Mon 20th Feb Newsletter

Welcome back! 👋

After the weekend, we are hopefully feeling refreshed and ready to take on the week ahead. And if not, our tips in this newsletter will help you beat the Monday blues and start the week on a positive note.

In today's email:

• Amazon moves to a hybrid work model: Is this the end of fully remote jobs?

• Taking PTO: Why is it so hard?

• Monday blues: How to kick them to the curb.

• Book of the week: Lilly Singh shows us how to be a bawse.

TRENDING NEWS

Amazon to Revoke its Remote Work Policy

The story: Amazon CEO Andrew Jassy has announced that Amazon office staff will be required to work on-site at least three days a week, as of May 1. Until recently, remote work decisions were left to the discretion of individual team directors.

What it means: The multinational is joining many major companies, including Apple, Google and Starbucks, in backtracking on work-from-home policies. Jassy’s decision comes after almost three years of flexible work models being implemented at Amazon. Jassy comments: “I know that for some employees, adjusting again to a fresh way of working will take some time. But I'm very optimistic about the positive impact this will have in how we serve and invent on behalf of customers, as well as on the growth and success of our employees.”

The bigger picture: While some CEOs remain in favor of the remote-first approach, many are requiring their employees to spend at least half of their time in the office. This has resulted in remote work opportunities dwindling. At the same time, demand for remote jobs remains high, with more than half of the applicants going after them, according to LinkedIn.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Food sanitation company fined 1.5M for hiring minors — Over 100 teenagers were employed in dangerous jobs at meatpacking plants in 8 states. (Reuters)

• Flights canceled in Germany over ground crew strikes — 7 major airports are brought to a standstill, as 300,000 passengers are affected. (BBC)

• YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki to step down — She will assume an advisory role at Google and Alphabet, while YouTube’s chief product office Near Mohan will take the lead. (CNBC)

TALKING POINT

Why Do We Struggle With Taking PTO?

Whether you’re worried about the workload you’ll have to come back to, or you simply feel guilty for taking holiday leave, then you fall into the bracket of 55 per cent of Americans who don’t use up their annual leave.

But why does such a high number of workers not take their PTO? Ultimately, to be as productive as possible, you need a good work–life balance, which means plenty of time to rest and recuperate.

To steer clear of burnout, it’s essential that you plan downtime when possible. Here are a few scenarios why people struggle with taking PTO. along with some solutions:

• You’re worried about returning to a heavy workload: If the stress of coming back to a long to-do list is not for you, scatter your annual leave throughout the year. That way, you can relax without worrying about what will happen in your absence.

• You’re saving your annual leave in case your child gets ill: If you’re a working parent, you’re going to need to set aside some holiday days in case one of your children gets sick, but don’t put all of your PTO on hold. Depending on your country of residence, you should be allowed unpaid parental leave for emergencies.

Your company is understaffed: If you feel guilty taking your leave because the company is understaffed, then don’t. Unless it’s your business, then it’s not your problem. You need to maintain your mental wellbeing by having some much-needed “me” time.

TODAY'S ADVICE

Beat the Monday Blues Like a Champ

Ah, Monday: the six-letter M-word capable of sending shivers down every working professional’s spine. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little effort and some self-reflection, you’ll be able to beat those Monday blues — and learn how to love Mondays again.

So, put your boxing gloves on, and knock ’em out!

1. Start a Monday morning ritual. Think of ways to make Mondays a little more bearable, like treating yourself to an artisan coffee, doing some yoga, or having breakfast with your coworkers before the workday starts. Routines make our brains happy, which means you’ll start looking forward to Monday.

2. Change your perspective. Think of your role model, and then ask yourself: “What would Richard Branson/Oprah/Céline Dion do?” — when you think outside the box and look at things from a different perspective, you’ll gain valuable insight into the challenges of the day that you’re facing.

3. Complete most of your tasks in the AM. Sure, you might not still be functioning like a person yet, but the more productive you are in the morning, the more relaxed your afternoon will be. Keep the lighter tasks for when the post-lunch slump hits.

4. Don’t overschedule. If Mondays are typically overpacked with meetings and big tasks, you can feel overwhelmed trying to juggle everything and keep your sanity. If possible, keep Mondays as light as possible — in other words, don’t schedule meetings (especially those that could’ve been an email!) and anything else that could be getting in the way of your job.

5. Consider the bigger picture. If the Monday blues are a little more permanent, the issue might be much more significant. Take the time to identify what it is exactly that’s making you dread Monday mornings (like a toxic workplace or a lack of challenging work) and think of solutions. Even if it means finding another job.

Want to share your own tips and tricks? Let us know!

DON'T MISS

👔 These jobs have no dress code!

🔧 Discover the Excel skills and functions everyone needs to know.

❌ Writing your résumé? Dodge these buzzwords!

🔊 Listen to these podcasts if you want to start a business.

🌼 Want to zhuzh up your workspace with some plants? Here are 20 ideas!

MONDAY'S TO-DOS

It’s easy to get carried away with your workload at the beginning of the week, but the last thing you need is to feel burned out before you’re even halfway through the week. Here are a few tips to help you steer clear of burnout!

✅ Set realistic goals. Write down some achievable goals that you want to complete today, and tick them as you go to feel a sense of accomplishment.

✅ Make a healthy lunch. If you take care of your body, you’re also taking care of your mind. Make something healthy for lunch to give your body the boost it needs.

✅ Delegate tasks. You don’t need to do everything yourself. If you’re in a position to delegate, do it! Make sure you’re distributing work fairly and not piling excessive work on yourself.

✅ Work somewhere different. If possible, take your work elsewhere for a change of scenery. Work from a coffee shop — or even a different desk in the office.

✅ Take your breaks. Make sure you’re taking regular breaks. Working through them will only increase the possibility of burnout, so make sure to take a short break every so often.

Learn other ways to steer clear of burnout

WATERCOOLER CHAT

Body Language: Are You Sending out the Wrong Vibes?

You’re standing by the coffee machine with your head lowered, shoulders slumped and arms crossed. Are you looking approachable? Nope. Do you want to be approachable? Possibly not. However, if you want to progress in your career, then you need to be! (Sorry!)

Here are a few things you can do to make yourself appear more approachable and sincere:

• Make eye contact

• Stand up straight

• Smile (even if you don’t feel like it)

• Don’t cross your arms

• Be aware of people’s personal space

Sometimes, we have to retrain ourselves out of bad habits, and doing these things will help you progress in your career, as people will know they can approach you if needed — so it’s worth it!

ASK AN EXPERT

Do you have any funny work stories to share? Let us know by replying to this email.

Check back on Friday's newsletter edition to see if your story has been featured.

Check back on Friday's newsletter edition to see if your story has been featured.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

How to Be a Bawse

by Lilly Singh

Ever feel like you’re not living up to your full potential, both in a personal and professional capacity? Well, you’re not alone. But the good news is that YouTuber, TV host and comedian Lilly Singh’s book How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life shows you how.

In the New York Times bestseller, Lilly shares 50 rules to succeed in life, from letting go of FOMO to scheduling inspiration. At the end of the 336-page book, you’ll have learned how to become a bawse: someone “who exudes confidence, hustles relentlessly, and smiles genuinely because he or she has fought through it and made it out the other side”.

Get it now on Amazon

MEME IT

Like what you read? Reply and let us know your thoughts.

Created with care by Chris Leitch, Joanna Zambas, Hayley Ramsey and Electra Michaelidou

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