Back to Work
Happy Monday! Hope you had a good weekend. It’s that time of year for us when the weekends are filled with activity rather than rest, but I’m OK with it after the quiet year we had—and knowing Minnesota summers are so fleeting. We headed up to the lake again on Saturday, this time with my sister in tow, to spend some time with her for her birthday. She tried wakeboarding for the first time, and I even made myself get on the board after a couple-year hiatus (usually I’m content to just relax on the boat). The water was too warm not to get in! My brother-in-law made ribs and wings on the smoker, and we closed out the night around the fire.
But here we are again at the start of another workweek! I mentioned last week that I got a new job, as a senior copywriter at Cambria. I have been interested in the home/home design industry for a couple of years, and after feeling like I had plateaued at my old job without opportunity for advancement or growth, I got an offer from Cambria that I couldn’t pass up. It was a difficult decision to leave my comfortable role in women’s fashion—an industry that had been my goal to work in for so long—but I think that as you develop in your career, it’s normal and healthy for those long-term goals to change. Still, it was hard letting go.
I made a good old fashioned pro/con list and—spoiler alert—the pros of this new opportunity outweighed the cons. But one of the cons—returning to the office full-time—felt like a big one. I loved the flexibility and ease of working from home. No commute to deal with, less time getting ready in the morning, more time to exercise. But at the same time (and maybe this was more a symptom of COVID), I felt bored a lot—like every day was the same. It could be isolating—I missed my coworkers who had become friends—and I didn’t feel like I was a true participant in life. I wore workout clothes every day and often didn’t leave the house. It’s been only three weeks at my new job, and I’m definitely more tired, but I also feel more creative and inspired in getting dressed every day, leaving the house and interacting with people face to face. Do I want to spend the next 30 years working five days a week in an office from eight to five? No. It just feels silly to spend so much of your life in an office, when work can be done just as effectively from a remote location. I would love to one day have a cabin where Chris and I spend extended weekends (Friday through Monday maybe!) working remotely and then return to the city life (and office) for the middle of the week.
But for the time being, I’m embracing this opportunity and making the best of it—while knowing I’m not going to chain myself to an office cubicle forever. Scroll for a few things I’ve done to make the transition from WFH to office life a little smoother.
This is what I wore for a full day of tours during New Hire Orientation, which included Cambria’s fab shop and plant (comfortable shoes required 😉). It’s a pretty incredible operation!
Short-sleeve sweatshirt (old, similar here) | Skirt (such a staple—currently considering snagging the navy or rose) | Sneakers | Sunglasses (my longtime favorite!) | Backpack (perfect for plane rides, weekend trips and even work—it fits my laptop) | Necklace (old, similar here) | Bracelet (old, love this happy one too)
10 Tips for Transitioning Back to the Office (eek!)
Get into a nighttime routine (key word: routine). Set a bedtime and stick to it to make waking up earlier the next morning easier. I set mine on my phone so “do not disturb” mode comes on 45 minutes before I’m supposed to be in bed. I watch a good show (currently: The Bold Type on Hulu) then wind down with my Kindle in bed before falling asleep (currently: Nine Perfect Strangers) and it’s something I really look forward to. It’s been a little hard to stick to a set bedtime every night, but it’s also easier to fall asleep after a full day in the office.
Treat yourself to a new scent. I was overdue for a new fragrance, and starting a new chapter in life with a new scent felt appropriate—I’m a fan of marking milestones with fragrance. I popped into Sephora a few days before starting the new job with an idea of what I wanted, but the sales associate totally changed my mind with this one. I love it for every day, and will definitely be buying more from the brand.
Supplement with Vitamin D. Less time outside, not being a morning person AND being a little less than enthused about the return to work means I needed a little extra sunshine to start the day. I got these gummy worms and they make me feel like I’m popping a happy pill. Even if it’s just a placebo effect, they really feel like they positively impact my mood.
Upgrade your coffee. I’m normally a Folgers girl, but I treated myself to some fancier grounds for my first couple of weeks back at the office. Indulge a little with something exotic or try a new flavor. A programmable coffee maker is also a must—knowing my coffee is ready right away when I wake up makes rolling out of bed easier.
Reboot your wardrobe. If you haven’t been to the office in awhile, you’re probably due for a few new clothes! This goes without saying, but I’m always in a better mood when I like my outfit. It helps to plan ahead to minimize morning stress, too. I try to map out the whole week on Sundays. (And it’s been fun for me to share what I’m wearing to work on the blog again!)
Create a positive commute. I listen to the UpFirst podcast from NPR every morning while I’m doing my makeup. I like to get the daily headlines and tuning in is a subtle way to remember that there’s so much going on in the world outside of me and my morning stress. Then, during the commute, I listen to something a little lighter like LadyGang, The Morning Toast, Giggly Squad or Absolutely Not. I like talk shows by women that are around my age. It’s nice to zone out a little and laugh!
Go out to lunch! At my old job, I would bring lunch to work almost every single day and usually eat at my desk. It’s a great way to save money and eat healthy. But taking the opportunity to go out and get away from your desk is important—lunch doesn’t have to be just another 30 minutes at the office; make it one more part of your day to look forward to—and savor. Plus: not having to pack a lunch is one less thing to coordinate in the morning. I’m obsessed with the Qdoba burrito bowls, Zupa’s is another favorite; there are lots of options by my new office that I want to try.
Pencil in plans outside of work. Having fun things to look forward to reminds me that there’s more to my life than work. Remember that your goal is not just to “survive” the workweek—work should be just one part of your well-rounded life. Right now I’m in a volleyball league that plays every Wednesday, and I try to schedule regular happy hours and meet-ups with friends. Even just mixing up a fun cocktail on a Tuesday can blur the line between workday and weekend in a good way—why should weekends have all the fun?
Don’t let other people get in your head. A lot of my coworkers and peers “can’t imagine” (and are repulsed by the idea of) going back to the office. But don’t let outside opinion affect what’s best for you and your career goals. I know what I want from a career and what I need to be challenged, and what other people want and need is totally different. Stay focused on YOU!
Keep your attitude in check. One of the mantras I keep repeating to myself is: this is an opportunity, not an obligation. It’s an opportunity to learn a new business, meet new people, hone new skills, EARN MONEY and more. That small nuance in how I think about work has been really powerful so far. And if it doesn’t end up being what I want it to be, there’s no reason to feel locked in forever. But in my experience, trying new things has always opened new doors.
