Days at the pool, spontaneous trips to the local fro yo shop, and the broken in pair of ripped blue jean shorts I always seem to find myself wearing are all tell-tale signs of the lazy daze of june, july, and august. The heat, afternoon thunderstorms, and never ending need to drive the car with the windows down at night ... I think it's pretty safe to say that it is officially summer.
Though summertime is supposed to be easy livin', most of us snap back into reality when we hear the obnoxious blaring noises of our alarm clocks in the morning to wake up for an opening shift, or even worse, when the schedule for the week gets posted and we find out our Friday night plans will have to be postponed. Defeat. Summer jobs are definitely a downside to the months between semesters, but you gotta have money to boogie down, am I right?
7 Steps to: Surviving Your Summer Job
1. Routine
One of the worst parts of a summer job, as most of us know, is having to wake up early--I mean, it's summer. AKA three months of sleeping in. Ways to make waking up less bad? Get into a routine that is time managed well. Do what you can the night before (figure out what you're wearing, if you get the option, and shower) and when you wake up throw on your clothes (but don't look janky because your clothes are wrinkled), decide on a makeup look that is easy and everyday friendly that you can do in about 5-7 minutes, arrange your hair in an easy bun (get creative with headbands, scarves, hair accessories, etc to change up your look), grab a bagel and a bottle of water and you are ready to go. The longer you get to sleep the better you feel. Figure out what works best for you in your mornings and don't waste your beauty rest (chances are with how late you stayed out the night before...you'll need it).
2. Take advantage of your breaks
You have 3 double shifts in a row one week, where on earth are you going to find any free time to have fun? Um. Your breaks. Though they may not seem like much time (because, really, what do you get but 1-3 hours) you can at least use that time to enjoy yourself. Scope out lunch places around where you work and ask a friend to eat with you (or eat alone, because people watching is awesome), run an errand, have a coffee date...you don't have to mope around on your cell phone and drink your sonic route 44 diet coke in the back of the store until you're due back on. That's silly.
3. Have fun with your uniform
Being a fashion lover, I'm not one to put minimal effort into what I wear to work. Our dresscode regulations are pretty much: wear dark clothing, don't look provocative, only wear white if you are going to wear a light color and only wear it on top. Even though it is just work you should still feel good about yourself--thus cute outfit. Find a reliable place to shop for work clothes (that fits the standards of your job) and that is reasonably price. Don't be afraid to change a look with accessories or even a different makeup look (whether its a blue eyeliner or a new lipstick you are dying to try). Who doesn't love options, right? Forever 21, TJ Maxx, and Target are definitely reliable stores for me. I mean who can complain about wearing things like this to work?
ps: pants with the second one.
4. Hang out with your co-workers outside of work
Hanging out with your co-workers outside of work will make your time AT work even more bearable. Getting to know new people is all part of the experience, and people aren't always completely themselves within the walls of work. I mean, I'm totally different when I'm playing laser tag than when I'm seating people at table 53. Being surrounded by people (even just some) who's company you enjoy will make your day even better and your service-with-a-smile smile even more genuine.
5. If you scratch their back, they'll (probably) scratch yours
Cuss. You need to give up your shift friday because you have a concert you want to go to, but who will do it? OH stephanie will. Because you definitely did the same thing for her 2 weeks ago. See how that works? What goes around comes around (most of the time). But don't get to dependent on it. Not all co-workers are as keen to pick up as others.
6. Request off way in advance
As a follow up to #5: REQUEST OFF when you know you have something to do. The further ahead of time you request off for something the more likely you are to get it off. Or at least that is how I've always understood it.
7. Remember not to take yourself too seriously...it's just a summer job.
Most importantly: this isn't your career. You won't always be taking people's sandwich orders or asking people what size of the green shorts they need from the back (hopefully). Take it one shift at a time and remember to breathe when things get hard. DO however, try to work somewhere you could see yourself working again (like, next summer) or somewhere that will pay off in the long run. Every rose has it's thorns.
Until next time,
Lo
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