Confessions of a SmartWorking Intern: Week 5

Confessions of a SmartWorking Intern: Week 5

24th August 2018 Off By Chloe Sullivan

Chloe

Hey everyone! Back and feeling as energised as ever 🙂 Finally! This week I’m going to talk about a common misconception about SmartWorking and that is: isolation. When people hear that I work part time from home, the reaction usually follows something like, “Oh my god, but do you not feel so isolated?”. And the truth is: no, I don’t because I make sure I don’t!

I’m going to use a personal anecdote to show you what I mean. A few weeks back, Thomas and I spoke about going up to Dublin to meet Louise and Flavia. We both really enjoyed getting to know everyone. Things like where we had travelled, our favourite hobbies, mutual connections and food we liked.

Shortly after, I began my search for accommodation in Dublin for September. A few weeks passed and I finally got a viewing that I felt confident about. So, up I went to Dublin and whilst writing an article on the train, Louise slacked me to wish me luck. Naturally, we spoke about how it went and the location, and when I told her- she said it was only around the corner from her house!

We were both in awe at how this time last year, we were total strangers to each other and now- we are colleagues, friends and upon receiving the offer a few days later- relative neighbours (Louise, don’t panic I won’t be calling around to yours every five minutes asking questions). So yep, it was the best end to a fantastic week and we don’t feel like strangers to each other- at all! Even though we don’t work side by side every day.

SmartWork does work. So long as you make it work! I work 2- 3 days from home and 2 days outside home and this is what works for me. I enjoy face to face interaction the days I work away from home but I also enjoy making my own lunch and getting an extra few z’s on the days I work from home. SmartWorking does not equate to working in solidarity, rather designing a schedule that meets the needs of your work, social life and wellbeing.

Thomas 

I’ve been in a very reflective mood this week, but that’s only because I’ve spent my evenings doing an essay for college on the topic of whether or not personal development is the basis for professional development. I think it is. How could it not be? I genuinely believe you can’t improve yourself personally without improving yourself professionally at the same time. Take me for example, I was never very good at pushing myself to do things, but when I look back over everything I’ve done this year, none of it would have happened if I hadn’t pushed myself out of my comfort zone.

After years of working in bars and fast food restaurants, I realised I was never going to get anywhere without the proper experience. So, I made the decision to start making my own opportunities through networking and volunteering. Pushing myself to try new things and networking did not come easily to me, but I knew that in order to achieve some form of professional development, I would need to make these personal changes.

And to say it has paid off is an understatement. Comparing where I am now to where I was this time last year is like comparing apples and oranges. I don’t have any doubts about my future (at least not as many) and I have a much better idea about where I want to go.

It’s just like that quote I stole from the internet: “Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.”

Flavia

Hello everyone! This week, as my school closed for a week I wanted to take a short trip to somewhere relatively close. On the recommendation of a friend and as we are almost at the end of summer, I decided to travel to the island of Malta for a few days.

Malta is one of the most beautiful places I´ve had ever visited, with its green sea, sun and beautiful landscape. I can say that I made an excellent choice. The beaches are gorgeous and study the history of the place is incredible, I just had to take the computer and work on it at times.
Working and still having the chance to travel to different places in Europe was a very interesting experience. For the sake of a small problem with the internet, which was quickly solved by running to a coffee shop (literally), I had no major problems. And yet I was able to enjoy an excellent trip. Hopefully more are yet to come.

 

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