5 Ways to Recover from Making a Mistake at Work

Mistakes — especially at work — happen. Whether you flubbed an ultra-important video interview, sent an email to the wrong person, or said something that’ll make it hard for people to take you seriously going forward, there’s a good chance you broke into a sweat and hoped the floor would open up and swallow you. But since unintentional missteps inevitably happen to the best of us, knowing how to deal is key for saving face and moving forward. We hit up a handful of #girlbosses to get their tips about exactly what to do when you make a mistake. Read on for five anxiety-easing tips.

stressed woman at work

1. Own up to it ASAP. “Own up to your mistake immediately and be as transparent as possible,” Jia Wertz from Studio 15 advises. “People respond to honesty and can totally relate to the human nature of making mistakes; we’ve all been there.” She reminds us that even though a mistake can feel like the end of the world at the time, taking responsibility and discussing it will help ease anxiety immediately. “Healthy communication and a genuine apology are key,” she says.

2. Get some perspective. Julie Fajgenbaum, founder and CEO of Tweed Wolf, says, “Once I’ve made a mistake, I immediately put it into perspective to help frame my anxiety and time to spend fixing it. I ask myself: ‘Is everyone healthy and safe?’ [and] ‘Will my mistake still matter next week, next year, or in the next decade?'” She wraps up her process with a “solution check ” to figure out exactly how to own her mistake, fix it, and prevent it from happening again. Brilliant.

3. Commit to improvement. Stephanie Newman, founder of the feminist media website Writing on Glass, tells us that she’s learned to embrace mistakes by committing to improvement. “Once, I [shared my website with] an industry leader who I thought would appreciate my effort — but she told me that though I said my platform was inclusive, it actually mostly included links to white, straight women.” Confessing her total embarrassment, Newman says, “I knew she was right and it had been so subconscious, even while I was consciously trying to avoid the exact situation. So I said ‘thank you’ and committed to doing better next time. I now thank people who call me out because it’s a huge favor.”

Growth Coach and Business Mentor Silvia Christmann agrees. “I call making mistakes the art of falling forward,” she says. “Remember that the path to success is paved with bricks of failure.” She tells us to remember that mistakes definitely don’t make *you* a failure though. “You can’t push the envelope, grow, or innovate without them.” What an awesome perspective!

4. Learn and grow. “I’ve always loved working in environments where mistakes or failure are actually progress, because we’ve learned something about what works (or doesn’t) and can move forward,” Danya Shults, the founder of Arq, explains. “I think of everything new I try for Arq as an experiment, and it either succeeds or fails, but either answer is a positive step forward. When something I try doesn’t work, I name it and acknowledge it, I figure out what went wrong and what needs to happen next time for it to work (or hopefully work), and then I give it another go.” Right on.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I believe in mistakes,” says Jelena Aleksich, Graphic Designer and founder of The Confetti Project. “I think mistakes are these beautiful opportunities in finding our greatest lessons. So, welcome them and be kind to yourself. Think about what you’ve learned and how you can grow; the less you internalize it, the more space you can dedicate to finding a solution.”

5. Seize an opportunity. “I think the biggest thing you can remember is you are not your mistake,” says Danielle Rothman, founder of Rothbyrns Creative. “Depending on the size of the mistake, people might not even notice; if it is a big deal, consider what you can do to fix it — this could even benefit you long-term.” To illustrate her point, Rothman shares an anecdote. “I got an email today from a company’s CEO apologizing that a link to a sale was deactivated, and to tell the customer that the sale was extended to compensate for it. I really appreciated his transparency and feel more loyal to the company because of his apology.” Even more reason to keep a clear head so you can see if there might actually be an opportunity in your error.

How do you deal when you make a mistake? Tell us on Twitter @BritandCo so we can share your tips!

(Photo via Getty)

Probably everyone would agree that "adulting" is challenging, but nothing is quite as tough as initially launching your career. You're new to the field and uncomfortable, so you're bound to have some awkward moments, missteps, or simply embarrassing situations.

Thankfully, these bumps in the road teach us lessons that we can grow from. Nonetheless, it can still be funny to reflect (and laugh) about those cringe-worthy experiences down the line.

So, a bunch of women recently took to Reddit to share some of the most embarrassing things they did during the early days of their careers, and we've compiled their best stories.

Scroll to see all the most embarrassing things these women admitted to doing at work!

1. She thought a colleague was flirting. Spoiler alert: he wasn't.

Viktoria Slowikowska

"I was new to my role and attending a networking event out of state, lobbying for the first time. I thought one of the commissioners was flirting with me, so I stupidly considered leveraging that. I even gave him my hotel card, but he never came," one user said.

2. She spilled hundreds of hardware pieces down a hill.

cottonbro studio

"It was my first day with a new theater company as their master carpenter. Our shop was multiple buildings away from the theater, and we had to haul our tools and hardware over in shopping carts," a user recalled.

"I tipped over the shopping cart with all the containers of screws, bolts, and so on. Hundreds of little bits of hardware, all down the side of a hill."

3. She accidentally said "love you" to her team.

Edmond Dantès

"I was multitasking on a call and, in the end, when everyone said goodbye, I blurted out, 'Bye, love you!' to the entire team. I was humiliated," another user detailed.

4. She accidentally messaged her own boss about her lackluster raise.

Anna Shvets

"I was working in customer service, and I asked my supervisor for a raise because I was 'error free' and my call time states were pretty good. I had told my coworker (we were both in our early twenties) that I had asked for the raise, too. We were very open about our salaries," remembered one user.

"A couple of weeks later, my supervisor called me over to her cubicle. I sent an IM [instant message] to my coworker and said, 'Supervisor wants to talk to me. Called me over to her desk. I think I got the raise!' Spoiler: I did. It was just like $0.75 an hour or something dumb, but still, I was happy to get a raise," she continued.

"Immediately after, I messaged my coworker again and said something like, 'Yep, I got the raise. It's not as much as I would have liked, but oh well." I sent this to my supervisor and not my coworker. I heard my supervisor laugh and immediately go talk to the manager. I was so embarrassed."

5. She had a bucket of water dumped on her.

cottonbro studio

"Something that happened to me years ago: a woman dropped a bucket of rainwater on my head," revealed a user.

"She wasn't looking down; she meant to do it to one of my coworkers who used to leave trash by her door. She apologized, but still."

6. She fell off her chair (in front of her supervisor).

MART PRODUCTION

"I was working at a park district part-time and I sat at the front desk. One day, I got up to get something from another room. I come back, sit on my chair, and lean back," one user explained.

"I guess I leaned too far back, so I ended up falling on my tailbone. My supervisor was right there. I was like a couple of weeks in, too."

7. She made up her own phonetic alphabet.

Keira Burton

"I was trying to say the phonetic alphabet for a follow-up claim. I had the letter 'Y,' and the only word I could think of was, 'Yam!'" a user said.

"I laugh about it now, and I made the IT guy laugh, so win-win? But I definitely embarrassed myself at the moment."

8. She hit "reply all" while calling someone a jerk.

Mikael Blomkvist

"I hit 'reply all' in an email calling someone out for being a jerk. Ten years later, it's a department inside joke," a final user admitted.

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Millions of people are painfully aware of the struggles that come with being an adult in today's economy (hello, cost of eggs?!).

The average salary in the United States is just over $66,600, according to data from the Social Security Administration. Meanwhile, mortgage rates are still above 6%, and food prices have risen a whopping 31% since 2019.

Being able to afford outings like date nights or brand-name clothing, let alone going on family vacations or buying a home, has become a privilege. But, for people who grew up in affluent households that didn't have to worry about finances, privilege can be an invisible force that shapes their lives in ways they don't even realize.

When you grow up surrounded by other individuals just like you, it's easy to assume that everyone has the same opportunities. However, once you venture outside your "bubble," you might experience a wake-up call or a defining moment that opens your eyes to the disparities that exist beyond your own upbringing.

So, people who grew up wealthy recently took to Reddit to share their own personal wake-up calls, which made them realize just how privileged they were compared to others. Here are 10 of the most intriguing revelations.

Scroll to see the wake-up calls that made these wealthy people finally see the real world...

1. Not everyone's parents can put them through college. 

"My parents are wealthy, but I grew up in a place where many of my peers' parents were super, duper, crazy wealthy, so I had a skewed understanding of wealth," shared one user.

"It was really eye-opening for me when I went to college. I didn't have to take out student loans; my parents were able to just pay for it. But I had friends who, even with financial aid, had to work their [behinds] off year-round to cover the cost of school. I realized pretty quickly just how privileged I was and that I did, in fact, grow up with wealth."

2. Country clubs aren't the only kind of "clubs" out there. 

"When I was confused about people on Maury complaining their spouse was at 'the club,' and I couldn't figure out what type of country club would let people like that through the front security gate," admitted another user.

3. Not everyone views their parents as good role models. 

"Becoming an adult and realizing that I have extremely good role models as parents because when they have disagreements, they talk them out, and I have never, ever, heard them argue or badmouth each other," one user revealed.

"I also realized that as a kid, my parents got me mental health help that I needed even though it was expensive and continued that care for as long as I have needed it," they added.

"A third [wake-up call] that doesn't seem like much but has had a huge impact was being taught financial literacy from a young age; to budget my money and only buy the things I really, really want."

4. Many people have never left the country.  

"My parents loved to travel. By the time I was 16, I had been to every continent aside from Antarctica. I didn't realize that this was privileged behavior until I went to university, and most of the guys I met had never left the country," a user shared.

"In fact, I grew up thinking I was less privileged because everyone at my school was just obscenely rich. Like, all their stuff was high-end designer stuff while I was in Converse."

5. Some families cannot afford to have pets. 

"My dad was an engineer, so professional wealth, but... probably hearing about a kid whose family had to give his dog away due to the cost in elementary school," another user remembered.

"Giving away our dog wasn't on the radar or even on the table. But it was only out of the question because my parents had the money for it to be out of the question."

6. Owning multiple properties is not the norm. 

"When I learned that not everyone has a summer cottage or trust fund, and not all grandparents have weekend and summer homes," a user noted.

7. Exposure to cultural education isn't a given. 

"I didn't think I grew up in a wealthy family, but when I started high school, I was part of a group of girls who became close friends with me. Apparently, they thought it was very weird that I knew things that I considered cultural knowledge, like the history of some important building in the city or the fact that I actually knew about art and went to museums quite often," detailed a user.

"All this because my parents made me go to museums and theaters my whole life growing up. Apparently, that's not a normal thing for normal parents to do with their kids, and asking your parents if they can take you to the ballet is not something a teenager would normally ask."

8. Some people have never been able to fill up their tanks at the gas station. 

"In college, I went on a road trip with friends, and one asked how much money he should put in the gas tank. I told him to fill it up," recalled a user.

"He kept asking, 'Okay, how much should I pay?' and I kept saying, 'Fill it up!' It turned out he had only ever put $10 to $15 at a time, and it had never occurred to me that some people never fill their gas tanks to the top."

9. Seeing how families abroad make do.

"I realized how privileged I was when I spent a summer with my great-grandmother in a small village in rural Hungary. No indoor running water, the only phone was at the church, and everyone came out to touch the rental car we drove there in. This was in the late 1980s," recalled a user.

10. Learning that not everyone takes their first flight as a child.

"I have been flying around the world since I was 4 months old. When I was 16, my friend told me she'd fly for the first time in an airplane, and I was shocked," said another user.

"I told my dad that I couldn't believe it took her 16 years to fly! I got a stern talk after; my dad is very humble despite it all."

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Netflix has given us some bangers (hello Nobody Wants This!) but, according to TV viewers, it's also given us some epic flops. Whether the scripts fell flat or the actors had no chemistry, these are the worst TV shows on Netflix you can watch right now — with Rotten Tomatoes ratings of less than 40 percent! Listen, sometimes we all need a good hate watch while we're doing chores right? Is that just me? Anyway, let's get into it.

Here are the 8 worst Netflix shows you can stream in 2025.

1. The I-Land (2019)

Netflix

The I-Land has been compared to Lost, and it's a comparison that (somewhat) rings true. 10 people wake up on an island with one another...and without their memories. Unfortunately the 8 percent RT score proves this series missed the mark. "I-Land was terrible acting, just nothing redeemable," one Reddit user says. "They even green screened most of the beach scenes."

The I-Land stars Kate Bosworth, Ronald Peet, Michelle Veintimilla, Sibylla Deen, Gilles Geary, Kota Eberhardt, and Kyle Schmid.

2. Girlboss (2017)

Karen Ballard/Netflix

Sophia Amoruso might be rebellious and creative, but Netflix watchers aren't a fan of this TV show (and it has nothing to do with the fact we're in the post-girlboss era). "Some of the outfits were really cool but the main character was absolutely insufferable and had no redeeming qualities," one Reddit user points out.

The show, which follows Sophia's rise to business woman through selling vintage clothes online, has a 35 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Girlboss stars Britt Robertson, Ellie Reed, Alphonso McAuley, Johnny Simmons, and Dean Norris.

3. Another Life (2019)

Eike Schroter/Netflix

Another Life follows Niko, an astronaut on the hunt for AI. Except in this Netflix show, AI stands for alien intelligence. That means Niko and her crew are in for some serious alien danger, but unfortunately, according to the 6 percent RT score, that danger isn't enough to hook viewers.

Another Life stars Katee Sackhoff, Justin Chatwin, Samuel Anderson, Blu Hunt, A.J. Rivera, Jake Abel, Alex Ozerov, Alexander Eling, Jay R Tinaco, Lina Renna, Selma Blair, and Elizabeth Ludlow.

4. Sex/Life (2021)

Netflix

Viewers consider Sex/Life — which follows a love triangle between a woman, her husband, and a special someone from her past — to be one of the worst Netflix shows because "the acting and the writing was so, so, so bad," according to a Reddit user. "It was so corny and felt like fan fiction." And the 40 percent RT score agrees.

Sex/Life stars Sarah Shahi, Mike Vogel, Adam Demos, Margaret Odette, Cleo Anthony, and Darius Homayoun.

5. Echoes (2022)

Netflix

Leni and Gina are identical twins who have secretly swapped lives since childhood. But everything about their perfectly-curated double lives spirals when one sister goes missing. Sound gripping? The RT score of 22 percent says otherwise.

Echoes stars Michelle Monaghan, Matt Bomer, Daniel Sunjata, Ali Stroker, Karen Robinson, Rosanny Zayas, Michael O'Neill, Celia Weston, Gable Swanlund, and Jonathan Tucker.

6. Blockbuster (2023)

Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix

Blockbuster stars fan favorite actors like Melissa Fumero and Randall Park. But not even the incredible cast could save this Netflix show, which follows the last Blockbuster video store in the country, from a 23 percent RT score.

Blockbuster stars Randall Park, Melissa Fumero, Olga Merediz, Tyler Alvarez, and Madeleine Arthur.

7. Insatiable (2018)

Tina Rowden/Netflix

In Insatiable, a recently-thin Patty is out for revenge on anyone who ever fat-shamed her, and a beauty pageant sounds like a great place to start. The show has a 12 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and one Reddit user says they "can’t name one good thing about it." Yikes.

Insatiable stars Dallas Roberts, Debby Ryan, Christopher Gorham, Sarah Colonna, Erinn Westbrook, Kimmy Shields, Michael Provost, Irene Choi, Alyssa Milano, and Arden Myrin.

8. 13 Reasons Why (2017)

Beth Dubber/Netflix

This Netflix show might have been an iconic pop culture moment, but the 35 percent RT rating shows it's not necessarily an enjoyable one. The series follows Clay, who receives 13 voice tapes from a girl named Hannah after she takes her own life — and each tape details one reason she ended her life.

13 Reasons Why stars Dylan Minnette, Katherine Langford, Christian Navarro, Alisha Boe, Brandon Flynn, Justin Prentice, Miles Heizer, Ross Butler, Devin Druid, Amy Hargreaves, Derek Luke, Kate Walsh, Brian d'Arcy James, Grace Saif, Brenda Strong, Timothy Granaderos, Mark Pellegrino, Tyler Barnhardt, Jan Luis Castellanos, Deaken Bluman, and Gary Sinise.

Tell us your worst Netflix show in the comments!

Sydney Sweeneyis reportedly in the middle of an extended hotel stay. After postponing her wedding to fiancé Jonathan Davino at the end of February, Sydney turned heads when she stepped out in Barbie pink at the Vanity Fair Oscars party — and now according to a few sources, the Euphoria actress has been flying solo. And it's sparked major breakup rumors.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about those Jonathan Davino & Sydney Sweeney breakup rumors.

Sydney Sweeney has reportedly been staying on her own for the last few weeks.

According to TMZ sources, Sydney Sweeney has been having a solo stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel since "around the middle of February." Apparently she hasn't been joined by Jonathan Davino throughout her time, instead sticking with some friends and one of her bodyguards.

We don't have official news on a breakup just yet, but while The Housemaid actress' decision to postpone her wedding definitely made headlines, Sydney's always maintained that she's been too busy with work to rush to the altar. "I am so busy working!" she told Entertainment Tonight when asked about the wedding. "I'm a workaholic and I love it, I love it."

Sydney Sweeney also revealed why she keeps her relationships private.

Sydney Sweeney and Jonathan Davino have kept their relationship pretty low-key since they were first linked in 2018. And in 2023 she revealed why she keeps those details close to her chest.

“Everyone is always so curious about who I’m with and what’s that like, but I think it’s important to have something for me,” Sydney toldGlamour UK. “I’m very open [otherwise]. I talk about so much, and sometimes, it gets me in trouble, but I do try to keep something for me.”

“I’ve been in a steady relationship for a really long time, which is not normal in this industry and not normal for my age,” she continued. “What I’ve noticed about the idea of celebrity is people really love to build someone up and then tear them down.”

Here's Your First Look At Sydney Sweeney As "Incredible" Christy Martin. Read all about it!

Just like green cocktails, shamrock-inspired treats, and incorporating Baileys and Guinness into just about any dish, serving corned beef recipes on St. Patrick's Day is part of Irish-American tradition. But just because it's expected doesn't mean it has to be boring.

Here are 18 brand new ways to eat corned beef that you've probably never tasted before!

Corned Beef Brisket

Brit + Co

To get you started with these corned beef recipes, here's our guide to cooking the ultimate St. Patrick's Day feast. You can use this to inform the rest of recipes, or stick to the basics! The brine features ingredients like salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, and ginger. As good as it is fresh, dressing up the leftover sandwich however you see fit might just be the best (and most unique) part. (via Brit + Co)

Guinness BBQ Corned Beef & White Cheddar Sliders

Dixie Chik Cooks

When you want to make an American dish even more American, you barbecue it! This beer-based BBQ sauce has to be tasted to be believed. (via Dixie Chik Cooks)

Corned Beef Tacos with Beer-Battered Fries

Half Baked Harvest

This Mexican-American-inspired riff on the original is epic. And the creamy Greek-yogurt cabbage slaw is like nectar of the gods. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Cheesy Naan Reuben Pizzas with Thousand Island Drizzle

The Curious Plate

It was only a matter of time before some enterprising American chef took the humble reuben and turned it into a pizza. TBH, we'll eat anything with naan in it. (via The Curious Plate)

Reuben Poppers

The Beach House Kitchen

This crazy-good concept takes the grilled Reuben and whips it up, popper style. These make perfect food for snacking. (via The Beach House Kitchen)

Irish Nacos with Beer Sauce

The Salty Marshmallow

If you're looking for some over-the-top pub food, check out these Irish nachos. Instead of tortilla chips, it calls for thinly sliced potatoes and the queso is a homemade cheddar-beer sauce! (via The Salty Marshmallow)

Reuben Stuffed Potato Skins

Cooks With Cocktails

This one's for the gluten-free folks in the house. What better vehicle for all those yummy reuben stuffings than a crisp potato jacket that's simply oozing melted cheese. (via Cooks With Cocktails)

Corned Beef Grilled Cheese

Spicy Southern Kitchen

If you like emphasis on cheese, this one's for you. This sammie is spilling over with thinly sliced corned beef, caramelized onions, and oodles of melty Fontina cheese. What's not to love? (via Spicy Southern Kitchen)

Reuben Po’ Boys

The Cooking Bride

The original Louisiana po' boys were stuffed with either fried seafood or thinly-sliced beef, so this sammy is an American original in more ways than one. Stuffed with bourbon glazed corned beef, this corned beef sandwich is topped with a vinegar-based cabbage slaw that really pops. (via The Cooking Bride)

Spicy Reuben Chowder with Brown Butter Rye Croutons

The Curious Plate

If there's such a thing as *leftover* corned beef at your house, lucky you! For the rest of us, a cabbage chowder like this one topped with just a pinch of corned beef crumbles totally satisfies the craving. Pro tip: if you really have zero St. Paddy's leftovers, bacon crumbles will taste just as good and no one at the table will be the wiser. (via The Curious Plate)

Reuben Eggs Benedict

Crunch Time Kitchen

Those new to cooking will love that this is a beginner-style eggs Bennie. Corn the beef yourself (click through for the recipe) — or you could just pile on some corned beef and sauerkraut from your local deli and it will be just as good. (via Crunch Time Kitchen)

Corned Beef Breakfast Hash

Fed & Fit

This one's for all the clean eaters in the house. This corned beef hash is made with all wholesome ingredients — as if you needed a second reason to celebrate! (via Fed & Fit)

St. Paddy’s Corned Beef Burgers with Irish Cheddar Cheese

The Curious Plate

These burgers made of a combo of ground beef and corned beef mixed with Guinness are practically worthy of Irish-American sainthood. To be sure, even St. Patrick himself would give 'em three clovers up. (via The Curious Plate)

Reuben Waffle Fries

Melanie Makes

This version of a Reuben casserole takes it up a notch with crispy waffle fries. The cast iron skillet ensures that the fries stay crunchy while the cheese melts into every crevice. (via Melanie Makes)

Slow Cooker Corned Beef & Cabbage Sliders with Guinness Mustard

The Cookie Rookie

The meat for these sliders comes together easy peasy in your slow cooker or crockpot. This is one dinner tray that's guaranteed to come back to the kitchen licked clean. (via The Cookie Rookie)

Hot Reuben Dip

Culinary Hill

Anyone in your family who loves Reuben sandwiches will love this dip. You'd best make two and place one at each end of your dinner table — to avoid the inevitable traffic jam when everyone lines up behind this. (via Culinary Hill)

Reuben Sliders

Countryside Cravings

These hearty sliders on ciabatta bread are sure to be a fave, but why wait? They'd be equally great at your next family dinner, movie night, or an evening flying solo. (via Countryside Cravings)

Corned Beef Hash, Cajun Style

Chili Pepper Madness

The good thing about slow cooking your own corned beef is you might just have enough left over the next day to make hash for breakfast. This version takes it to the next level, with spicy peppers, Cajun seasonings, and hot sauce that runneth over. (via Chili Pepper Madness)

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This post has been updated.