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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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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