[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":618},["ShallowReactive",2],{"cms:/api/categories?fields[0]=name&fields[1]=slug&pagination[pageSize]=100&sort=documentId":3,"cms:/api/authors?populate=*&filters[slug]=dimitra":45,"cms:/api/homepage?fields[0]=updatedAt&populate[navigation][fields][0]=name&populate[navigation][fields][1]=slug":84,"cms:/api/articles?populate=*&filters[author][id]=2&pagination[limit]=9&pagination[start]=63&sort[0]=bylineDate:DESC&sort[1]=createdAt:DESC":89},{"data":4,"meta":40},[5,10,15,20,25,30,35],{"id":6,"documentId":7,"name":8,"slug":9},8,"agm3bwiivq9ytkopje139uoj","Voices","voices",{"id":11,"documentId":12,"name":13,"slug":14},6,"fxhrufaspnwq0yurrk98sas3","Wellness","wellness",{"id":16,"documentId":17,"name":18,"slug":19},14,"gj8d0n6sxxe1mqfb0ticcamv","Style","style",{"id":21,"documentId":22,"name":23,"slug":24},12,"pra84h71qx5yo2kq8g18uy9h","After Hours","after-hours",{"id":26,"documentId":27,"name":28,"slug":29},2,"pregl64gjxpa6tec7l94j5fb","Career & Finance","career-and-finance",{"id":31,"documentId":32,"name":33,"slug":34},10,"vf2luiz1aic436stak4yr339","Nourish","food",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39},4,"y4wuht99krufymt1c62zqtk1","Mindset","mindset",{"pagination":41},{"page":42,"pageSize":43,"pageCount":42,"total":44},1,100,7,{"data":46,"meta":81},[47],{"id":26,"documentId":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"instagram":51,"facebook":52,"bio":53,"linkedIn":54,"createdAt":55,"updatedAt":55,"publishedAt":56,"avatar":57,"avatarImg":77},"rrgw04x1ox461oib75ljto7k","Dimitra","dimitra","https://www.instagram.com/dimdimi/","https://www.facebook.com/dimitra.lioliou.9","She started in corporate, stepped out to build her own businesses, and along the way learned five foreign languages. With a background in Sociology, her focus remains squarely on human behavior, the true engine behind every business, cultural trend, and daily decision. Today, she splits her time between Europe and the US, writing about work, culture, and the subtle mechanics of modern life. If you ask her about languages, consider yourself warned: she will not stop talking.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitra-lioliou/","2026-09-06T10:31:18.888Z","2026-09-06T10:31:18.911Z",{"id":42,"documentId":58,"name":59,"alternativeText":60,"caption":61,"focalPoint":62,"width":63,"height":63,"formats":64,"hash":75,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":76,"url":77,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":79,"updatedAt":79,"publishedAt":80},"vho74tz85ywt8uvcc2i46n8j","Dimitra Lioliou-490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5.png","dimitra lioliou profile pic","dimitra lioliou the working gal",null,250,{"thumbnail":65},{"ext":66,"url":67,"etag":68,"hash":69,"mime":70,"name":71,"path":62,"size":72,"width":73,"height":73,"sizeInBytes":74},".png","https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_Dimitra_Lioliou_490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5.png","1af5fda28d3e7890e8a99c385239de61","thumbnail_Dimitra_Lioliou_490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5","image/png","thumbnail_Dimitra Lioliou-490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5.png",47.39,156,47387,"Dimitra_Lioliou_490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5",28.15,"https://assets.workingal.com/Dimitra_Lioliou_490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5.png","@strapi/provider-upload-aws-s3","2026-09-06T10:31:18.786Z","2026-09-06T10:31:18.787Z",{"pagination":82},{"page":42,"pageSize":83,"pageCount":42,"total":42},25,{"data":85,"meta":88},{"id":42,"documentId":86,"updatedAt":87},"nhhccnp3ibbyv1cn1er78o9h","2026-09-06T10:40:24.841Z",{},{"data":90,"meta":613},[91,161,216,273,331,389,445,500,558],{"id":92,"documentId":93,"title":94,"content":95,"slug":96,"coffees":97,"seo_title":94,"keywords":98,"seo_desc":99,"bylineDate":100,"bylineTimezone":101,"createdAt":102,"updatedAt":103,"publishedAt":104,"featuredImage":105,"category":154,"author":157,"img":152},463,"rdn9nwww7wc3xl510o9k2cgj","How To Set SMART Financial Goals","December is usually the month when we make the [New Year’s resolutions](https://www.workingal.com/articles/new-years-resolutions-have-you-made-yours). We reflect on the past year and visualize the new one that is coming. However, how many of us pay attention to our finances? How many goals do we set regarding our **financial literacy** and goals? Self-care, work-life balance, and traveling goals are so important, but we tend to neglect the most important factor that defines, to a great extent, the above: our finances.\n\nThe beginning of the year is the ideal season to reevaluate our financial situation, review our finances, and set new financial goals. Now it’s the time to decide your priorities, where you want to spend money, and how your savings account is moving forward. \n\nSetting clear and achievable financial goals is a fundamental step on the path to **financial fitness**. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. The SMART goal-setting framework is effective because it provides a structured and focused approach to achieving your objectives. By defining your goals precisely, you eliminate ambiguity and understand exactly what you aim for. This prevents wasted effort and keeps you on track. Also, with every goal we set, we need motivation to achieve; so having quantifiable metrics allows you to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate milestones, provides **motivation** and a sense of accomplishment. \n\nCreating SMART goals needs patience, reflection, and time. Especially when it comes to our finances, it’s crucial to set goals that can lead to financial success and help us organize our finances effectively. Our financial gals explained to us how to set our SMART goals successfully. The SMART framework is as follows, and you can always use it for your goals in general.\n\n## **1\\. Specific (S):**\n\nYour financial goals should be well-defined and specific so you must be clear about what you want to accomplish. In order to define your financial goals, ask yourself questions like:\n\n*   What exactly do I want to achieve with my finances?\n    \n*   Why is this goal important to me?\n    \n*   What is the purpose or objective behind this goal?\n    \n\nFor instance, instead of a vague goal like _\"I need  to save money this year,\"_ a specific goal could be _\"I want to save $5,000 for a down payment on a home in the next two years.\"_\n\n## **2\\. Measurable (M):**\n\nYour financial goals should be quantifiable so that you are able to track your progress and determine when you've achieved the goal. The questions below will help you measure your goals.\n\n*   How will I measure my progress?\n    \n*   How much do I need to save or invest?\n    \n*   What are the specific numbers associated with this goal?\n    \n\nInstead of a vague statement like _\"This year, I will reduce debt,\"_ a measurable goal could be _\"I will pay off $10,000 in credit card debt within 12 months.\"_\n\n## **3\\. Achievable (A):**\n\n![How To Set SMART Financial Goals](https://assets.workingal.com/How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_db44b48fbf.jpg)\n\nSometimes, the goals we set are unrealistic and, hence, not attainable. While it never hurts to dream big, your goals should remain within reach. For instance, the questions below will hepl you identify whether your goal is realistic and achievable.\n\n*   Is this goal possible, given my current financial situation?\n    \n*   Do I have the necessary resources and skills to achieve this goal?\n    \n*   What are the steps I need to take to reach this goal?\n    \n\nIf your income is $40,000 per year, setting a goal to save $1 million in one year is not realistically achievable –unless you win the lottery. You could try a more attainable goal: saving $10,000 or 25% of your income over a year.\n\n## **4\\. Relevant ( R):**\n\nYour financial goals should reflect your life, values, and long-term objectives. They should align with your overall financial plan and make sense in your unique circumstances. The questions to better understand how relevant your goals are as follows:\n\n*   Does this goal support my financial well-being or my long-term plans?\n    \n*   Is it the right time in my life to pursue this goal?\n    \n*   Will achieving this goal have a meaningful impact on my life?\n    \n\nIf you're thinking of purchasing a house, a relevant goal might be to maximize contributions to your savings accounts to secure a downpayment rather than focusing on saving for a renovation to your current home.\n\n## **5\\. Time-Bound (T):**\n\n![How To Set SMART Financial Goals](https://assets.workingal.com/How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_48a9e288b4.jpg)\n\nFinally, your financial goals should have a specific timeframe or deadline for completion.  Setting deadlines creates a sense of urgency and helps you prioritize tasks. It also provides a clear framework for planning and executing your plan. The questions below will help you set concrete and realistic deadlines in order to achieve your goals.\n\n*   By when do I want to achieve this goal?\n    \n*   What is the exact deadline for reaching this objective?\n    \n*   How can I break this goal into smaller, time-bound milestones?\n    \n\nInstead of saying you want to _\"I want to put money aside for a big trip,\"_ a time-bound goal could be, _\"I will contribute $500 per month to my savings account for the next 6 months to be able to buy the ticket to \\[insert ideal destination\\].\"_\n\n#### If you feel like you need to be more financially literate, [download our free ebook](https://www.workingal.com/articles/be-financially-fit-your-101-guide-ebook), written by our financial experts, which will give you a comprehensive overview of financial literacy and how to organize your finances thoroughly.","how-to-set-smart-financial-goals",3,"personal finance skills have the most significant impact on an individual’s, how to set financial goals, financial literacy, SMART goals framework, smart goals for personal finance","If you want to make your goals achievable, then you need to ask yourself the right questions and set SMART goals. We navigate the SMART goals framework for success!","2025-01-17","Europe/Berlin","2025-01-17T01:44:32.507Z","2025-01-17T01:53:47.823Z","2025-01-17T01:53:47.820Z",{"id":106,"documentId":107,"name":108,"alternativeText":94,"caption":94,"focalPoint":62,"width":109,"height":110,"formats":111,"hash":150,"ext":113,"mime":117,"size":151,"url":152,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":153,"updatedAt":153,"publishedAt":153},246,"g88f8na5f2e4vpard1eaz79s","How To Set SMART Financial Goals-2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg",1600,900,{"large":112,"small":123,"medium":132,"thumbnail":141},{"ext":113,"url":114,"etag":115,"hash":116,"mime":117,"name":118,"path":62,"size":119,"width":120,"height":121,"sizeInBytes":122},".jpg","https://assets.workingal.com/large_How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg","44e38f5648007605448e01c5e0aa987f","large_How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe","image/jpeg","large_How To Set SMART Financial Goals-2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg",67.16,1000,563,67162,{"ext":113,"url":124,"etag":125,"hash":126,"mime":117,"name":127,"path":62,"size":128,"width":129,"height":130,"sizeInBytes":131},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg","58a0819d3d65a2ed5d66b3b687cfae8d","small_How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe","small_How To Set SMART Financial Goals-2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg",22.92,500,281,22923,{"ext":113,"url":133,"etag":134,"hash":135,"mime":117,"name":136,"path":62,"size":137,"width":138,"height":139,"sizeInBytes":140},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg","aed10acab91fe8c56d627c57d549b2d8","medium_How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe","medium_How To Set SMART Financial Goals-2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg",43.1,750,422,43099,{"ext":113,"url":142,"etag":143,"hash":144,"mime":117,"name":145,"path":62,"size":146,"width":147,"height":148,"sizeInBytes":149},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg","a7c8dd3591522d8141ff4bfcdd7f716c","thumbnail_How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe","thumbnail_How To Set SMART Financial Goals-2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg",7.38,245,138,7383,"How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe",80.27,"https://assets.workingal.com/How_To_Set_SMART_Financial_Goals_2db675274c80129453cd168fbbf6ab4b5cdba69a8e63af58412d0663c00415fe.jpg","2026-09-06T10:35:02.548Z",{"id":26,"documentId":27,"name":28,"slug":29,"createdAt":155,"updatedAt":155,"publishedAt":156},"2026-09-06T10:31:16.599Z","2026-09-06T10:31:16.613Z",{"id":26,"documentId":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"instagram":51,"facebook":52,"bio":53,"linkedIn":54,"createdAt":55,"updatedAt":55,"publishedAt":56,"avatar":158},{"id":42,"documentId":58,"name":59,"alternativeText":60,"caption":61,"focalPoint":62,"width":63,"height":63,"formats":159,"hash":75,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":76,"url":77,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":79,"updatedAt":79,"publishedAt":80},{"thumbnail":160},{"ext":66,"url":67,"etag":68,"hash":69,"mime":70,"name":71,"path":62,"size":72,"width":73,"height":73,"sizeInBytes":74},{"id":162,"documentId":163,"title":164,"content":165,"slug":166,"coffees":97,"seo_title":164,"keywords":167,"seo_desc":168,"bylineDate":169,"bylineTimezone":101,"createdAt":170,"updatedAt":171,"publishedAt":172,"featuredImage":173,"category":211,"author":212,"img":209},445,"ys20j4rl32ycnrsad6zie68n","You're Not Richer, You're Just Spending More:  The Sneaky Ways Lifestyle Creep Impacts You","### Remember that feeling? \n\nThe thrill of that first big raise. Suddenly, takeout wasn’t just for Fridays; it was for the weekdays as well, and that “investment” piece from that cool new boutique wasn’t so out of reach, and maybe, just maybe, a vacation to Bali was finally within grasp. But here’s the thing about that raise: it didn’t magically transform you into a millionaire. It just made your “normal” a little more… luxurious.\n\n### Welcome to the insidious world of lifestyle creep.\n\n![lifestyle creep](https://assets.workingal.com/lifestyle_creep_6fb614ac47.jpg)\n\nThis newfound sense of \"affordability\" can be incredibly deceptive. It creates the illusion of wealth, encouraging you to spend more without genuinely understanding the long-term implications. It’s the subtle, insidious way our spending habits inflate with our income. We trade in our perfectly serviceable car —bought two years ago—for a slightly newer, slightly more expensive model. Our coffee habit has evolved from a daily drip to a $7 **artisanal latte** with strange names we can’t pronounce. Vacations morph from budget-friendly camping trips to all-inclusive resorts and from one meal per day to endless cocktails by the pool. We no longer do DIY because we can gift expensive gift sets and gadgets everyone should have. And this is how life is from the moment we saw that bank account with the _“new”_ salary.\n\nIf the above rings a bell, then you are a victim. The term lifestyle creep describes the sneaky, insidious way your spending habits inflate along with your income. _The more you earn, the more you spend._\n\nLet's be real: _life gets expensive_. But something's seriously amiss when your paycheck mysteriously vanishes into thin air before you even have a chance to enjoy it. This subtle phenomenon thrives in the shadows of your obliviousness. You're casually upgrading your **coffee habit**, justifying that designer handbag as an \"investment,\" and suddenly, \"affordable\" rent feels like a distant memory.\n\nThe problem? **You're living in a fog of financial ignorance.** No clue where your money actually goes? That's lifestyle creep's favorite breeding ground. It thrives on your lack of awareness, silently draining your bank account while you're blissfully unaware.\n\nThe Sneaky Signs You're a Victim\n================================\n\n![lifestyle creep](https://assets.workingal.com/lifestyle_creep_ad0f49470b.jpg)\n\nThat \"Treat Yo' Self\" Mentality\n-------------------------------\n\nThe sweet taste of success. Suddenly, \"treat yo' self\" isn't just a Parks and Rec quote; it's your new religion. Every extra dollar feels like a divine blessing, a cosmic permission slip to indulge. That perfectly serviceable car? Suddenly, it's so last year. _You deserve those heated seats, right?_ This isn't about a rare splurge. This is a full-blown lifestyle. Every raise, bonus, or side hustle gig becomes a justification for a new handbag, a fancy dinner, or a spontaneous shopping spree. That limited-edition sneaker collab? \"I earned it!\" That weekend getaway to Napa? \"I deserve it!\"\n\nBefore you know it, you get a second full-time job: it’s called _\"treating yourself\"_. Your bank account weeps, your closet overflows, and you're left, sitting among your latest “I deserve it” haul wondering where the hell all your money went. Maybe try treating yourself to, I don't know, saving that money? Just a thought.\n\nThe \"I Deserve This\" Syndrome\n-----------------------------\n\nAh, the sweet siren song of self-justification. _\"I work hard, I deserve nice things.\"_ It's a mantra as seductive as it is dangerous. Suddenly, that **designer handbag** isn't just a purchase that makes you feel giddy; it’s a well-deserved reward for putting so much effort into working, living, and existing. That weekend getaway to Aspen along with the luxurious resort? A well-deserved break from the grind. But here's the problem in your rationale: do you actually need those things? Or are you simply falling prey to the seductive allure of instant gratification?\n\nThis \"I Deserve This\" syndrome starts with a few harmless indulgences but quickly escalates into an insatiable desire for more, more, more. You justify every splurge, convinced you've “earned” it. _But at what cost?_ \n\nBefore you swipe that card, ask yourself: Do I need this, or do I just want this because _I think I deserve it_? You might be surprised by the answer.\n\nThe \"Keeping Up\" Comparison Game\n--------------------------------\n\nWelcome to the 21st century, where your worth is measured in likes and followers. Social media has transformed into a never-ending parade of curated perfection. Your online friends are jet-setting to exotic locales, flaunting designer bags, and living in impossibly chic apartments. Influencers around the world showcase their indulgent hauls while watching sunsets in exotic destinations, and you? You're stuck staring at your own decidedly less glamorous life, feeling increasingly inadequate. \n\nThe \"Keeping Up\" Comparison Game is a relentless state, constantly whispering toxic doubts: _Why don't I have that? Why can't I afford that?_ The constant barrage of curated perfection around us fuels a relentless pursuit of material possessions. You find yourself desperately trying to keep up, chasing that elusive _“perfect”_ lifestyle, all while your bank account dwindles and your anxiety skyrockets.\n\nDelete Instagram. Or, at the very least, unfollow those accounts that make you feel like a total loser. Your mental health will thank you; your bank account as well.\n\n![lifestyle creep](https://assets.workingal.com/lifestyle_creep_98ba14fbe0.jpg)\n\nThe \"I Can Afford It Now\" Trap \n-------------------------------\n\nRemember when \"affordable\" meant ramen noodles and bodega wine? Those were the days. Now, with a slightly higher paycheck, your definition of \"affordable\" has undergone a dramatic transformation. That rent that once felt like a Herculean effort to pay? Suddenly, it's _\"manageable.\"_ That designer dress you once lusted after from afar? Now, it's _\"within reach.\"_\n\nThis mentality subtly normalizes higher spending, slowly eroding your financial boundaries. What started as a rare became the new normal. Before you know it, you're living beyond your means, convinced that this inflated lifestyle is simply _\"sustainable.\"_\n\nDon't let your definition of affordable inflate with your income. Stick to a budget, and remember that just because you can afford something doesn't mean you should afford it.\n\nThe Hidden Costs\n================\n\nLifestyle creep apart from draining your bank account, has a profound impact on your mental well-being. The constant pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle (that is rooted in your head mainly, not your surroundings) can be incredibly **stressful**. You're always chasing the next upgrade, the next “level up,” leaving little room for relaxation or enjoyment. Even with a higher income, you're constantly on the brink of financial instability. And when you are into a lifestyle creep storm, _a sudden job loss or unexpected expense can quickly spiral into a debt crisis._ And at the end of the day, instead of spending the money on things you used to dream of, like the downpayment for a house, this island-hopping in Greece seems to get pushed further and further down the line as your expenses continue to climb.\n\nHow To Break Free\n=================\n\n![lifestyle creep](https://assets.workingal.com/lifestyle_creep_08c37096c7.jpg)\n\nTrack Your Spending\n-------------------\n\nThis is the foundation of any successful financial strategy. Get real about **where your money is actually going**. You might be surprised how quickly those daily lattes and impulse hauls add up. The good news is that you can easily track where your money is going. There is a plethora of apps that you can use to track your expenses and income. Download one today. \n\nCreate a Budget (and Stick To It)\n---------------------------------\n\nThis is where the rubber meets the road. No more guesswork, no more \"oh, I'll figure it out later.\" It's time to get real about where your hard-earned cash is going. How to create a budget? Well, we’ve got you covered. [Download this](https://www.workingal.com/articles/be-financially-fit-your-101-guide-ebook) and learn more about how finance works and how to manage your money more effectively. There are so many ways to create a budget, from the classic one (aka the 50/30/20 rule) to the most hardcore 80/20. The choice is yours. However, _don't get bogged down in the minutiae_. The goal isn't to become a spreadsheet warrior (you won’t; it’s harsh, trust me). It's to gain awareness of your spending habits and make conscious choices about how you allocate your income.\n\nDefine Your Values\n------------------\n\nYes, I know you are a good person, and you follow your values and principles. But to stop spending irrationally, why don’t you ask yourself: _what truly sets my soul on fire?_ Is it that designer handbag or that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Bali? Sit down and reflect on what truly matters to you. Things? Experiences? Travel? Giving back? Whatever the answer is, align your spending with your values. If experiences truly matter to you, prioritize those over material possessions. Your bank account will thank you, and you'll feel a more profound sense of fulfillment.","you-re-not-richer-you-re-just-spending-more","lifestyle creep, what is lifestyle creep, earn more spend more, spending more money, how to overcome lifestyle creep","Congratulations! We got the raise and now what? Are you going to spend all the money and be a victim of lifestyle creep or you will prudent?","2025-01-08","2025-01-08T00:05:33.044Z","2025-01-08T00:16:39.026Z","2025-01-08T00:16:39.023Z",{"id":174,"documentId":175,"name":176,"alternativeText":177,"caption":177,"focalPoint":62,"width":109,"height":110,"formats":178,"hash":207,"ext":113,"mime":117,"size":208,"url":209,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":210,"updatedAt":210,"publishedAt":210},237,"nzr8y3kctl3lqdxflyy7kz9h","lifestyle creep-9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg","lifestyle creep",{"large":179,"small":186,"medium":193,"thumbnail":200},{"ext":113,"url":180,"etag":181,"hash":182,"mime":117,"name":183,"path":62,"size":184,"width":120,"height":121,"sizeInBytes":185},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg","aeb48a806e3c6ef383de0e4851bf407f","large_lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1","large_lifestyle creep-9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg",66.77,66772,{"ext":113,"url":187,"etag":188,"hash":189,"mime":117,"name":190,"path":62,"size":191,"width":129,"height":130,"sizeInBytes":192},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg","10f85e32aad24b535a81029e4f665916","small_lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1","small_lifestyle creep-9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg",20.98,20976,{"ext":113,"url":194,"etag":195,"hash":196,"mime":117,"name":197,"path":62,"size":198,"width":138,"height":139,"sizeInBytes":199},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg","ef1526308ddf5879ebd1824eaf53d390","medium_lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1","medium_lifestyle creep-9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg",41.8,41798,{"ext":113,"url":201,"etag":202,"hash":203,"mime":117,"name":204,"path":62,"size":205,"width":147,"height":148,"sizeInBytes":206},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg","087094164bafcd899e48aa07888c6a6d","thumbnail_lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1","thumbnail_lifestyle creep-9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg",6.24,6235,"lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1",86.09,"https://assets.workingal.com/lifestyle_creep_9fb0325a4f07f4b3b2ee806c7e141977a588a302cec2b0b82de341199aadd3b1.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:55.610Z",{"id":26,"documentId":27,"name":28,"slug":29,"createdAt":155,"updatedAt":155,"publishedAt":156},{"id":26,"documentId":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"instagram":51,"facebook":52,"bio":53,"linkedIn":54,"createdAt":55,"updatedAt":55,"publishedAt":56,"avatar":213},{"id":42,"documentId":58,"name":59,"alternativeText":60,"caption":61,"focalPoint":62,"width":63,"height":63,"formats":214,"hash":75,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":76,"url":77,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":79,"updatedAt":79,"publishedAt":80},{"thumbnail":215},{"ext":66,"url":67,"etag":68,"hash":69,"mime":70,"name":71,"path":62,"size":72,"width":73,"height":73,"sizeInBytes":74},{"id":217,"documentId":218,"title":219,"content":220,"slug":221,"coffees":26,"seo_title":219,"keywords":222,"seo_desc":223,"bylineDate":224,"bylineTimezone":101,"createdAt":225,"updatedAt":226,"publishedAt":227,"featuredImage":228,"category":266,"author":269,"img":264},427,"zona1856rmae7r70ceuv5pvm","The Only Banana Bread Recipe You Need","Let’s start by admitting that there are only a few other blisses besides **banana bread**. Banana bread is the most comforting food in the world and is the ideal breakfast, dessert, snack… everything, basically.\n\nBanana bread is believed to have roots in the **United States** during the early 1900s, likely born out of necessity. According to food experts and historians, during financial hardships, they were trying to find a creative way to use overripe bananas before they went bad. Also, during that time, there was a massive rise in baking powder, which was a **game-changer** for baking bread-type food faster and easier than traditional yeast.\n\nSince then, banana bread has become one of the most popular since it combines an easy and affordable way not to [waste food](https://www.workingal.com/articles/reducing-food-waste-how-small-steps-can-make-a-big-difference), aka your bananas that are sitting on the counter.\n\nI have always liked bananas, but when you live alone, there is a significant chance that you won’t be able to eat them before they go bad. Frankly, I find it horrible to waste food -and money- that often. So, I Googled something like _“What can I do with ripe bananas before they get bad?”_ and, apart from smoothie recipes, I found a couple of interesting banana bread recipes. I tried them all until I started experimenting with one specific recipe. \n\n![best banana bread with chocolate chips](https://assets.workingal.com/best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_93d180c0ee.jpg)\n\nBasically, I love the idea of banana bread, but most of the recipes treat it as a dessert with lots of butter and sugar, and this is something I specifically avoid. I would never say no to cakes, candies, etc., but first of all, my skin is **sugar-intolerant**, which causes me extreme breakouts, and second of all, I avoid sugar at breakfast.\n\n#### So, I discovered the perfect recipe: banana bread with olive oil, not a lot of sugar, but equally delicious and moist.\n\nI “played” a bit with the recipe, and here we are—time to share it while waiting for mine to get out of the oven!\n\n\nThe Ingredients\n---------------\n\n_**I usually get frustrated when I have to precisely count ingredients for this reason, in this recipe, when we talk about “cup,” I mean a normal-sized coffee mug, like in the picture below.**_\n\n![best banana bread with chocolate chips](https://assets.workingal.com/best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_ebd098f5af.jpg)\n\n\\- 3-4 ripe bananas (the more ripe they are, the sweeter)\n\n\\- ½ cup olive oil\n\n\\- ½ cup brown sugar (you can omit or reduce the quantity)\n\n\\- 2 large eggs\n\n\\- 2 cups all-purpose flour (you may need a tad more; add at the end if needed)\n\n\\- 1 teaspoon baking soda\n\n\\- ½ teaspoon baking powder\n\n\\- ½ teaspoon salt\n\n\\- 2 ½ tablespoons milk (I use whole, but any other type of milk works fine!)\n\n\\- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract\n\n\\- 1 cup of dark chocolate chips\n\nHow to make the best banana bread\n---------------------------------\n\nThis is the easy part. This recipe, apart from delicious, it’s so easy to make that you won’t need more than 10 minutes to mix the ingredients and put the cake in the oven.\n\n![best banana bread with chocolate chips](https://assets.workingal.com/best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_27dd828f76.jpg)\n\n\\- Preheat the oven to 356 degrees F (180 degrees C)\n\n\\- In a big bowl, mash the bananas with a fork so that you have a nice consistency. We don’t need it wholly mashed; it’s very ok if we have some little pieces of the banana. \n\n\\- Mix all the ingredients with a spatula until you have a smooth batter. This is the time to add or not more flour. You want the batter to be smooth but not too watery. \n\n\\- Spray olive oil and flour to your preferred pan and pour the batter. \n\n\\- Cover the pan with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes.\n\n\\- Remove the foil and bake for 30 minutes more.\n\n\\- Remove from the oven, cover the pan with a towel and let it sit for at least half hour. \n\n_Enjoy your perfect banana bread! It’s the perfect breakfast if you accompany your slice with berries or a fulfilling snack!_\n\n\n### _The original recipe can be found_ [_here_](https://cookpad.com/gr/sintages/3089190-amerikaniko-keik-mpanana?ref=search&search_term=αμερικάνικο+κέικ)_, but it’s in Greek for whoever is interested!_","the-only-banana-bread-recipe-you-need","banana bread, gf banana bread recipe, best banana bread recipe with chocolate chips, healthy banana bread","The most moist, soft, smooth, and delicious banana bread you will ever taste. On the plus the easiest recipe.","2024-12-30","2024-12-30T00:16:18.478Z","2024-12-30T00:26:26.078Z","2024-12-30T00:26:26.075Z",{"id":229,"documentId":230,"name":231,"alternativeText":232,"caption":232,"focalPoint":62,"width":109,"height":110,"formats":233,"hash":262,"ext":113,"mime":117,"size":263,"url":264,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":265,"updatedAt":265,"publishedAt":265},228,"y8l81kfp951ahea3m5sqmk9v","best banana bread with chocolate chips-34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg","best banana bread with chocolate chips",{"large":234,"small":241,"medium":248,"thumbnail":255},{"ext":113,"url":235,"etag":236,"hash":237,"mime":117,"name":238,"path":62,"size":239,"width":120,"height":121,"sizeInBytes":240},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg","978872ef041af1a01a2b31094d780b65","large_best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55","large_best banana bread with chocolate chips-34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg",138.51,138513,{"ext":113,"url":242,"etag":243,"hash":244,"mime":117,"name":245,"path":62,"size":246,"width":129,"height":130,"sizeInBytes":247},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg","ca403830c0219ca06c24b1db48573b07","small_best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55","small_best banana bread with chocolate chips-34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg",40.67,40669,{"ext":113,"url":249,"etag":250,"hash":251,"mime":117,"name":252,"path":62,"size":253,"width":138,"height":139,"sizeInBytes":254},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg","5ce78ce9348b1310199bcd84c4e51dc2","medium_best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55","medium_best banana bread with chocolate chips-34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg",83.59,83591,{"ext":113,"url":256,"etag":257,"hash":258,"mime":117,"name":259,"path":62,"size":260,"width":147,"height":148,"sizeInBytes":261},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg","462314942e09d8f80089776b449cb40d","thumbnail_best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55","thumbnail_best banana bread with chocolate chips-34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg",11.99,11987,"best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55",197.05,"https://assets.workingal.com/best_banana_bread_with_chocolate_chips_34a9cb129444e82d4d0cbc2acd5faa1149d0db667600b0f6d346908f19f16e55.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:47.105Z",{"id":31,"documentId":32,"name":33,"slug":34,"createdAt":267,"updatedAt":267,"publishedAt":268},"2026-09-06T10:31:17.156Z","2026-09-06T10:31:17.174Z",{"id":26,"documentId":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"instagram":51,"facebook":52,"bio":53,"linkedIn":54,"createdAt":55,"updatedAt":55,"publishedAt":56,"avatar":270},{"id":42,"documentId":58,"name":59,"alternativeText":60,"caption":61,"focalPoint":62,"width":63,"height":63,"formats":271,"hash":75,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":76,"url":77,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":79,"updatedAt":79,"publishedAt":80},{"thumbnail":272},{"ext":66,"url":67,"etag":68,"hash":69,"mime":70,"name":71,"path":62,"size":72,"width":73,"height":73,"sizeInBytes":74},{"id":274,"documentId":275,"title":276,"content":277,"slug":278,"coffees":36,"seo_title":276,"keywords":279,"seo_desc":280,"bylineDate":281,"bylineTimezone":101,"createdAt":282,"updatedAt":283,"publishedAt":284,"featuredImage":285,"category":324,"author":327,"img":321},416,"c94p4wr0940nwzqayoa4n8lv","Do People Love To Hate Women Online?","Social media has undeniably transformed how we connect and share information, but it also presents unique challenges, particularly for women. According to many studies and research, women are disproportionately subjected to **harsher judgment online,** facing heightened scrutiny of their appearance, opinions, and actions.\n\n### Data show that it is increasingly clear that women and girls experience [online disproportionate and different harms online](https://www.socialeurope.eu/social-media-the-harms-to-women-and-girls#:~:text=These%20include%3A%20sexist%20stereotyping%20in,of%20women%20in%20misogynistic%20pornography.) compared with boys and men.\n\nFollowing the recent drama about [Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni](https://www.workingal.com/articles/when-did-blake-lively-s-public-image-take-a-turn) and the much-discussed movie _“It Ends With Us,”_ followed by substantial online scrutiny towards Blake Lively regarding the way she promotes the movie, we see how the online audience doesn’t hesitate to scan thoroughly and attack her whole personality intensely, finding “dirt” from her past and commenting on everything about her looks, partner choices, and actions. And Blake Lively is **only one of the victims of this online court.** Many famous (or not) people have been victims of online attacks and threats of “canceling” them because they did something “wrong.” And it’s not easy to recover from this constant criticism, which is not constructive; it’s mean and harmful. \n\n_Historically, this has not been a recent behavior towards women._ Media and press seem to find it extremely easy to attack and mistreat women, especially for their personal choices. **Men seem to be intact** or -at least- not facing the same rage. The previous generations, Gen-X and Millennials, certainly remember the [Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton–Lewinsky_scandal), where she constantly faced intense public scrutiny and widespread condemnation for her consensual relationship with then-President Bill Clinton. This media coverage often focused on shaming and demeaning her while mainly overlooking the **power imbalance** inherent in the situation. A 22-year-old woman with a man of power. However, she took all the hits when the scandal broke out. \n\n\n_And who can forget about Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie?_ That the press “threw an online party” after the disclosure of Aniston’s divorce from Brad Pitt and his entering into a relationship with Angelina Jolie immediately after. Aniston was the one who lost the handsome, sexy, and fantastic husband, and Jolie was the one who stole this “amazing” husband. The media heavily speculated about Aniston's desire to have children, often framing her inability to conceive as a **personal failing** and a contributing factor to the divorce, while Jolie was frequently cast as the \"homewrecker.\" However, Brad Pitt didn’t have anything to do with this. While Pitt undoubtedly faced media attention, the narrative around him often cast him in a more **favorable light** compared to the scrutiny faced by Aniston and Jolie.\n\n![online rage against women](https://assets.workingal.com/online_rage_against_women_55a4e9aacc.jpg)\n\nAnother woman, a victim of the online “vice squad,” **Meghan Markle**, the Duchess of Sussex, experienced significant media scrutiny following her marriage to Prince Harry. The marriage was initially celebrated, but later, the public perception shifted, with criticism arising during her pregnancy, parenting choices, and home renovations, including instances of racism and attacks on her relationship with her family. These pressures ultimately led the couple to step back from their royal duties and relocate to the United States, where people are lurking around the corner for her next move to be analyzed criticized. \n\n[Taylor Swift](https://www.workingal.com/articles/inspirational-taylor-swift) couldn’t be excluded from the list, considering that she has faced significant scrutiny throughout her career. This includes criticism of her **dating life**, often framed in a manner that some perceive as slut-shaming. Her physical appearance, particularly her weight, has also been subject to public commentary. Her musical style and friendships have also been widely debated and sometimes dismissed. Perhaps most notably, the media response to her [sexual assault case](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Swift_sexual_assault_trial), where some minimized her experience, drew considerable criticism. While she has received praise, the prevailing narrative in some media circles has often been more negative than positive.\n\nAnd the list is not focused only on the **entertainment industry**. No matter what their profession is, women cannot always escape their online destiny. For example, women in politics pretty much face the same behavior, no matter how much they contribute. [Fridkin states in the Journal of Politics](https://journalistsresource.org/media/gender-bias-news-politics/), _“In senatorial races, women receive less campaign coverage than their male counterparts and the coverage they receive is more negative — emphasizing their unlikely chances of victory.”_\n\nThe media heavily scrutinized **Michelle Obama** during and after her husband’s presidency. While her initiatives during that time were intriguing, she received most criticism mainly for her looks and her identity as a woman of color. Instead of her work, she received numerous comments about her body and eating habits.\n\nAnother victim of this online scrutiny was the Greek MEP **Eva Kaili**, who was arrested and charged with corruption in the European Union but was indeed sentenced before her trial by the media and the audience. She received a considerable amount of online rage, far beyond the legal case, and _focused on her looks and connections_ as factors for advancing her career in the European Parliament rather than her participation in the actual case. However, the other [four people who were charged along with her](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_corruption_scandal_at_the_European_Parliament) did not get that hostile rage, and nobody talked about their bodies and looks.\n\nThe list goes on, but it is not exhaustive and does not include only famous women. If you scroll down your social media, you will understand how different people treat women online than men. Comments about women’s looks, behaviors, and motherhood abilities are ubiquitous. \n\n### People love to express rage towards women much more than towards men. \n\n![online rage against women](https://assets.workingal.com/online_rage_against_women_a92bd228a6.jpg)\n\nWomen are victims of stereotypes, and they are **expected to fit into those stereotypes**. They are often held to higher standards and face more criticism for their opinions and actions, even when compared to men expressing similar views. Women frequently face discrediting of their expertise or qualifications in usually dismissive or [condescending language](https://www.workingal.com/articles/how-language-is-affected-by-our-gender). And this language and behavior does not only originate from men -it originates from women as well  -from mothers who scrutinize every mother who puts herself online to women who insult and feel superior to women who are dressed in a specific way that doesn’t match their preferences. This internalized misogyny stems from the pervasive **societal messages** and stereotypes that devalue women and their contributions, and online platforms are the most popular way to express it.\n\nThe question resulting from the above is whether we can create an online -and offline- society where _women can have flaws but won’t be humiliated and harassed when those flaws come to the surface_. \n\nIt’s at least childish to believe that women are perfect or that they don’t make mistakes or even be less than angels on Earth. They are not; they are **human beings** with positive aspects and flaws. They do things well, they can contribute equally to our society, and they can also make mistakes -big-time mistakes. However, it’s unfair for them to be judged more **aggressively** and treated disrespectfully, especially without having complete awareness of the circumstances. They also have the right to fairness and objectivity that is not elective and gender-based.","do-people-love-to-hate-women-online","women online, women online harassment, blake lively online cancel, taylor swift sexual harassment case, cyber-bullying to women, online harassment","Do people like to dislike women online? Data show that people tend to be more aggressive and condescending towards women online rather than men. ","2024-12-24","2024-12-24T21:30:52.229Z","2024-12-24T22:06:32.166Z","2024-12-24T22:05:53.607Z",{"id":286,"documentId":287,"name":288,"alternativeText":289,"caption":289,"focalPoint":62,"width":109,"height":110,"formats":290,"hash":319,"ext":113,"mime":117,"size":320,"url":321,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":322,"updatedAt":322,"publishedAt":323},223,"iv6ihsd1flo4rqlv9ns4ci4p","online rage against women-ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg","online rage against women",{"large":291,"small":298,"medium":305,"thumbnail":312},{"ext":113,"url":292,"etag":293,"hash":294,"mime":117,"name":295,"path":62,"size":296,"width":120,"height":121,"sizeInBytes":297},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg","d4e17679f795222dce242fc214dfd86a","large_online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925","large_online rage against women-ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg",110.62,110620,{"ext":113,"url":299,"etag":300,"hash":301,"mime":117,"name":302,"path":62,"size":303,"width":129,"height":130,"sizeInBytes":304},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg","f074597ef480cdf10d35830b91634d84","small_online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925","small_online rage against women-ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg",34.44,34443,{"ext":113,"url":306,"etag":307,"hash":308,"mime":117,"name":309,"path":62,"size":310,"width":138,"height":139,"sizeInBytes":311},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg","a4440e23b8d1ce9abf72a461bf980a5e","medium_online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925","medium_online rage against women-ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg",67.24,67235,{"ext":113,"url":313,"etag":314,"hash":315,"mime":117,"name":316,"path":62,"size":317,"width":147,"height":148,"sizeInBytes":318},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg","bfa489a9b875887e51828d2f62e67380","thumbnail_online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925","thumbnail_online rage against women-ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg",11.22,11219,"online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925",153.79,"https://assets.workingal.com/online_rage_against_women_ef661b46465538c45ee13999c6604f3f498dcc901409a948434daf5caf166925.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:42.847Z","2026-09-06T10:34:42.848Z",{"id":6,"documentId":7,"name":8,"slug":9,"createdAt":325,"updatedAt":325,"publishedAt":326},"2026-09-06T10:31:16.996Z","2026-09-06T10:31:17.009Z",{"id":26,"documentId":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"instagram":51,"facebook":52,"bio":53,"linkedIn":54,"createdAt":55,"updatedAt":55,"publishedAt":56,"avatar":328},{"id":42,"documentId":58,"name":59,"alternativeText":60,"caption":61,"focalPoint":62,"width":63,"height":63,"formats":329,"hash":75,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":76,"url":77,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":79,"updatedAt":79,"publishedAt":80},{"thumbnail":330},{"ext":66,"url":67,"etag":68,"hash":69,"mime":70,"name":71,"path":62,"size":72,"width":73,"height":73,"sizeInBytes":74},{"id":332,"documentId":333,"title":334,"content":335,"slug":336,"coffees":97,"seo_title":334,"keywords":337,"seo_desc":338,"bylineDate":339,"bylineTimezone":101,"createdAt":340,"updatedAt":341,"publishedAt":342,"featuredImage":343,"category":382,"author":385,"img":380},396,"t5jdew9anyz5o0swpp485t2e","I Woke Up at 6AM Every Day for 30 Days. Here Is What Actually Changed.","I have always been very interested in [increasing my productivity](https://www.workingal.com/search?s=productivity) and being able to finish stuff fast and efficiently. I have pretty much every productivity app anyone could imagine and I constantly calculate my time on different tasks in order to understand where I stall and where I am fast so that I can develop techniques that would make me faster and faster.\n\nWell, I can’t complain. Over the years, I have seen my productivity getting better and better and there have been days when I was actually really proud of me and my efficiency.\n\nHowever, the more I grow up, the more I realize that my productivity is imbalanced and not always regulated, as I thought it to be. And, honestly, sometimes life can be so **unpredictable** that even the most productive people can have a slip. And I am one of those people.\n\nI have tried several productivity tips and tricks and I cannot say that I have completely managed to reach all my goals. And as a traditional night owl, I would never think that waking-up early in the morning could actually be the game changer in my productivity levels.\n\n![early morning productivity](https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_036b923a24.png)\n\nAs a person who has worked for years as a [freelancer](https://www.workingal.com/search?s=freelancer), I had the luxury to manage my time according to my projects and, to be honest, the most satisfying thing was that I could work anytime I wanted and whenever I wanted within the day. So, a huge amount of my work was done during the evening and nighttime. I can’t even begin to remember how many times I was out for drinks up to 1 am (Greeks are late!) and then got back to working. Ahh, nice times.\n\nEven when I started the business (yes, I am now a proud business owner, stay tuned for more insights on that!), I was the last one to come to the office (and the last to leave it, for what is worth) and I can say that I felt so excited that I didn’t have to go to 9-5 never again.\n\nHowever, as the business moved forward, meetings with potential and new clients started piling up and I couldn’t support my working style anymore. I tried but eventually it wasn't functional, aka I was so sleep-deprived that I could barely stand awake. Amidst meetings, actual work and other stuff I saw my productivity levels drop dramatically and I realized I needed to take action. It was this time that I started a part-time job (for the experience and networking mainly) with a US company where the general mood was wake-up early and work-life balance.\n\nI started getting interested in the vibe of [waking up early](https://www.workingal.com/articles/i-stop-scrolling-in-the-morning) and I did a little research on the benefits of waking up early and if they are valid or another trick to support capitalism by being awake all day long.\n\nWhat I found? _Interesting stuff_. Many online people and influencers swear on waking up early and a lot of books of business management as well. Research suggests that the earlier we wake up, the more productive we get and get shit done.\n\nWell, considering that I used to get things done for many years and completely random time schedules, I initially thought that all these were just words to fill the paper or the Instagram caption. But, since I never say no to a new challenge, I decided to try it and see what happens. Best case scenario, I would become the most successful person in the worl,d or I would be the most tired person in the world, and I would blame all the aspiring productivity gurus of the internet.\n\n# What's the Best Time to Wake Up for Productivity?\n\n![early morning productivity](https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_926defb3fc.png)\n\nI find it very efficient to start everything I have in mind on **Sundays**. Whether I want to establish a new healthy habit or I want to stop a bad one, I find Sundays a very convenient start day, first because I have the time to see the differences without risking being at work and second because Monday puts already a _pressure for the upcoming week_, so I try to not get me overwhelmed with a life change.\n\nSo, the previous night, I set my alarm for 6 am. I set another for 6:15 and another for 6:30 in case I won’t manage to wake up with the first attempt. This way, I create a safety net so that I stick to my goal. Also, my phone goes far away, out of reach, so that I don’t get tempted to put off waking up on time. Of course, I couldn’t go to bed early and I mentally prepared myself that I would be groggy the next morning.\n\nSo, on Sunday I was up at 6 am, sharp. I made it! Honestly, it was brutal, but I was determined to achieve my goal. And I didn’t want to let my discomfort overwhelm me. I got my coffee; I stayed away from the phone -who is awake that early, after all?- and I took some time to acknowledge what was happening. After a while, I starting feeling that I wanted to move a bit so I started doing some **house cleaning and laundry.**\n\nBy noon, I have finished laundry, I meal prepped for the week and I have edited a couple of articles that need to be delivered by the end of the following week. Oh boy! So many things were done that I couldn’t believe it was just noon.\n\n# Why Morning People Achieve Greater Success\n\n![early morning productivity](https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_d34d12438e.png)\n\nIn the beginning, I thought that it was just a coincidence and I was just fast, despite the lack of sleep. However, I wanted to be sure of my assumptions, and of course, I continued waking up at 6 am the following days and see how this will eventually end up.\n\nWell, I have some great news to share: **waking up early actually works for your productivity**. There are many studies that support the fact that mornings are usually the ideal time to finish all our important tasks because our brain functions better. Therefore, when you wake up that early, you give yourself some extra hours of productivity and, consequently, you finish more tasks during those hours.\n\nAlso, the fact that you wake up so early in a peaceful house creates the perfect opportunity to make some decisions in a **distraction-free environment** where the clutter of a busy day can’t reach you. Waking up at 6 am is a great chance to stand still and enjoy your morning without having to rush out of the door (or jump to your laptop) without time for yourself. If you wake up early enough, you can have a [nutritious breakfast](https://www.workingal.com/articles/busy-mornings-20-healthy-breakfast-ideas-if-you-don-t-have-time), get dressed, and enjoy your beauty routine without the guilt of being late. It is a great time to workout as well. I am usually a **morning person** when it comes to working out but I would storm in my Pilates 9 am class sleepy, not having coffee and would almost sleep for the first 20 minutes of the class. After starting to wake up at 6 am, I had already done some of the morning preparations and also had enough coffee to make my workout more efficient.\n\n### Imagine how many things you don’t usually do in the morning, you are able to achieve only by setting your alarm at 6 am every morning\n\nAnd this is the key to great productivity. Early, undistracted mornings are the best option to empty your to-do list and manage your time more effectively with almost **zero distractions**. This is even more appealing considering that you free up your afternoons and replace errands with fun things. In my case, waking up very early motivated me to get into business early, tackle all my tasks for the day (and even some tasks for the whole week) and be able to find more time for myself and my loved ones.\n\nAlso, since I had time to get ready for work, my diet got better since I had the time to [prep my meals](https://www.workingal.com/articles/5-tips-for-meal-prep) and have a great breakfast before heading to the office.\n\n# Is 6 am The Ideal Time To Wake Up? | Can It Last?\n\n![early morning productivity](https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_48ce29175c.png)\n\nIt did. Alright, during the weekend I allow myself to stay in bed a bit more but during the week, I aim to wake up no later than 6:15 am and go to bed early, no matter how tired or not I am. I have made my schedule around this time and I still can’t believe how much free time I have during the evening. Also, considering that a habit takes about 21 days to be established, then probably my body is used to waking up early ever since I got into the challenge of doing so.\n\nHowever, the decision of your wake up time is a personal choice and it really **depends on your lifestyle**, **work and preferences**. If it aligns with those then you can give it a try and check whether is the right decision for you and it can have a positive change to your productivity and well-being.","productivity-diaries-i-started-to-wake-up-at-6-am-and-good-things-have-happened","best time to wake up for productivity, why do morning people achieve greater success, ideal wake up time for productivity ","I set my alarm for 6AM every day for 30 days and tracked every result. Here is what the productivity research predicted, what actually happened, and whether it is worth doing.","2024-12-19","2024-12-19T03:40:07.361Z","2026-02-19T05:07:24.946Z","2024-12-19T03:48:09.596Z",{"id":344,"documentId":345,"name":346,"alternativeText":347,"caption":348,"focalPoint":62,"width":109,"height":110,"formats":349,"hash":378,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":379,"url":380,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":381,"updatedAt":381,"publishedAt":381},213,"w4cgw3xo0xgcuuxv3bu5o2ez","early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","Hand reaching alarm clock","early morning productivity",{"large":350,"small":357,"medium":364,"thumbnail":371},{"ext":66,"url":351,"etag":352,"hash":353,"mime":70,"name":354,"path":62,"size":355,"width":120,"height":121,"sizeInBytes":356},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","6cf6c431432121fab87dc9c6d4f34e3f","large_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2","large_early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png",923.13,923131,{"ext":66,"url":358,"etag":359,"hash":360,"mime":70,"name":361,"path":62,"size":362,"width":129,"height":130,"sizeInBytes":363},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","f209f3555a113dc985d82911bad49e4b","small_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2","small_early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png",240.66,240661,{"ext":66,"url":365,"etag":366,"hash":367,"mime":70,"name":368,"path":62,"size":369,"width":138,"height":139,"sizeInBytes":370},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","109e878d0de5af62f6056f74be9af6d6","medium_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2","medium_early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png",518.11,518112,{"ext":66,"url":372,"etag":373,"hash":374,"mime":70,"name":375,"path":62,"size":376,"width":147,"height":148,"sizeInBytes":377},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","bdd4d25d4ef15f867780ca0cde82bf16","thumbnail_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2","thumbnail_early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png",69.22,69224,"early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2",250.51,"https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","2026-09-06T10:34:33.463Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":383,"updatedAt":383,"publishedAt":384},"2026-09-06T10:31:16.716Z","2026-09-06T10:31:16.780Z",{"id":26,"documentId":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"instagram":51,"facebook":52,"bio":53,"linkedIn":54,"createdAt":55,"updatedAt":55,"publishedAt":56,"avatar":386},{"id":42,"documentId":58,"name":59,"alternativeText":60,"caption":61,"focalPoint":62,"width":63,"height":63,"formats":387,"hash":75,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":76,"url":77,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":79,"updatedAt":79,"publishedAt":80},{"thumbnail":388},{"ext":66,"url":67,"etag":68,"hash":69,"mime":70,"name":71,"path":62,"size":72,"width":73,"height":73,"sizeInBytes":74},{"id":390,"documentId":391,"title":392,"content":393,"slug":394,"coffees":36,"seo_title":392,"keywords":395,"seo_desc":396,"bylineDate":397,"bylineTimezone":101,"createdAt":398,"updatedAt":399,"publishedAt":400,"featuredImage":401,"category":440,"author":441,"img":437},394,"llu8px7gzfpfjormtc4ys4m5","The Truth About Influencer Culture: What Working Women Need to Know in 2025","\nIf you're online—and let's be honest, who isn't?—you know the term \"influencer.\" Your Instagram feed is filled with them. Your TikTok For You page serves them up constantly. Even LinkedIn has jumped on the influencer bandwagon.\n\nBut have you ever stopped scrolling long enough to ask: What exactly are we being influenced toward? And is any of this actually... real?\n\nAs a working woman trying to navigate social media without losing your mind (or your budget), you've probably felt that nagging [suspicion that something about influencer culture doesn't quite add up](https://www.workingal.com/articles/do-social-media-and-influencers-damage-our-body-image). Picture-perfect lives, endless exotic vacations, designer closets that would make a department store jealous—all presented as totally normal, totally achievable, totally authentic.\n\nSpoiler alert: It's not.\n\nLet's have an honest conversation about influencer culture—what it is, how it works, why it's problematic, and most importantly, how you can navigate it without falling into its carefully curated traps.\n\n## What Is an Influencer, Really?\n\nLet's start with a proper definition. In the context of social media, influencers are individuals who have built a significant following on platforms like Instagram, [TikTok](https://www.workingal.com/articles/tik-tok-may-be-banned-so-what), YouTube, or others, where they create content around a specific niche—fashion, beauty, travel, fitness, technology, parenting, you name it.\n\nTheir large following engages with their content, and here's the key part: the ultimate goal is to sway the opinions and behaviors of their followers, impacting their purchasing decisions.\n\n### The Different Tiers of Influencers:\n\n* Mega-influencers: 1M+ followers (celebrities, household names)  \n* Macro-influencers: 100K-1M followers (industry leaders)  \n* Micro-influencers: 10K-100K followers (niche experts)  \n* Nano-influencers: 1K-10K followers (everyday people with engaged communities)\n\nInterestingly, engagement rates often decrease as follower counts increase. A nano-influencer with 5,000 followers might have better engagement and trust than a mega-influencer with millions of followers who've never interacted with them personally.\n\n## The Evolution of Influencer Marketing\n\nInfluencer culture has been at the forefront over the last few years, and it practically exploded in the last decade with the expansion of social media platforms. But here's something you might not know: [influencer marketing](https://www.workingal.com/articles/career-advice-from-influencers) isn't new or unknown.\n\n### The Timeline of Influencer Marketing:\n\n#### 1970s-1990s: Celebrity Endorsements \n\nEver since the late 1970s, brands have used celebrities to endorse their products—what we now call \"brand ambassadors.\" Think Michael Jordan and Nike, or any celebrity slapping their name on a perfume. This model is still alive and well.\n\n#### 2000s: The Blogger Era \n\n![are we done with influencers](https://assets.workingal.com/are_we_done_with_influencers_c805b7613a.png)\n\nWhen the first blogs appeared, bloggers with a following started using their platforms to promote products and make a living. Fashion blogs, mommy blogs, lifestyle blogs—these were the original influencers, just on a different platform.\n\n#### 2010-Present: The Social Media Explosion \n\nIn the last decade, Instagram and YouTube emerged as the most popular platforms for influencer marketing. Instagram, with its highly visual format, became the go-to platform for brands looking to partner with influencers. It's the perfect place for influencers to showcase products and services with aesthetically pleasing photos and videos.\n\n#### 2020-Present: TikTok & The Authenticity Shift \n\nTikTok entered the scene promising more \"authentic\" content—less polished, more real. But spoiler: it didn't take long for the same influencer marketing tactics to infiltrate this platform too.\n\n## Yes, Being an Influencer Is Actually a Job\n\nOne of the most heated debates about influencer culture is whether being an influencer qualifies as a \"real job.\" Influencers (or \"content creators,\" as they prefer to be called) argue passionately that it is. Meanwhile, many everyday people roll their eyes and think, \"Posting on social media isn't a job—I do that for free.\"\n\nLet's settle this once and for all.\n\nIf we use the dictionary definition of \"job\" from Merriam-Webster—\"a regular remunerative position\" (a position where you offer a service and get paid for it)—then content creating IS a job. A highly paid one for some, but still a job.\n\n### Why Being an Influencer Qualifies as Work:\n\n**1\\. They earn income:** Whether from platform payments, brand partnerships, affiliate commissions, or ad revenue, influencers are compensated for their content.\n\n**2\\. It requires specific skills:** Building an audience and gaining a following isn't easy. Having [worked in marketing for several years](https://www.edl.gr/blog/learn-from-the-top-what-successful-brands-nail-online), I know that audience-building requires:\n\n* Consistency \\- Posting regularly without fail  \n* Creativity \\- Constantly generating new content ideas  \n* Technical skills \\- Photography, videography, editing, graphic design  \n* Business acumen \\- Understanding contracts, negotiations, taxes  \n* Psychology & marketing knowledge \\- Understanding what resonates with audiences  \n* Thick skin \\- Handling criticism, trolls, and cancel culture\n\n**3\\. Performance pressure:** If influencers don't keep their audience engaged, they lose followers, which means they lose their income. Just like any job—if you don't perform, you get fired.\n\n#### The Counter-Argument: \"But anyone can post on social media, so how is it a job?\"\n\nSure, anyone can post. But can you do it with the consistency, quality, creativity, and strategic thinking required to build and maintain a following of tens of thousands or millions? Can you turn that following into sustainable income?\n\nMost people can't—and that's why not everyone is a successful influencer despite having access to the same platforms.\n\nSo yes, it's a job. Whether it's a job society should celebrate or a job that contributes meaningfully to the world—well, that's a different conversation.\n\n## The Real Problems with Influencer Culture\n\nAcknowledging that influencing is a job doesn't mean we have to accept everything about influencer culture uncritically. The problems with influencers lie more in ethical than practical reasons, and the concerns relate to their impact on society, the economy, and individual mental health.\n\nLet's break down the major issues.\n\n## The Authenticity Problem: When Everything Is Sponsored\n\nBehind the filtered photos and sponsored posts lies a carefully constructed facade. The idealized image that influencers present can be misleading—and often intentionally so.\n\n### The Hidden Sponsorship Problem:\n\nInfluencers often don't properly disclose sponsored content, misleading their followers into thinking recommendations are genuine. Or worse, they promote products they haven't personally tried or don't genuinely believe in.\n\n![are we done with influencers](https://assets.workingal.com/are_we_done_with_influencers_5cabdf4920.png)\n\nReal-world example: One day, an influencer swears by a \"game-changing\" foundation that \"transformed\" their skin. The next week, they're promoting a different \"amazing\" foundation that helped them get rid of... whatever skin issue they claimed they had last week.\n\nSo what's the truth? Which foundation actually works? Have they even tried either one?\n\nThe answer: Often, they haven't. They're paid to promote products, and authenticity takes a backseat to income.\n\nThe FTC's Stance: The Federal Trade Commission requires influencers to clearly disclose paid partnerships. Hashtags like \\#ad, \\#sponsored, or \\#partner are supposed to appear prominently. But many influencers bury these disclosures, use vague language, or skip them altogether—and enforcement is inconsistent at best.\n\n### The Content Saturation Problem:\n\nProduct integration and placement can feel forced and inauthentic, diluting the influencer's credibility and saturating the market with unnecessary content.\n\nThink about it: when you open Instagram just wanting to see what your friends are up to, and instead you're bombarded with products, products, products everywhere—what's authentic about that?\n\nWhen everything turns into an ad, the content itself loses its power and potential. The platform becomes one giant shopping channel, and influencers become walking, talking commercials disguised as your friends.\n\nFor creating authentic content that actually connects with people, authenticity has to come first—not monetization.\n\n## Economic Impact: Who's Really Paying?\n\nThe business of influence is lucrative—for influencers and brands, that is. But what about consumers?\n\n### The Cost Pass-Through:\n\nThe rise of influencer marketing has caused many brands to inflate product prices, passing on the cost of influencer partnerships to consumers. That $300 serum you're being sold? A significant portion of that price tag is covering the influencer's five-figure sponsorship fee.\n\n### The Affordability Gap:\n\nInfluencers, especially popular ones with significant followings, rarely promote affordable products—at least not ones affordable for the average person who makes up their following.\n\nThink about it: If an influencer is showing you a $2,000 handbag, a $400 pair of shoes, and a $150 candle, claiming these are \"everyday essentials\"—whose everyday life are we talking about? Certainly not the working woman making $50,000-$70,000 annually who's trying to pay rent and student loans.\n\n### The Wealth Disparity:\n\nMeanwhile, several influencers amass significant wealth while the majority of their followers struggle to make a sustainable living. Top-tier influencers can earn six to seven figures per post, while their audience watches from behind screens, often feeling inadequate about their own financial situations.\n\n### The Financial Pressure:\n\nThis creates a problematic dynamic where influencers create needs that don't exist, leading people to over-consumerism. They've persuaded audiences that it's \"inconceivable\" not to have:\n\n* Ten different lipsticks for different \"moods\"  \n* Five \"investment\" handbags  \n* A complete skincare routine with 12+ steps  \n* A new outfit for every social event\n\nFor practical advice on [managing your finances](https://www.workingal.com/articles/financial-self-sabotage-why-you-fail-to-manage-your-finances) as a working woman without falling into influencer-driven consumerism, remember: your worth isn't measured by your ability to keep up with influencer lifestyles.\n\n## The Cult of Perfection & Unrealistic Standards\n\nInfluencers present flawless, carefree lives with no particular issues and no hardships. They show us meticulously curated images and videos of perfect lives where busy people manage it all daily with a smile.\n\nIt looks appealing. It looks inspirational. But it's more unrelatable than ever.\n\n### The Reality Check:\n\nIf you work 10-12 hours daily just to afford basic living expenses, you physically can't be as energetic and fun as influencers appear—unless you're a robot or heavily editing your content (spoiler: it's the latter).\n\nWhen you have to wake up, get dressed, and get out the door ASAP for work, you don't always have time for the perfect makeup routine or carefully curated outfit that influencers showcase in their \"morning routines.\"\n\nAnd this is where influencers lose the battle.\n\n### The Damaging Effects:\n\nTheir constant display of perfection leads to:\n\n#### Unrealistic Beauty Standards:\n\n* Heavily filtered and edited photos presented as \"natural\"  \n* Promoting cosmetic procedures while claiming \"it's just good genes\"  \n* Creating impossible beauty ideals that even they don't naturally meet\n\nBody Image Issues: They talk about [body positivity](https://www.workingal.com/articles/do-social-media-and-influencers-damage-our-body-image) while editing their photos so extensively you can barely recognize them. This sends the message: \"Love your body\\! (But also, secretly fix everything about it so you look like this edited version of me.)\"\n\n#### Life Expectation Problems:\n\n* Moms feeling inadequate because they can't maintain a spotless home, cook gourmet meals, look runway-ready, AND be present with their kids—all while holding down a job  \n* Working women feeling behind because they're not also running a side hustle, meal prepping for the week, working out at 5 AM, and maintaining a perfect social life  \n* Teens struggling with self-worth because they don't look, live, or have what influencers present as normal\n\n#### The Comparison Trap:\n\nThis constant social comparison, triggered by influencers' carefully curated online lives, contributes to:\n\n* Increased anxiety and depression  \n* Low self-esteem  \n* Feelings of inadequacy  \n* Unhealthy spending habits  \n* Potentially dangerous practices to achieve influencer-like appearances\n\nIf you're struggling with [work-life balance and feeling overwhelmed](https://www.workingal.com/categories/mindset), remember: influencers are showing you a highlight reel, often professionally produced and heavily edited. It's not real life—it's a performance.\n\n## Mental Health Impact (On Everyone)\n\nThe mental health crisis surrounding influencer culture affects everyone—influencers and their audiences.\n\n### Impact on Audiences:\n\nSocial comparison is natural, but social media amplifies it to toxic levels. Constant exposure to influencers' \"perfect\" lives leads to:\n\n* Comparison anxiety \\- \"Why doesn't my life look like that?\"  \n* FOMO (fear of missing out) \\- \"Everyone else is living their best life except me\"  \n* Inadequacy \\- \"I'm not successful/pretty/organized/happy enough\"  \n* Depression \\- When the comparison becomes overwhelming  \n* Financial stress \\- From trying to keep up with influencer lifestyles\n\n![are we done with influencers](https://assets.workingal.com/are_we_done_with_influencers_ecc0f6a687.png)\n\nA study published in the *Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology* found that limiting social media use to 30 minutes per day led to significant reductions in loneliness and depression.\n\n### Impact on Influencers:\n\nBut it's not just audiences suffering. According to a survey by Awin and ShareASale, 4 out of 5 content creators and online influencers experience burnout and struggle with mental health.\n\n#### Influencers face unique challenges:\n\n* Backlash for career choice \\- Constant criticism that their job isn't \"real work\"  \n* Performance pressure \\- Must maintain constant output to stay relevant  \n* Privacy invasion \\- Every aspect of life becomes content  \n* Cancel culture \\- One mistake can end a career overnight  \n* Authenticity constraints \\- Feeling unable to be themselves  \n* Comparison to other influencers \\- The comparison game affects them too  \n* Income instability \\- Algorithm changes can tank earnings overnight\n\n### The Burnout Reality:\n\nWe've seen several high-profile influencers experience public mental health breakdowns, take breaks from social media, or quit entirely. The constant pressure to maintain a perfect online image contributes to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.\n\n**To be fair:** People in traditional jobs can experience burnout and anxiety, too. Since influencing is a job, it makes sense that influencers would face [work-related stress](https://www.workingal.com/articles/how-to-reduce-work-anxiety). But the statistics show it's extremely common in this particular field—suggesting something about the nature of the work itself is uniquely taxing.\n\nFor strategies on [managing stress](https://www.workingal.com/articles/stress-management-these-5-techniques) and maintaining mental health, remember that your wellbeing matters more than any social media presence.\n\n## Privacy Concerns & Family Exploitation\n\nAnother critical issue is how influencers may share personal information or sensitive data, putting themselves and their families—especially children—at risk.\n\n### The \"Sharenting\" Problem:\n\nMany influencers don't hesitate to share their personal lives and their kids' lives, finding every possible way to create content out of their families' existence—whether their kids like it or not.\n\nWhile watching funny videos of happy families and kids running around carefree seems innocent enough, this practice:\n\n#### Puts children at risk:\n\n* Privacy violations they didn't consent to  \n* Potential targeting by predators  \n* Permanent digital footprints  \n* Future embarrassment or bullying\n\n#### Creates unfair pressure:\n\n* Children become \"employees\" without choice  \n* Childhood moments become monetized  \n* Natural behavior is performed for cameras  \n* Sibling dynamics affected by different content value\n\n#### Raises ethical questions:\n\n* Can children consent to being content?  \n* Who owns the money earned from children's images?  \n* What happens when kids want privacy but it threatens family income?  \n* Are we normalizing the commodification of childhood?\n\n### The Line Between Sharing and Exploiting:\n\nIt's one thing to share a couple of pictures of your family on social media—many non-influencers do this. But it's entirely different to:\n\n* Share your kids' bedrooms and what they wear to school  \n* Film them constantly, even during private moments  \n* Use their struggles, tantrums, or embarrassing moments for content  \n* Build your entire brand around your children's lives\n\nIt's unimaginable how overwhelming this can be for a minor who didn't choose to have their entire childhood documented and monetized online.\n\n## The Good Side: Influencers Who Make a Difference\n\nLet's be clear: Influencing people isn't inherently bad. In fact, it can be incredibly positive and wholesome when done right.\n\nThere are numerous influencers out there who help make a difference and create awareness about important issues.\n\n### Influencers Doing Good:\n\n#### Activists and Advocates: Using their platforms to raise awareness about:\n\n* Environmental issues and climate change  \n* Social justice and equality  \n* Mental health destigmatization  \n* Political engagement and voting rights  \n* Disability rights and accessibility  \n* LGBTQ+ rights and representation\n\n#### Educational Content Creators:\n\n* Scientists making complex topics accessible  \n* Historians providing context for current events  \n* Financial experts teaching money management  \n* Health professionals debunking misinformation  \n* Language teachers making education free and fun\n\n#### Community Builders:\n\n* Creating safe spaces for marginalized groups  \n* Connecting people with similar struggles  \n* Building supportive communities  \n* Normalizing difficult conversations\n\n#### Authentic Voices:\n\n* Sharing real struggles alongside successes  \n* Being transparent about sponsorships  \n* Promoting genuinely helpful products  \n* Using influence responsibly\n\n#### These influencers:\n\n* Have a clear \"why\" beyond making money  \n* Use their platforms to bring about positive change  \n* Motivate followers to pursue passions and dreams  \n* Provide genuine value, not just product placement\n\nFor inspiration from [women who are making a real difference](https://www.workingal.com/categories/voices), authentic influence comes from genuine passion and purpose.\n\n## The Shift Toward Authenticity\n\nHere's the good news: things are changing.\n\nAccording to statistics, influencers are here to stay, but we're already seeing a shift toward more genuine and authentic content that actually represents creators more truthfully.\n\n### What's Driving This Change:\n\n#### 1\\. Consumer Savviness:  Audiences are becoming more aware of influencer tactics and marketing strategies. They can spot:\n\n* Inauthentic endorsements  \n* Forced product placements  \n* Editing and filters  \n* Lifestyle inflation  \n* Misleading claims\n\n#### 2\\. Demand for Transparency: \n\nConsumers increasingly demand:\n\n* Clear sponsorship disclosures  \n* Honest product reviews (including negatives)  \n* Real, unfiltered content  \n* Transparency about editing and procedures  \n* Authentic behind-the-scenes content\n\n#### 3\\. Cancel Culture Accountability: \n\n\"Cancel culture\" has become a powerful force, affecting anyone with an online voice. Influencers have learned that audiences:\n\n![are we done with influencers](https://assets.workingal.com/are_we_done_with_influencers_f486b39ec9.png)\n\n* Won't tolerate problematic behavior  \n* Will hold them accountable for what they promote  \n* Can end careers overnight with coordinated action  \n* Expect apologies and genuine change, not just PR statements\n\nA simple Google search reveals numerous influencers who lost their status, influence, and partnerships within days because of something they did or said. People don't tolerate missteps anymore, and they know they contribute to influencers' income—so they demand value and integrity.\n\n#### 4\\. Brand Adaptation: Brands understand this shift and are adjusting their strategies by:\n\n* Partnering with micro-influencers who have genuine connections with niche audiences  \n* Choosing influencers whose values align with brand values  \n* Requiring more authentic, less scripted content  \n* Valuing engagement rates over follower counts  \n* Demanding transparency and genuine product use\n\n## How to Be a Savvy Consumer\n\nSo, how do you navigate influencer culture without falling into its traps? Here's your practical guide:\n\n### 1\\. Question Everything You See\n\nBefore clicking \"buy now\" on an influencer recommendation:\n\n* Ask: \"Is this person being paid to promote this?\"  \n* Look for: Disclosure hashtags (\\#ad, \\#sponsored, \\#gifted)  \n* Consider: \"Would they promote this if they weren't paid?\"  \n* Research: Look for independent reviews from non-influencers\n\n### 2\\. Recognize Editing and Filters\n\n* Assume most photos are edited (because they are)  \n* Don't compare your real life to someone's edited highlight reel  \n* Remember that even \"candid\" moments are often staged  \n* Look for inconsistencies in backgrounds, proportions, or lighting\n\n### 3\\. Do Your Own Research\n\n* Read reviews from verified purchasers on retail sites  \n* Check out consumer reports and unbiased product testing  \n* Ask friends with similar needs what actually worked for them  \n* Look for long-term reviews, not just initial impressions\n\n### 4\\. Set a Budget and Stick to It\n\n* Don't let influencers dictate your spending  \n* Create a wish list and wait 30 days before purchasing  \n* Ask yourself: \"Do I need this, or do I just want it because \\[influencer\\] has it?\"  \n* Track how much you're spending on influencer-recommended products\n\n### 5\\. Curate Your Feed Intentionally\n\n* Unfollow accounts that make you feel inadequate  \n* Follow diverse body types, lifestyles, and income levels  \n* Seek out educational content over lifestyle content  \n* Limit time spent on platforms that trigger comparison  \n* Use apps to track and limit social media usage\n\n### 6\\. Support Ethical Influencers\n\nWhen you do follow influencers:\n\n* Choose those who are transparent about sponsorships  \n* Support creators who align with your values  \n* Engage with educational or advocacy content  \n* Reward authenticity with follows, likes, and comments\n\n### 7\\. Remember: It's a Business\n\n* Every post is potentially monetized  \n* Influencers are salespeople, not your friends  \n* Their lifestyle is funded by selling you things  \n* Your relationship is transactional, not personal\n\n### 8\\. Prioritize Real Relationships\n\n* Invest time in actual friendships over parasocial relationships  \n* Seek advice from people who know you personally  \n* Build authentic connections offline  \n* Remember that influencers don't actually know what's best for YOUR life\n\n## The Future of Influencing\n\nWhere is influencer culture headed?\n\nWhile things in the digital world are incredibly fluid and constantly changing, a few trends are emerging:\n\n### 1\\. Micro and Nano-Influencers Rising: \n\nBrands increasingly recognize that smaller followings often mean:\n\n* Higher engagement rates  \n* More authentic connections  \n* Niche audience targeting  \n* Better ROI on partnerships  \n* More trustworthy recommendations\n\n### 2\\. Platform Diversification:\n\n* TikTok continues growing  \n* BeReal attempts authentic social media  \n* LinkedIn influencers gaining traction  \n* Newsletter/Substack creators emerging  \n* Podcast influencers expanding reach\n\n### 3\\. Increased Regulation:\n\n* FTC cracking down on disclosure violations  \n* Platform policies evolving  \n* Potential legislation around child content  \n* Tax regulations tightening  \n* Copyright and licensing issues being addressed\n\n4\\. Skills and Professionalization: \n\nThe field will likely become better regulated and require:\n\n* More professional skills beyond just posting  \n* Formal education in marketing, psychology, business  \n* Clear ethical guidelines  \n* Proper taxation and business registration  \n* Content licensing and rights management\n\n5\\. Authenticity as Currency: \n\nThe shift toward genuine content will continue:\n\n* Raw, unfiltered content gaining popularity  \n* Mental health and struggle sharing increasing  \n* \"Influencer fatigue\" driving demand for realness  \n* Audiences valuing substance over aesthetics\n\nThis shift will be refreshing because the field will evolve from \"anyone with a phone and a tripod\" to requiring genuine skills, ethical practices, proper regulation, and authentic value creation.\n\n## FAQs About Influencer Culture\n\n### Q: Are all influencers fake and inauthentic? \n\nA: No. While many influencers prioritize monetization over authenticity, there are content creators who genuinely believe in what they promote and are transparent about sponsorships. The key is learning to identify which is which and being selective about who you follow and trust.\n\n### Q: How can I tell if an influencer is being paid to promote something? \n\nA: Look for disclosure language like \\#ad, \\#sponsored, \\#partner, or statements like \"Thank you to \\[Brand\\] for sponsoring this post.\" However, be aware that some influencers hide these disclosures or use vague language. If an influencer is promoting a product, assume there's a financial relationship unless explicitly stated otherwise.\n\n### Q: Is it wrong to follow influencers? \n\nA: Not at all\\! Following influencers isn't inherently problematic. The issue arises when you accept everything they present as reality, make purchasing decisions solely based on their recommendations, or compare your real life to their curated content. Follow with awareness and healthy skepticism.\n\nQ: Why do people trust influencer recommendations over traditional advertising? \n\nA: Influencers create a sense of personal connection and perceived authenticity. People feel like they \"know\" influencers through their content and therefore trust their recommendations more than traditional ads. This parasocial relationship makes influencer marketing incredibly effective—which is exactly why it's important to approach it critically.\n\nQ: Can influencers actually make a living doing this? \n\nA: Yes, top-tier influencers can earn six to seven figures annually through sponsorships, affiliate commissions, and platform payments. However, the majority of aspiring influencers never achieve sustainable income. It's similar to other creative careers like acting or music—a small percentage succeed financially while many struggle.\n\nQ: Should I let my teenager become an influencer? \n\nA: This is a personal family decision, but consider: the pressure, public scrutiny, privacy loss, mental health impacts, and the skills they're developing (or not developing). If they're interested, perhaps start with boundaries: anonymous accounts, no face-showing, educational content, limited hours, and maintaining school/other interests as priorities.\n\nQ: How do I stop comparing myself to influencers? \n\nA: Limit exposure to accounts that trigger comparison, remind yourself that what you're seeing is edited and curated, follow diverse accounts showing various lifestyles, focus on your own goals and values, and spend more time in real life versus online. Consider a social media detox if comparison is significantly affecting your mental health.\n\nQ: Are there regulations protecting consumers from misleading influencer content? \n\nA: Yes, the FTC requires disclosure of material connections (payment, gifts, etc.) between influencers and brands. However, enforcement is inconsistent. Additionally, some countries have stricter regulations. Consumer protection laws also apply to false advertising claims made by influencers, though proving violations can be challenging.\n\n## Navigate with Awareness\n\nInfluencer culture isn't going away. In fact, it's likely to continue evolving and becoming more sophisticated. But that doesn't mean you have to be a passive participant in this carefully constructed ecosystem.\n\n### The key takeaways:\n\n**Remember the Business Model:** Every influencer post is potentially monetized. They're running a business, and you're the customer. There's nothing wrong with this—as long as you understand the dynamic.\n\n**Protect Your Mental Health:** If following certain accounts makes you feel inadequate, anxious, or compelled to spend money you don't have—unfollow. Your [mental wellbeing](https://www.workingal.com/categories/mindset) is more important than any influencer's content.\n\n**Be a Critical Consumer:** Question recommendations, do your own research, and make purchasing decisions based on your actual needs and budget—not influenced desires.\n\n**Seek Real Connections:** Invest your energy in authentic relationships with people who know and care about you personally, not parasocial relationships with people who see you as an engagement metric.\n\n**Support Ethical Creators:** When you do engage with influencer content, choose to support those who:\n\n* Are transparent about sponsorships  \n* Promote causes beyond consumerism  \n* Show authentic, unfiltered content  \n* Align with your values  \n* Provide genuine educational value\n\n**Remember Your Worth:** Your value isn't determined by:\n\n* How many followers you have  \n* Whether you can afford what influencers promote  \n* If your life looks Instagram-worthy  \n* Your ability to \"keep up\" with trends\n\nYou are valuable, worthy, and enough—exactly as you are, without purchasing a single product an influencer has ever promoted.\n\nThe world of social media and influencer culture can be navigated successfully—you just need to do it with your eyes wide open.\n\n### Related Articles:\n\n* #### [Do Social Media and Influencers Damage Our Body Image?](https://www.workingal.com/articles/do-social-media-and-influencers-damage-our-body-image)\n\n* #### [Negativity Bias: This Is Why I Stopped Reading Negative News](https://www.workingal.com/articles/negativity-bias)\n\n* #### [5 Social Media Documentaries You Need To Watch](https://www.workingal.com/articles/5-social-media-documentaries-you-need-to-watch)\n\n* #### [How to Deinfluence Yourself and Stop Buying Things You Don’t Need](https://www.workingal.com/articles/how-to-deinfluence-yourself)\n\n#### References:\n\n* [Federal Trade Commission \\- Influencer Marketing Guidelines](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/advertising-marketing/endorsements-influencers-reviews)  \n* [Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology \\- Social Media and Mental Health](https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751)  \n* [Awin and ShareASale \\- Creator Burnout Survey](https://www.awin.com/us/advertisers/awin-access/join-our-platform-sas?utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ID-US-ShareASale&utm_source=google&utm_content=ShareASale-Brand-Variations-PM&utm_term=share%20a%20sale%20affiliate&creative=730043115332&keyword=share%20a%20sale%20affiliate&matchtype=p&network=g&device=c&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22142990112&gbraid=0AAAAAD4ADu4GnyyOxp4wikkiJRBpIVqDo&gclid=CjwKCAjw6vHHBhBwEiwAq4zvA1q5xpRA0Z5izlY9G9ODGuhpWKgsEjUTHACslmixMvHyuDsb1H7OGRoCPBsQAvD_BwE)  \n* [Merriam-Webster Dictionary \\- Definition of \"Job\"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/job)  \n* [Consumer Reports on Influencer Marketing](https://pages.gwi.com/pm/consumer-insights-platform/?qgad=664540148609&qgterm=consumer%20research%20report&utm_term=consumer%20research%20report&utm_campaign=US+-+High+Intent&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=9903771596&hsa_cam=20338521271&hsa_grp=151619803195&hsa_ad=664540148609&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-356367348424&hsa_kw=consumer%20research%20report&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20338521271&gbraid=0AAAAADKcxHYhRCdhlNhx1vbtvnVCyXxHy&gclid=CjwKCAjw6vHHBhBwEiwAq4zvA4BmNPvy27wI0tfIz5xe6z1NTNyE_7T96fGDMZzYoH6IC1-5Fpxu8xoComMQAvD_BwE)\n\n","enough-with-those-influencers","influencer culture truth, problems with influencer marketing, influencer burnout statistics, influencer impact mental health, authentic content creators, influencer vs reality, social media comparison, ethical influencers, influencer marketing problems","Discover the truth about influencer culture, from hidden sponsorships to unrealistic standards. Learn how to navigate social media authentically and make informed decisions as a consumer.","2024-12-05","2024-12-05T01:07:13.901Z","2025-10-26T05:45:26.360Z","2024-12-05T01:15:58.324Z",{"id":402,"documentId":403,"name":404,"alternativeText":405,"caption":405,"focalPoint":62,"width":109,"height":110,"formats":406,"hash":435,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":436,"url":437,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":438,"updatedAt":438,"publishedAt":439},212,"telh3y8fk6hdrof4il5xfa37","are we done with influencers-37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png","are we done with influencers",{"large":407,"small":414,"medium":421,"thumbnail":428},{"ext":66,"url":408,"etag":409,"hash":410,"mime":70,"name":411,"path":62,"size":412,"width":120,"height":121,"sizeInBytes":413},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png","67b101ba61e9d99a819d6ab36c2b5589","large_are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803","large_are we done with influencers-37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png",819.56,819555,{"ext":66,"url":415,"etag":416,"hash":417,"mime":70,"name":418,"path":62,"size":419,"width":129,"height":130,"sizeInBytes":420},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png","57a2a416988fed3e82a09b59d54d330d","small_are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803","small_are we done with influencers-37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png",215.63,215627,{"ext":66,"url":422,"etag":423,"hash":424,"mime":70,"name":425,"path":62,"size":426,"width":138,"height":139,"sizeInBytes":427},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png","12fcc1459efdae492bccb969bf2f6473","medium_are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803","medium_are we done with influencers-37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png",465.01,465009,{"ext":66,"url":429,"etag":430,"hash":431,"mime":70,"name":432,"path":62,"size":433,"width":147,"height":148,"sizeInBytes":434},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png","e7ee495efaa587f195a007a6f5ee0886","thumbnail_are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803","thumbnail_are we done with influencers-37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png",59.44,59441,"are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803",283.03,"https://assets.workingal.com/are_we_done_with_influencers_37f33ad83bac769fccfaa9de2477a9fff4d229df15889f37d7aef6e1c7363803.png","2026-09-06T10:34:32.351Z","2026-09-06T10:34:32.352Z",{"id":6,"documentId":7,"name":8,"slug":9,"createdAt":325,"updatedAt":325,"publishedAt":326},{"id":26,"documentId":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"instagram":51,"facebook":52,"bio":53,"linkedIn":54,"createdAt":55,"updatedAt":55,"publishedAt":56,"avatar":442},{"id":42,"documentId":58,"name":59,"alternativeText":60,"caption":61,"focalPoint":62,"width":63,"height":63,"formats":443,"hash":75,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":76,"url":77,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":79,"updatedAt":79,"publishedAt":80},{"thumbnail":444},{"ext":66,"url":67,"etag":68,"hash":69,"mime":70,"name":71,"path":62,"size":72,"width":73,"height":73,"sizeInBytes":74},{"id":446,"documentId":447,"title":448,"content":449,"slug":450,"coffees":97,"seo_title":448,"keywords":451,"seo_desc":452,"bylineDate":453,"bylineTimezone":101,"createdAt":454,"updatedAt":455,"publishedAt":456,"featuredImage":457,"category":495,"author":496,"img":493},388,"wbussp32dbbuxflemqus4kmd","Inspirational Women: Ada Lovelace, The First Computer Programmer","****\n\nNo matter how things have evolved, there are not as many [women in the STEM fields](https://www.workingal.com/articles/the-woman-in-the-stem-fields) as their male counterparts. Even though women are pursuing bright and memorable careers, some fields are still male-dominated.\n\nComputer science is one of those fields if we take into consideration that [only 20% of computer science professionals](https://www.computerscience.org/resources/women-in-computer-science/#:~:text=Only%2020%25%20of%20computer%20science%20professionals%20are%20women.) are women, which seems quite surprising since women were the majority of computer programmers in the United States during World War II, but the gender distribution became more balanced in the 1970s and early 1980s. However, the field has since become less balanced again, and in recent years, the **percentage of women** in computer science has declined.\n\nHowever, in this world dominated by men and **technological advancements** still centuries away, Ada Lovelace emerged as a brilliant mind, forever etching her name in history. Often hailed as the world's first computer programmer, her visionary ideas and contributions to the field of computing continue to inspire generations.\n\n# Her Early Years\n\nBorn Augusta Ada Byron in 1815, Ada was the daughter of the renowned poet Lord Byron. Her mother, Lady Byron, recognized Ada's intellectual potential and fostered her interest in mathematics and science. Under the guidance of her tutor, **Mary Somerville**, Ada developed a deep understanding of complex mathematical concepts.\n\nHer parents' turbulent marriage ended shortly after her birth, leading to a separation and Lord Byron's departure from England. As a result, Ada **never had a close relationship with her father**. Her mother, fearing that Ada might inherit her father's _\"mad, bad, and dangerous\"_ tendencies, focused on cultivating her daughter's intellectual abilities, particularly in mathematics and science.\n\n![ada lovelace programming](https://assets.workingal.com/ada_lovelace_programming_57a51caabe.jpg)\n\nAs a teenager, Ada was closely monitored by her mother's friends, who were tasked with ensuring her **moral conduct**. Ada resented this surveillance, calling them the _\"Furies\"_ and accusing them of exaggerating and fabricating stories about her.\n\nDespite her privileged upbringing, Ada's childhood was marked by delicate health and a strict, often austere education. Her mother, determined to shape her daughter's mind, employed a series of tutors to instill in her a love of learning and a rigorous approach to **academics**.\n\nLovelace had a distant relationship with her mother. She was primarily raised by her maternal grandmother, Lady Milbanke, who was quite affectionate. However, due to societal norms of the time, Lady Byron was expected to portray herself as a caring mother. This led her to write concerned letters to Lady Milbanke about Ada's well-being, which she later planned to use as evidence of her maternal care. In one letter, she even referred to Ada as \"it.\"\n\nThese early experiences, though challenging, would ultimately shape Ada's unique perspective and prepare her for the **groundbreaking work** she would later undertake.\n\nIn 1835, Ada married **William King**, ten years her senior. When King inherited a noble title in 1838, they became the Earl and Countess of Lovelace. Ada had three children. Lady Byron, whose domineering was rarely opposed by the King, directed the family and its fortunes very much.\n\n# The Analytical Engine and Beyond\n\nAda's collaboration with Charles Babbage, the inventor of the Analytical Engine, proved to be a pivotal moment in her life. Though never fully realized in Babbage's lifetime, this groundbreaking machine was a precursor to modern computers. While Babbage focused on the engine's mechanical aspects, Ada dug into its potential applications.\n\n# A Pioneer's Insights\n\nAda's most significant contribution was her detailed notes on the Analytical Engine. She not only explained its workings but also **envisioned its capabilities** beyond mere calculations. She proposed that the machine could be used to compose music, creating intricate patterns and sequences. This groundbreaking insight demonstrated her understanding of the machine's potential to process information in ways far beyond numerical computations.\n\nAda Lovelace, often hailed as the world’s first **computer programmer**, was a brilliant mind far ahead of her time. While her contributions to the field of computing may not have been fully recognized during her lifetime, her visionary ideas have had a lasting impact on the digital age.\n\n## First Algorithm for a Computer\n\n**Note G:** In her extensive notes on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, Ada provided a detailed algorithm for calculating Bernoulli numbers. This algorithm is considered to be the first computer program ever written.\n\n**Beyond Calculation:** Lovelace envisioned the Analytical Engine's potential to go beyond mere numerical calculations. She proposed that it could be used to compose music, creating intricate patterns and sequences, demonstrating her understanding of the machine's ability to process information in diverse ways.\n\n## Foreseeing the Future of Computing\n\n**Artificial Intelligence:** Lovelace's insights extended to the realm of artificial intelligence. She speculated that computers could be programmed to think and reason, a revolutionary concept for her time.\n\n**The Limits of Computation:** While she recognized computers' immense potential, she also acknowledged their limitations. She understood that machines could only follow instructions and that true creativity and understanding would always remain uniquely human.\n\n# Ada Programming Language\n\nWhile Ada Lovelace is recognized as the first computer programmer, _no specific programming language_ is named after her. However, a popular programming language is called Ada.\n\nAda is a structured, statically typed, imperative, and object-oriented high-level programming language. It was designed in the early 1980s by a team led by **Jean Ichbiah** under contract to the United States Department of Defense (DoD).\n\nAda is designed for critical systems that require high reliability and safety, such as aerospace, military, and medical systems, and supports concurrent programming, allowing for the execution of multiple tasks simultaneously. It is well-suited for real-time systems responding to events within specific time constraints.\n\nThe language was named in honor of Ada Lovelace to recognize her **pioneering work** in the field of computing. It's a fitting tribute to a woman who, centuries ago, foresaw the potential of computers to go beyond mere calculations.\n\n# Legacy and Impact\n\n![ada lovelace programming](https://assets.workingal.com/ada_lovelace_programming_1403cf684e.jpg)\n\nAda Lovelace's visionary thinking and innovative ideas have profoundly impacted the field of computer science. Her work laid the foundation for developing programming languages and algorithms that power today's digital world. Her legacy continues to inspire women and girls to pursue careers in STEM fields, breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes.\n\n**Ada Lovelace Day** is an annual event held on the second Tuesday of October to celebrate and raise awareness of women's contributions to STEM fields. It is named after mathematician and computer science pioneer Ada Lovelace. It started in 2009 as a _\"day of blogging\"_ and has since become a multi-national event with conferences.\n\nAda Lovelace's story is a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the importance of recognizing the contributions of women in science and technology. She was a true pioneer who dared to dream and shape the future of computing.\n\n# Quotes\n\n### 1\\. “The more I study, the more insatiable do I feel my genius for it to be.”\n\n### 2\\. “As soon as I have got flying to perfection, I have got a scheme about a steam engine.”\n\n### 3\\. “That brain of mine is something more than merely mortal; as time will show.”\n\n### 4\\. “Religion to me is science and science is religion.”\n\n### 5\\. “Mathematical science shows what is. It is the language of unseen relations between things. But to use and apply that language, we must be able to fully to appreciate, to feel, to seize the unseen, the unconscious.”\n\n### Sources\n\n\u003Chttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace>\n\n\u003Chttps://www.sdsc.edu/ScienceWomen/lovelace.html#:~:text=In%201835%2C%20Ada%20married%20William,was%20rarely%20opposed%20by%20King>.","inspirational-women-ada-lovelace","ada lovelace, ada programming language, ada lovelace quotes, ada lovelace computers, ada lovelace day","Ada Lovelace is not only an inspiration; she was also a pioneer who redefined computer science. Read her story on the article.","2024-11-26","2024-11-26T02:37:53.774Z","2024-11-26T02:46:43.475Z","2024-11-26T02:46:43.473Z",{"id":458,"documentId":459,"name":460,"alternativeText":461,"caption":461,"focalPoint":62,"width":109,"height":110,"formats":462,"hash":491,"ext":113,"mime":117,"size":492,"url":493,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":494,"updatedAt":494,"publishedAt":494},209,"wiekccyftz3utq6jc10b1uao","ada lovelace programming-53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg","ada lovelace programming",{"large":463,"small":470,"medium":477,"thumbnail":484},{"ext":113,"url":464,"etag":465,"hash":466,"mime":117,"name":467,"path":62,"size":468,"width":120,"height":121,"sizeInBytes":469},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg","8101907443ec2de52a81ae42b17adcba","large_ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6","large_ada lovelace programming-53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg",95.45,95446,{"ext":113,"url":471,"etag":472,"hash":473,"mime":117,"name":474,"path":62,"size":475,"width":129,"height":130,"sizeInBytes":476},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg","43cc619480e3798b89d1defef55d12cd","small_ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6","small_ada lovelace programming-53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg",32.73,32727,{"ext":113,"url":478,"etag":479,"hash":480,"mime":117,"name":481,"path":62,"size":482,"width":138,"height":139,"sizeInBytes":483},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg","dff21a25d4850b3ed0df23fe034fbfe7","medium_ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6","medium_ada lovelace programming-53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg",60.83,60829,{"ext":113,"url":485,"etag":486,"hash":487,"mime":117,"name":488,"path":62,"size":489,"width":147,"height":148,"sizeInBytes":490},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg","8e5377b02e22a96c6186e92c1d6bdef9","thumbnail_ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6","thumbnail_ada lovelace programming-53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg",10.69,10686,"ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6",134.34,"https://assets.workingal.com/ada_lovelace_programming_53dcc87da903667ec7606167f512faefa8c43a27b32860c47ea173adea517ae6.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:28.407Z",{"id":6,"documentId":7,"name":8,"slug":9,"createdAt":325,"updatedAt":325,"publishedAt":326},{"id":26,"documentId":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"instagram":51,"facebook":52,"bio":53,"linkedIn":54,"createdAt":55,"updatedAt":55,"publishedAt":56,"avatar":497},{"id":42,"documentId":58,"name":59,"alternativeText":60,"caption":61,"focalPoint":62,"width":63,"height":63,"formats":498,"hash":75,"ext":66,"mime":70,"size":76,"url":77,"previewUrl":62,"provider":78,"provider_metadata":62,"createdAt":79,"updatedAt":79,"publishedAt":80},{"thumbnail":499},{"ext":66,"url":67,"etag":68,"hash":69,"mime":70,"name":71,"path":62,"size":72,"width":73,"height":73,"sizeInBytes":74},{"id":501,"documentId":502,"title":503,"content":504,"slug":505,"coffees":97,"seo_title":503,"keywords":506,"seo_desc":507,"bylineDate":508,"bylineTimezone":101,"createdAt":509,"updatedAt":510,"publishedAt":511,"featuredImage":512,"category":553,"author":554,"img":551},364,"na2jekvr3f3bk40y3jd72kdf","Professional Ghosting: Why Don’t Recruiters Call You Back?","****\n\nApplying for a job can be very exciting but also very stressful and, sometimes, frustrating. You spend countless hours sending resumes and trying to find the perfect job. But as many resumes as you have sent, you never get a response -not even to reject you. Recruiter ghosting is a reality in the professional world. And over the latest years, it has become common. It is, undoubtedly, a sign of disrespect towards the candidate and shows that recruiters fail to acknowledge your efforts or provide closure. The statistics speak for themselves: according to [HR Dive](https://www.hrdive.com/), 8 in 10 hiring managers say they’ve ghosted job candidates.\n\nGhosting is considered rude in general, but in professional environments, it can be overwhelming for people who try to make ends meet and get a job in the already lunatic job market.\n\nHowever, don’t give up and read below some possible reasons why you didn’t get the long-awaited email for an interview.\n\n# You are not a good fit for the role\n\n![recruiter ghosting](https://assets.workingal.com/recruiter_ghosting_1_4_75a779525e.webp)\n\nYou found the perfect job post: the job description is impressive, the salary exceeds expectations, and they nail the **office attendance** (fill in your ideal). However, as much as working in this company is your professional dream, maybe you haven’t considered that this position is not aligned with your skills and experience. As experienced as you are and you think that you would be an excellent fit for the role/company, it’s always reasonable to be able to actually do the job. Recruiters receive numerous resumes and must pick the most suitable candidates. So, even if your resume is great and **impressive** but out of scope, you will probably make their life difficult and, therefore, won’t get an interview.\n\n**What to do:** If you desperately want to work for a specific company, send your resume independently of a particular job opening and show them your appreciation for the company and willingness to work there. Recruiters could receive this well and keep your resume to find a better fit for your skills and experience. Some companies won’t bother, but it’s worth a try.\n\n# Your resume is not professional enough\n\n![recruiter ghosting](https://assets.workingal.com/recruiter_ghosting_2_2_0f2ffebfac.webp)\n\nWhether you didn’t have the time to prepare a good resume or writing **is not your forte**, you sent a poorly written resume or one that gives too much/too little information. Did you know that [68% of hiring managers say they would reject a candidate because of a poorly formatted resume?](https://www.qureos.com/career-guide/resume-statistics-for-job-seekers#:~:text=68%25%20of%20hiring%20managers%20say,that%20are%20one%20page%20long.) This means that even if you are the perfect fit for the job, you may end up not getting even an email. As I mentioned before, recruiters often have to deal with thousands of resumes and need to find the perfect candidates, so they don’t have time. Simple as that. They scan resumes and try to find the combination of skills, expertise, and **willingness** to work. And if you are wondering how a not-so-well-presented resume could be an obstacle, I would tell you this. _How likely would it be for you to hire a graphic designer who sent you a resume in a doc?_ No offense for the docs; I use them every day but a graphic designer is an artist and needs to showcase their work. A well-designed resume is their portfolio. If they can’t bother designing a resume that is easy to look at, how are they expected to create appealing graphics for the company’s audience? Another example is typos; avoid them at all costs. **Typos** show sloppiness, which is not the impression you want to give a potential employer.\n\n**What to do:** Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it. Typos, inconsistent formatting, and grammatical errors should be avoided. If you are not sure about your design/writing skills, ask a friend to review your resume and help you or if you can afford it, delegate it to a professional who knows how things work, and you will get a **professional** result.\n\n# You didn’t follow the application process\n\n![recruiter ghosting](https://assets.workingal.com/recruiter_ghosting_3_1598f5e4dd.webp)\n\nSome companies have a specific **application process** which is probably because it’s convenient and time-efficient for the recruiters in order to be able to handle multiple resumes. So, if the company has specific requirements for sending your resume, just follow them. As tempting as it sounds to send a very professional and appealing email to accompany your resume, if the process involves uploading them on LinkedIn or a specific link or… whatever, do precisely what you are told to do. Help them to help you is what I’m saying. Also, some companies specifically give guidelines and indicate a specific process to ensure that a potential employee knows how to follow instructions -it’s not a given, and it’s highly **appreciated**. Nobody wants to hire someone who cannot follow simple instructions.\n\n**What to do:** If you feel like the process is challenging or you don’t have the requirements, you can send an email asking for more clarification. Avoid skipping the process because they will avoid calling you for an interview.\n\n# They have already found the perfect candidate\n\n![recruiter ghosting](https://assets.workingal.com/recruiter_ghosting_4_26ca26918a.webp)\n\nJust like you send resumes and arrange interviews for different job roles until you find the best opportunity, the same way recruiters talk with multiple candidates to ensure that they are making the right choice. Also, sometimes the right candidate is found immediately, but they want to explore other options by keeping the job post online. Unfortunately, this happens, and it is not something you can control. Usually, when recruiters have a tight deadline and a large pool of candidates, they don’t have time to spend on each resume so they pick from the ones that applied faster and don’t have the time to reject the rest.\n\n**What to do:** You can’t do anything about that because the truth is that you are not the only one assessing your skills for a specific job. Companies find the perfect candidate according to their preferences and requirements, not our perceptions and aspirations. So, keep looking, and you will be the ideal candidate for another role! In any case, it’s always a sign if they don’t reply, even to reject a candidate.\n\n# They are just… lazy\n\n![recruiter ghosting](https://assets.workingal.com/recruiter_ghosting_5_731d0f3d35.webp)\n\nGhosting has apparently become a trend in professional circles as well, and, unfortunately, many recruiters have embraced it. To be fair, sometimes the workload can be huge, and it can be overwhelming having to respond to so many applications. Or they are trying to find a role where you could be a great fit, but the time passes… and the email never reaches your inbox. However, it’s considered unprofessional and rude not to even send a generalized response to someone looking for a job or someone in immediate need. It could reveal a lot about the company’s culture. Even if they keep your resume for future openings, it’s nice to hear from them.\n\n**What to do:** Well, there are not many things you can do for ghosting, but if you are very interested in this particular role, you can send a follow-up email to ask politely if they need additional information or an update on the interview process. Nevertheless, don’t hang on to this role because if you were the perfect candidate, they would have reached out to you soon. And, if we want to be honest, would you like to work for someone ghosting you? Don’t think so!","professional-ghosting-why-don-t-recruiters-call-you-back","recruiter ghosting, why recruiters don't call back, professional ghosting, ghosting from recruiters","You applied in multiple jobs but still don't get the email you are looking forward to? Recruiter ghosting is a thing. 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I worked throughout my entire university years and through my master’s as well, and for a fair amount of time, I had not only a regular job but also a side hustle.\n\nApart from the fact that I always wanted to be independent and be able to **treat myself** to everything I needed (you know, drinks, trips, clothes, etc.), I liked being busy, learning new skills, and making progress in my career. While I certainly gained much experience from all these years of hard work, more importantly, I learned many **valuable** lessons, not only for my professional career but also for my personal life. And I’m still learning…\n\nNo matter how you feel about your work life, whether you are a **career-oriented** person or just want to make ends meet with no particular interest in progressing further, it’s a given that your career and, generally, your professional life will consume a lot of your time. We can use our workplace experiences to teach us valuable lessons to help us grow as people and professionals.\n\nThe truth is, those lessons may be even more critical and valuable than the professional skills we gain from university, lifelong learning, etc. So, after a recent wretched work/personal situation, and when I reflected on the lessons learned, I jotted down the 10 hardest truths that my professional life has taught me so far.\n\n# You Won’t Get Your Dream Job Immediately\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_10_c21dd6a008.jpg)\n\nSince we were kids (at least in Greece), the classic parent-preaching fairytale indicated how our lives would be in the future. We would finish school, get into university, find a fabulous job (which wouldn’t be possible to land without a university degree), and live happily ever after. **So far, so good**. You get into university, you study and study and study, and you are ready to get the managerial position you have always dreamed of. I’m sorry to ruin it for you, but the reality is slightly different. You will have to land many -not dream- jobs until you finally find the one you had always hoped for. If it was so easy, we would be full of managers and no employees to do the job. I am really in favor of studying something that you like since you get the necessary knowledge and skills, but it doesn’t guarantee that the ideal job is that easy to handle. University education is essential; so is work experience. And considering that you want your **dream job**, you need to learn from more experienced people how to maintain it. And I am not talking only about management positions. Say you want to be a freelancer. How will you manage to be one and get the experience without doing things that you don’t like and things that are far away from what you want to do? So, the sooner you understand that dream jobs are not assigned to you and you have to earn them, the better your professional and personal life will be.\n\n# Forget The 8 Hour Shifts\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_9_310b2d5f4a.jpg)\n\nIn a world where we talk about the importance of work-life balance and in a society where everyone struggles to juggle life, work, friends, kids, and family, talking about working more than the 8-hour shifts sounds almost **illegal**. However, if you want to progress, you should drop your expectations around only working 40 hours a week. That doesn’t mean you should be at work for more than 8 hours. That means that to excel in your work, you will probably _need more time to focus on your skills_. And no matter how much you want to, it won’t always be easy to grab your bag and leave when everyone struggles to do the work. Also, I count the hours I spend on education, extra training, and keeping up with my industry **as working hours**. And to be honest, even though companies nowadays offer a tremendous amount of training within working hours, for you to take it to that next level, you will need to study far beyond that. If that’s not for you, you can skip the rest of the article and I wish you well! If this is you, keep reading! This article is for more career-focused people that want to get ahead.\n\n# Friends & Business Don’t Work Well Together\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_8_396c4514c6.jpg)\n\nThis is not only a good one, but also the most important. Don’t work with friends; repeat after me: **don’t work with friends**. No matter how many years you know each other, how much fun you have together, or whether you know them so well, there is a sour spot there. The interaction with a person in your personal life and dealing with them professionally is entirely different. _Some people are one person at home and a whole different person at work._ This means that working with a friend doesn’t mean it will be the same as going out for drinks and talking about your job. And no matter how good of friends you are, your career aspirations may not match up and may end up being catastrophic for your relationship. So, keep your **business and friendships separate**, and don’t give in to the social media hype of how life would be working with your friends. Difficult and, sometimes, unpleasant.\n\n# Not All Companies Have a Company Culture\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_7_d55d2ccce9.jpg)\n\nCompany culture is paramount for employees' well-being and the business's success. However, not all companies have a culture that makes them worth working for. During my professional career, I have changed multiple working environments, and I have seen many different setups, some of them good but some of them bad, and I mean _really_ bad, and it took me some time to recover from when I left (yes, I usually just quit to save my mental health). It’s normal for a company to focus completely on **bringing money to the table**, and it’s reasonable to make it happen and to want to make it happen fast. However, among all the responsibilities an employer has is to ensure that their employees can work in decent conditions, where respect and trust are cultivated and toxicity gets thrown out the window. Unfortunately, even nowadays, it’s not always possible to run into ideal working environments where you can’t wait to wake up and go to work. So, build up your resilience. Trust me, you will get there.\n\n# Your Employer Cares About You -Not More Than Their Company\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_6_f07b327126.jpg)\n\nContinuing the conversation about work culture, let’s clarify something. Let’s say that you got a fantastic job. Your employer not only is generous financially but also respects you as a professional and a human being, and your work life is more than ideal. Excellent! Even if that is the case, keep in mind that an employer, no matter the size of a company, whether it’s a big corporation or a small business, put their money and energy into building **not** because they want to give people a chance to work in great company, but simply because they found an opportunity, they took it, and they basically want to make money out of it. Why would they take the risk otherwise? So, next time you are asked to cancel your doctor’s appointment or sacrifice your kid’s birthday due to an urgent (as always) matter, remember that in case things don’t go as planned, you could end up jobless. Remember not to sacrifice your personal life and health for a job. If they are a good employer, they will respect that, but they will also make sure that THEY are covered in any case.\n\n# Networking Is Vital For Your Survival\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_5_3ca40bc2c8.jpg)\n\nI can’t even begin to count how many times my networking skills have helped me not only land a job but also facilitate my job in any way. For instance, when you need to do your job or contact someone you can’t by default, your **network** may be able to help you. Take every chance to meet new people and be open to discussion, even if they are unrelated to your industry. Sometimes, being friendly and having connections with the right people, even if **unrelated to your job**, is valuable and completely helpful. You never know what life brings and how your connections (the real ones, not the social media ones) can help you move forward. Be **social** and try to meet new people all the time.\n\n# Your Degree Doesn’t Matter As Much As You Think\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_4_4ef36b2bc2.jpg)\n\nAs a person who always values education and a holder of 2 bachelor's degrees and a master's degree, I can assure you that if you don’t put effort and develop your soft skills, then your degrees won’t matter; they are just a nice **decoration** for your home office. I am not against getting degrees and qualifications, but if you don’t get actual working experience, working with teams, and learning _“how to work,”_ then nobody will care about your degrees. Please, don’t take that as “cool, I don’t need a degree; I will jump into work directly,” I will stop you here by saying that, depending on your career path, a degree is always a plus and may be quite necessary. You learn the principles and the basics to apply them in your work, and you learn how to be disciplined and understand whether the industry you chose is what you actually want to work on. However, I have worked with people with PhDs who don’t have a clue about what they are talking about when it comes to the real work at the workplace, and I have also worked with people who were not **Ivy League graduates**, but they were so inspiring and unique in what they brought to the table that nobody could argue their professionalism and value. So, apart from the degree, make sure you develop other skills.\n\n# The Sooner The Boundaries, The Later The Burnout\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_3_3df1cdd69b.jpg)\n\nWhen I started working, I was so career-oriented that I didn’t care about anything but my job, climbing the **career ladder**, and how to make more money. This put me in a position where I was practically working many weekends, being the party pooper because I had to go to work the next day, or canceling plans and vacations with friends because I had to -guess what?- work. Even though there were reasons that I couldn’t afford to lose my job, I realized that I couldn’t set boundaries and used to be the go-to person to make everyone’s life easier, sacrificing my time and well-being. I don’t think I will ever stop working in a fast-paced mode because, being honest, I love it, but there are times when I need to close the laptop and just enjoy my life outside of work. I came close to burnout, and for the first time in my life, I felt so unmotivated to go to work when I realized that I needed to set boundaries because nobody would do that for me. So, next time your boss, colleague, or whoever wants something from you or calls you **during your PTO** (they are not illegal, btw, use them!) to ask you for a favor, you can easily say “no”. And if you don’t know how to do it, read this, where you can find great alternatives to the word no. A wise person once told me, _“you don’t build a career by saying yes all the time,”_ and now I know how right they are. You should expect some **backlash** from the people who are used to you not having boundaries, but it will pass; your employer will get used to it soon.\n\n# If You Don’t Ask For What You Want, You Probably Won’t Get It\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_2_d2d291d496.jpg)\n\nYou work hard and enjoy every piece of your work life, but you feel it’s time for a promotion. Or you don’t think you get the **credit for your accomplishments** at work. Or you need a day off. Then, why don’t you ask for it? According to many studies and research, women usually hesitate to ask for what they want because we were mostly raised to be polite, easygoing, and docile. We were made to believe that we would never get what we wanted. Well, that is dead wrong, and I am saying that from the position of an easygoing person who wouldn’t ask for more money and acknowledgment and would always stay **backstage**, letting others get the credits (and the money) for my work. I am not saying you should get in there and start throwing a tantrum; that’s unprofessional. Just ask. I had an experience with a person who wanted more money, never asked for it -they would have gotten them, by the way- and decided to write an incredibly aggressive and insulting email, which -of course- didn’t end up the way they wanted. I understood the source of the venting, but it’s always better to ask for what you want. At the end of the day, you will **feel better about yourself**, avoid misunderstandings, and won’t randomly vent to people who don’t know your issue. And the worst thing that could happen would be to be denied what you asked for. Then, at least, you know where you stand.\n\n# You Won’t Love Every Single Part of Your Job\n\n![10 hard truths about work](https://assets.workingal.com/10_hard_truths_about_work_1_0c15552bbc.jpg)\n\nWhoever says that they love their job, every day, all day -trust me- they are lying. Every job has pros and cons, and not every task will be pleasant, especially in the beginning. For instance, I always despised spreadsheets. But life happens, and I end up running my own business, hiring people, and doing finances, which automatically means that spreadsheets are now a massive part of my work life. **Do I like it? No. Do I do it?** Yes. I don’t have a choice. Instead of focusing my energy on whining about having to do something I don’t like, I focus my attention on the fact that we have money coming in, and we can all live doing what we want, at least for most of the day. As you understand, you probably won’t find a job that is **utterly pleasing** to you, but, in general, many of the things you don’t like doing are the things that will help you excel and make progress.\n\n","10-hard-truths-about-your-career-nobody-will-ever-tell-you","hard truths about work, work myths, truths about work, ","Read this article to learn what are the 10 hard truths about your work and career that nobody will ever reveal to you. 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