Remember when we were stressing about Working From Home - Not so Fast Forward - It's Time to Return to the Office!

 I'll never forget the beginning of pandemic.  I mean, who could? 

My firm was super about getting us set up to work from home and made the transition as smooth as possible.

Sure, we were all working from our kitchens, couches, bedrooms, you name it.

For me, it was a very difficult transition.  No social interaction, no coffee shop experiences, no office services, no one to talk to or to offer a second opinion on that filing or a second set of eyes.

Now nearly a year and a half later, and I'm in rhythm.  

Whereas, I once said "I can't wait to get back into the office," I'm now saying "how will I ever go back to commuting and traffic and the old routine?"

And if I'm really honest, it's causing me more than a little anxiety.

I, for one, would love a hybrid model.  I mean we've proven we can do it?  Or have we?

If you have thoughts about in-person return to work, I'd love to hear them.  All suggestions are welcome.  Remember, there are no wrong answers.

Working from Home - The Good, The Bad, The Lonely

Covid-19 has been surreal.  The illness, deaths, unemployment, lack of human contact, it's a lot. 

None of us have experienced a pandemic before, so who knew what to expect?

For many people, including myself, who are used to the 9 to 5 routine of commuting to and from work, the thought of being able to work from your home sounded like a dream come true.

That is, until it turns into a nightmare.  For over two months, I've been blessed to be able to earn a living, with medical benefits, without having to venture outside the safety of my house.

The flip side of that benefit is the isolation, the day-to-day drone of what feels like "Groundhog's Day" is hard on the mind.  And not so great for the body when you're not walking or getting up to walk to the coffee shop or lunchroom or take breaks.

As the days have turned into weeks, turned into months, I'm finally ready to tackle the reality of formulating a plan.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

Plan to go to bed at night and get up in the morning at the same time each day

Force yourself to get dressed (sweats don't count)

Put on makeup, jewelry and real shoes (not bunny slippers)

Get up at least once an hour to stretch or get water or poke your head outside and get some fresh air

Take a dedicated lunch break

Make an effort to stay in communication with colleagues, clients, vendors, etc.

Join a zoom or online wellness class (exercise or meditation or mindfulness)

If you've got ideas or suggestions on how we can WFH and be more productive and positive, leave me a comment.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

STAY SAFE

I Was Planning on Getting a Planner - Next Time I Should Plan Ahead

I had such big plans for my paper planner this year.

First of all, I had planned to get one before the end of 2019 so that I could start planning my New Year on a good foot - or pad.

Christmas was close to Thanksgiving in 2019, which means that the new year just crept up on me before I had a chance to pick the perfect planner.

Looks like now, the first event that I'll be planning will be Groundhog Day 2020.  

I guess it's never too late to start planning.

So many planners.  So little time.

Which one to choose. . .?  I've got a lot of planning to do!

Beware the Office Holiday Party

I hope I'm not too late.

I say this every year, and every year, I read about someone who got a little too loose and had way too much fun at the office party.

I'll keep this short and sweet.

• If you think your outfit is inappropriate, it probably is
• If you think you've had too many, you have - switch to water
• Keep your hands to yourself
• To err is human - to get snookered at your holiday party is just plain dumb
• Don't be the first one to arrive
• Don't be the last one to leave
• Have fun - but not too much fun

Book Review: "The Better Sister" by Alafair Burke

The name itself spells trouble.  "The Better Sister."

Alafair Burke's newest novel covers 'the good, the bad and the deadly.'

If you have sisters (raise your hand), you know that a certain amount of sibling rivalry is unavoidable.  Not that it doesn't happen with brothers, it's just I don't have brothers so I can only speak for myself.

Whether there is a "better" sister or not, in our heads, we can't help but feel that Mom and Dad favored you over me. 

This thriller, and it is a thriller, takes that sibling rivalry to a whole new level.  I'm afraid to tell you much for fear of spoiling the ending, but trust me when I tell you it's well worth your time and will give you an adrenaline rush that you didn't even know you needed.

I'm going to read it a second time.

Description from cover:

The murder of a prominent Manhattan lawyer spurs the reunion of two estranged sisters—one the dead man’s widow, the other his ex. To save the teenage boy accused of murdering him, they must confront a history of long-buried secrets and betrayal. But can sisters ever escape the shadows of their past?

The "Eyes" Have It - Lancome Grandiose Mascara

I'm back!

Long time, no blog.  I've been in a bit of a writing slump.

I didn't forget about you.  I've just been working really hard.

So hard that I need a beauty overhaul.  

If I look better, maybe I'll feel better - even if beauty is only skin deep.  

We get so busy commuting, working, running a household and taking care of our families that we forget to take care of ourselves.

That said, I hope you won't mind if I pop on here from time to time to share a few "lifestyle" tips, including great beauty finds.

My most recent discovery is Lancome Grandiose Mascara.

I'm a minimalist when it comes to makeup most days.  Mainly because I'm always getting dressed in a hurry and have little time to put on a decent face.

But I always wear mascara.  

I wanted to tell you about the Lancome Grandiose Mascara.  

Just like everything else, lashes seem to go with age, and the fewer lashes I have, the better mascara I need.  

I also have very sensitive skin and irritate easily but this one so far has been great.

I hope you'll like it as much as I do.

*(Not endorsed by Oprah - the magazine is a prop) :)

Does Your Digital Imprint Define You? Leaving Facebook

I'm often left wondering if I should get back on Facebook.  I've been on hiatus for about seven years now.

I must say it feels pretty liberating not to keep checking to see if someone has "liked" or commented on something that I've posted.  

How important is it what other people think about your activities, your job, your family, your dog, your avocado toast?

I once read that social media often leads to depression.  I honestly don't doubt it.  I remember that awful feeling the first time someone "unfriended" me.  It felt so personal.  So hurtful.

These days, I keep my social media limited pretty much to an anonymous instagram account (mainly because I am adding photography to my bucket list of things to do before I kick it) and LinkedIn.  Somehow LinkedIn feels a lot more adult.  People, for the most part, are a lot more respectful.

When I haven't heard about a family or social event, I often get "Well, it was on Facebook!"  

Nothing against Facebook.  Or social media overall.  

I just prefer to keep my relationships personal and meaningful to me and a select few, rather than 4,522 "friends."