New Environment

“There’s no place like home” is what Dorthy said when she wanted to go back to Kansas, and she is right! Trying to work without your usual set-up is a struggle. I miss my desk, stool, two wide-screen monitors, and the ever present three drinks at the ready. But alas, we must sometimes leave that wonderful cockpit we built for ourselves and take work on-the-go. So how do you handle this change?

First of all, give yourself grace, you will not have all the answers at your fingertips. I am missing notes, books, and anything on my desktop computer. There is only so much available on the internet that I can look up, and my personalized notes are not there. I can type it all into a document, but that is a lot (quite frankly, I prefer my hand written notes).

Then, assess your new environment and create a suitable substitute. Find a desk, chair, and anything else needed to create a temporary cockpit. Think about what is vital and build from there. If the stay is extended and you are used to multiple monitors, consider taking one from home, or get a smaller one for travel. For my day job, I need a second monitor, now I have one for travel. Also, consider video calls or meetings. Since I stream, I must have a neutral background, so placement is very important to me.

Above all, make it work for you! No, it will not be like home, but you can set up an environment that works temporarily. Do not be afraid to change anything that is not working and/or try something new. You might just find something that you can take back home to improve your own cockpit.