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Reaching goals one step at a time

WFH = we feel happy

Hi, friends! TGIF. Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello canoodling? Blink-182’s surprise performance? An unbothered Ariana Madix? Weekend one of Coachella brought lots of chaotic energy, can’t wait to see what this weekend holds (as I watch the highlights from my living room in my pajamas in between episodes of Beef…Couchella anyone?).

Today’s vibes: Finding that I ask myself “What’s my age again?” often these days. Blink-182 just gets it.

—Rod

Now Entering Your Work From Home Era

(me during my daily 2pm WFH nap)

 question 
I’m used to working in an office but recently got a new job that’s completely remote. Any advice on how to adjust to the switch for someone who actually enjoys having an in-person job? —B.

 answer 
Welcome to the WFH club! I dig it here and I hope you will, too. It’s going to be a new experience, but aren’t new experiences that allow us to spend the entire day in sweatpants if we want to the best kind of new experiences?

To prepare you for the change and set you up for success, let’s discuss some pros and cons of working from bed home.

Pros

 You can roll out of bed at 8:55 for a 9am meeting
 You don’t have to pick out an outfit that says “I’m management material” every day
 You can sneak in doctors appointments (and TBH power naps and pedicures) during your lunch break sans judgment

Cons

❎ Your boss won’t be able to see how hard you’re working all day, every day
❎ You might not be able to make a work bestie quite as quickly—Slack bonding just isn’t the same as “wait, you also order a kale Caesar??” in the office kitchen
❎ You might not get much IRL time with the people who decide to give you a raise or promotion

Since you were a fan of working in the office, let’s focus on what you can do to make your WFH setup a little more your style.

DIY your desk: Set up your home office like your old office office. Ask if your team has a WFH supplies stipend and go as wild as you used to in the back-to-school shopping days. Gel pens and Trapper Keepers scream “ready to take on more responsibility in this new position.”

Get social: If your team doesn’t have one already, make a Slack channel for non-work related convos to connect with your coworkers (we have some ideas in our bottom section every week, just sayin’). And if you were always the one taking the lead on group projects in high school, consider organizing virtual or IRL team events every now and then.

Don’t be afraid to check in: If your boss can’t see you #grinding on that project, it doesn’t hurt to remind them that you’re pulling your weight every now and then.

Enjoy your you time: No commute = you can finally make that 5:15 PM hot yoga class. In-office you could never.

One Step at a Time, There’s No Need to Rush

 question 
I'm ready for a change in my work and location, but I'm struggling to make decisions to help me move toward where I want to be. My short-term actions have been more reactive and less calculated, and I feel trapped. Any suggestions for navigating the now while striving for my long-term goals? —M.

 answer 
When being reactionary is good: Making *that* open-mouthed face when you taste your Annie’s Mac & Cheese before it’s cooled from “temperature of the surface of the sun”

When being reactionary is bad: Threatening to call 911 because you got stuck in a shirt in the dressing room

Point is, sometimes we have to be more reactive than proactive. You’re targeting some major life decisions—what you do and where you live—that can’t necessarily change overnight. So if you have to react before you make your next big strategic move? Give yourself some grace. And enjoy the journey, that’s the fun part anyway!

My advice? Forget focusing on the big picture all at once and instead create smaller steps and goals that get you further along on your journey to those big changes.

Daily: Take five minutes a day to journal. Reflect on what you’ve learned or manifest for the future.

Weekly: Apply for at least one job in the field you’re eyeing per week. LinkedIn EasyApply counts!

Monthly: Connect with one person in your industry. A coffee meet-up or an introduction email may open some big doors.

Yearly: Identify what skills you need to take you to the next level. You have 12 months to master that craft. Sign up for a class, do some industry research, and take advantage of networking opportunities.

Got a Q for me to A? Submit yours here.

Things to Slack your work besties

…when the top of your to-do list says “find a new job.”

I recently chatted with my friend Carly, a certified therapist, on her podcast Recover With Carly. We talked about setting boundaries, asking for help, and how 2000s bops can talk you out of a spiral (my therapist said so).

I swear I’ve learned more from TikTok than I did my entire time in college. I gave in to the viral TikTok cottage cheese ice cream (or “ice” “cream”). And while it will never replace Jeni’s Brambleberry Crisp, I’m a fan.

Is this…a modern-day Maury episode I don’t have to quickly switch off when my parents walk in the room? Matthew McConaughey says he and his “brother from another mother” (also the name of the two’s upcoming Apple TV show) Woody Harrelson may…actually have the same mom.

Thanks for reading!! Wishing you nothing but sunshine and fun all weekend long. See you back here on Monday!

IDK WHAT DO I KNOW?! LMAO!

—Rod

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