workplace – MeeshyD

I found the perfect affordable adult lunch box

January 22, 2020

For the first time in my adult working life, I’m packing my lunch on the regular. After a few weeks of walking into the office carrying a plastic bag of shame, I decided that it was high time for me to get my own lunch box. I immediately pictured myself carrying something like this and I just couldn’t face it. Look, I’m not too proud to admit that I want to look chic and the lunch boxes I carried in middle school are just not the ticket.

When I got down to shopping, I realized that my list of lunchbox needs is long. I needed a pail that would keep my food cool all day. I have a sensitive nose and there’s a peculiar smell in any communal work refrigerator that brings me to my knees, so I needed a lunchbox that would allow me to avoid the office fridge altogether. I also needed space. I like to have lots o’ snacks at work. The best thing in life is an option and I fully subscribe to that statement. I like to bring fruit, yogurt, nuts, jerky and a big ass glass leftovers container to work everyday. Sometimes I eat it all, sometimes I don’t. I also needed it to look cool yet discreet, be easy to clean and, oh, not cost a million and two dollars. Turns out this was a bit of a tall order.

I found lots of interesting options in the $40 price range. Nope, not going to do it. I just couldn’t justify spending that much money when I’m still a lunch-packing newbie. I ended up rolling the dice and taking the Amazon route. You know the random sellers who have mostly good reviews, but then a handful of reviews that make you think that the whole thing is a big scam? In the interest of content for this blog, I took a $14 amazon chance and, thankfully, the odds were in my favor.

You’ll see that I can fit PLENTY in this little guy. I can easily put multiple snacks, slim ice packs, cutlery and up to two leftover containers. Is this lunch box the sturdiest, most well-made pail that will last me for a decade? Perhaps not. It could be a bit better quality, but it is quite good for the price and I highly recommend.

Do you have any lunch box recommendations? Do you do the plastic bag walk of shame? Do you pack your lunch for work? No judgement here, obviously, as I ate out lunch for the last several years. We’re all just trying our best.

deep thoughts, life lately, Uncategorized, workplace

Reminders for Myself at my New Job

December 12, 2019

I started a new job this week, which brings so much excitement but also a bit of overwhelm because so much change is happening so quickly. I jotted down these little reminders for myself that I wanted to share with you in case you perhaps find it helpful.

Things to remember:

It’s really, really overwhelming to start a new job. It’s okay if you need to crawl under the covers to recharge as soon as you get home for the first month. Be gentle with yourself in every moment. Look out for yourself and do what you need to do to be okay. That especially includes finding moments where you steal away to take deep breaths and connect with yourself. There are no bonus points for pushing through and ignoring your body’s signals that everything is a bit too much.
Just focus on adding value from day one. Your job is not to come in and point out flaws in other people’s hard work. It’s not on you to run the show the moment you walk in the door or to fix all the ‘problems’ you perceive. For right now, your job is to join the team and contribute in the biggest and tiniest ways you can.
Remember to be kind and human to everyone you meet. Look them in the eyes and connect with their humanity. The first few weeks begin to form the genuine connections that will sustain your work for years to come.
Take advantage of a clean slate. Fresh starts don’t come around all the time. Think about how you can use this change of pace to set up your work and your home routines to optimize your happiness and your effectiveness.
Accept that you’re going to make mistakes. It’s part of the territory when doing anything new. Be as careful as you can, but remember that growth comes from trying new things and no one but you expects you to do everything perfectly on your first try.
Remember that everything is impermanent and that is the best and worst part of life. If it’s really hard or uncomfortable, it will pass. If it’s scary or overwhelming, it will pass. The new will fade and you’ll forget the way you felt in this moment, so keep that in perspective for anything that feels tough. This brand new job is just one moment in a hopefully long career and life.

Do you have any other reminders you find helpful when going through a career change?

gift guide, just for fun, workplace

Gift Ideas for Co-workers

November 27, 2019

It’s Thanksgiving this week, which means that the holidays are sneaking up on us. Have you bought anything yet? I haven’t bought a single, solitary thing. I’m not really known for my planning capabilities so I’m not surprised and I’m not stressed quite yet. I maintain that time is an illusion, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to participate in the gift-giving season. There’s something special about this time of the year where you get an opportunity to express the love and appreciation you have for the people around you in a non-cheesy way. A gift is a perfect way to open that door, so I relish an opportunity to give a delightfully thoughtful gift to my coworkers during the holiday season.

Here are some ideas rolling around in my head for the special work friends in my life. My number one no-brainer tip to give a great gift is to actually know and observe the person you are buying. People give little clues and breadcrumbs about what they’d appreciate as a gift if you just pay attention. For example:

Do you see your coworker at the coffee machine every morning? If so, they’d probably love the accoutrements associated with their preferred beverage. Last year, I gave my coworker a ceramic tea steeping cup (amazon) and a bunch of loose leaf premium teas (amazon). It made me so happy to see her using it in the office this past year. If your coworker is into coffee, how fun would it be to give them a chemex (amazon) for the office? Their life would never be the same. No more crappy office coffee for them.

If your coworker shows up to meetings and studiously scribbles notes, it’s just a no-brainer to buy him or her an awesome notebook and pen. I swear by these big, wide moleskins (amazon) in a bright color. My colleague recently gave me U Brands pens (amazon) and they have been ultra delicious to write with.

Is your coworker constantly telling you about their latest weekend warrior trips? If so, get them something travel related. You can never go wrong with a great passport case (madewell) or luggage tag (madewell). It’s the gesture that counts the most.

What about the person who is constantly on their ear buds trying to tune out the loud talkers? Get them a case that fits their personality. I can’t stop thinking about this cute one from Rifle paper (rifle paper).

My work bestie is a busy mom trying to balance motherhood with her work. I know it’s not easy for her to carve out time for herself. I was thinking about getting her a self-care kit (body shop) and a nice bottle of wine. That way it’s just there when she needs it. She’d probably appreciate that more than a massage gift card because it requires no advanced planning.

I know this is probably the most obvious gift guide of all time, but I’d honestly be jazzed to receive any of the gifts I listed above from a coworker. Don’t overthink it. Just buy a token and use a card to express the way you feel. That’s all that matters anyway.

Do you have any gift ideas to add to this list?

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