It’s been interesting (read: challenging) transitioning from vacation to work on this trip. Mostly, the transition from Everyday Kim to Work Kim, but also, the transition from days of fun activities with downtime to days full of meetings with LOTS of people. I did NOT set myself up for success with getting such little sleep Friday-Monday night, but also, YOLO (and I got almost 7 hours last night, go me!).
I’m sure you all saw that coming!
I was talking to Val on Monday about how Work Kim is a toned down version of Everyday Kim. Everyday Kim is more sassy and makes lots of inappropriate jokes. I usually don’t have a hard time being Work Kim, but usually:
- I’m not transitioning from being around friends I can 100% be myself around
- I don’t have one of those friends (Carrie) with me at work
- I’m not in in-person meetings from 8:00-5:00
I found myself saying something really jokey and sassy to a coworker yesterday and was a bit horrified with myself. They have a sense of humor and said “You’ve been spending too much time with Carrie!” (ha) but I felt bad. I apologized later and they told me it wasn’t necessary. Phew. But I was way more diligent on being Work Kim for the rest of the meeting.
Caramel Oreo Oat Milk ice cream from The Golden Mill
Then everyone let loose at happy hour last night (I was delighted to hear one of my clients repeatedly drop the f-bomb) and I felt much more at ease. I’ll still tone it down today though!
Happy hour was at a beautiful location in Golden, Colorado
Love me some oat milk ice cream. Those waffle cones looks incredible!
This was so so good! You would have liked it!
Yes, “real me” vs “work me” is something that I think about a lot. Less cussing, more pretending to be intensely interested in boring things…yuck.
Yes! All of that! Nice and kind and puts up with stuff I wouldn’t in my personal life…
I think everyone has a “Work” self and a real self 🙂 Work Anne is super composed and has all her sh*t together, and then there’s real me lol.
With so many of us NOT having in-person meetings for the last few years it’s really easy to accidentally lose our filters. I’m sure you were fine! But I get it. I had dinner with one of my employees when I was in Chicago and we had SO MUCH FUN, so yesterday in our 1:1 I kind of forgot that we’re not out at a restaurant and was telling her a couple of stories that are definitely inappropriate coming from your boss. It’s a hard line to figure out but I do think most people get it.
Good point – I would wonder who didn’t! Ha, I was just talking to Rachel about how we fake it until we make it at work.
Ha, that’s funny! I would be doing the same thing after a fun dinner out.
It’s interesting how you are different versions of yourself with different people.
Do you feel like you do that too?
Ahh, good ole Work Steph. She gets sh*t done way more than Real Steph. Haha. I think I am not too different from my real self, actually, just a more polished version. Less f-bombs.
Real Steph is exhausted from getting so much done as Work Steph that she needs to chill!!!! And we don’t blame her for it!!!
Hm. I don’t think I have ever thought about this before?!? Maybe the reason (and, um, problem) is that my life is pretty much my work life (i.e. there isn’t much more to it than work, sadly enough). I think the other Anne (ha) makes a good point about filters and online meetings – it’s different when you are physically in the same space as other people!