🐋 How to get prepared
Skip the adjustment period and hit the ground running with your new thing. And the latest open roles including Content Team Lead @ Cash App, Marketing Analyst @SeedFi, and Web3 Research Internship!
Hello, Tech Pod! 💦
In the face of an upcoming new job, challenging semester, or a big move, we may have been told by others to “get mentally prepared.”
But what does that actually look like? 🤔
We weren’t sure, so we asked our happily-productive friends and gleaned some insights and strategies to share with you this week.
Goals:
🏃♀️ Hit the ground running on your new thing without the stress and clumsiness of the acclimation period
🤺 Avoid pitfalls such as transportation fiascos, missed deadlines, and over-scheduling
🤸♂️ Generate energy to succeed by setting up structures for health and wellness
Let’s go!
🚶🏻♀️Walk through what you can
For students:
Send a friendly introductory email to your professors and ask for the class syllabus and calendar ahead of time. Load your classes’ due dates into your calendar, and take a macro look at the entire semester.
Sit with it and imagine what it’s going to be like. Be honest and determine if you’re overcommitted with extracurriculars and take preemptive action.
But don’t unnecessarily back down from a challenge – with this extra prep time, you’d be surprised with how much you’re capable of with strategy.
For commuters:
Take a practice drive or ride to experience traffic levels, how long it takes, discover shortcuts or scenic routes (or where you can strategically switch trains/busses), and maybe even take note of a place to pick up quick food or drink in a pinch along the way.
Figure out the parking situation – the closest lot to your class or office, possible side entrances if there is congestion, and buy a parking permit if needed.
For public transit, figure out the walking portion. Make sure you’re giving yourself time to get to and from your place to the train stop, and vice versa.
How is your car? Get any repairs or maintenance done sooner rather than later.
For new in-person workers and students:
If you’re starting at a new campus or office, take a walk-through and find your classrooms or offices, notice the room numbering system, locate the best bathrooms, where to fill up your water bottle, grab a snack, etc. Are you an introvert who needs to escape every once in a while? Maybe scope out a nice spot where that can happen.
✂️ Cut bad habits now
Your workload may push the limits of your attention and focus. Time will be your most valuable commodity, so protect it and spend it well.
Cut daytime media consumption: If you find yourself grieving over how little time there is in the day, take a look at your screen time statistics…ouch. Enjoy watching your favorite shows and catching up on socials after a successful day. Due to the habit-forming strategies built into TikTok, Instagram, etc., it will take time and some trial and error to break, but it’s worth it. The earlier you start, the better!
Protip: Do you use Youtube or scrolling socials to take mental breaks between tasks? Distracting your mind is not resting it. Instead, take 10 min to:
take a walk
stare out the window
wash a few dishes
take out the trash
make a snack or coffee
These low-effort tasks rest and refresh your mind, get the blood flowing, aaand can help you stay on top of your chores. 😏
Meal prep: Your teachers always told you to have a good breakfast before a test. Make sure you’re consistently fed with nutrient-dense foods (calories are not your enemy!). Food is fuel. Create a system where you try to consume 3 meals + snacks throughout the day. Don’t let hangriness or post-fast food lethargy hold you back from greatness. This is a great time to get into the habit of preparing weekly meal preps to grab and go. Remember, cold brew doesn’t count as a meal.
Last Words:
Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean solo on preparation:
"The time to worry is three months before a flight.
Decide then whether or not the goal is worth the risks involved.
If it is, stop worrying. To worry is to add another hazard."
Look back on a stressful season you’ve had where you felt burned out and overwhelmed. What could you have done before to make it less painful?
Preparation is a learned skill. It takes practice, and you gain it from making a lot of mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up for missing the train or missing a deadline.
Be thoughtful of your future self — take actions today to help yourself tomorrow.
Check out these open roles 👀
New Grad 👩🎓
Marketing Operations Analyst, SeedFi
UX Researcher, Transit, Bikes, & Scooters, Lyft
Internships 👩💻
Web3 Research Intern, StandardDAO
Enterprise Business Development, CasperLabs (Postgrad)
Crypto Business Development, CasperLabs (Postgrad)
🐋
Written by Jacqueline Mastrelli