So I sat out, happily at first, of the adventure into the firey outdoors. I manned some responsibilities while they were gone. I went to bed early. Then, in the middle of the event, I was appalled to find that I hadn’t been aware of a schedule change. Another time, I found out that I missed a meeting. How was all of this happening without me knowing?
Cigarette runs: that is how. The meetings and issues were discussed and decided among the smokers on the cigarette breaks.
In an episode of Friends, this same issue is presented. The non-smoker (Rachel) is left out of meetings and decisions when her two smoking colleagues bond over their smoke breaks. Rachel feels so ostracized, and her career is so threatened, that she pretends to be a smoker and then pretends to quit. While Friends presented this in a comedic light, it brought forth an incredible issue.
So how do we break these barriers? How do we solve this issue?
It is normally in my nature to simply deal with it. I deal with being bullied at work. I deal with the guy who cuts me off on my way to work. I deal with it. Where does that get a person? Simply “dealing with it” does not progress your career. Simply “letting it go” does not get you where you want to be. They won’t change but YOU CAN.
Grab your inhaler, take a Benadryl and join the team. Jump in there with your ideas. Ignore the social stereotype that you need a cigarette to take a break. Smokers are not the only ones who deserve 5-10 minutes off. Grab some coffee and get in the conversation. You never know where it might take you.