Getting into the workforce for the first time, from home!
An existential crisis in your 20s is quite common today. Being 20 and just a student is not enough anymore; it’s like being in a cocoon. I speak for all my fellow Gen-Zs when I say, the pressure is on! Born in the year 2000, here I was walking into my 20s having done very few things that fill me with a sense of pride (or so I thought).
To my self-doubting brain, everyone around me seemed to be doing good for themselves. Therefore, I decided to take matters into my own hands, picked up my laptop, went online and applied for a few internships. I was going to be a super-woman this summer.
The chosen one!
How I wish this meant that I was the one who could defeat Voldemort.
I was called for an interview from one of the places I applied, The Wise Idiot. The opportunity was excellent, and I liked the company and its people. So, I went through two rounds of interviews and finally received my Letter of Intent.
Joining the 9–5
I was going to start working immediately after my term exams were over. I was charged up and all over the place! I tidied up my laptop and even bought a few clothes. I was thrilled to be out in the city, on my own, and all that jazz.
While my exams made my nails vanish from biting it out of nervousness and anxiety, I was more eager to go to work. Then, boom! The Coronavirus pandemic unleashed itself in India, and I was confined to the four walls of my home. However, it did not crush my spirits because I was going to Work From Home.
Honestly, I was a little relieved because while I’d love to step out of my comfort zone, I was terrified, too. I am still getting the hang of WFH. It has its pros and cons, but it is mostly all fun.
Ghar hai ya office?
An office already has a work vibe to it. The setup and your coworkers make you want to work. But, for me, home is a chill place. It’s where I eat, binge-watch shows, and sleep all day. To ensure I don’t do that while I work, I began with making my house work-friendly.
I cleaned my study table (now workstation), laid out new stationery, and even printed out some motivational quotes and such and pasted it on the wall in front of me. My laptop was in the center. All the aesthetics were in place, and the work vibe was on!
Work, work, work!
My first working day. I was asked to watch a great Ted talk before getting my first task. Believe me, the Ted talk was a great idea. It really got me going. Additionally, my boss (although, I think she won’t be happy I called her that) is extremely welcoming. Most importantly, my work is related to things I really like to do. So, I was constantly in my best mood.
It’s all digital
When I started working, I realized the actual capacity and widespread use of our technological progress. It has been over a week since I started working with The Wise Idiot, but not once have I had the need to call someone and talk. We have conversed over chat, sent emails and made the best use of Google Drive. Literally, a laptop and WiFi is all I need. It’s amazing how technology has made everything so easy.
They like me, they like me not?
Frankly, I am a people pleaser. It’s not always healthy, but what can you do? I am still wondering if the people at my first company, my first job, like me and my work. It is important for me to do well in my first time and build connections beyond just work.
When you are face-to-face with someone, you can see their faces and read their expressions. With text messages, it could have been 1000 other interpretations which I could have missed easily. Therefore, until I can get to the office, I am stuck in an infinite loop of whether they like me, or not.
Eat, sleep, change rooms, repeat
My quarantine life is moving from the bedroom — living room — kitchen — bedroom. I wake up and get ready to start my work. When I get tired of sitting in my bedroom, I move to the living room. If I get hungry, I go to the kitchen. By then, I am tired of the living room so back to the bedroom it is.
Mom, I am working!
This is a totally Indian mom problem. The toughest part is to get my mom to realize that I am actually working and not chilling because I am at home. Even though she is a working woman herself, I have no idea why she doesn’t get it. My grandmother, father, and mother come to me all day, asking me to do all kinds of household work. I am working, mom! I think it is time I started locking my room. Maybe, they’ll take it seriously when I gift them something? (Buttering up 101)
Pyjama day, every day
The best part about WFH is working in pyjamas. I don’t have to go through the pain of waking up early, putting on the right clothes, looking good-the traveling on the local train during summer in Mumbai and finally reaching the office to start working with sweat patches. I am always in my pyjamas and super oversized T-shirts. It is the best of both worlds.
Being there, doing that and loving it!
Despite my mom being all over me all the time, I am thoroughly enjoying my first internship. Working from home has its perks. Furthermore, my work is exciting and breaks the monotony which keeps my mind stimulated, always.
For now, I have successfully overcome my existential crisis and I am not bored during this lockdown. I am the most productive I have ever been in my entire life, and it feels great! Does that make me a workaholic?
Get Notified
If you do not have so much of work and want to keep busy, give a read to the story below!
https://medium.com/@thewiseidiot/staying-sane-during-the-lockdown-f5c4928cc33e
Originally published at https://thewiseidiot.in on April 3, 2020.
