Managing people can be challenging. Some managers are not up to the task, making their subordinates’ work lives unbearable.
Toxic managers are part of life; how their traits affect you depends on the skills you develop to deal with them. A toxic manager destroys morale, diverts the workforce’s energy, impairs retention, and interferes with cooperation and information sharing.
Toxic managers can significantly impact their employees, leading to poor performance, low morale, and even staff turnover.
Here are ten types of bad/toxic managers that can negatively affect your career:
The Micromanager
This type of manager doesn’t trust their employees and tends to micromanage every aspect of their work, leading to frustration and decreased morale.
Also known as Jack of All Trades: knows everything about everything, or so they think.
The Bully
This manager uses intimidation tactics to push their employees around and get their way. They insult or belittle their staff and create a hostile work environment.
The Messiah
“Only I can fix this!” Similar to the micromanager, this manager tries to control every aspect of their team’s work. They may not trust their employees to do their job correctly, making it difficult to collaborate or be creative. (I once had a boss tell me to be ‘a little less creative.’ I left soon after.)
Also known as The Martyr: “Look how hard I work!”
The Narcissist
This manager is obsessed with their own success and can put their needs above those of their team. They may take credit for their employees’ work or manipulate situations to benefit themselves.
The Perfectionist
This manager has very high standards and can be critical of their employees’ work, leading to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.
Also known as ‘Mr. Asses in the Seats’: Mistakenly thinks worker productivity is linked to being in your chair 9 to 9, working 100% of the time. Hates when you take vacations or days off.
The Avoider
This manager is not present when they’re needed, avoiding conflicts or difficult conversations. They may not provide feedback or support when their team needs it, leading to frustration and feelings of neglect.
Also known as The Overthinker: can’t make a decision to save their life and usually changes their mind once they do decide.
The Discriminator
Probably one of the worst on this list. This manager discriminates against certain employees based on race, gender, or other characteristics. They may give promotions to less qualified people or make work life harder for those who don’t fit their mold.
The Gossip Girl/Guy
The ‘Michael Scott’ type. This manager spreads rumors or shares confidential information about their employees, creating a toxic work environment and destroying trust.
The Passive Aggressive
This manager is not direct in communication and may make snide remarks or use sarcasm to criticize their employees. They may hold grudges and not forgive their team for mistakes.
The Emperor
This manager doesn’t provide support or resources to their team, making it difficult to do their job correctly. They do not advocate for their employees or stand up for them when needed.
Toxic managers can negatively affect their employees and the overall work environment. It’s essential to recognize the signs of toxic management and develop strategies to deal with it. This list of ten types of toxic managers is not exhaustive but provides an overview of the most common types of bad bosses.
If you work for a toxic manager, it’s crucial to seek support from your colleagues, HR, or a coach to help you navigate the situation. Remember, you don’t have to suffer in silence or tolerate abusive behavior. With the right tools and strategies, you can take control of your career and thrive in a healthy work environment.
The world today is a scary place. Feelings of anxiety and overwhelm can derail your week and lead to some unhealthy habits (which only makes things worse).
Here are a few common sense tips for when you’re feeling ‘over your head’.
Go for a Nature Walk
Walking helps clear your mind and gives you a different perspective. Walking in nature has been shown to impact mental health for several reasons positively. The natural environment is often less stimulating and more peaceful than urban environments, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety. Additionally, exposure to nature can increase feelings of well-being and improve mood. Studies have also suggested that spending time in nature can reduce symptoms of depression and improve overall cognitive function. Walking itself can also be beneficial for mental health, as it can be a form of exercise associated with improved mood and reduced stress.
Journaling
I cannot stress enough how helpful journaling is. I have been journaling for 11 years, and it’s fascinating to see how much life has changed. Start small — just a few sentences. Set a timer and just write what’s in your head for a few minutes. I journal in the morning using an app called DayOne (if you’re like me and don’t relish the fact that someone can see all the things I’ve said after I’m gone, this might be the route for you)
Journaling has been found to impact mental health for several reasons positively. Writing about one’s feelings is linked to decreased mental distress. A study found that those with various medical conditions and anxiety who wrote online for 15 minutes had a decrease in mental distress. t also can help you to understand and cope with the symptoms day-to-day.
A Little Self-indulgence
Take a day off! Go to a museum or any other favorite place. Treat yo’sefl! A day of self-indulgence can be beneficial for mental health for several reasons. It can serve as a form of self-care essential for maintaining overall well-being. Engaging in pleasurable and relaxation activities can reduce stress and anxiety and improve mood. Additionally, indulging in something that one enjoys can boost self-esteem and confidence. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which can be especially important if you’re feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.
Self-indulgence should be balanced with other forms of self-care, such as exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep. Also, self-indulgence should not be a way to cope with negative emotions but rather a way to appreciate and treat yourself. Keep in mind the context and ensure that you are indulging in moderation and not overindulging to the point of harming your mental or physical health. (Example: Having a drink with a friend = Good. Having 15 drinks = is not so good.)
Give of Yourself
Giving and being kind causes positive emotions to arise. Giving to others can increase feelings of empathy and connectedness, improving overall well-being and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, giving can create a sense of purpose and fulfillment, boosting your self-esteem and self-worth.
Research also suggests that giving can activate the release of the “feel-good” hormone oxytocin in the brain, leading to increased feelings of happiness and contentment. Additionally, helping others can lead to a shift in perspective, which can help reduce stress and negative emotions.
However, it’s important to note that the benefits of generosity can be significantly enhanced when it’s done voluntarily and with no expectation of reciprocation and when the act of giving is associated with personal values and goals.
Be mindful of your own boundaries, and make sure that you are not giving more than you can comfortably afford or taking care of yourself.
Learn
Go deeper into what is troubling you. You’ll learn something about yourself and may be able to help someone else in the future. Learning also provides a sense of accomplishment and personal growth, which can boost self-esteem and self-confidence. Additionally, learning new things can keep the brain active, which can help to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and improve overall cognitive function. Research also suggests that engaging in mentally stimulating activities, such as learning, can help to reduce the risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression and dementia. Learning can also provide an opportunity to develop new skills, leading to better job opportunities and greater control over one’s life.
Moreover, Learning also provides a sense of mastery and control over your environment, which can benefit mental health. It can also offer an escape from negative thoughts, give a sense of distraction, and be a form of self-care.
Make a List
Consider your areas of strength. Make a list of 10–20 skills you possess. This introspective list may help you address some of your concerns.
Having a list of tasks can help break down large and complex tasks into smaller and manageable parts, making them feel less overwhelming.
Additionally, making lists can provide a sense of accomplishment and progress as tasks are completed and crossed off. This can boost self-esteem and self-confidence. It can also be a form of self-reflection that can help you better to understand your own thoughts, feelings, and priorities.
Making lists can also help to improve memory and recall, as it allows you to see visually what needs to be done, which can be helpful for people who are forgetful or have a hard time remembering things.
Research also suggests that writing things down can help to reduce the number of negative thoughts and worries and also can help to reduce the risk of developing conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Hobbies
Pick up that old hobby. Do you like puzzles? Fishing? Putting little wooden ships on bottles? You get the idea. Hobbies are a great stress reliever.
Hobbies provide a sense of accomplishment, personal growth, and purpose, which can boost self-esteem and self-confidence. They can also provide a way to relax and de-stress.
Hobbies also provide an opportunity for socialization and connection with others who share similar interests. Engaging in activities with others can provide a sense of belonging and can be a form of social support.
Hobbies can also provide an opportunity for self-expression and creativity, which can be beneficial for mental health. Engaging in creative activities can provide a way to process emotions and be a form of self-care.
Clean and Fix up Your Space
Set a timer and clean something you’ve been putting off in your house. The task will be done, and you’ll be proud of yourself.
A clean and organized environment can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Clutter and disorganization can be overwhelming and make it difficult to focus and relax. A clean home can provide a sense of calm and order.
Cleaning can also be a form of physical activity that can boost mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Research suggests that engaging in physical activity can help to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Cleaning can also provide an opportunity for mindfulness. Engaging in cleaning tasks can be a way to focus on the present moment.
Have a Good Cry
No, really. Just let it all out. How wonderful you’ll feel afterward will amaze you.
Crying is a natural and healthy way to express emotions. Holding in emotions can be overwhelming and lead to sadness, frustration, and anger. Crying is a way to release these emotions, which can provide a sense of relief and can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. It can also be a way to process and cope with difficult emotions, which can benefit mental health.
Crying can help us understand our emotions better and accept them as a normal part of life.
Avoid Negative Self Talk
The mind is a fertile field; if you keep piling it on with rotten thoughts, those thoughts will become a part of you. Love yourself.
Negative self-talk can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth. Negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself can be internalized and lead to a negative self-perception. This can lead to feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and depression.
Negative self-talk can also lead to increased stress and anxiety. Negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself can lead to increased worry and fear, which can be detrimental to mental health.
Negative self-talk can also lead to a negative self-fulfilling prophecy! Negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself can lead to a lack of motivation and make it difficult to take positive action. This may be harmful to your mental health and prevent advancement in both personal and professional spheres.
Negative self-talk can also lead to social isolation and relationship problems. Negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself can lead to a lack of confidence and make it difficult to form and maintain healthy relationships.
I hope you enjoyed these 10 tips on how to clear your troubled mind. These are just a few things you can do to get out of your own head, even if it’s only temporary. If you have any other recommendations, please share in the comments. And if you liked this post, subscribe and follow for more content like this.
Doing so only drives them further into their bubble. You’re not going to change anyone’s mind. It also makes you look like a smart-ass or a bully.
As the old quote says:
Don’t wrestle with pigs, you’ll both get dirty, and the pig likes it.
2) Be Original:
Sure, it’s easy to share pithy quotes and stolen memes. Instead, why not share your art, writing, or even pictures of your cats. Does your writing suck? So what — that’s how you get better. People love that type of content and are more likely to engage.
3) Set up guardrails:
Stop doomscrolling. Put your phone somewhere else when sleeping (I promise, your phone will still be there when you wake up). Set up time blocks for social media — set up a calendar event, just like you would for a meeting or an appointment. Set up filters and blocking software if you’re having a problem getting your work done. Checking socials constantly for a quick dopamine hit is not healthy. Remember that stepping away from social media is okay if it’s not serving you.
4) Don’t be vague:
Posting something like “sigh really sad now” makes you sound like a child looking for attention (unless you actually are a child looking for attention, don’t do that)
5) Don’t share things you know might not be factual:
It’s really easy to hit that retweet button because a clickbait headline catches your eye. Take the time actually to read what you’re sharing.
6) Don’t get hung up on likes and followers, and analytics:
If you’re authentic, your true fans will find you. Besides, half of your followers might be bots, so why sweat it?
7) Engage with those you learn from:
Tell them you appreciate their work, ask thoughtful questions, and share your related stories. People are eager to share their information and expertise.
8) Stop following garbage accounts:
Do yourself a favor and stop filling your feed with mindless memes or titillating videos. This is nothing but a time suck and the electronic equivalent of mindlessly snacking on chips. Use social media to learn and grow, not just to distract yourself.
9) Brush up your profiles:
Put language and words that will help attract the kind of followers you want. If you’re into AI art, put that in there. Also, use services like Linktree to drive followers to your other content or websites.
10) Have fun!
Stop taking social media so seriously. You could get banned. It could all go away tomorrow. Then what? If you’re trying to run a business from Twitter, be ready with your Plan B.
Those who say that they are too busy for meditation are the ones who need it most. I was one of those people. But after years of scattered thoughts and ADHD-like tendencies, I knew I had to try something to calm my scattered brain.
It’s been about 20 years, but meditation is still a non-negotiable part of my morning routine.
Meditation can seem intimidating at first, especially if you’re new to it. Many people think of spiritual gurus when they hear the word meditation, conjuring images of folks lounging on cushions in a cloud of incense and mellow sitar tunes. That sounds pretty good, but it is not at all required. (That’s why they call it “practice”; it’s a learned skill.)
Meditation has been practiced for centuries. It offers a wide range of benefits, both physical and mental. Here are just a few:
Reduces stress and anxiety
One of the best-known benefits of meditation is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. Meditating can quiet your mind and calm your body, which can help lower your stress levels and improve your overall sense of well-being.
Improves focus and concentration
If you have a hard time staying on task or tend to get easily distracted, meditation can help. It helps improve your focus and concentration by teaching you to be more present and mindful in the moment.
Increases self-awareness
Meditation allows you to tune in to your thoughts and feelings in a way that can help you better understand yourself. It can also help you become more aware of any negative thought patterns or behaviors that may be holding you back.
Promotes emotional well-being
Regular meditation can help you manage your emotions more effectively and respond to difficult situations more calmly. It can also help you cultivate positive emotions such as gratitude and compassion.
Improves physical health
Meditation has been shown to have a number of physical health benefits as well. It can lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, and even boost the immune system.
Enhances relationships
Relationships with others can improve and become more meaningful if you practice meditation to help you become more mindful and present. Additionally, it can aid in the development of empathy and compassion for others, resulting in more amicable interactions.
Increases happiness
Through relaxation, self-reflection, and inner peace, meditation can help foster greater joy in life. You will be happier not only with yourself, but also with the world around you!
How Do I Begin?
So, how do you get started with meditation? One tip I have for beginners is to start small. Don’t feel like you have to set aside an hour each day to meditate right off the bat. Even just a few minutes of meditation each day can be incredibly beneficial. I started with 5 minutes; now, most mornings, I start with 20 minutes. As I said, that’s why they call it “practice”—you get better the more you do it.
Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down, and set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes. Close your eyes and focus on your breath, letting your thoughts come and go without getting too caught up in them. If your mind starts to wander, gently redirect your attention back to your breath.
It’s okay if you find your mind wandering a lot at first—that’s completely normal. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at staying present and focused.
If you’re new to meditation, it can be helpful to start small and gradually increase the length of your practice as you become more comfortable. It’s also a good idea to find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down and to set a timer, so you don’t have to worry about the time passing. It can take some time to get the hang of it, but the more you practice, the more you’ll start to see the benefits.
Beware the ‘Monkey Mind’
The concept of “monkey mind” is often used in the context of meditation to describe the restless, scattered, anxious state of mind. It’s called “monkey mind” because the mind jumps around from thought to thought, much like a monkey swinging from branch to branch.
In meditation, the goal is often to quiet the monkey mind and bring the focus to the present moment. This can be challenging, especially for beginners, because the mind is naturally drawn to wander and is easily distracted.
The monkey mind can be particularly active during times of stress or anxiety, making it even more difficult to quiet the mind and find inner peace. This is one of the reasons why meditation is so helpful for reducing stress and anxiety: it helps to calm the monkey mind and bring a sense of clarity and focus.
One way to deal with the monkey mind during meditation is to simply acknowledge the thoughts as they come up and then let them go. This helps you dissociate from your thoughts and allows you to return to the present moment.
It’s also helpful to have a specific focus during meditation, such as the breath or a mantra, to help bring the mind back to the present when it starts to wander. With practice, it becomes easier to quiet the monkey mind and find a sense of inner calm and clarity through meditation.
When to Meditate
There is no “best” time to meditate; the most important thing is to find a time that works for you and fits into your schedule. Personally, I find mornings optimal; it clears away the grogginess of the morning and makes me more focused and ready to tackle the day.
Here are a few things to consider when deciding when to meditate:
Energy levels
Some people find it easier to meditate when feeling rested and energized, while others prefer to meditate to wind down at the end of the day. Experiment with different times of the day to see when you feel most focused and alert.
Personal schedule
Consider your daily routine and see if there are any natural lulls in your schedule that could be a good time for meditation. For example, some people like to meditate first thing in the morning, while others prefer to meditate in the evening before bed.
Time of day
Some people find it easier to meditate in the morning when the mind is fresh and the day has yet to get hectic. Others prefer to meditate in the evening as a way to unwind after a busy day.
Ultimately, the best time to meditate is whenever you can carve out a few minutes for yourself and find a quiet, comfortable space to sit or lie down. So, choose a time that works for you and stick with it—the important thing is to make meditation a regular part of your routine.
Minimalism is a lifestyle and design movement that emphasizes simplicity and functionality. Minimalism involves reducing unnecessary possessions and distractions and allowing you to focus on what is essential and valuable to you.
The idea behind minimalism is to declutter your life and eliminate excess so you can live a more intentional and fulfilling life. Removing things that don’t serve a purpose can free up physical and mental space and make room for what is truly important to you.
One of the critical benefits of minimalism is that it can help you save money. You can reduce your expenses and save money by eliminating unnecessary things you don’t need or use. Minimalism can also help you become more organized and efficient, as you’ll have fewer things to manage and maintain.
In addition to the practical benefits, minimalism can bring peace and clarity to your life. By simplifying your possessions and surroundings, you can reduce stress and distractions and focus on what is truly important to you.
To start practicing minimalism, begin by taking an inventory of your possessions and identifying what you truly need and use and what can be eliminated. It can be challenging to confront your attachment to material possessions and question whether they serve a purpose in your life.
One approach is to start small, such as decluttering a single room or closet and gradually work your way up to larger areas. You can also adopt the “one in, one out” rule, where for every new item you bring into your home, you must get rid of something else. This can help prevent your possessions from accumulating over time.
Another aspect of minimalism is being mindful of your consumption habits. This means considering the environmental and social impact of the products you purchase and choosing items that are made sustainably and ethically.
A minimalist lifestyle does not mean living a bare and austere life but rather focusing on what is truly valuable and important to you. It is a personal journey, and what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to find a balance that works for you and helps you live a simpler, more meaningful life.
A minimalist lifestyle can simplify your life and help you find happiness and fulfillment. By decluttering your possessions and surroundings, you can create more space and clarity in your life and focus on what truly matters to you. So, if you want to simplify your life and focus on what truly matters, then minimalism may be a worthwhile path for you to consider.
