1. Before starting your research, clarify everything with your manager.

You are not expected to know everything. If you need to ask something, ask. Don't just jump into the work, and once submitted, your manager says that you are doing the wrong thing, hence you just wasted a day researching something different. So please clarify with your managers on what they want. Don't just jump straight into it!

2. Don't be afraid to voice out

My mentor once told me that "you are only new once, after 6 months, you're part of the gang." Hence, while you are a fresh blood, use that energy, write out your fresh ideas, keep pushing towards your ideas. Personally, I am so blessed to be in a department which encourages fresh ideas, so let it out. It takes time to build the confidence, but feel the fear, and do it anyway. 

3. Set some boundaries

Bruh, I get it now why working from home is not optimal. There's a very blurry line between work and life. If your work is done for the day, it is done for the day. Period. 

4. Comparison is truly, the thief of joy

I would say it is pretty normal to feel inadequate when you talk to your friends and they are telling you about the work they do, and that they are overworked, that you ask yourself, is it normal for me to not overwork? Am I not doing enough? I should be overworking, right?

And as per, Allah made my Instagram algorithm show something relevant to what I am feeling,

"The more time you spend thinking about what other people are doing, the less time you have to do the things that only you can do"

Isn't it amazing how I prayed to Allah for the finer things in life, and that I am able to make use of my current situation and make it better. I loooove the culture embedded in my department, I love how they listen to my fresh ideas. I thank Allah every day for blessing me with genuine people in my life. Here are some of the things my colleagues have said about me which leads me to my next point (no, this is not a brag, this is for my own reference, for when I need a little boost):

5. Always empower your colleagues!

Hope this is helpful! See you in my next post, friends!