It's been a couple of weeks now as an apprentice software developer, and boy, has it been a rollercoaster. But honestly, I feel that is to be expected. There is a lot of the unknown, and with that comes many emotions like anxiety, excitement, or - if you're like me and drink a decent amount of coffee - the jitters. But that isn't uncommon.

If you have ever adopted a dog, you are probably familiar with the "3-3-3" rule. If not, here is the quick rundown: The first 3 days are for letting your new pet decompress, followed by 3 week period where they will start to settle into your new home and learn the routines, and then finally after 3 months be comfortable in their new environment and show their true selves.

I think this "rule" can also be applied when trying something new, especially a new job. For me, the first few days were very chaotic and overwhelming, but now I'm starting to feel a little bit more settled in. I'm still trying to figure out my new routine and overcome the discomfort of trying new things, but I also feel I have a better understanding of what is expected of me.

Of course, I would love to already be in the later stages of being fully settled into my new position. In previous roles, I may have tried to speed those phases along to become more established, but that always led to me feeling burned out. However, that isn't healthy; it just leads to unnecessary stress and long hours.

Thankfully, with the support of my mentors and instructors, this time around I hope to have a healthier work balance. I won't deny there is still some anxiety and discomfort of not measuring up, but whenever that happens I try to remind myself that it's part of the process. They encourage me to explore the quirks of my environment but also take the time to self-reflect and expand my boundaries. There is no need to rush. In time, I will gain a sense of security in my "fur-ever" home.