We have always worked in multiple time zones at Barlow & Williams, but there has been an extended project for one of our west coast clients that has taken our nascent firm into uncharted territory in regard to scheduling. It has given me flashbacks to one of the worst elements of my time working at a big law firm, working full workdays in multiple time zones. When I was at the big firm, this meant working all day on tasks for partners based in New York and then at night and in the early morning for partners based in Los Angeles who just assumed that whatever task they sent me would be completed by their morning since I was three hours ahead. It created a dynamic captured by the cliché of burning a candle at both ends. Eventually, I decided enough was enough and I embarked on the path that led me to the crazy professional life I have now.

These few weeks have not been as bad as that period. There have been world cup matches to watch during any afternoon lull (at least part of the matches, anyway) and there have only been a couple of late, late nights. Some of the angst is probably the result of working from home. I only leave my building to go to the gym or to go for a walk, and with daylight hours decreasing it has felt stifling on some days. That is going to change, though, as I’ll be traveling next week for an early family Christmas celebration. For now, I’ll just white knuckle through it and wait for the completion of the end-of-year rush.