomorrow, it may be archery. I always thought they were looking for something to fill a void that they had. And maybe there’s some truth to that. But looking back, I wish I did more of exploring when it comes to what I do in my leisure time. Because it’s a luxury to have something you can just lose yourself in doing (video game, drugs, and eating cupcakes don’t count). And the more hobbies you try and develop a long-term interest in, the more things you have at your disposal to relax, recharge, and find your balance. Which are oh-so-important when you’re juggling career, mortgage, and a family in your 30’s.

Blazer: Dailylook; Sunglasses: Perverse Sunglasses Twiggy; Dress: Everlane via Nordstrom; Bag: Banana Republic Slouch Tote

Accept the mistakes you make. Because mistakes help you learn.

There were things I did in my 20’s that I wish I could do-over. Sometimes I do wish I could go back in time and change my approach, my attitude, and the way I treated people. But I can’t. Instead, what I CAN do is to remind myself what I learned. I can remind myself what it was like when I hurt or disappointed people. I can carry those feelings and never do it again.

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse 

The post Things I Learned In My 30’s That I Wish I Knew In My 20’s appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

How has the new gig been, you ask? I’m not going to sugarcoat it… It’s been hard coming back to the 9-5 routine after a 4-month hiatus. Don’t get me wrong, the new social media role is engaging, challenging, and making me learn new things almost daily. It’s everything I could’ve hoped for in this new job. But during my time off earlier this year, I’ve gotten a taste of the flexibility freelancing offers and the cubicle life just isn’t the same anymore. The commute, the traffic, the meetings, and the lack of personal time sometimes make me feel stuck in the corporate life. I catch myself wishing there were more hours in the day so I can dedicate more time to blogging, exercising, gardening, and just living…

However, this is the life I’ve intentionally chosen to embrace again and without it, I couldn’t possibly write a blog called Cubicle Chic, could I?

So, to continually find energy, motivation, and intentions in my day-to-day and not feel stuck in the corporate life, I’ve developed a series of healthy habits, or, should I say, rituals. Here are 6 things you could do everyday to prevent feeling stuck in the corporate life:

1. Reframe the problem of “feeling stuck”

First, start shifting your frame of mind when it comes to feeling stuck in the corporate life. This is a new concept I’ve learned from a book I am reading now called Designing Your Life, How to Build a Well Lived, Joyful Life. In the book, the authors Bill Burnett & Dave Evans talk about the issue of fixating on “gravity problems”. The example they gave is people feeling stuck on things that they have no power to change – the building they work out of, their manager’s temperament, their salary (to an extent), etc. Instead, if we accept things like we accept gravity, we can shift our focus onto other things that we CAN improve.

Another thing the authors recommend people do is to keep a Good Time Journal (download their free worksheet and try it yourself). By doing so, you are consciously monitoring what activities engage you and put you in the zone, and what activities drain your energy. If you can intentionally manage your day knowing how to fuel your energy tank with the right kind of activities, and organize your day around things that engage you, you can avoid that numb, frazzled, and exhausted feeling that we all feel too often past 5PM.

2. Meditate with the Headspace app

It’s 2017 and even corporations are embracing meditation as a productivity hack. Some even consider it a team sport. But truthfully, I’ve tried to get into meditation and failed countless times. But it doesn’t stop me from trying to acquire the habit of doing it, only because I’ve gotten a glimpse of the kind of ZEN your mind could enjoy if you learn to put your mind at ease voluntarily. With meditation, you can calm the thoughts that haunt your mind, and focus on the things that you want it to focus on.

The ever-so-popular app Headspace makes the practice of meditation so much more manageable and accessible. In one of the first sessions, Andy Puddicombe talks about being “present” in an unpleasant activity. Take sitting in traffic for example. What this means is, instead of wishing I was somewhere else and NOT in traffic, I choose to be present when I AM stuck in traffic. Whether I choose to spend the time in quietness, listen to my favorite podcasts/tunes, or talk to a friend on the phone, I don’t resist the fact that I am in traffic. And I just accept it and stay present in it.

A lot of times, it’s the act of resisting your condition that amplifies the unpleasantness of it.

If we learn the art of accepting a less-than-perfect condition, stay in control, and choose how we want to feel, then we can dictate how uncomfortable or comfortable we are.

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

3. Start your day by doing something you love

This is a proven method a lot of entrepreneurs and business leaders do to increase their productivity.

Imagine if you had one extra hour every day to do what you love to do and something you always wished you had more time to do. Be it exercising, reading, walking your dog, watching your favorite TV show, tending to your garden, drawing, or painting, or cleaning. Now set your alarm clock one hour earlier, and voila, you have your magical, extra hour in the day!

Of course, if you want to maintain the same level of sleep, you would need to go to bed one hour early. The practice here is to make sure you get to do what you love doing every day within the first hour of the day.

Since you already dedicated an hour to what you love doing, you won’t go on with your day thinking about what you wish you were doing… because you already did it!

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

4. Develop a ritual that lifts you up

For me, this is watering my plants in the office and checking on them every day. Seeing how they are doing every day makes me look forward to the start of the day more. For others, it could be brewing a pot of the exotic coffee you got last month, or brewing your favorite tea at the moment, or bringing in donuts one day of the week to share with your coworkers, or tearing off one page of the funny cat daily calendar … you get the point.

Find these little moments that give you a small dosage of joyfulness that makes you look forward to being in the office.

After all, a ton of research points toward the fact that it’s the small things that make us happy.

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

5. Remind yourself why you work

It’s okay if your primary motivation to work is to make money. It’s a lot of people’s number 1 reason. Just know that #4 on this list doesn’t work that well for you if money is why you work.

I’ve had the luxury of taking a substantial (4 months) break from working. What I discovered during the 4 months was that I have options. I can choose not to work. I can choose who I want to work for. I can choose what I want to do. So, when I came back to work, I had a strong conviction that marketing is what I want to do as a profession. I knew that my motivation is fueled by always learning new things, teaching people how to improve, and seeing positive results from marketing activities.

Whenever I question why I decided to spend 8 hours at work and 2 hours in traffic every day, which trust me, I do… I remind myself that it was my decision to come back to work and this is exactly where I want to be.

Maggie London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

6. Remember your friends (contact old friends or make new friends)

Friends make work more fun, period. So many articles have been written and research was done to show the importance of developing strong friendships at work. Here’s a quick list by Business Insider of things you can do with coworkers to make the office environment more enjoyable with friends.

Also, finding time to craft a well-thought-out email to tell an old friend you miss them, and that you miss the good ole times is also a good way to bring in a sense of camaraderie or community into your immediate surrounding.

And also because this:

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post 6 Ways To Stop Feeling Stuck in the Corporate Life Right Now appeared first on Cubicle Chic.