What is the first thing you do when you get to work?

[frugalecon]

I will go first. I open an Excel spreadsheet that calculates days elapsed and days remaining for a variety of different possible retirement dates. It calculates in both days and percentage of total time remaining, both for my current job and my work life overall. I have enough different dates that I am always approaching some milestone of sorts.

Then I ponder the numbers for a minute.

And then I make coffee.

[G-dog]

Boot up computer and log in
Go get water or coffee
Check email/calendar
.....

My days left tracking sheet is on my home computer 😎

[okits]

Greet my co-workers, then log into my computer (e-mail gets checked first.)

[Kris]

Say hello to my PA.  Then get coffee.

[thedayisbrave]

I don't have a 9-5 office job, so usually if time permits (ie I'm not rushing out the door to an early meeting), I make coffee and read MMM :)

[Wilson Hall]

Read this forum. :)

[teen persuasion]

Unlock doors, turn on lights, boot all the computers, empty bookdrop, sort mail and stamp periodicals, login to system, process delivery...

[TravelJunkyQC]

Say hello to my coworkers, make coffee, check e-mail, read MMM... rinse and repeat.

[sleepyguy]

signon
free coffee / snacks
check my daily reminders
nothing pending/emergency... go chat with coworkers.

rinse and repeat.

[YK-Phil]

Half the time, I house-sit, the other half I am the secret office hobo. Being an office hobo requires good organizational skills, and it also means no sleeping in as I must wake up early to avoid detection by early birds. First thing I do is quickly store my bedding in my big office dresser, go to the bathroom to get dressed, brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I am ready for coffee and reading the news while I wait for the first colleague to arrive around 7:45 am.

[forummm]

Boot up computer and log in
Go get water or coffee
Check email/calendar

Same, but only water

[SnackDog]

I wake up early and dying to get to the office. If I could teleport from the bed, I think I might.  I'm not sure I why I am so eager in the morning.  I just wish I could skip all the nonsense in the shower, dressing, etc.  I like being the first one in the office. Turn on the lights and make an espresso. I have lean-sigma-ed the coffee routine so I make get it on the way to my desk, avoiding an extraneous round trip and delay in getting started.  While the coffee cup is filling I either refill the water reservoir or log in to the computer.   I try to have my email inbox cleared out by 8 am.

[FrugalShrew]

Half the time, I house-sit, the other half I am the secret office hobo. Being an office hobo requires good organizational skills, and it also means no sleeping in as I must wake up early to avoid detection by early birds. First thing I do is quickly store my bedding in my big office dresser, go to the bathroom to get dressed, brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I am ready for coffee and reading the news while I wait for the first colleague to arrive around 7:45 am.

Very impressive! What do you do about the cleaning crew -- don't they come after hours?

[Philociraptor]

The parts that never change: Say hello to coworker(s), set down bag on desk, log into computer, unpack bag onto desk while computer loads, open Outlook and AS/400 terminals, set output queue, run AS/400 macros, place bag behind desk, store keys/sunglasses, take lunch to break room fridge, AS/400 macros are complete so I send reports to email address, open up large excel file, save sent files to folder on C drive, begin running macros in Excel, open up the MMM forums and browse recent unread while macros run. After that there's a few meetings and then I go about my day based on what needs to get done.

[oinkette]

Coffee and oatmeal while watching netflix/hulu on my computer (I get in way before everyone else. :) )
Do the stairs while I still have my tennis shoes on (250 steps every morning)
Then down to business starting with email and phone messages

[iamlittlehedgehog]

Get to the building, go to my upstairs office. Make tea, turn on computer and sign onto the server check my messages and turn my phone over, put out any fires that make have occurred over night then take a nap on my cot for 1.5 hours or until the phone rings.

[Nannooskeeska]

Code: [Select]

int workHours = 8;

for(int i = 0; i < workHours; i++) {
    Computer.login(this.username); // Log in to computer.

    if(Email.hasUnread) {
        Computer.checkEmail; // Check emails.
    }

    if(MMM.hasUnread) {
        Computer.checkMMM; // Check MMM.
    }

    Computer.checkReddit; // Check reddit.

    for(int i = 0; i < todos.length; i++) {
        this.Plan(todos[i]); // Think about what I want to accomplish today.
    }

    Thread.sleep(600000); // Write code.

    if(Bladder.isFull) {
        // Lock computer to go to the bathroom.
        Computer.logoff();
        this.Pee();
    }
}

I know that this code is ridiculous and would never work anyway but I don't care haha

[AZDude]

I usually make a plan for the day, seeing the essential work that needs to get done, and then the optional stuff. Then I decide how much I'm going to do before leaving. That way there is no clock watching at the office. When the work is done, I leave, whether it is 2PM or 6PM.

It is a motivational tool, knowing that if you get your stuff done you can leave the hellish environment of the office cubicle farm and head home.

[YK-Phil]

Half the time, I house-sit, the other half I am the secret office hobo. Being an office hobo requires good organizational skills, and it also means no sleeping in as I must wake up early to avoid detection by early birds. First thing I do is quickly store my bedding in my big office dresser, go to the bathroom to get dressed, brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I am ready for coffee and reading the news while I wait for the first colleague to arrive around 7:45 am.

Very impressive! What do you do about the cleaning crew -- don't they come after hours?

The first week I started working here, I got caught a few times at 3 am by the cleaning crew who were unaware of the new "tenant"...Being the director of my small agency, I justified my presence in the office because of late meetings. Fine for a couple of times, but not a long-term excuse...So to "save" costs, I canceled our cleaning contract and now spend an hour or two per week of relatively enjoyable and mindless work to empty garbage cans, clean the washroom, and tidy up the office. It's a win-win situation, the agency and I both save money.

[Davids]

Turn on laptop, grab water, check my fantasy baseball team to see how they did last night.

[Cookie78]

Log on to computer. Change in to work clothes. Get water/tea. Check email. Check MMM forum. Eat breakfast.

[Schaefer Light]

I usually make a plan for the day, seeing the essential work that needs to get done, and then the optional stuff. Then I decide how much I'm going to do before leaving. That way there is no clock watching at the office. When the work is done, I leave, whether it is 2PM or 6PM.

It is a motivational tool, knowing that if you get your stuff done you can leave the hellish environment of the office cubicle farm and head home.

Wish I had that kind of freedom.  My routine is pretty much the same other than having the ability to leave when I want to.  I try to work on the most important thing I need to accomplish first thing in the morning.  Once that's been done, I'll check emails.

[The_path_less_taken]

Clock in, so the meter is running.

I'll smile/wave/joke with co-workers on the way in, but I have a boss who likes to grab you in the hall and blow 20 minutes on bs...now I just hold up a finger (sigh....not that one, alas) and say, "Just a sec, let me clock in".

[Numbers Man]

I start working. I'm a morning person so I can get a lot of stuff done right away.

[Cherry Lane]

The first week I started working here, I got caught a few times at 3 am by the cleaning crew who were unaware of the new "tenant"...Being the director of my small agency, I justified my presence in the office because of late meetings. Fine for a couple of times, but not a long-term excuse...So to "save" costs, I canceled our cleaning contract and now spend an hour or two per week of relatively enjoyable and mindless work to empty garbage cans, clean the washroom, and tidy up the office. It's a win-win situation, the agency and I both save money.

Do you plan to re-employ a cleaning crew before you leave this job (whenever that will be)?  Otherwise, I'm imagining the office a week or so after your departure, when employees start to notice garbage cans are overflowing and the restrooms have developed a certain aroma:  "Why is our cleaning crew slacking off? Somebody call them!"  "Uhh...who are they?  How do we reach them?"

[Mississippi Mudstache]

Pull bike into the utility closet and lock the door. Change out of my sweaty clothes and stand in my skivvies for a couple minutes to cool down and dry off. Get dressed, walk to desk, check email for a few minutes, and when I've finally cooled down completely (~20 minutes in the summer), go get coffee. Then work.

[YK-Phil]

The first week I started working here, I got caught a few times at 3 am by the cleaning crew who were unaware of the new "tenant"...Being the director of my small agency, I justified my presence in the office because of late meetings. Fine for a couple of times, but not a long-term excuse...So to "save" costs, I canceled our cleaning contract and now spend an hour or two per week of relatively enjoyable and mindless work to empty garbage cans, clean the washroom, and tidy up the office. It's a win-win situation, the agency and I both save money.

Do you plan to re-employ a cleaning crew before you leave this job (whenever that will be)?  Otherwise, I'm imagining the office a week or so after your departure, when employees start to notice garbage cans are overflowing and the restrooms have developed a certain aroma:  "Why is our cleaning crew slacking off? Somebody call them!"  "Uhh...who are they?  How do we reach them?"

Thanks for the reminder. This is now on my succession planning to-do list for the next guy/gal :)

[Pooperman]

Put bag on hook. Take out lunch to put in fridge, leave snack on desk. Get hot chocolate, tea, or water. Sit down, check out emails. Read economic news. Read MMM backlog. Look at clock and see that it's about 9:15 (I get in about 8:40). Plan daily tasks and start working.

[Nannooskeeska]

If I may, I'd like to add a question.

What time do you get to work?

I am allowed to get in anytime before 10:30am or so, but I usually get to my desk by 6:30am or a little later.

[Stash Engineer]

I usually get in around 7:30am, stow my lunch in the fridge and make coffee.  Check my work and then personal email before saying 'good morning' to a couple coworkers and heading off to my 8:30am meeting. 

[MoneyCat]

Open the windows and door because there's no air conditioning, log onto the computer to check my email, and then tidy the room.

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

Put my brought-from-home lunch in the fridge and make some free tea/ scope out any free breakfast foods on offer (got to milk the free office food before FIRE-ing...)

[Albert]

Clock in, turn on my computer, while that happens make tea and then check my e-mails. Say high to any other co-workers in the office of course.

[Redstone5]

Half the time, I house-sit, the other half I am the secret office hobo. Being an office hobo requires good organizational skills, and it also means no sleeping in as I must wake up early to avoid detection by early birds. First thing I do is quickly store my bedding in my big office dresser, go to the bathroom to get dressed, brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I am ready for coffee and reading the news while I wait for the first colleague to arrive around 7:45 am.

I'm fascinated by this. Do you really sleep at your office? How does that work? Our security guards would kick me out pretty quick if I tried that.

[YK-Phil]

Half the time, I house-sit, the other half I am the secret office hobo. Being an office hobo requires good organizational skills, and it also means no sleeping in as I must wake up early to avoid detection by early birds. First thing I do is quickly store my bedding in my big office dresser, go to the bathroom to get dressed, brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I am ready for coffee and reading the news while I wait for the first colleague to arrive around 7:45 am.

I'm fascinated by this. Do you really sleep at your office? How does that work? Our security guards would kick me out pretty quick if I tried that.

I house-sit and pet-sit for a lady who works at a diamond mine on a 2-week rotation. I could stay with her when she is home but I like my privacy. Our office was at one time the building owner's weird bachelor pad and it has all the essential amenities: private washroom and shower, a comfy couch, micro-wave oven and mini-fridge, and an awesome espresso machine. Access to the building is secure and controlled but there are no security guards. The photo is the view from my desk, with the couch on the top loft. The ground floor is a huge storage area where I keep my bikes and other junk. Nobody except my closest friend know about my living arrangements. We often joke that I should start a clandestine bar or after-hours boxing club like in Fight Club, or rent cheap rooms on AirB&B :D

[FrugalShrew]

Half the time, I house-sit, the other half I am the secret office hobo. Being an office hobo requires good organizational skills, and it also means no sleeping in as I must wake up early to avoid detection by early birds. First thing I do is quickly store my bedding in my big office dresser, go to the bathroom to get dressed, brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I am ready for coffee and reading the news while I wait for the first colleague to arrive around 7:45 am.

Very impressive! What do you do about the cleaning crew -- don't they come after hours?

The first week I started working here, I got caught a few times at 3 am by the cleaning crew who were unaware of the new "tenant"...Being the director of my small agency, I justified my presence in the office because of late meetings. Fine for a couple of times, but not a long-term excuse...So to "save" costs, I canceled our cleaning contract and now spend an hour or two per week of relatively enjoyable and mindless work to empty garbage cans, clean the washroom, and tidy up the office. It's a win-win situation, the agency and I both save money.

What a cool solution!

[DTaggart]

Stifle my sobs. Then I check my account balances and retirement spreadsheets, and assure myself there is an end to the drudgery.

[aspiretoretire]

+1 above. sigh

[radtek2112]

I'm surprised nobody said they poop right away.;)

[The Beacon]

Space out for 15 minutes like Peter

[Cressida]

Crack open a Diet Coke. Yeah, I know, not badass.

[One Noisy Cat]

     What is work?


     When I was working it would depend. If I was opening the building, it was turn off alarm, turn on lights, unlock other doors and nuke water for some instant coffee.  Other days it was start work as soon as I punched in and wait for blessed coffee break.

[mrshudson]

Fire up work computer. Go get hydrated. Walk around the floor. Talk to my secretary. Write down the "get this shit done today" list. Prioritize e-mail and selectively reply to a few. Get shit done from the list. Lunch + web surfing. More shit gets done. Snack. Bike ride. That's about it.

[sugarsnap]

Arrive at 8, log in, check email and a few services to make sure everything is working, then go get free coffee and surf the Internet until needed.

[CashFlowDiaries]

As soon as I get to work and up until the very last second before I leave Im thinking about what I can do to generate enough cash flow on the side so that I dont ever have to go back there.  It's hard to explain in words how motivated I am to get out of this damn rat race job!!

[mozar]

This thread is surprisingly interesting. I get in at about 8:40am, put my stuff down and pull out my laptop out of my bag and turn it on. While it's booting I go get coffee and water. I come back and when my computer is connected I send an email to my coworker and team lead what I am working on today (I have to do this every day, ugh). Then I stare into space/ check my email on my phone for 15 to 30 minutes. I might do some stache calculations on the calculator but I can't save anything personal. Then I start working on whatever task I'm working on.

[Cougar]

I usually make a plan for the day, seeing the essential work that needs to get done, and then the optional stuff. Then I decide how much I'm going to do before leaving. That way there is no clock watching at the office. When the work is done, I leave, whether it is 2PM or 6PM.

It is a motivational tool, knowing that if you get your stuff done you can leave the hellish environment of the office cubicle farm and head home.

This is basically what i do unless there's something i didnt expect that takes priority.

But i also try and start with the same thing that is a note i have for myself that reminds me the path i'm on and how close i am to fire and being able to walk away and spend the next 40 years in complete freedom.

[startingsmall]

This thread has me yearning for a desk job.  Ah, the ability to have some slight sense of control over your routine!!  Check email? Make coffee?  Luxuries that I can only dream of :)

As a veterinarian at a corporate practice located inside a pet store....

Clock in.  Immediately get mobbed by vet assistants & receptionist with questions - try put those off until I have set my purse down and put on my coat & stethoscope.  As soon as I am 'dressed' and immediate/urgent questions have been answered, I review the history & bloodwork on the day's first surgery patient, do a physical exam, and draw up & administer pre-anesthetic sedation. 

[Outlier]

Say hi to my always early co-worker. Fire up the PC and get my apps going. Take my lunch to the fridge and get coffee. Then It's pretty much random from there. If the servers and network hardware are running without a hitch I just start on my project list. If servers are down my phone will be ringing non stop about whatever thing is throwing an error at users.

[Otsog]

Half the time, I house-sit, the other half I am the secret office hobo. Being an office hobo requires good organizational skills, and it also means no sleeping in as I must wake up early to avoid detection by early birds. First thing I do is quickly store my bedding in my big office dresser, go to the bathroom to get dressed, brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I am ready for coffee and reading the news while I wait for the first colleague to arrive around 7:45 am.

I'm fascinated by this. Do you really sleep at your office? How does that work? Our security guards would kick me out pretty quick if I tried that.

I house-sit and pet-sit for a lady who works at a diamond mine on a 2-week rotation. I could stay with her when she is home but I like my privacy. Our office was at one time the building owner's weird bachelor pad and it has all the essential amenities: private washroom and shower, a comfy couch, micro-wave oven and mini-fridge, and an awesome espresso machine. Access to the building is secure and controlled but there are no security guards. The photo is the view from my desk, with the couch on the top loft. The ground floor is a huge storage area where I keep my bikes and other junk. Nobody except my closest friend know about my living arrangements. We often joke that I should start a clandestine bar or after-hours boxing club like in Fight Club, or rent cheap rooms on AirB&B :D

I'm in the Kitikmeot and have to overnight in YK to get South. I'd love an Airbnb instead of $200 at the explorer.