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Original poster

Motivation for going to the office

49 replies

Carla224 · 24/04/2023 14:59

So like many of us we are in the process of either returning to the office, or returning for more days in the office.

This is not a 'how can I get out of it' type of thread. I have to go. As does everyone else. I get it and I will go in.

Instead it's a - any tips or tricks to help me get more motivated for it? I'm in 3 days a week and I feel like I have Sunday dread multiple days of the week now! Pre-covid Sunday dread was only really on a Sunday!

So - mumsnetters, how do you stop your Sunday dread type feeling?
How do you put yourself into a more positive headspace about it?
How can I get out of the funk and make myself feel more positive about going in? instead of it feeling like it's all this huge effort.
What do you look forward to when you do go to the office?

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 24/04/2023 15:03

Should the three days a week have to include Monday?

ChicoryDip · 24/04/2023 15:08

It depends what job you do but I try to structure my diary differently for office and WFH days. So if I know I am in the office I try to plan F2F meetings with colleagues, arrange my 121s with my boss so that they are 'in person', use the time for project work where it's helpful to have a few people together etc. I will also try to arrange to meet a colleague for lunch or coffee - particularly those that I don't see regularly or who work in a different function.

That way my WFH days are for getting my head down and working through the solo stuff with (hopefully) fewer interruptions from meetings/calls.

When I first went back to the office I resented it as it felt as if I was just sitting doing things that I could have done at home so psychologically it helps to have things planned where I 'need' to be face-to-face.

mackthepony · 24/04/2023 15:10

I'd make sure I have in person time with colleagues.

And treat myself to a coffee, lunches out etc

Scarftown · 24/04/2023 16:16

Similar to already stated. I plan my days differently. So if I'm in the office it's face to face meetings, lots more catching up and chatting with us, I suppose the networking side of work. And then I get a nice coffee or lunch. Also to motivate myself in I plan a nice outfit, I make an effort which I have stopped doing WFH. I get a nice audiobook or podcast to listen to on my commute into the office and I also when I started going back to the office I brought myself a new bag and water bottle.

Original poster
Carla224 · 24/04/2023 16:24

Some good suggestions and it's a very good reason for a new bag!

@LlynTegid no doesn't necessarily have to be a Monday. But if I'm in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - I seem to get 'Sunday dread' - all day Monday, Tuesday night and all day Thursday 😅

OP posts:
Kvetching · 24/04/2023 16:31

I usually do only one day per week, but I find it energising.

I'll go for coffee mid-morning and catch up with a colleague - any colleague, I'm not fussy. I will eat lunch! I don't eat all day when I WFH so it feels like a treat to wander over to Pret for something. I love a chance to listen to an audiobook on the drive. I enjoy getting dressed up and putting on makeup. I get barely any work done on my office days as I am too busy chatting.

All in all, it's a good thing for me, although god knows how I used to do it 5 days a week.

Ignorify · 24/04/2023 16:34

If finances allow, treating yourself to breakfast from Pret can be a nice way to start the day. I also like to read on my commute, so I see that as bonus time I don’t get when I just go straight to my home desk and start work. Plus booking meetings that really are better in person, like workshops, and coffees with people.

RosettaTheGardenFairy · 24/04/2023 16:36

I set up a working group with some of the other managers to think of how to incentivize people back to the office - we now offer free breakfasts and lunches, installed a large shower block, and we're in the process of building a gym. Contracts were amended to 50-50 hybrid working so people have the guarantee of not being full time in the office again.

Does your work have a group like that or could you start one?

ExtremelyDetermined · 24/04/2023 16:42

What is it that is causing the dread? See if you can improve on that. Is it the commute? Make the most of it with an audio book or similar. Make yourself a nice packed lunch or treat yourself to a bought lunch picked up on the way in. I love seeing my colleagues in person, getting in the car and driving to my work town, being able to pop to the shops there at lunchtime etc. No dread.

Timeforabiscuit · 24/04/2023 16:48

I have a really nice lunch in town on days I work on site, take in my favourite mug and herbal tea I love.

Also plan for a family member to organise and cook food that night, so I have that to look forward to.

BobbidyBibbidyBob · 24/04/2023 17:00

can i just hope on and ask what you all do in jobs that include a WFH element? I am in the city office 5 days a week and really want to find something with better balance.

Yuasa · 24/04/2023 17:05

The dread may only be temporary if you’re still in the process of getting back to an office routine. Towards the end of 2021, when this started being talked about, I got massively stressed and upset about it. Actually being back has been fine. I think about the positives: seeing people, enjoying my home more in the evening because I’m not stewing in it all day every day, not being able to nip down to the kitchen for a biscuit when I’m bored.

Scarftown · 24/04/2023 18:28

I work in the Pharmaceutical Industry

JaninaDuszejko · 24/04/2023 18:29

I went back 3 or 4 days a week this time last year. I don't have to be back all the time (was allowed to WFH before the pandemic) but I much prefer it, my team are all in every day and I really enjoy the buzz I get from being in the office and seeing my colleagues. There's definitely benefits to being in the office.

GreenDressy · 24/04/2023 18:29

I look forward to my Pret subscription coffee and chatting to colleagues.
I also enjoy wearing some of the nicer stuff out of my wardrobe!

HamstersAreMyLife · 24/04/2023 18:32

I am back 1 day a week but in a different role where my days are full of remote meetings so whereas I used to structure around f2f catch ups now I find myself stuck in a small meeting room all day so really struggling with motivation 😬 it's not great as I often have 7hrs of back to back calls and get to see no one!

lyingonthebeach · 24/04/2023 18:45

I much prefer going to work. There is more rhythm and energy to the day. I get much more out of face-to-face meetings and casual chat with colleagues. For me, working from home is unhealthy and much less productive.

BagelAndMarmite · 24/04/2023 19:12

I have a deal that I go in when I like, but I increasingly find myself choosing to head in twice a week.

DH often works away, so I like the company, even though I don't neccessarily chat much if I've got my head down in an urgent piece of work.
I like the energy of an office (although it's not a patch on what it used to be).
I live in a market town, so enjoy that 'city fix', even though all I do is look at it out of the window!
I enjoy my 45 min train journey and listening to a podcast.
I like wearing a nice outfit and heels!
It's good to run into some senior people and grab them for whatever I need.
I like walking up our road when I'm arriving home and thinking "Aah, our lovely home".

To make myself go in, when there often is no real need, I lay out my clothes the night before and make my lunch. I also make sure the house is immaculate, so I don't get tied up sorting out the house when I should be running for the train.

BagelAndMarmite · 24/04/2023 19:17

BobbidyBibbidyBob · 24/04/2023 17:00

can i just hope on and ask what you all do in jobs that include a WFH element? I am in the city office 5 days a week and really want to find something with better balance.

I work in a support role for a national professional services firm.

emmathedilemma · 24/04/2023 19:18

Things I look forward to in the office:
walking to/from work for fresh air and exercise
seeing other humans
lunch away from my desk
talking to people face to face and not over teams
Less opportunity to snack and graze my way through the fridge due to boredom
free heating
free coffee
learning from the chat around you and passing things onto other people

emmathedilemma · 24/04/2023 19:19

Oh, and work doesn’t live on the dining table in my living space all week.

I hate wfh, can you tell? ;)

ememem84 · 24/04/2023 19:22

Cute outfits.
nice lunches - either homemade or a bought one

Silverrocks · 24/04/2023 19:23

It depends what you dislike about it I suppose!

The commute?
Merely being in the office?
Not being able to do stuff at home?
Having to make more of an effort getting ready?

Find the answer to that and you can more than likely try and find solutions.

slamfightbrightlight · 24/04/2023 19:24

I almost always buy myself lunch to make up for the waste of time that is going into the office.

Mutabiliss · 24/04/2023 19:29

Get everything ready the night before so you're not scrabbling around for an outfit/work pass/clean shoes.

Treat yourself to a nice coffee or lunch (or both!).

Book a meeting or coffee with a friend as well as any meetings you have to get through.

I quite like office days but it is a big effort I don't actually need to do, which is irritating and off-putting until I'm actually in the office chatting and enjoying the comfier office chairs 😂 I also plan to get less done, sometimes even put my out of office on if I have a lot of meetings.