Meet Monica Morkos | Instructional Designer & Digital Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica Morkos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monica, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Over time, my perspective on work-life balance has undergone a significant transformation. At first, I thought that success required relentless work and that I could postpone my personal life. But as I followed this path, I started to lose sight of who I was beyond my job. I realized I struggled to establish clear boundaries with others, determine my true priorities, and take care of myself.

For example, skills I’ve picked up from my work sometimes spill over into how I handle things in my personal life. This isn’t always a good thing. When I was a speech and language pathologist, I learned to be patient, which is great. But when I tried to be patient in my personal life, I often ended up being too forgiving, giving people the benefit of the doubt all the time, and not setting clear boundaries.

The same holds true for my role as an instructional designer. I acquired essential leadership skills, the ability to command a room, and the confidence to advocate for my needs. Yet, as these skills found their way into my personal life, I noticed a less desirable outcome – I started to feel uncomfortable with the unintentional intimidation I sometimes projected.

So, I made a change. To set boundaries between work and my personal life, I removed work-related applications from my phone, eliminating the temptation to check emails or engage in work-related tasks during my personal time. Rather than feeling the need to micromanage every aspect to ensure desired outcomes, I’ve learned to let things naturally fall into place. This shift has enabled me to project a more relaxed demeanor. In making these small changes, not only do I see my efforts to improve my work-life balance, but I am happier and exactly who I want to be now in my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What excites me the most is that I’ve transformed my passion for art and education into a thriving career as an instructional designer. Just when I feel like I’ve hit a creative roadblock, a wave of inspiration rushes in and I can’t get enough.

What sets me apart from others is that I am a fearless risk-taker. I honestly thought that switching from my clinical background to a job in educational technology, training, and development might have its hiccups, but it’s been a surprisingly seamless transition.

Instead of direct patient care, my focus now lies in designing nursing preparation programs that empower instructors to guide and support countless international nurses in their journey to practice healthcare in the United States.

An instructional designer is like a learning architect. I break down complex concepts in the simplest of ways through gamification and interactive/ engaging digital resources. I plan what needs to be taught, determine the delivery method, and design materials for effective learning. I also make sure everything works well and keeps improving. I’m currently at a point in my career where I’m not actively seeking more. I’m in a state of cruise control and relishing every learning opportunity and all the chances that come my way simply by being consistent and hardworking.

I’m someone who loves taking risks and doesn’t settle easily. The idea of settling pushes me to push my limits even further. I get genuinely excited when I need to learn new, complex software. What drives me is the knowledge that mastering this new skill will benefit thousands of nursing students, and that motivation keeps me going. I’m never afraid to change direction when needed because I believe that new opportunities often arise when I take a different path.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take my girl to trendy brunches, lunches, and dinners throughout the day in the Miami area. Restaurants like Bistro Café, The Social Club, and Strawberry Moon for brunch, and Sexy Fish Miami, Crazy About You, North Italia, Mila, Serena, and Sugarcane raw bar grill for dinner options.

When we’re not eating, we’ll be exploring the city! We’d go to Brickell City Centre for shopping, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens to walk and take cute pictures, Biscayne National Park for a relaxing time by the water, and Wynwood Art District for art and more food exploration.

Our nights would be fully submerged in the Miami nightlife. The perfect spots for drinks and girl fun would be at Sugar, Komodo Lounge, Rosa Sky, and Barsecco.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother, Mary Morkos. She’s sacrificed so much to give my family a beautiful life and I really appreciate her consistency to inspire me. Since I was little, she’s always told me, “One day you will shoot the moon”, and I always carry her words with me. My brother, Mark Morkos. He inspires me to work hard, never settle and is such a goofball. And finally, my sisters Nathaly, Veronica, Christina, and Marina. We support one another through every which way life takes us. I’m blessed to have such an amazing group of people to share my life with.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/monidines?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==