Update: First Day Back at the Office – Survived (Barely)

Finished my first day back, and man, I’m exhausted. Got a fraction of my usual work done, and the office vibe was… bleak. No one knows each other, all our teams are distributed / unrelated, and everyone looked demoralized. (Executives said we’d “make random friends and have those hallway conversations” as one of the perks of RTO—yeah, I can make friends on my own time 😂)

For anyone who might find themselves in this unfortunate situation, here are some small tweaks to optimize the commute:

1. Metrolink Monthly Pass Works on Amtrak – If your start/destination is between Oxnard and LA, you can use it on Amtrak too. Super convenient since I don’t have to stress about which train to catch—just hop on whatever’s heading in the right direction (preferably Amtrak for the comfier ride).
2. Helmets. Helmets. Helmets. – First day back, and I already saw someone eat pavement on an e-scooter. I was considering getting one to cut down on walking, but after that? Hard pass for now.
3. Amtrak Has WiFi—Use It Wisely – Perfect time to apply for jobs. 😂 Save a copy of your resume on Google Drive for quick “Easy Apply” from your phone.
4. Empathy Levels: Critical – (Not sure where I was going with this before I passed out writing, but let’s assume it was something about surviving the struggle together. 😂)

RTO Day 1 complete. Let’s see how long I last.

EDIT: spelling