Jessica Lynn

Picture this: both jobs were experiencing busy periods. I worked eight hours for one job, the rest of the night for the other, and would get only a few hours of sleep before I started again. To me, this was the only way I saw to conquer my work. But I was exhausted and my creativity, positivity, and overall work quality suffered. Self-care and rest are your armor against burnout. Practice the Pomodoro Method. Take rests for water or activity (I love walking down the block for a quick brain break!). Find ways to fill your cup like reading or baking that reset that creativity for you and help you feel more personally connected. By letting yourself recharge your creative batteries, your productivity, wellbeing, and sense of self improves.

Not everyone has the same opinions or outlook - and we wouldn't want them to! Our world is richer because of diverse perspectives and insights. But when someone gives you feedback on your work that you don't agree with, it can be challenging to accept. I believe it's important to take time to reflect on your work. Has someone mentioned that a section of your work feels unclear? See if you can adjust the messaging or language for clarity. Is there a plot or argument that they feel isn't strong? Reflect on what else could enhance that section to improve the story. At the end of the day, you don't have to accept every piece of feedback. But hearing where someone is coming from, and adjusting, can improve your connection with your readers.

At one of my prior roles, my boss approached me and asked if I could build a website - and populate it with content - in 2 weeks time. He seemed fairly firm on the deadline. Since I'm not a web developer, and had multiple marketing projects to work on, I felt nervous. Opening the conversation with him to clarify the deadline, deliverables, and timeline helped us come to an understanding on a more realistic approach to planning. Especially in today's increasingly remote work landscape, communication is more important than ever. If you need more insight on a pitch, additional details, time, or clarification, bridge the gap and ask. As you learn, you'll be better prepared to manage your tasks and time in the future.

Adaptability and collaboration go hand-in-hand. In the modern workplace, particularly with the focus on remote working, coworkers can sometimes feel disconnected. However, collaboration in the workplace means ensuring that everyone has a voice at the table. When you're adaptable in the workplace, it allows and empowers teams to navigate change and challenges smoothly and efficiently. Team members can find common ground, even while sharing their own unique perspectives. At the end of the day, it's about synergy: bringing together different perspectives (and being open to learning and assessing your own!) to spark innovation and solve problems together. One idea for implementation? Team co-brainstorming sessions.

Within the rare disease space specifically, many patients and caregivers often find themselves facing medical gaslighting. It can be hard to remain confident when you're hearing that your voice isn't important, or your experience isn't relevant. Healthcare providers and the medical field should be confident in patients' expertise in their own conditions, allowing patient voices to shine through and inform care and understanding. Patients and care partners should be confident in approaching conversations with their providers. Stand tall; you know what you are dealing with. Speak clearly, succinctly, and with confidence - remember, your voice matters. If your provider is not listening to you, trust yourself and go elsewhere.