Can you be soft and feminine while being career driven?

Maintaining a soft, feminine lifestyle while being successfully career driven can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be impossible. With a little bit of planning and self-care, you can have a successful career while still nurturing yourself. As a wife, mother, daughter and Administrative Supervisor for a large government agency (with a direct report of 14 employees), I can testify that it takes strong effort and consistency to ensure I intentionally take time off, take my breaks and handle one task at a time. The privilege to work remotely also has assisted but in some ways can be difficult as it is difficult to turn off the laptop or not respond to an email after work hours. I always think about the time I worked 17 days straight and slept almost an entire day when the rat race was over on day 18. Granted I was in a different mind, emotional and spiritual space at that time but to think I pushed my body to the limit and still had to fight for my promotion. I have always been into self care at home but even that was hanging on by a thread at that time. I was willing to do whatever it took to be a “great employee” for a job that replaced me literally 3 weeks after I left.

You don’t have to give up your femininity and softness because you desire to be fulfilled professionally and make great money. In fact, I personally think being feminine and soft is one of the cheat codes to leveling up in your career. Now I know what you’re thinking, no I don’t mean sleeping your way to the top, but things such as being kind, having a positive attitude, acting professional, being emotionally intelligent when communicating with others, smiling more often, being courteous and showing empathy to others are some of these ways.

With a little bit of planning and self-care, you can still have a successful career while still nurturing your femininity. For starters, you can create a schedule that allows for a healthy balance of work and leisure. Set aside specific times for rest and relaxation, and stick to them. This means ensuring that you take your breaks and take your days off (even if your plans get canceled). Additionally, plan ahead and be intentional with your time. Prioritize quality sleep, healthy eating, and exercise to help keep your body and mind in balance. This will help you get up a little earlier in the morning and give yourself enough time to tend to your appearance. You will have extra time to ensure that your hair and makeup are neat, polished, and professional. When you look good, you feel good!

Spice up your office. I know you are tired of looking at the same teamwork wall decor that has been there since the 90’s. You don’t have to get super fancy but you can start with simple décor changes such as adding plants, artwork, and other decorations to liven up the environment. Create a feminine space that relaxes you. Lastly, surrounding yourself with positive people and having a support system can help to keep you motivated and on track on your career journey and also help with your mental health when stressed. While it may appear to some that it is difficult to balance femininity and being career driven, practicing self-care often and having the right people in your life that add to your value helps tremendously. In the end, you'll get the best of both worlds while being successful, happy and fulfilled.