Why We Should Stop Being Defined By ‘What We Do’

For as long as I can remember, my life was ruled by my career. In high school it was all about racking up the extra-curriculars and achieving the perfect grades to get into the best university and the best course. At university, when I wasn’t in class or in the library, I was interning and working and running for student office and striving for the job I wanted (and occasionally trying to remember to be a normal teenager and have a life, too). A few degrees later, I finally graduated and landed that dream job in Parliament. With each new role and promotion I was so over-the-moon proud and thrilled to be there that I was determined to be the best and gave as much as I could to my work. When I met people at parties, the first question would invariably be ‘what do you do?‘. My friends, schedule, interests, and even wardrobe were all largely shaped by my job. To paraphrase Rihanna, it was all about ‘work, work, work, work, work’.

And then one day – somewhere between Brexit, relentlessly morale-crushing office politics, and physical burnout – I realised there were a lot of things I hadn’t been making enough time for, and so much more to life than just having a great answer to ‘what do you do? ‘. Although I didn’t regret a day of it, something had to give. So – as you know – I did something radical (at least by my formerly uptight Type A standards, anyway): I walked away from my safe, successful career and instead I decided to try a different approach and shape my own path.

In this day and age of being always-connected, I’ve come to realise the notion of a traditional 9-5 office job is an often outdated one. Like so many of my millennial peers, I now care more about having purpose (doing something I believe in + where I can see the impact of my efforts), independence, and that elusive work-life balance (even if there is no longer a clear distinction between my ‘work’ and my ‘life’, because the two are so intertwined) rather than just a stable salary, annual leave (that I never had time to take), or a title that looks good on paper.

One of my favourite things about going freelance is that rather than being bound by the rigid structure and expectations that comes with having a corporate office job, I now have the ability to work wherever I please and to design my own weeks. Often I will try to be in my office from 9-6, but on other days I might take my laptop to the park or a cafe where I’ll spend the morning working, take the afternoon off to meet a friend for lunch or go to a gallery, and then come home and carry on working after dinner if that’s when I’m feeling most productive that day. I’d say I’m still always-connected for 90% of my waking hours, but now I get to choose what I do, where, and when. Of course I still care about work a lot, but the difference is that now I’m not a complete slave to having to be in an office – to the detriment of having any semblance of a life outside of work.

When Microsoft Windows got in touch recently about the new HP Envy X2 device with the idea of being more free to do whatever you want, wherever you go, they might as well have read my mind. I’ve been using the device daily since July, and thanks to its SIM card, I can be connected wherever I am (even when there’s no wifi to be found), and the touch screen, inking tool (which lets me actually practice my handwriting in French – sometimes I find the act of writing a word vs typing it helps me memorise it), and removable keyboard (meaning it can be used as either a laptop or tablet) make answering emails + getting my work done on the go a breeze. But for me the real selling point was the super lightweight design (I used to carry my heavy laptop around with me everywhere, which was doing my back no favours) and the incredible battery life which seems to last me for days, even when I’m travelling.

So in pursuit of my new-found determination for life to be shaped by my passions as much as my career, I’m excited to be taking advantage of the ease and connectivity the HP Envy X2 + Windows features offer to help pursue my goals – whenever I want and wherever I go. The first item on my agenda: finally signing up for those French classes I’ve been meaning to take for years (to improve my all-but-forgotten university French). I’m about to start weekly Skype sessions with a tutor, which means I’ll be able to make our ‘classes’ wherever I am. It’s been a while since I was back in class – and I confess I’m worried I’ll be terrible – so in the meantime I’m using all my breaks between meetings to listen to French music and read all the French magazines + newspapers I can to start practicing. Wish me luck!

Wearing: Zimmermann dress (sold out but similar styles here + here) // Zara bag (sold out but similar style here) // Kate Spade heels (past season but similar styles here + here) // Celine sunglasses // J. Crew earrings // Missoma necklace // Charlotte Tilbury ‘Carina’s Love’ lipstick.

What makes you more than just ‘what you do’? I’d love to know what passions you’re pursuing, and how you do so on the go. 

Love, Briony xx

Photos by Joe Galvin

This post is in partnership with Microsoft Windows (but as always, all opinions are my own and I only endorse the products and brands I truly believe in).