I have just completed the first week of my internship am so far enjoying the professional experience I am having. I feel like my first week was a slow introduction into my role this summer, but a fast introduction the types of events my company hosts and the messaging of their company. My first day started as a whirlwind of people running around and models trying clothes in since it was Stockholm fashion week. Green Little Heart was hosting their first ever fashion show that Wednesday and had a lot of prep work to do. I started out by learning more about the brands the company works with and understanding the products they were selling. I then helped get ready for the fashion show and was setting up the actual runway, prepping the clothes, and doing some running around to make sure everything was ready. It was my first time being a part of any type of fashion show which was an exciting feeling. All the women I work with are passionate about the work they do, and I love jumping into this world with them. Most of the week revolved around fashion show prep but later I was debriefed on the specific role I will play in the coming months and provided a more in-depth explanation on the business model of the company.

I also spent more time exploring Stockholm and connecting with more people in the program. It’s very easy to walk around the city so I’ve been spending a lot of time doing that, trying different cafes, and exploring the plethora of parks they have around here. We did a day trip to Djurgården this past weekend and went to the Viking Museum and it was cool to learn more about Viking culture. I liked hearing the stories about their gods and how Vikings were very hygienic.

When it comes to my internship time management has been an interesting aspect of this experience honestly. Usually when I am at home I feel like I have a million and one things that I need to do and make it through the day. My company has a more relaxed approach to the work we do which helps me to feel less overwhelmed when it comes to time management. We usually start the day immediately working on something and going over what needs to get done for the day. This is about the first two hours and there will be small talking breaks in between that help to break up the moments of productivity. Then we take a lunch break and eat or go for a walk around the area. After we’ll get back to work but typically on a different task or we’ll be working in another part of the store instead of on the computer. I find that this approach has helped me to feel less overwhelmed when it comes to completing my tasks and it helps me to feel more connected with my coworkers. The layouts of each day to changes which makes the work less monotonous and allows for variety with how I’m spending my time.

On Friday’s I work remotely and for these days I plan to go to cafes and get my work done so I can be in a different environment. I plan to have a similar structure to how it is at work where I work for a little, take a small break and set a timer for myself and then get back to work. This structure is also how I tend to do schoolwork and study back at home which helps a lot with my productivity and concentration. Giving myself those little breaks helps the workload feel less overwhelming and I am grateful that my job provides a similar structure to this. Something else I will say about time management here, outside of the professional aspect is, since there is around 18-20 hours of light each day, I feel like I have so much time to do things and I feel more productive for longer. The sun typically doesn’t go down until around 11pm and then rises around 3-4 am meaning there is always so much light and I feel like my day could go on forever. This has caused me to get a lot done throughout the day and spend more time out and about. It has been an interesting adjustment, but I have enjoyed the extended periods of daylight.