💼 Finding The Career That Suits You: 5 Valuable Lessons That I Want People Living With Invisible Illnesses to Know
There is a career that suits you and there are people willing to learn more ways to help you through 💞. I'm sharing with you the 5 gems to keep you motivated...and happy at work ✨!
Seeking a career that understands our health condition could be tricky (and a daunting experience) for some. There is no one-size-fits-all. I never thought living with an autoimmune disease would affect my career until my first role as a Social Media Associate.
There I was, an ambitious young lady, giving her best-polished look, smiling in autopilot mode in an effort to make peace with everyone…and in less than a month weeks, she was dead — inside, and my health was deteriorating.
I took a break to revive myself and started a new role.
I realized I had done something wrong. Adapting to the working environment is one thing, but I forgot a thing called ADJUSTMENT. I forgot that I needed to adjust the way I worked. To cut a long story short, here are the 5 ways you can try at your workplace to protect your health.
🧑🏻🎨 Design Your Workstyle
Working Preference: Ask yourself what type of working style suits you best. Is it a full-time, part-time, freelance, remote, onsite, etc.?
Working Time: At what time do you think you work best? The time when your ideas flow well and when your mind needs a break.
Future Issues To Overcome: List the areas you might need help with.
💬 During the Interview - Ask Away!
Note: We all have the right to disclose our health status to future employers or clients. The main point of this section is for you to get more information about the career you wish to apply.
Some of the questions you may ask are:
What is the working culture like? Sometimes, the interviewer’s character can give some stories away 😅.
Why did the last person leave the position? You may and may not get the answer, but it shall give a glimpse of whether you have what they are looking for in a candidate.
Is your company open to flexibility? People living with invisible illnesses sometimes need more recovery and rest, so getting some answers could help you know whether you can adjust your timetable according to your health needs.
🌈 Experience the Working Culture
Every workplace has a different culture, and every role has different demands. The first few months might be tough (but you’re tougher! 🫰🏻) to familiarize yourself, but once you get into the working environment, here are some options for what you could do next:
Ultimate Focus Mode. List down which tasks need more attention ( and the ones that require more energy and focus). This is for you to pre-plan what you need to do beforehand to minimize mental fatigue and burnout 🫠.
Light & Easy Mode. Recognize the tasks that do not require much time. After completing a more significant task, you can arrange these tasks to take it easy on your health while feeling productive 💡.
Get to know your team. Learn how you can assist them better — and how they can support your efficiency at work, too. Teamwork 🎉!
🦄 Insert Some Fun While at Work
Sometimes, we get so into the groove of work that we forget how to have fun — when things get tense 💆🏻♀️🤦🏻. Identify the things that make you relax and bounce your mood back to conquer the world, such as:
Take a Break. Make a cup of your favorite tea or coffee. The first sip sends this message :
Add Some Beats. Cheer the atmosphere with music that speeds your beat at work — or when you need some light stretching. When in doubt, dance it out!
Hey, You! Take some time to socialize with your coworkers. A 5-minute talk or sharing jokes sometimes gives you a sudden good idea you never thought about.
🕺🏻Keep Exploring & Living Your Best (Career) Life
Finding and designing a career that fits your health condition takes time. It is a challenging journey, but each step you take will create meaningful stories you can share to support others.
When everyone says ‘No,’ you have the power to create the space that allows you to adjust and learn continuously.
That’s it for this week 🙌🏻 ! Thanks for reading till the end. Watch out this space for more random writings from yours truly. If you are in Malaysia 🇲🇾 and would like to purchase my book called The Upside of Lupus: 15 Life Lessons You Can Learn From A Chronic Inflammatory Illness, click the link below:
Take Care 💟😉.