One of the most-watched cities in the world this week in Washington DC, where the Presidential Inauguration occurs on the Capitol steps. On heightened alert, the influential Washington DC metro area can seem intimidating to an outsider.
And, especially coming from news about political hoopla, wherefrom the outside, DC seems like chaos and a stressful place to live and work.
Actually, DC is as safe as any city to live in and has cleaned up over the years. Nearby residents are moving back into the city to be closer to their work and a more exciting, city lifestyle that the downtown offers. The suburban areas are calm and easily accessible.
That makes the DC metro area a great place to live and work! …and with all the new companies like Amazon coming to town creating buzz.
So many flock and move to the DC area for great job opportunities and work-life balance. Maybe that’s you or a Future You?
If so, I have some insider tips below that are helpful for someone or anyone who has just relocated (or is thinking of moving) to the area.
From an inside view, I became aware of the transient-ness vibe of the metro city area early on when I kept seeing an influx of people move in and out for a career, personal, or lower cost of living reasons.
The local residents who have grown up in the area (or lived in the area for most of their lives) are mostly friendly, helpful, educated, and cultured. Many have traveled overseas, are savvy on any subject, and dress the part.
What to Expect At Work In The Washington DC Metro Area
If you’re a new transplant adapting to the DC metro area, work-life balance can be tricky and you may need to adapt, as most people may not be as relaxed as you may be accustomed to depending on where you moved from.
If you moved here for work, your employer can have high expectations in a competitive city, where managers and organizations can provide employees even higher than the already stressful demands of many corporate jobs.
Even if you didn’t specialize in learning how to teach or do digital marketing, unless you’re a scientist or removed from working with people, expect to use general administrative and presentation skills, as your companies will expect you to run meetings, train others, and use digital communication tools, at the very least.
Wearing many hats that may or may not fit you, and speeding up your learning pace can play on your overall health and emotions. It’s important to find ways to relax, handle stress, and find work-life balance, especially if you’re planning to stay long term.
You want to stay connected to your core values.
It’s easy to forget your own goals and get off-balance when most jobs require more than working 9-5, or 8 hours per day. But you can find sustainable jobs that do fall in this category that I’ll point out below.
Like most cities, there are plenty of convenient delivery options and services that can help make your life easier. There isn’t one good hairstylist, burger joint, or dry cleaner in town, there are a bunch to choose from.
The large DC metro area attracts many go-getters, with a larger pool of jobs and work opportunities that other cities may not have as much to offer.
These are just a few industries in the area worth checking out if you’re looking for a good work-life balance:
Associations – most people don’t know that the DC metro area is one of the largest association towns in the U.S. Old Town Alexandria and downtown DC houses many of the nation’s largest and well-known associations.
While the U.S. does have a reputation for a work-to-play lifestyle, many locals think to work hard now and relax at retirement age around 65.
Taking breaks and getting work freedom isn’t the path norm, but this is changing as people pivot and have second and third careers, or choose the side hustle lifestyle.
Continue reading “Finding Washington DC Metro 9-5 Corporate Work-Life Balance”