Is it time to tweak the comfort zone?

I'm taking a wellbeing audit of my daily routine.

Now 20 years into my career, I can say happily that I’ve worked mostly from home — most typically as a remote colleague of New York-based teams. I can’t overstate how much I prefer this lifestyle, and (if I’m being honest) largely resented the times I was required to show up in an office for the purpose of optics alone.

But these days — chalk it up to so much isolation across many realms for many of us — I’ve started thinking it might be nice to have a non-home place where I could work as I chose.

I was talking to some other professional moms at my kids’ bus stop who are Soho House members. I’ve visited often for meetings and events, and I’m not sure this is my perfect fit — but it did get me thinking that a co-working space with social opportunities could encourage a bit more balance in my life.

I’m my own boss, but I don’t typically allow myself much time in the world during the week. During a typical non-travel week, I generally put my head down and work (and almost entirely on revenue-generating projects), breaking for exercise, but not for novelty, or even for regular audits of the big picture.

And only very rarely these days do I connect with other people outside my household. Events and drinks/lunch/breakfast meetings have (obviously) become very rare. (Every invite comes with the question: “Is this how I want to get COVID?”)

Now, as we’re eyeing another lull in the virus-transmission curve, I think I can improve this ratio for my wellbeing. (Thanks for noticing, boss! Of course, sis — I see you! 😘)

I’d like to actively look for new ways to connect with… uh, the world outside. I’ll look for a place where I can draw inspiration from ambient sights and sounds, and where I might make meaningful connections, even by chance, on a daily basis. (If you are also in Los Angeles, and you have ideas/places you go/places you love, I’d love to hear them.)

Anyone else with me on this?

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