I'm probably the drama, but I quit LinkedIn last week. Some of you probably joined me from that post, so hi! Welcome! This is a safe space to not be obsessed with your career.
But yeah, I quit. I hated it for so long, and it became this huge looming THING that I couldn't even make myself look at. Why? Because I had to be fake to be there. There was no part of my authentic self that was welcomed there. The only posts that got traction were the ones talking about being mad, and it always ended in arguing, which is exhausting.
The problem with an ADHD brain like mine, is it lives for dopamine. It lives for THE DRAMA. So, for a while, I liked it. But like anything that requires energy and gives none back, it drained me in a hurry. There was never a sense of rejuvenation from the platform; it was either being bombarded with corporate brainwashing that I have long given up, or worse, a constant stream of open to work posts as our industry was stripped for parts.
It also led to me overextending myself, and massively contributed to my burnout. At first it was great to be helping so many of my peers, but after awhile, it became so lopsided. I was regularly pouring into cups that didn't reward me financially or emotionally. You can either pay poorly and make me feel good or pay well and make feel bad but you can't do both.
Eventually, I realized I just can't go back. It's an energy vampire. Even for those looking for a job right now should be aware of how much time they're spending on it. It personally made me into someone I don't want to be, and that's why I had to remove it from my life, for my mental health.
So, what do I do now?
I post on Threads, and have for a while. There, I can actually be my authentic self. There I can be silly, and funny, and I don't have to worry about Brenda from accounting, clutching her pearls when I make an observation about men in the workforce.
And you know what? It adds to my life. I enjoy the time I spend on the platform. It allows me to share my world in a way that expands others.
So that's the tea, that's the gossip. I just can't stand being fake or when others are fake, and it's not how I want to spend my life.
These days, I'm big on being a community member. I am getting to know my neighbors. I'm planning a block party with my executive assistant skills. I'm holding local politicians accountable.
And, I'm working with clients, to help them navigate their own burnout journey. Interested in learning more? Click here.
Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.
What I'm Reading, Eating, Playing, Obsessing, Recommending and Treating.
Reading: I don't read a lot of poetry, but I really want to read more. I thrifted this poetry book last week and read it one night. I've been struggling to read and am in a bit of a rut, but I enjoyed this for a short collection.
Eating: A lot of rice bowls. Recently I did a really quick ground beef bulgogi with sesame cucumber salad.
Playing: Recently while working in my front yard, a lady had stopped by to thank me for some free plants I put out. I've been trying to get to know my neighbors more, and decided to paint a watercolour postcard for her.
Obsessing: Over my backyard progress! I'm in zone 5b and we have a freeze tonight so I haven't got everything in the ground yet, but I am so pleased with the progress. Reminder, this is what I started with:
And this is what I had at the end of Sunday!
Recommending: Checking Facebook Marketplace for new art. I recently stumbled across a watercolour artist selling her paintings for $10 and $20. I want to do a gallery wall in our dining room, and this will be a great addition.
Treating: Myself yesterday to a little bottle of proesecco in the garden I worked so hard on.
The end.
Alright team, I'm wishing you the best this week. I hope the weather is warm, your pillow is cool, and you hit every greenlight on your way home.
xoxo
Jessica
