Something for Sunday:
I recently made the move from one big city (Los Angeles) to another big city (Atlanta). One of the biggest blessings about this move is that I did not have to look for another job. My employer decided that I could work remotely and I was extremely happy. Nothing compares to the stress of moving and then having to look for a job. I was thankful.
Not only am I now working remotely but I also am now working from home. This is a big change for me. Every job that I have ever had has always had a brick and mortar office I would go to, where I’ve been surrounded by people. Working from home is definitely a lifestyle change for me. The big question now is, how am I going to adapt to it?
The first week was the hardest. It was a combination of getting use to the time change and adapting to working from home. During that week, I found myself snacking a lot and wanting to lounge throughout the day. I knew that if I continued down this road the results would not be good.
I then recalled a conversation I had with a co-worker of mine, Kat, in which she explained to me how she managed working from home. She said she acted like she was going into the office every day: she showered, put on a dress, did her makeup and went out for lunch every day. As she was sharing her routine I thought that it was a bit much. But at the end of the first week I realized that Kat was right. I had to treat my workday like I was actually going into the office.
After four weeks in Atlanta, my daily schedule is now as follows: I go to the gym at 6:30 am, come home, shower, get dressed (usually in jeans and a t-shirt), head to Starbucks in Midtown and work from there; I do this about 3 to 4 times a week. I feel like I am working from an office surrounded by people (even though they are strangers) and I get to meet new people and explore my new home after the workday is over. I call this a win/win for SVB!
I am embracing my new home and my new work situation, and I look forward to what lies ahead, taking it one day at a time.
