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Bedroom office workstation

A Day in the Life of a Stay at Home Full-Time Working Wife

written by Parita 13 Comments

Quite the title, huh?  But that is what I am at this moment in time.

Many of my real-life friends ask how I’m adjusting to this new (and short-term) role I’ve taken on – a stay at home full-time working wife.  They know me well and know that I love being around people and having a set routine.  And obviously, our current situation has been challenging on both fronts.

Honestly though, I think I’m doing ok.  Some days are better than others, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  We’ll be in Chicago soon enough, and I’ll have many more opportunities for connection then (which is what I’m craving most at this time!).

With that being said, I wanted to share what a semi-typical day looks like for me.  As I’ve said many times, my schedule changes every four weeks with a change in Vishnu’s rotations.  And this month, it’ll change twice – he’s on days for the first two weeks and nights for the last two weeks.  It’s all about agility, my friends!

Without further ado, here’s what January 12, 2016 looked like for me…

5:30 am – I wake up, stretch, say a prayer, brush my teeth, and make Vishnu breakfast (just a shake…nothing complicated or too involved!)

6:15 am – Vishnu leaves for work.

6:30 am – I go down to the gym for a treadmill interval workout.  While I really dislike running on a treadmill, I need something quick that will have me in and out by 7:15.

Pre workout mirror pic

7:40 am – After showering, making my breakfast (again, just a shake), and starting a load of laundry, I enter my “office,” write my list of things I’m grateful for this morning, and finally start my work day.

Morning breakfast protein shake with spinach

8:00 am – 12:00 pm – The usual – emails, calls…work stuff*!  I’m super hungry by 11:30, so I decide to reheat some leftovers (a lentil, farro, veggie, and tahini sauce bowl) and eat and work at my desk.  Not something I usually do!

Bedroom office workstation

Lentil farro tahini bowl

12:00 – 1:00 pm – I decide to use my actual lunch hour to fold laundry and pack for my trip to Atlanta (I fly out tomorrow evening and fly back on Sunday afternoon).  More on this in a later post!  I also enjoyed a piece of super dark chocolate while running around the apartment.  Mmmm…

1:00 – 5:15 pm – The usual – emails, calls…work stuff*!

5:15 – 6:00 pm –  I prepare and make enchiladas for Vishnu to eat for dinner and also to have as a dinner option while I’m gone for the next few days.

Homemade enchiladas

6:00 – 7:00 pm – My friend Ankita and I have a phone date scheduled, and we catch about pretty much everything – life, husbands, her pregnancy, books, ‘Making a Murderer,’ etc.

7:15 – 7:45 pm – I clean up the kitchen and put the dishes in the dishwasher. Still waiting for Vishnu to get home!

7:45 – 8:00 pm – While I wait for Vishnu to come home, I check work email.

8:10 pm – Vishnu’s home!  While he eats dinner, I get started on the second meal I’m cooking for him – crock pot chicken tikka masala.  If it turns out good, I’ll remake it and share the recipe!

Crockpot chicken tikka masala

8:30 – 8:45 pm – Vishnu and I clean up and close down the kitchen for the night!

8:45 – 9:15 pm – I put the finishing touches on this post!

9:15 – 9:45 pm – Vishnu and I hang out for a bit and watch TV/chit chat.

9:45 – 10:30 pm – It’s time for me to get ready for bed (phew!).  I go through my nighttime routine, get into bed, and read for a little bit before calling it a night.

Reading in bed with a Kindle

And that is my semi-typical day in a nutshell!

*As a project manager on a fairly small team, “work stuff” can vary by the day.  Currently, we are in the middle of preparing for our global conference.  The conference is in three weeks in Panama (the country, not the party city in Florida!), and there’s so much to do for it.  My life is pretty consumed by this one event!

What does your day look like?  Do you have a set routine every day?

Written on January 13, 2016 Related:Life, Marriage, Work

Work family and team

A VERY Thankful Three Things Thursday (32)

written by Parita 10 Comments

Thanksgiving or not, I always find myself a in a more reflective space towards the end of the year. And as is the case every year (more like every day!), I’m so thankful for Vishnu, my family, our friends, and our health. I’m also thankful for the good times and the not so good times because each carries invaluable lessons that help us grow and be even more grateful.

In today’s Three Things Thursday post, I thought I would share some of the more personal things I’m thankful for this year in particular.

And this week’s post is even more special because I’m guest hosting the link up! When Salma reached out and asked if I would like to take this on, I said “of course!!!” I’m a huge fan of the SABN community – everyone is incredibly kind and supportive. And Three Things Thursday posts are some of my favorite to write because they allow me to share random snippets of my life that would otherwise never see the light of day (the horror!).

3 Things Thursday Badge

Ok, on to this week’s three things!

My job (and team)

I’ve mentioned this before, but I am beyond thankful for a job and more importantly a team that is so flexible with me, especially as Vishnu and I transition from city to city. With all the chaos that comes with our moves, it’s comforting not to have to worry about my job and if I’m going to have one!

image

Our trip to Italy

One of mine and Vishnu’s life goals is to travel the world….and honestly we’re a little behind! But we were able to cross one country off our list earlier this year – ITALY! The culture, the history, the sights, the food, the people – every aspect of the trip exceeded our expectations. So thankful I was able to experience it all with Vishnu!

Italy_Capri_Boat Tour

P.S. I plan to share some of our favorite SLR pictures in an upcoming post. I’m a little behind!

All of YOU!

Even after almost five years of blogging, I’m still blown away by the fact that people other than my mom, sister, and Vishnu read MIS.

Not to be super cheesy – but THANK YOU for reading what I have to say. Every comment, email, message, interaction means more to me than you’ll ever know. I love sharing my life with all of you and hope you’ll stick around (forever and ever!).

MIS LOGO

Those are my three things on this Thanksgiving Thursday. If you’re a blogger and would like to join in on Three Things Thursday, grab the badge from the top of my post, write about your three things, then link up using the linky button below. Make sure to link back to one of the hosts, me, Parita from My Inner Shakti or Salma from The Write Balance.  Have a great Thursday!

And to those of you celebrating today, Happy Thanksgiving!

An InLinkz Link-up


Written on November 26, 2015 Related:random, Three Things Thursday

How to Work From Home and Not Go Crazy 10 Simple Tips

How to Work From Home and Not Go Crazy – 10 Simple Tips

written by Parita 15 Comments

I’ve been working from home full-time since June of this year.  And at first, I was really excited.  In my head, that meant not having to dress up every day, not having to wear makeup, squeezing in a lunchtime workout every now and then, sleeping in a little bit later, not having a commute (!!!), etc.  While it’s still amazing that I was able to keep my job with this one year move, the novelty wore off quickly. 

Truth be told, I’m not one of those people who can permanently work from home.  I need an office to go to every now and then.  I want to see and interact with other people.  I want to take coffee breaks with my colleagues. 

I’m no dummy though.  I realize how lucky I am to be able to keep my job, work from home for a year, and transition to the Chicago office next year.  BLESSING!

I’ve also come to realize that I haven’t done my part in this whole working from home transition.  I just expected it to be perfect, and as we all know, that’s not how the world works.  You have to put in the effort to get the results you want. 

And in this case, it’s fairly doable.  Working from home (at least temporarily) can be pretty great if you take some simple steps to set yourself up for success. 

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the past few months.  

How to work from home and not go crazy

1. Try your best to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. 
Even though I’m one of the most structured people I know, I haven’t been the best at this.  And when Vishnu’s schedule isn’t “normal,” I absolutely suck.  But I’ve come to realize that it’s probably one of the, if not the, most important and helpful things you can do when working from home.  Personally, when I have set schedule, I feel more productive.  So create a schedule for yourself and stick to it!   

2. Have a morning routine.
I look forward to my morning routine because it’s my one constant.  Again, depending on Vishnu’s schedule, this can look different from month to month.  But for the most part, I wake up, make Vishnu breakfast, work out, shower, eat breakfast, write in my gratitude journal, and start work.  This not only helps with productivity, but it ensures that your day starts off with a few great accomplishments.  And who doesn’t love that!

3. Dress for the day.  
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I wore my PJs/workout clothes ALL DAY EVERY DAY.  I didn’t realize what a negative impact this was having on me until I took the initiative to dress for the day and wear “normal” clothes (i.e. jeans/leggings and a casual top).  I feel better about myself, I’m happier, etc.  Dressing for the day makes me feel like the professional that I am.

4. Ensure that your home office is “you.”
I don’t have a home office.  I have a corner of our bedroom.  BUT, I’ve done everything in my power to make my corner my own.  I have little trinkets and picture frames on my desk, I have my file folders all set up, I have two screens (thanks to Vishnu).  Having my own space keeps me organized.  And it brings an element of fun to the day.  I may not have an office to go to, but I do have a pretty great corner!

5. Find a non-home office place to work from.
I’m going to be 100% honest here – I have yet to do this.  But I totally see the value and benefit in working from a cute little coffee shop for a few hours a week.  It changes things up and gives you something to look forward to. 

6. Schedule regular catch-up calls with coworkers and/or friends.
Working from home can bring on feelings of loneliness.  My weekly catch-up calls keep me sane and help me feel connected.  A must do if you’re working from home 100% of the time. 

7. Get up every 30 minutes and walk around your house/apartment.
We all know sitting for extended periods of time is physically unhealthy.  Well, after working from home for a few months, I’ve come to realize it’s mentally unhealthy as well.  When I sit at my computer for hours at a time, I literally (ok, not literally but you know!) feel my brain turning to mush.  But when I get up and walk around, I feel energized and focused.  This is a simple tip that goes a long way.  And if you’re looking for a great little tool to keep track of time, I recommend this one. 

8. Enjoy your lunch break.
This one is easy for me because my stomach’s rumbling by lunchtime.  But I know how easy it it is to make lunch and eat it in front of the computer while doing work.  Don’t!  Take a true break for 30 minutes to an hour and enjoy it.  It’s your right!  My lunchtime routine includes making lunch and watching Chopped on Food Network. 

9. Get some fresh air every now and then. 
I’m not proud to admit it, but there are times when I don’t go outside for days.  Sure, I’ll go to the apartment gym or go check the mail, but that doesn’t count.  I’ve come to realize how important it is to go OUTSIDE, walk around a little, and breathe in fresh air.  This is another one of those things that keeps you sane and helps you feel connected.

10. Unless there’s a work emergency that needs to be taken care of, when you shutdown at the end of the day, keep it that way!
When I worked from our Miami office, I found that it was easier for me to shutdown at 5:30, go home, and not think about work until the next day (with a few exceptions).  But now, it’s a bit harder.  I find myself checking my email after dinner and responding to things that can clearly wait.  It’s not a good habit because it feels like you’re never really turned off.  Working from home does not equal working all the time.  It’s easy to blur the lines, but again, in order to stay sane and not feel overworked, you have to shutdown and keep it that way.

What’s your day job?  Do you work from home?  If so, any tips?

Written on October 30, 2015 Related:Health, Self, Work

Three Things Thursday (18) – Me, Myself and I

written by Parita 13 Comments

I’m not sure if it’s the fact that I just came back from a weekend at home or if it’s because Vishnu’s schedule is insane or if it’s because I don’t have any upcoming travel plans to look forward to, but I’m definitely starting to feel like life right now is pretty much me, myself and I… all day long!

Don’t get me wrong, I feel so incredibly lucky to be able to stay with the same company and work from home for a year.  And I’m so glad that Vishnu’s program is a good fit for him despite the crazy long hours.

Of course, all of this is temporary.  This time next year, we’ll be in Chicago!  But that doesn’t keep the occasional feeling of loneliness away!  However, I’m determined to not let it get the best of me.  I try to do little things each day to change up my routine and make each day feel different.

With that, I’m using this week’s Three Things Thursday post to share the little things I do to keep the loneliness and monotony at bay!

3 Things Thursday

(1) I step away from my computer for a full hour and take the time to make and eat lunch.  It’s never anything fancy, but by doing this, the day feels a little shorter and it gives me something to look forward to (obviously because food is involved!).  And if it works out timing wise, I watch Chopped, my favorite Food Network show, at this time as well.  Lunch is a real highlight these days!

(2) More than ever before, I’m on the hunt for fun/creative/new dinner ideas.  At about 6-6:30 pm every day, I shut down my computer and head into the kitchen with my iPad to whip up a hopefully delicious meal.  This is something I’ve always enjoyed doing, but it’s taken on a new meaning right now.  With Vishnu coming home at 8-8:30 pm every day and me not having any plans in the evening, I have more time to cook and experiment in the kitchen.  And the iPad?  Well, that provides ongoing entertainment in the form of music and podcasts.

(3) I’ve always been pretty good about keeping in touch with friends, but I’m trying to be better about scheduling phone/FaceTime dates a couple times a week.  This reminds me that just because I don’t have any friends in St. Pete yet doesn’t mean I don’t have friends!  #sadbuttrue

I know this post is a bit of deviation from my usual happy topics, but this is life right now.  Even though I’ve moved a countless number of times over the past few years, this move is a bit different in a few ways.

But like I said, it’s temporary, Vishnu’s schedule will get better, we have friends/family visiting over the next few months, and come August the St. Pete Junior League (an organization I joined in Miami) will start it’s meetings and events.  Also, now that I’m not travelling as much, I’m going to do some research and look up yoga/fitness studios within walking distance of our apartment (we only have one car).  Even if I go once a week, that’s still something!

Like my mom said to me when we moved here almost six weeks ago, I need to give myself time to adjust.  Not an easy thing to do for someone with a “it should’ve happened yesterday” kind of attitude!  But I’m trying my best to let time do its thing.

If all else fails, I have my sister’s wedding planning to keep me busy! Smile

If you’re a blogger, write a post and link back to one or all of the hostesses: Raj from Pink Chai Living, Nisha from Love Laugh Mirch, or Salma from The Write Balance. Then share a link to your post (not your blog’s home page).

As always, thanks for reading!

Have you ever moved to a new city and now known anyone? 

Written on July 16, 2015 Related:Life, Self, Three Things Thursday

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