Recently, I was asked to mentor a newly-minted college grad. She is looking for a job and isn’t sure how to break into my field. The first thing I asked her was to send me her LinkedIn profile, but she immediately scoffed.

“I don’t use LinkedIn,” she said offhandedly.

Ok, lesson #1 – establish a profile and get active on LinkedIn. Whether you are happy in your current job, looking for your next position, just starting, or even close to retirement, LinkedIn is the place to be. And I would argue that it isn’t just another social media platform; it’s a community.

When I was furloughed from my job last year, thanks to COVID-19, I immediately looked to LinkedIn. It is a one-stop-shop for networking and job searching. Whatever you are looking for – career advice, dream jobs, latest trends, or best practices – this is where you need to be.

Last year, I met many new people who were strangers and welcomed them into my network. Each one offered both kindness and support in my time of need. Some connected me with people they knew in my field. Others invited me to network groups and webinars they thought I would benefit from. From Toastmasters group, an authors’ events, to countless 1-1 meetings, I always came away with helpful advice, information, job leads, or an important connection.

The only thing these people ever asked of me was to return the favor or pay it forward. I was on the lookout for jobs where my new found friends could apply or people I could introduce them to. I offered up my resume writing and editing skills free of charge because it was the right thing to do. And I wanted to help others as they had helped me.

LinkedIn is the best place for good karma. If you put yourself out there, offer up your skills and ideas, and keep an open mind, the rewards are plentiful. For me, my reward was a wonderful new job where I feel valued, respected, and maximized.

Now, you may be thinking – she must work for LinkedIn. But, I don’t. I’m just a big fan. And like that college grad, I also thought LinkedIn was overwhelming and daunting at first. But here is a little advice,  there is no need to jump in with both feet. Just dip your toes in and see what happens.

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Thursdays are my long days–an eight-hour workday of writing, editing, and communications, followed by 3 hours of a digital marketing class about measuring metrics. It’s not my favorite topic, but the professor is engaging, and my classmates are smart and fun to hang out with on Zoom.

But, it is time to call it a night. My chair is practically folding underneath me in protest forcing me to stand up and stretch my legs. My standing desk is now sitting. The video camera has seen enough of me today, and my ring light is fading fast.

“Five more minutes?!” I said aloud to no one in particular. My brain is fried, but I want to keep my blog momentum going.

How am I doing so far?

My pens still have ink. My laptop is fully charged. But I can’t keep my eyes open.

Note to self: write two posts on Wednesdays, so I don’t find myself in this situation again.

Good night, all.

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If you follow the book blogger, The Modern Mrs. Darcy, you have been anticipating her annual “What’s Saving My Life Right Now” post as much as I have. For those who are not as familiar with this tradition, she encourages her readers to think about things – both big and small – that are saving us all right now in our daily lives. Not only do I look forward to her list, but also to the hundreds of readers who post their own lists in the comments section.

I didn’t want to miss out on the fun, so I’ve created my own list. These are in no particular order of priority, but they are all of great importance to me.

1. Lou & Grey for LOFT – This clothing line is perfect for the casual, work-from-home professional who wants to look cute on Zoom and remain comfortable. I can’t say enough about their leggings. I recently splurged for the softest, lime green hoodie that I’ve decided to be buried in when I die. The other reason I love these clothes is that I am currently at my pandemic weight. In the past, I’ve managed to shed the baby weight and the holiday weight, but this pandemic weight gain is so much harder to lose. Therefore, jeans – or hard pants – are not fitting my body so well these days. Enter Lou & Grey, which is saving my life right now.
2. Fleece blankets – For Hanukkah, I asked for a blanket that I could comfortably throw over my legs while sitting on the couch, reading a book, and drinking my coffee. Apparently, it was inferred that I wanted a weighted blanket. While I know there are plenty of benefits to this kind of blanket, I was thinking of something more soft and cozy. I now own three of them.
3. Trader Joe’s – I am a little anxious about going to the grocery store, mainly because of the shopping carts. Everybody is touching them and breathing on them. The big supermarkets are not doing enough to protect their clientele (in my opinion), and they aren’t very generous with the wipes and spray bottles. I appreciate Trader Joe’s for their commitment to keeping us all healthy – not only with their food but also their service. At my local store, someone stands outside and wipes down each cart well. They also keep track of how many people are in the store at a time so that social distancing can be adhered to. Of course, I also love TJ for their amazing food and low point Weight Watchers items. And, they have a fantastic display of the fourth thing that is saving me right now…
4. Fresh flowers – As soon as I walk into my Trader Joe’s, there is a wall of fresh flowers welcoming me and beckoning me to take them home. I love having fresh flowers in the house. They brighten up the room and my mood. The ones I buy are not ridiculously expensive and have lasted for up to two weeks.
5. Reading – There will be a longer post about my reading habits in the near future, but for the purpose of this list, I’ll say that getting away from my cell phone, laptop, desktop, and television with an excellent book is soothing to me. I used to worry about my kids and their screen time, but now I am concerned about my own.
6. Honorable mentions – My family. My dog. Hello Fresh. Jigsaw puzzles. Cozy pajamas. Coffee (and all hot beverages). Joe Biden. Randy Rainbow. The Holderness Family videos. And, the NYT Tiles game.

Ok, it’s your turn. Please tell me what things are saving your life right now. And don’t forget to check out Modern Mrs. Darcy’s “What’s Saving Your Life Right Now?” post to see where this all began.

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