Operation Transfer Girl

As I am one "have a great day!" Spotify playlist and a borrowed vape away from having my daily breakdowns, the familiar bittersweet feeling of burnout starts to fill my lungs again. I must be short fused you say, I just had 3 months of no work but that ain't this easy. Partly, it had made it even worse. While being on furlough with high functioning depression did its damage, I also managed to recharge a lot. I didn't know I will start caring again so much about work, it's not like I planned it this way, okay? But I do. And caring about something you convinced yourself to let go, putting your 110% effort in before giving it all up is quite frankly 1. exhausting 2. unappreciated 3. stupid. But I guess I have never been the smart one.

Alright, I have a confession to make. I have become one of those people. I have a day planner. And I take it with me. Everywhere. If you are wondering what is that one item I keep in my bag all the time, then now you know, it is my academic diary. I did, in fact, leave my purse at home the other day accidentally, but not the diary. If you call me to arrange a meeting with me, I would be quoting Tilly from Miranda (the show), and you would hear " bare with " at least three times, while I grab my planner from my bag. If you ask me about my availability by text, I might as well just send you a picture of the questionable week. But without a diary, how would I know, which job to turn up to, or if my training starts at 15 or 30 past. Or if it is the kind of lecture you can turn up to hangover, or in pyjamas. Or both. I mark the dates when student finance comes in, with the amount and a smiley face, and mark the days of rent with the amount and a big-big sad face. I write ...

To be able to work in hospitality, and in this recent case, on reception, you must have many skills. To give amazing service, you must put in your heart, just to make those few seconds, minutes, or hours special while you are interacting with your guests. But in order to be able to look in the mirror and see a human being at the end of your day, you also must learn not to let the mean comments get to you. For some, it is not hard at all, for others, it might seem impossible to live by the "water off a duck's back" saying.  It took me a great deal to get used to people looking down on me, and I still raise an eyebrow when some guests are trying to offend me just to attempt to get what they want, let that be a free stay, free food, a bottle of wine or just to let the steam off their chests. Most of the time it isn't even personal, they are just saying whatever comes to their minds, and I know, I just happen to be the person they have found with their anger. However, ...

Everyone has one. Doesn't matter if you are working on the bar, reception, in the restaurant. You meet hundreds of people every week, there are some just passing by, and some you welcome back regularly. And then there are the favourites. It won't be the one who stays there the most, spends the most money or is a highly ranked loyalty member. They won't be your favourite because they take the least time at the desk, have no fuss or bad words at check out. Or the ones giving you 5 star rating on TripAdvisor. The one who speaks kindly down to you, like it is a privilege. Or the one telling you about their fantastic holiday neither the one moaning about their day. It will be the one who knows you want to start driving, and is checking up on your progress. The one who comes specifically to you if he has a request. The one who would rather wait for you to finish the phonecall so you can chat over check in. The one who will tell you if he had a difficult day but then reme...