Rhiannon Ingle
One woman commutes by plane every single week to get to her internship because it’s cheaper than renting.
The savvy jet-setter in question, Sophia Celentano, has gone viral on TikTok after sharing with her thousands of followers just how she goes about her slightly alternative working week.
Sophia has taken the idea of commuting to a whole new level after claiming the unusual journey to work allows her to save a bunch of cash on expensive east coast rent in New Jersey. Check out Sophia's morning routine here:
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Speaking to Business Insider, Sophia explained a little more about why she goes through all the hassle of taking a plane to her internship every single week.
After receiving the offer from Ogilvy, Sophia said it was her 'initial instinct' to just commute to the offices as there was only one mandatory day a week where she needed to be physically in.
She explained: "From my perspective, I didn't really see it worth getting a really expensive place by the office if I was only needing to be there for eight hours of the week.
"I guess I never really saw super-commuting as a daunting thing."
Sophia proceeded to share a rundown of her morning routine: "When I first started, I'd get up at like 3am to get ready for the plane ride, but now I wake up around 3:30am or 3:45am.
"I do my makeup and hair first, put on my business casual outfit, and then I get my bag ready. I usually pack a lunch, some comfortable clothes, and then bring a coffee to go."
She usually ends up leaving the house 'around 4:30am' and arrived to the airport around '5am'.
"I have TSA PreCheck so the airport security line really only takes five to 10 minutes," the woman continued. "I'm usually at my gate by around 5:15 am, which is exactly when boarding starts."
When the flight, Sophia calls an Uber 'right away' and makes it to the office 'usually around 8:30 or 8:45am' right in time to start her full 9-5 workday.
When the day's work is finito, Sophia simply hops on a plane straight back home landing 'around 11pm' in either Charleston, where her parents live, or Richmond, Virginia, where her boyfriend lives.
"The next day, because I work remote, I'm able to sleep in a bit so that helps a lot," she added.
"I don't have to wake up until around 8am to start work."
While she admitted it can be a 'tiresome commute', Sophia said it's definitely 'worth it'.
And the money?
Well, Sophia explains those who are curious about her jet-setting lifestyle that super-commuting is all about striking a healthy work-life balance.
She said: "A lot of people are interested in how much money I'm saving. I book my flights about three to four weeks out so they're pretty cheap.
"My flights are around $100 there and back and then I pay about $100 for Ubers between the office and airport. If I lived in the New York City or New Jersey area, I'd be spending thousands of dollars a month on rent alone."
While she understands it may not 'work for everyone', Sophia explained: I feel like I've gotten used to the whole hustle of traveling every week and it really doesn't bother me.
"If anything, I really look forward to it. I love being at the airport. I love the adventure of it. I think it's really nice to be able to wake up in one city and then start my workday in another."
That's one way to see it.
With all that said, however, Sophia has admitted it can be 'challenging at times' adding: "I obviously get worried about delays."
"I will say that one of the major reasons I decided to do this was because it was a temporary thing," the woman went on.
"My internship is only 10 weeks. I don't know if I would necessarily do this for a full-time position. I don't anticipate super-commuting after this summer."
Sophia, clearly happy with her choice for the time being, said that her story 'says a lot about how people are prioritizing work-life balance more in the wake of the pandemic'.
She said: "The hybrid world really allows you to have so much more flexibility.
"It's not necessary to live 20 minutes down the road from your office anymore. You can still have a really successful career — even if you're living far away from where you work."