New Beginnings & Dixon-Ticonderogas

Today is the day. My first day at the Illinois chapter Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

This is my excited face! New job, yay!

Going to sleep last night was something like going to sleep before the first day of school. The routines that I know will become annoying and dull after a little while seem fresh and exciting. Here are some of the little things that I love now (and always loved at the beginning of the school year) but know you’ll roll your eyes at.

I loved packing my lunch. Shiny new lunchbox? Check. And I got to decide what to put in it! Leftovers from dinner, a PBJ, fruit, chips… the possibilities are endless. Naturally, a mid-day Diet Coke will always be necessary, too. I was thrilled to lovingly put together a little lunch for myself, just like my mom used to before school. (Mom, is it weird if I write myself a note on my napkin?)

I was excited to pick out my outfit. Doing this the night before can save me precious time (and excuses) in the morning. I don’t want to admit how many times I’ve fallen back asleep after thinking to myself, I’ll just lie here while I decide what to wear, and then I’ll get up for work. (Yes, even when I was a nanny and wore sweats to work on a daily basis.) Oh, but now! I have new work clothes — never worn before, purchased at post-holiday sales, and tucked away, waiting for my new job. Dressing in business casual is oh-so-exciting right now.

Yes, I do have a Pinterest board full of things like this.

I was excited to go to bed early. And then, of course, lie awake because I was too excited to sleep. But I climbed in bed at a reasonable hour, ready to get those 8+ hours of sleep I need.

Of course, I also added some of my own little quirky touches into my routine. I packed my Sharpie pens and Dixon-Ticonderoga number 2 pencils into my work bag, because I can be a little bit of a writing utensil snob. I continued to drool over organization systems, trying to decide what will best work to keep my desk drawers tidy. I thought for far too long about what pictures I’ll want on my desk and what calendar I want on my wall. Because those are fun details — like shopping for new notebooks and pencils before the first day of school.

Here’s to the start of a new adventure!

What little habits do you have before your work day? What quirky things do you do when you’re starting something new?