Here's Why Your 9-5 Might Never Go Out Of Style
The average person checks their social media at least 17 times a day - which in turn is almost equivalent to every waking hour in the day.
When we get up, we check in on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and post a selfie before we even brush our teeth.
It doesn't matter what time I check my Instagram or Facebook, my timeline is always flooded with self-proclaimed entrepreneurs - you know those people that don't work 9-5's and try to sell the entrepreneurship lifestyle to anyone that will listen.
In this new era, everybody is screaming “I'm an entrepreneur," but honestly the reality is that everybody isn't meant to be an entrepreneur. Everybody doesn't have that type of hustle ingrained in them and are not built to own their own business - and that is okay. Just because you work 9-5 doesn't make you less of a girl boss or successful in your own line of work.
There is nothing wrong with working for a company as long as you work hard to be the best at what you do and are never complacent.
There are so many misconceptions that people have about working 9-5's and it causes people to run away from careers and companies that they were destined to work with. In my 9-5, I'm not sitting at a desk all day, staring at a computer, and sending unnecessary emails. I'm doing rewarding work everyday, and I am living out my dream of managing people and projects - and I do a damn good job at it too! Even outside of my 9-5, I am able to indulge in my hobby of writing every night because my work schedule is consistent and conducive to my lifestyle.
Despite what you may gather from self-proclaimed entrepreneurs on social media, you can still be popping with a 9-5. Listed below are my top 5 reasons why working a 9-5 can be the bomb.com.
1. A consistent, weekly schedule.
The theme for the year is being balanced, not busy. It is something that I have heard all over my Instagram feed. It is important that you find a way to be balanced and not busy in your life and learn how to be consistent as well. Everyday I know exactly what time I will go to work, and what time I will leave because my consistent 9-5 schedule allows me to. If you are an entrepreneur, you can still find a way to have a consistent schedule, but it becomes easier when you already know exactly what time your work starts and ends so that you can make room for other things.
2. The luxury of being off and getting paid on holidays.
When the holidays roll around, I am able to press snooze on my alarm a few extra times, watch The Real, chomp down on some pancakes, and then go back to bed for a mid-morning nap whenever I like. With most companies, depending on your position and the industry, you will have paid time off during the holidays. Throughout the year I work hella hard, so I love it when paid holidays roll around because it gives me the time off that I need.
3. Weekends are normally free.
Who doesn't love a good mimosa and a bomb brunch? I know I do! As I mentioned before, one thing that I love about having a normal 9-5 schedule is that I have weekends off so I am able to take care of my own business, partake in my favorite hobbies, and of course have a mimosa (or two, or three) at my favorite brunch spots.
4. Work normally stays at work.
Now, this can vary depending on what type of 9-5 that you have, but for many 9-5 type of jobs, once you leave at 5 P.M., then it is okay to leave “work at work." You won't get in trouble if you are not answering emails on the weekend or after hours, and often you will not be expected to bring projects home. I would advise that if you have your e-mail connected to your cell phone, try your best to not check emails until you are back at work. If you don't, it defeats the purpose of having a simple 9-5 schedule because you go from working 40 hours a week to 24/7.
5. You can get practice and the knowledge you need in business, before starting your own.
So, while you are working your 9-5, let's say you do want to one day pursue your hobby full-time, or partner with a friend in their business. If this is the case, you can get valuable experience in your own 9-5 job and you can apply what you learn to your own endeavors.
Even if you don't desire on being an entrepreneur, you can still get quality experience and knowledge on running a business without the heavy duty of being fully responsible.
If you didn't already, I hope you see that having a 9-5 can be just as great and rewarding as being an entrepreneur. Oftentimes, I don't think we give enough credit to our careers and our own successes in these spaces. As I mentioned before, everybody isn't built to be an entrepreneur and this is okay. You can be great in your own career path and can still make a difference.
Featured image by Getty Images
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Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Regina King Reflects On Grief and Loss After Her Son’s Death: ‘The Sadness Will Never Go Away.’
The pain of losing a child is an experience that no parent wants to go through — and actress Regina King is now ready to speak about her experience with grief two years after her son’s passing.
In her first TV interview appearance since her son, Ian Alexander Jr., died by suicide in January 2022, King sat down with Good Morning America, to reflect on the tragic loss.
“I’m a different person, you know, now than I was January 19,” King shared. “Grief is a journey, you know? I understand that grief is love that has no place to go.”
“I know that it’s important for me to honor Ian in the totality of who he is, speak about him in the present because he is always with me and the joy and happiness that he gave all of us,” she added.
The Shirley star also added that it's vital to discuss the common misconception surrounding depression, noting that battles with mental health can manifest in diverse ways. “When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way — they expect it to look heavy,” King told Robin Roberts.
“To have to experience this and not be able to have the time to just sit with Ian’s choice, which I respect and understand… He didn’t want to be here anymore, and that’s a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian’s journey.”
Jeff Kravitz / Contributor/Getty Images
The Academy Award winner openly revealed that she was initially “so angry with God.”
“Why would that weight be given to Ian? Of all of the things that we had gone through — therapy, psychiatrists, programs — and Ian was like, ‘I’m tired of talking, Mom,' " she said.
With the memory of her son near to her, King said through tears, “My favorite thing about myself is being Ian’s mom and I can say that with a smile, with tears, with all of the emotion that comes with that. I can’t do that if I did not respect the journey.”
Anderson, 26, was a musician, DJ, and King’s only child. In 2019, Ian escorted his mother on the red carpet of the Golden Globes where she took home the award for "Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture."
He toldE! News at the time, "She's just a super mom. She doesn't really let bad work days or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. It's really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with."
Understanding that grief is shared by many others, King emphasizes the unique weight of her role as Ian's mother and acknowledges that the sadness will always be a part of her.
“Sometimes, a lot of guilt comes over me. When a parent loses a child, you still wonder, ‘What could I have done so that wouldn’t have happened?’ I know that I share this grief with everyone, but no one else is Ian’s mom, you know? Only me. So it’s mine. And the sadness will never go away. It will always be with me.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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Featured image by Shannon Finney / Stringer/Getty Images