If I could sit down with my 25-year-old self over coffee, I'd probably start with "relax, you're going to be okay." Then I'd spend the next three hours frantically trying to download two decades of hard-earned wisdom before the timeline paradox kicked in.
The truth is, past me wouldn't have listened to most of this advice anyway. Some lessons can only be learned through experience, bruised knees, and the occasional spectacular failure. But maybe - just maybe - a few of these insights would have saved me some unnecessary detours and sleepless nights.
This isn't a list of regrets. I'm genuinely grateful for the path I took, wrong turns and all. These are observations from the other side of decisions, relationships, and career moves that seemed monumentally important at the time but turned out to be just Tuesday in the grand scheme of things.
In a typical office, you are naturally forced into a routine. I need to wake up early, shower, and drive to the office in order to ensure that I am at my desk from "9-5".
Without a forced schedule a typical day can become much less regimented, and you can find yourself working odd–longer hours to overcompensate. That little voice in your head starts whispering, "Since you're saving commute time, shouldn't you be working more hours?" Ignore that voice. It's lying to you.
I have been a developer for almost 20 years. During that time I've wandered through countless office environments—from sterile corporate skyscrapers to chaotic startup lofts. I've navigated cubicle labyrinths that would make Daedalus proud and fought for "hot-desks" like they were the last lifeboat on a sinking ship. But starting in December 2019, I began a new chapter—100% remote work. Not by choice, but by necessity. And sometimes, the most profound changes in our lives come from circumstances we never anticipated.