Alice’s Secrets
Q: What’s something you do to help boost your productivity?
A: I try to break up the day by taking a walk around our neighborhood post-lunch with my husband, even when it’s 20 degrees and snowing outside. We would walk the cat too if he cooperated 😂.
Also, sleep is really important to me to function at my best and be the most productive both at work and in life. A balance of good eating habits, sleep patterns, exercise, all that good stuff — it is a holistic approach!
Q: How do you find work-life balance?
A: By being really conscientious of how much and often mental energy and hours go into work, and really trying to end work (time in front of a computer) on time each day. Also, by not taking work home on the weekends if I can help it.
In reality, my profession doesn’t really have an “off time” in the comms world of things — we’re always plugged in, tuned into what’s happening around work, our community, government, the world, and we’re hyper-focused on media since that’s what we do best in the representation of the agency we work for.
It’s really part of a lifestyle and a balancing act to prioritize what kind of work merits actual time and response, versus being situationally aware on a day-to-day basis. We usually end up becoming pretty good at incorporating this skill set as part of our daily routine, and this part of work becomes habitual.
Q: What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve received so far?
A: Always negotiate for yourself!
Women are often the last ones to advocate for themselves in the workplace, which is really unfortunate. Women, and especially minority women, have to work harder than our male counterparts at the same job to receive the same pay.
Multiple studies show the gender pay gap still persists, albeit women making strides at the workplace in narrowing the wage gap, this discrepency is from the years of institutional discrimination that persists in the work environment and traditional gender roles that existed.
We’re in 2022 — we can and should be doing better!
Q: What’s your favorite software or app that helps with your workflow?
A: Calendar apps and color-coding everything on the app including due dates, meetings, times, schedule, etc.
My workplace uses Outlook but I’m a huge Google fan. Find an app that merges all of the various platforms onto one app and syncs to the various email channels as well to keep it nice and organized. (Yes, can you tell I am a little OCD?)
Q: What’s a book or podcast you’d recommend to a colleague?
A: The Power of Habit – Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.
You should also check out the Women in Politics Institute at American University — they have some great research studies and short publication reads on gender and advocating for women running for office (I used to work in politics and took their WeLead program in DC where I started my career).
💸 Curious where the wage gap stands today? Learn more.
⚡ Sharpen those negotiation skills with these tips.
