{"id":51598,"title":"Meetings About Meetings","description":"Meetings About Meetings Ah yes\u2026 another meeting. Not just any meeting \u2014 a pre\u2011meeting for the actual meeting that will eventually lead to a follow\u2011up meeting. Somewhere in this Bermuda Triangle of calendar invites, actual work is gasping for air and waving a tiny white flag","content":"

Ah yes\u2026 another meeting. Not just any meeting \u2014 a <\/span>pre\u2011meeting<\/span><\/em> for the actual meeting that will eventually lead to a follow\u2011up meeting. Somewhere in this Bermuda Triangle of calendar invites, actual work is gasping for air and waving a tiny white flag.<\/span><\/p>

At The Stroppy Colleague, we believe in many things: passive\u2011aggressive mugs, oversized jumpers, and the radical idea that maybe \u2014 just maybe \u2014 we could just get on with the work. Do we really need a 45\u2011minute sync to discuss what we\u2019ll discuss in tomorrow\u2019s sync? Can we not simply\u2026 do the thing?<\/span><\/p>

But escaping meetings is harder than escaping Janet\u2019s \u201cquick catch\u2011up,\u201d so the real magic lies in how you survive them without losing your will to live.<\/span><\/p>

Start by protecting your peace. Stay muted, stay mysterious, and let your silence say what your face cannot: <\/span>this could\u2019ve been an email<\/span><\/em>. Bring props if you must \u2014 the notebook titled \u201cBlah Blah Blah,\u201d the mug that proudly declares \u201cMeeting Declined,\u201d the jumper that screams \u201cI\u2019m here physically, not emotionally.\u201d Let your accessories do the heavy lifting.<\/span><\/p>

Before the meeting begins, set a stroppy intention. Whisper to yourself: <\/span>I will not volunteer. I will not care. I will not cry.<\/span><\/em> It\u2019s grounding. It\u2019s powerful. It\u2019s also the only thing standing between you and an emotional exit.<\/span><\/p>

If you need entertainment, create your own. Mentally tick off phrases like \u201ccircle back,\u201d \u201clow\u2011hanging fruit,\u201d and \u201cJanet\u2019s dog jumped on her keyboard again.\u201d It\u2019s practically a sport at this point.<\/span><\/p>

And when you finally escape the meeting vortex, reward yourself. A biscuit. A nap. A new tee that says \u201cNo More Pre\u2011Meets.\u201d Survival deserves celebration.<\/span><\/p>

Let\u2019s stop scheduling conversations about conversations. Let\u2019s start doing the work \u2014 or at least pretending convincingly until the calendar stops attacking us.<\/span><\/p>

Tools That May Help<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Workday Calm Tools \u2014 for surviving the meeting marathon<\/span><\/p>

Desk Mood Lifters \u2014 because your workspace deserves better<\/span><\/p>

Journals for Work Chaos \u2014 for venting safely instead of quitting dramatically<\/span><\/p>

Affiliate Note<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them \u2014 at no extra cost to you. It helps support my work and keeps The Stroppy Colleague going.<\/span><\/p>","urlTitle":"meetings-about-meetings","url":"\/blog\/meetings-about-meetings\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/meetings-about-meetings\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/thestroppycolleague.com\/blog\/meetings-about-meetings\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1756361870,"updatedAt":1779784484,"publishedAt":1779784484,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":292132,"name":"The Stroppy Colleague"},"tags":[{"id":4554,"code":"stress","name":"Stress","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/stress\/"},{"id":4569,"code":"work","name":"work","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/work\/"},{"id":4571,"code":"mindset","name":"mindset","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/mindset\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/tpt0xvirczu0wgbxiupskt20eec872ml6a4egu8gjd0dcymi.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/tpt0xvirczu0wgbxiupskt20eec872ml6a4egu8gjd0dcymi.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/tpt0xvirczu0wgbxiupskt20eec872ml6a4egu8gjd0dcymi.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Meetings About Meetings","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":42040,"title":"Life Audit: Calling Yourself Into a Meeting You Can\u2019t Decline","url":"\/blog\/lifeaudit\/","urlTitle":"lifeaudit","division":292132,"description":"Every so often, it\u2019s worth calling yourself into a meeting you can\u2019t decline \u2014 a life audit. Not the corporate kind with KPIs, performance reviews, and someone asking if you\u2019ve \u201chad a chance to circle back. \u201d This is the human version","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cvw1tmylsgf5bvjnk7jbqxfdxqeio2wepebb6bn63emhabga.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cvw1tmylsgf5bvjnk7jbqxfdxqeio2wepebb6bn63emhabga.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":42101,"title":"Discovering the Right Job for You (Without Losing the Will to Live)","url":"\/blog\/discovering-the-right-job-for-you\/","urlTitle":"discovering-the-right-job-for-you","division":292132,"description":"Finding the right job isn\u2019t just about paying the bills \u2014 it\u2019s about protecting your sanity. The dream is - something that fits your skills, values, and goals without making you want to weep into your keyboard every Monday morning. Easier said than done, yes, but it starts with getting a bit stroppy with yourself and asking the uncomfortable questions:What am I good at?What actually matters to me?What do I want my work life to feel like? This will also be me, as I\u2019ll soon be looking for my next PA\/EA contract! Yikes! Start With Self\u2011Awareness Maybe you\u2019re brilliant at problem\u2011solving, creative chaos, or being the only person in the office who understands spreadsheets","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/buxuldwdaydeyivziengmwa66tr5tqgvcoyvjjspskv7zudb.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/buxuldwdaydeyivziengmwa66tr5tqgvcoyvjjspskv7zudb.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":42176,"title":"Enjoy Your Life Outside of Work (Garden Staycation Edition)","url":"\/blog\/https-thestroppycolleague-com-blog-ill-be-hunting-for-my-next-survival-job-contract-and-figuring-out-whether-to-go-freelance-or-stick-with-being-employed\/","urlTitle":"https-thestroppycolleague-com-blog-ill-be-hunting-for-my-next-survival-job-contract-and-figuring-out-whether-to-go-freelance-or-stick-with-being-employed","division":292132,"description":"Balancing a job that pays the bills with actually enjoying your life shouldn\u2019t feel like solving a Rubik\u2019s Cube blindfolded \u2014 but let\u2019s be honest, sometimes it does. That\u2019s why fun needs to become a non\u2011negotiable. Yes, put it on the to\u2011do list","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sfk8ygb55wkdo69cthfsbaupemlk1vjyk2m7jdkkymyu5ghl.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sfk8ygb55wkdo69cthfsbaupemlk1vjyk2m7jdkkymyu5ghl.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}