Things you learn working in an office

Soooo I started writing this ages ago when I started my new job. In case you haven´ noticed, I like making lists:

• how to figure out the coffee machine (just don´t be the first person getting coffee in the morning if you´re too lazy)
• that meetings take a lot longer than you think they will and are almost never as productive as you expect them to be
• if you need something from someone, ASK THEM
• you will spend way too much money on lunch breaks
• you will get up earlier, so you can use the morning more efficently. Haha, just kidding
• you will apprechiate weekends so much more. Especially if you can sleep in
• just before lunchtime is probably the most productive period (at least for me)
• how to organize yourself and get on top of your shit
• working in an agency means working overtime and working weekends if you have to. It also means free beer and soccer table tournaments
• after-work drinks is the best thing ever invented...but you will get drunk off like, a glass of Sauvingon
• generally your alcohol intake will increase big time (it´s like starting uni again)
• who to ask when you fucked up something
• all the gossiping happens on Google Hangouts/Skype
• how to speak up and learn to make good points for your argument
• how to plan your social life around work, which can be tricky at the best of times
• when working with your friends/boyfriend: get coffee together and have a little break every now and then. It honestly helps being more productive afterwards
• how fancy to dress (depends on the job I guess)
• that everyone else has crappy days too so you´e not alone
• to think on a bigger scale when working on projects with other people
• teamwork (I mean you´re supposed to learn teamwork at school/uni but who are we kidding)
• what places to go on your breaks (Italian, Coffeeshop and Burger place are the three essentials if you ask me)
• where to go for a glass of wine after work (especially if your office happens to be located between all the good bars, I love it!)
• that it´s okay to look at your phone sometimes...so. many. times.
• waiting, and waiting and more fucking waiting
• dealing with other humans in general
• nothing will ever go as smoothly as people tell you, trust me!
• how to pretend you know what you´re talking about
• when someone tells you „this will just be a quick little thing“ RUN – it never is!
• how not to fall asleep in long meetings
• if you´re a morning person (I am the closest to a serial killer without actually murdering someone as you can be in the morning)
• to forgive stressed coworkers, because you´ve BEEN there
• names (I still fuck up a lot)
• not to drink too much at team events, no matter HOW casual
• whether or not you are a neat person (my desk is usually super organized, unless I have deadlines...then it´s a shitshow)

 
No matter how sarcastic I sound, I truly enjoy my work and I am lucky to have awesome coworkers and a pretty cool workplace in general.  

Highlights of 2016

Sooo to be fair 2016 has a pretty bad reputation and for good reason. Lots of amazing people died and lots of them way too young, we got Brexit and Trump and the world has overall been a pretty scary place. But for me personally 2016 has been quite a good year - a lot better than 2015!

Here are some of the reasons:

• finishing university & my graduation in London
• travelling (to LA, New York, Mallorca and Sao Paulo among others)
• music (the new 1975 album was amazing and so was the Suicide Squad soundtrack)
• my friends (I mean this isn't tied to the year but my friends have been my absolute saviours this year and I love them more than ever!)
• Starting work/my new job
• moving in with one of my best friends
• Sunshine (I was lucky enough to get some free time this summer and tan at the beach and I haven't been this tanned since I was a kid)

Things I learned in 24 years

-       when you get your ears pierced, make sure that you use disinfection spray on it. No matter what they tell you. Otherwise you WILL end up in the hospital. Trust me. I speak from experience.

-       don´t take any crap from anyone, no matter who. Be it your teacher, parent, boss, whatever. Now I´m not saying get in a fight with these people on purpose. Just be aware that everyone else is also JUST a human being. Make sure you know when to raise your voice and when to shut the fuck up.

-       relationships are amazing, but having close friends is everything. Pretty much all my friendships lasted longer than any relationship I ever had. And you WILL regret neglecting your friends for a guy. Plus, it kinda makes you a shit friend really.

-       test your limits, but don´t be an idiot. Like, drink until you throw up...but make sure you have a way of getting home safely. Hook up with a stranger...but use a condom. Essential stuff like that.

-       when mixing a gin and tonic, use MORE gin than tonic. The bitter taste is the tonic, not the gin. I swear, it will taste much better that way.

-       invest in gel nails, especially if you tend to bite them.

-       if you move in with someone, get all the worries out beforehand and talk about problems that might come up. Clear the air to begin with and it´ll be great.

-       make some kind of list of the things you´d like to buy, but don´t afford. You will need it when christmas/your birthday comes around.

-       music makes everything better. Be an adult and get a fucking Spotify account.

-       When you get on a long flight, bring lots of snacks. We all know that airplane food sucks ass. Also make sure you have the following items with you: deodorant (you don´t want to be THAT person), tissues, cozy socks, earphones, water, a toothbrush and some hand cream.

-       instead of getting a new car and worrying about every tiny scratch all the time, get a used one that already has a few flaws. My motto is: as long as it´s driving and the heating is working, I´m good. This will save you a lot of unnecessary stress.

-       don´t plan any major activity after you paint you nails.

-       and lastly: try and laugh as much as you can. If you see the funny side of life, you can get trough anything!

No, I´m not dead

I have been veeeery absent recently (aka the past months). I blame holidays, full-time working and my try at also keeping up a social life, which is harder than you'd think.

I really want to re-vamp my blog entirely and kind of make it all into one thing with my German writing too. It's all still only in my mind but I missed writing regularly for fun so here I go. Alright. What has been on my mind recently?

First of all, I just moved into a new place! It was time to say goodbye to my studio flat that I cherished for almost 3 years and therefore I spent most of my uni life living there. I moved in with one of my best friends (and her baby cat) and I'm loving it!  I will definitely share some pictures soon.

Also I went and saw my family in Greece and I swear there's nothing better than spending time with my siblings and cousins. They are all so sweet and funny and try to communicate any way they can (my Greek is nonexistant). My little sister has basically been my shadow for the entire weekend. I wish we lived closer and saw each other more often.

As I said before: I got a new job!!! Well, mostly new. I stayed at the same company but changed into a different department to work as a trainee. I need to write a blogpost about my experience of office life soon. Luckily all the people I work with are fantastic! We all get on well and the food at the company is pretty amazing too. Also two of my besties work at the same company so I always have my buddies there to drink coffee with and go for lunch which is the best thing ever! I'm dreading the day they leave tbh.

Yeah so it's a lot of new exciting stuff atm and that's why I want to go back to sharing it more. Let's hope I find the time!!

Life Update

So recently I have been very quiet on here. That is due to me either working or being away on holiday. I had a fabulous time tanning in Mallorca for a few days last week and am now getting ready to fly to my friend´s wedding in Sao Paulo tonight. In addition to that I am starting a new job when I get back from Brasil. So, yeah…everything´s been crazy busy. In a good way.

I thought I´d just do some writing as I am currently procrastinating sorting out all the stuff I need to get done before the flight. So here goes.

I´ve read three really good books recently: „We are all completely besides ourselves“ was recommended to me by a friend almost a year ago and I finally got around to reading it. It´s soon different to what you expect and it really makes you think. I probably wouldn´t have picked it up if I knew the story in advance, but I´m so glad I did.

Next on my list was „Girlboss“ by Sophia Amoruso, which I started ages ago and then decided I was „too busy“ to finish. It actually holds a lot of great business advice and I agree on most of her views considering creative work. She is about to publish a second book, which I am now really excited for.

In Mallorca I tackled Gillian Flynns „Dark Places“, which I have wanted to read since finishing the „Sharp Objects“ audio book. Up until the end I was at the edge of my seat not knowing what would happen. I read the whole thing in like 3-4 days and that is rare for me. Totally recommend it! Also I will watch the movie on my 12 hour flight.

And OF COURSE I got the new Harry Potter book. I am almost ashamed to say, I´m not a huge fan so far. I´m not even halfway through and I already lost interest. I think it is due to the whole thing not being a novel with magical, beautiful writing but a play so it sounds very matter-of-factly to read. I will obviously finish it at some point and hopefully enjoy the story but so far I´m kinda pretending it´s just fanfiction.

In other news I watched „Suicide Squad“ (three times if you must know, I´m not proud) and I really enjoyed it…I seriously don´t get the hate. I mean, yes, the editing was a bit jumpy at times and it tried veeeery hard to be edgy and fun at the same time, but for someone who always likes the villains best, this movie was just meant to appeal to me. Also, can we talk about Jared Leto? I don´t even have to mention how beautiful and talented he is. And how is the guy 42?!? 

What else? Oh, I watched „Stranger Things“ on Netflix (over a very boring, very long weekend) and it is actually pretty damn good. Although it had the same level of confusing plot holes as AHS, but at least we might get answers next season. 

Fashion-wise, I have been living in Hotpants and dresses but sadly already sorted out my wardrobe for more autumnal weather. Is it bad to be excited for sweaters and scarves in August? Halloween is upon us. Also I never loved ASOS more seen as that´s where I finally found an amazing dress for the upcoming wedding! Okay, I gotta go and finish packing...byyye!

Thoughts I had today

„Why does my throat still feel like razor blades after a whole fucking week?“

„Also my nose is so blocked I am going to die.“

„But: yaaaay, the suns out!“

*reading the new Harry Potter book* „This reads like fan fiction but okay.“

„This detox tea tastes like crap…“

Walking to the supermarket „It feels like a holiday…sunshiiiine!“

In the supermarket „I hate old people…why do you have to squeeze past me? you have all the time in the world?!?“

„Breakfast is the best thing ever omg“

„Why isn´t this medicine helping AT ALL?“

„Showers are stressful when you´re a woman.“

„Time to go to work…“

„Why do I keep DRIVING to work? I spend half my life looking for empty parking spots.“

„Can I park here? Hmmm, I guess we´ll have to find out.“

„No, I do NOT want to sort out a million emails, thank you very much.“

„Great. The only dress I REALLY wanted for my friends wedding has sold out while I was looking for alternatives.“

„I can´t believe I´m being payed to hang out on BuzzFeed right now.“

„Why is my colleague being so nice today?“

„Where do I get a dress for this wedding now?“

„I guess a banana and a Diet Coke is a healthy lunch...“

„All I wanna do right now is lie in the sun and eat ice cream.“

„Yaaaas, only one hour to go.“

„My nose is so red, I look like Rudolph…“

„There´s so many beautiful things on Instagram.“

„I´m living my entire life in a rush.“

„Why can´t anyone in this city DRIVE.“

„It´s RED you dumbass!“ (yes, I get road rage)

*at the physio* „It´s 35 degrees woman, I´m not having a heating lamp on my back today.“

„Oh fuck, why did they mess up my appoimentment.“

„What do you mean you can´t reschedule?!?“

„This woman is literally the devil and also MY NAME IS NOT TABEA!“

„Finally got a new appointment...Jesus!“

„But now I have time to chill, yay!“

„My dad wants to go to a beer garden? And pay? SOLD!“

„Also I´m going to treat myself and eat all the carbs, fuck it!“

*afterwards* „Oh god, I shouldn´t have eaten all that.“

„I wonder what the most dangerous animal is...“

„My dad is so awesome!“

„It´s 9pm and it´s still bright outside – I love August!“

„Why are my friends making me watch the Olympics?“

„I feel like synchronized dudes jumping into a pool is not something I will ever find interesting „

„Why does my friend keep texting me about mosquito protection in Brazil? You sound like my mum educating me on safe sex.“

„A mosquito net for 50 euro? Are you shitting me?“

„I love these new snapchat filters.“

„My friends boobs are so comfortable!“

„Driving home at night while listening to my Spotify playlist is the best thing ever...I kinda want to keep driving around for no reason.“

„I wonder if it´s going to be cold tomorrow? Can I wear a summer dress?“

„New Beau Taplin book? I gotta HAVE it.“

„Should I read that Harry Potter play before bed or rewatch Shameless?“

„I feel like I should rewatch all of it from season 1.“

„I also need to watch Orange is the new Black and Games of Thrones at some point.“

„Having Netflix decreases my productivity by 1 million.“

„This song is amazing!“

„I should probably go to bed.“

„Ah, hang on...let me finish this blogpost first.“

This was possibly the most pointless thing I´ve ever written, but it was so much fun. I was particularly angry today as I have been ill for like a week and it´s not going away. :( I did however have a good day, believe it or not haha.

Dating

Dating is hard. First of all the word lacks any real definition. Is dating being in a relationship? Is dating going on dates? Yes? With one person at a time? Or can you "date" multiple people before deciding on whether or not you want to be with them? If you're sleeping with a friend is that dating? Or does that word require actually going to places together?
Our generation has erased pretty much all the rules when it comes to romantic relationships, which is why definitions are hard these days. And that is exactly the point. It seems like you never truly know what the other person wants or even what you want because, unlike in other generations, there are so many more options than just being in a relationship or not. And that makes things difficult. We don't know how to act, how much of ourselves to put out on the open, when to talk about "what the hell this" is and when to go how far to send what message.
Essentially what me and all my friends do is try and seem detached enough to go "oh no, this is totally just casual" while at the same time trying to figure out if the other person likes us enough to let down our guard. We have all been hurt and we have all hurt people - it´s kind of inevitable. And while I think dating has become more honest, people also give up much easier. In a world were we can see if someone messaged us back instantly and we can just go on a dating app if something else doesn´t work out, why would we ever trust anyone or risk anything?