Wed 22nd Feb Newsletter

Well, hello there!

It’s Wednesday morning, so we’re feeling a little meh — but the good news is that we’re *this* close to the weekend again. And with today’s newsletter, we’ll hopefully make the journey to Friday a little more bearable for you.

It’s also World Yoga Day today (although India officially celebrates it on June 21), so it’s probably the best time to do your first Downward Dog or Full Lotus 🧘

In today's email:

• McKinsey & Company to cut 2,000 jobs: list of company layoff grows

• Setting boundaries at work: know when to say ‘no’

• Career Testing: an exclusive offer for our loyal readers

• Stretch it out: how to incorporate yoga at work

TRENDING NEWS

McKinsey & Company to Cut 2,000 Jobs

The story: Under a plan dubbed Project Magnolia, consulting giant McKinsey & Company is planning to eliminate 2,000 jobs, one of its biggest rounds of layoffs ever. The plan is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, say company insiders.

The plan: Although nothing has been confirmed yet, the layoffs are expected to target support staff in roles that don’t have direct contact with clients. Insiders say that the final number of jobs to be cut from the company’s 45,000-strong workforce could still change. Company representative DJ Carella, meanwhile, says the company will continue to hire people in customer-facing roles.

The growing list: McKinsey & Company is just the latest in a growing list of companies in industries varying from technology to retail to announce layoffs in the last 2 months. Disney, Vimeo, PayPal, Dell, HubSpot, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, Goldman Sachs and Zoom have  announced layoffs of 1–15 percent of their workforces since January.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Seattle becomes first US city to ban caste discrimination — Calls to outlaw discrimination based on caste have grown louder among South Asian diaspora living and working in the US. (BBC)

• Home Depot puts 1B toward higher wages — The announcement comes after the home improvement retailer reported an increase in sales in Q4 2022. (HR Dive)

• IRS employee pleads guilty to selling morphine — She made a “few thousand bucks” selling the Schedule II drug to a coworker, who ultimately overdosed and died. (LA Times)

TODAY'S ADVICE

Draw the Line: How to Set Boundaries at Work

Sometimes, we just need to say “no” and stick by it. But if you’re more prone to people-pleasing, then this is for you!

You might find it a little depressing, but a third of our day is spent at work. Therefore, it’s important to set boundaries so that your work–life balance isn’t tipped in the wrong direction. If you’re constantly agreeing to work overtime, what time does that leave for yourself (and your family)? Nada.

Here’s how to draw a line and set some boundaries so you don’t go down the road that leads to burnout. 

1. Decide your non-negotiables. Sit down and think about what is the most important thing to you. Whether that’s spending time with your family or it’s a personal hobby that you love, thinking about this will help you find your personal limits so that work doesn’t take over.

2. Communicate your limits. Once you’ve decided where to draw the line, let your manager know your boundaries so they fully understand where the line is. If they don’t know, there’s nothing stopping them from pushing you to those limits.

3. Learn to say “no”. Write out a few email templates that — in a nice way — say “nope, nope, nope”. That way, if someone sends an email asking you to work some overtime that would encroach on your personal time, you’ll already have a response ready and waiting.

4. Keep work at work. While you might have some coworkers you’re friends with, if you’re not besties, try to keep your work relationships at work and only attend mandatory team-building days. That way, you can keep your work and personal lives separate.

5. Silence your notifications. When you’re not at work, make sure any emails and notifications that are work-related are muted. You need to be able to take a breather so you can go back to work feeling refreshed and ready to take on the week ahead.

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WATERCOOLER CHAT

Stretch it Out

🎵 Work, work, work, work, work [insert incoherent mumbling here]

It’s time for a little break and to give yourself some TLC, especially if you’re experiencing any back or neck pain at your desk.

So, what can you do about it? Well, since it’s World Yoga Day, you might want to try the seated twist pose!

Here’s how:

More desk yoga poses here

WEDNESDAY'S TO-DOS

In two minds about Wednesday? On one hand, you’re so close to Friday, you could be bouncing. On the other, you’re too stressed to care. If this sounds like you, here are some stress management ideas to make the workweek bearable:

✅ Track your stressors. You can’t beat stress unless you uncover its source. What’s bringing you down? An excessive workload, unclear expectations, or a lack of support?

✅ Take action. Once you’ve identified your stressors, come up with a plan to limit them. Arrange a meeting with your supervisor to negotiate changes or ask for support.

✅ Prioritize your mental health. Exercising, practicing mindfulness, and leaning on your friends can make you more resilient to stress.

DEAL OF THE DAY

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WELLNESS CENTRE

Easy Habits to Instantly Feel Better

Detox from social media: You don’t have to delete your social media apps, but take a baby detox from them. For example, try not to scroll first thing in the morning or before bed, and focus on something that’s more productive.

Create a realistic morning routine: Set realistic expectations for the morning. If you’re not a morning person, don’t plan to wake up at 5am and journal before a long morning work. Instead, set out valuable goals that you will stick to.

Reconnect with nature: Even 10 minutes of fresh air a day will do you the world of good, so try to get out into the wilderness (or a dash to the corner shop) and enjoy some fresh air and a swift walk.

MEME IT

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

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