After a LONG hiatus from work, an opportunity cropped up to join a company as a consultant. It is just my second day back at work but already, the boons and banes of coming out of hibernation and rejoining the work force are so stark.
Here are a few:
(-) Good-bye, beauty sleep. My wakeup call of 9:30 or 10AM is now down to 7 or 8AM
(+/-) Denims and casual tops are out. The “corporate look” is in (high heels, dark skirt or pants, more formal blouses, blazer when necessary. Is that a good thing or not? I don’t know. I love the freedom of denims but feel good in business attire.
(+) I sweated it out at home trying to conserve energy and wore the thinnest, sleeveless tops I had. Now, the aircon blasting in the office reminds me I need to buy more blazers!
(-) Much, much less blogging! 🙁
(+) Lunch used to be whatever was left over from dinner the night before. Now, I have a choice of Oliver’s Super Sandwich or the various food outlets at the swanky Food Park of the building. And hey, they have Starbucks, Tea Republic, and Watson’s there to boot!
(+) My day revolved around housekeeping and chatting with the househelp about the latest chismis or the kids’ schedules. My conversation now has been upgraded to business strategies, systems, financial approaches and the like. Cerebral to the max!
(-) Siesta is a thing I can only have on weekends.
(-) TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC!!!!!
(+) I used to envy our househelp who got paid every 15 days. I did housework for free! Now? Can’t wait for my first paycheck, hehehe.
(-) The schedules of the kids plus mine are now getting a bit complicated so for the last 2 nights, our conversations before bedtime went like this: What time is your class tomorrow? I need to be at the office by ___. Can you go earlier to school? Can you just wait for your sister so the car just picks you both up at the same time? What time can I be picked up?
(+) Leaving the work force years ago meant losing contact with friends in the workplace. I am slowly reestablishing that communication network.
(-) Less time for the gym which is near home (but far from work).
(+) I got to bargain though for earlier time off on days when I have yoga (this is a MUST to keep me healthy and sane!)
(-) Am sort of missing the laidback days I used to enjoy. Ah well…
Every new turn in life brings wonders and challenges. This work opportunity came at a time when I was seeking to reinvent myself while still seeing what there was of my previous “world” that was still of use. It will be interesting to see how this all turns out….
Hi jane, what kind of consulting work do you do?
Myself, I am in the very casual world of IT…but I sure would love to be a SAHM. Sigh.
Good that you’re able to go home early on your yoga days. I admire your dedication. I’m still going to yoga class but I think Saturday will be my last day. Baby’s coming soon after I think. 🙂
Jane: Hi Tin! By education I am an accountant. But in the accounting firm where I worked for 16 years, most of my work was IT-related (reviewing IT systems of companies, evaluating and recommending software/hardware systems, etc). Good luck on the upcoming baby birth!
i’m pretty sure you’ll soon adjust. bottomline,youre having fun, and that’s great 🙂 good luck!
Jane: It remains to be seen, Cess, if it will really be FUN so I am keeping options open. But…definitely…blogging and meeting bloggers is FUN! So that is a definite option for us all!
i wish you all the best in this newly opened chapter of your life, jane! just make the best out of it. 🙂
Jane: Thank you so much, Angel! I will try. 🙂
i understand completely… it’s a constant struggle between trying to get work done and trying to get to a yoga class on time 🙁 too bad you don’t have as many yoga class options as i do over here, but you’ll figure it out, even if it means that you have to do your class via podcast — btw, there are many excellent ones out there that are FREE!
one thing that i noticed once i started working again is that i started eating lunch because it was lunch time and not because i was hungry. as a result, i ended up eating more than i normally did and ending up gaining weight! yeah, i know… you don’t have that problem 🙂
congratulations, and good luck!
Jane: It really is a struggle, Joni! Thank goodness for FREE podcasts. I have befriended Elsie Escobar who has a blog (The YoGeek Workout) and she is a regular yoga podcaster as well. I also found Yoga Peeps and some others. I agree with you about regular lunch. It can’t be an “eat when you feel hungry” sked anymore as everyone eats regularly at noon. The good thing is, I need to gain some weight. So that should be good for me, right? 🙂
I’m sure you’ll manage just fine. Medyo rusty ka lang siguro. I suppose it’ s just like yoga, kala mo mahirap pero kayang-kaya naman pala 🙂
BTW, there’s this feature on women who do yoga on the latest issue of Metro.
Jane: Really? I better go get myself that issue! Thanks for the tip!
Good luck, sis in your new job. I hope they have a water dispenser there for your daily H2O requirements.
Jane: Schumey, they do, they do! 🙂
Don’t worry you will be able to go back to the “tempo” of the daily travel, the social interaction and thinking about something else other than the humdrum of daily routine. But then again, staying at home has its perks too. 🙂
Take care!
Jane: Staying at home DEFINITELY has its perks, Julie! 🙂
Hi Jane! Congrats on the comeback. This is something i’d like to be able to do when my kids are bigger and I have more time . So it CAN be done!
“I love the freedom of denims but feel good in business attire.”
-hehe, sometimes when I see those high heels at the mall, I’m tempted to buy a pair. I miss wearing heels and suits!
Take care!
Jane: Hahaha, Chats. Yes, I have gotten so used to the casual look that when I went back to business attire, I suddenly realized how good it felt. I am sure when the time comes (and you will know when it is time), you will make a comeback as though those years away from work never were.
Hi Jane, goodluck on your new work. I’m sure in a week, you’ll get used to your work/home schedules.
Jane: Hi Rowena! Thank you for the well wishes. This week was a withdrawal of sorts as my sked was so different from the previous week’s. But yes, I think over time, it will become routine (I hope!). 🙂
Welcome back into the work world Jane! As with anything else in life, there are phases. You are where you need to be right now – enjoy it as I know you will 🙂 God bless!
Jane: This is a very comforting thought. Thanks so much, Cathy. God bless too! 🙂