The back to work dread - Covid edition

[Maria444]

Serious back to work gloom today. First time in about 10 years I’ve taken the two Christmas weeks off and it feels like it’s been forever.

I know it’s normal to dread going back to work but I feel like it’s all the more heightened at the moment as I’m just going back to sitting in my study, with no contact other than Zoom and texts with colleagues, but all the stress and deadlines that I’d have in the office.

Very lucky I know to have a secure WFH job but I haven’t seen any colleagues in person since March and going into 2021 with no real end in sight (despite all the vaccine promises!) just fills me with dread.

I never thought I’d say this but this point I’d actually like to be getting up, making myself look nice and dashing to a meeting with coffee in hand, making lunch plans with a colleague and using my commute for some down time. I still make myself look nice just for me, but it often feels pointless.

Any on else have the back to work dread more acutely than normal?

Yes am feeling the same Maria444. Am lucky to have a job which I usually enjoy but this past year has been tough and WFH since March left me feeling isolated and under pressure in a way I've not experienced before. I'm good at face to face stuff and less so at virtual communication and work, so spent half this past year feeling incompetent and out of my depth. Have switched off from work properly for first time in years too over Xmas and am putting off plugging back in. Am going to dress up bit for first day back, tidy my workspace and make it nice and also try and get in the habit of a walk before work to mimic the commute a bit. Jan and feb are worst months of any year in my view but feel like they definitely need extra grit to get through this year. But I share your feeling of doom this year! (Usual caveats of knowing I am lucky to be in work).

But looking on the bright side, at least it will get us back into a routine and hopefully help us know what day of the week it is and also, as you say, light is at the end of the tunnel. Should only be a matter of weeks rather than months now!

Completely agree OP. Yes I feel very fortunate to be in a secure role especially when family members have been made redundant and had to look for new roles.

Saying that, the thought of another year or even 6 months of wfh is absolutely depressing.

I enjoyed other parts of being alone at lockdown - the walks, the solitude, the quiet of the streets but wfh is horrible and not in any way enjoyable

I like the idea of a walk before work, not sure I can face this first day back in January!

@cissyandbessy

Yes am feeling the same Maria444. Am lucky to have a job which I usually enjoy but this past year has been tough and WFH since March left me feeling isolated and under pressure in a way I've not experienced before. I'm good at face to face stuff and less so at virtual communication and work, so spent half this past year feeling incompetent and out of my depth. Have switched off from work properly for first time in years too over Xmas and am putting off plugging back in. Am going to dress up bit for first day back, tidy my workspace and make it nice and also try and get in the habit of a walk before work to mimic the commute a bit. Jan and feb are worst months of any year in my view but feel like they definitely need extra grit to get through this year. But I share your feeling of doom this year! (Usual caveats of knowing I am lucky to be in work).

Glad it’s not just me agree on the walk before work, I think that’s really important.

Yes, I'm teaching all week in tier 4 😳

@Womencanlift

Completely agree OP. Yes I feel very fortunate to be in a secure role especially when family members have been made redundant and had to look for new roles.

Saying that, the thought of another year or even 6 months of wfh is absolutely depressing.

I enjoyed other parts of being alone at lockdown - the walks, the solitude, the quiet of the streets but wfh is horrible and not in any way enjoyable

It’s funny as I used to find it SUCH a treat when I occasionally used to WFH. My job usually entails a lot of travel so it was a nice balance.

I’m such an extrovert I’ve really struggled with the social restrictions!

I would normally say I like my work. I'm semi freelance so it's not all the same job all the time. But yeah the sitting in my same room getting back ache looking at a screen is getting grim.

I don't know that there is a solution! But you're not alone.

@Bluewavescrashing

Yes, I'm teaching all week in tier 4 😳

I can imagine that’s a whole other level of stress and dread - I don’t envy you at all and I know I am very lucky to be able to sit ‘safely’ at home!

Feeling the same. I’m in Scotland so not back till Tuesday but just dreading it! I thought working from home would make it easier as there’s no commute etc but it just feels the same.

And to top it off my kids will be at home and require schooling as of the 11th. Fantastic! Going to feel so guilty leaving them on screens all day while I work.

I'm dreading going back and I'm only WFH. We've really kicked back and relaxed and I've eaten and drunk loads. I was in a couple of in between days but the Friday and weekend put me back into cheese/ crackers/ afternoon wine time mode. And now it's nearly over. My job is really busy and I'm so luck to be able to do it from home with the odd day in the office but I've got proper Sunday- itis. Going for a bath now to try and cheer (and warm) up!

Yep me too!
Prior to Covid, I used to WFH half of the week and loved it. I’ve been working at home full time since March. Whilst I’m grateful to have my job, I am missing some aspects of commuting (in car disco anyone?), takeaway coffees, chats with colleagues, hustle and bustle of court (where I work most of the time) and having lunch etc.
It has been surprising that we miss rituals such as doing hair/make up and wearing smart clothing, but I really do miss it.

I am fed up to the back teeth of living like this! I usually dread going back after a holiday, but nothing like this feeling of utter despair!

I am feeling a bit of this yes, but alot less than I would be if I was still in my sales job. I moved I to a customer engagement role in August so whilst my day looks alot like yours, I won't have the dreaded feeling of "where on earth am I going to find my unachievable numbers from?" hanging over me. The flip side of that is I do still need to be proactive and show initiative and innovation so can't let myself be complacent.

I agree exercising before work is good, I run with my dogs and can be showered and video call ready for 9. Need to be disciplined and force myself to book check ins with people, I find the less I talk to people the less I really want to... Not great for a customer facing role...

Plus I have spent the afternoon dusting and hoovering and washing the floor of my office so it's all nice and clean when I go in tomorrow.

I'd find it hellish if I was WFM
Fortunately I have an office I can walk to (only person using it) and I'm hoping tomorrow I'll be jumping out of bed at 7.30, leisurely breakfast and setting off for work.

I know if it was just getting up and setting up on desk at home after three weeks of torpor I'd be dreading it.

I know I’m going to struggle sitting at my kitchen table for 7.5 hours a day this week. I’ve enjoyed the company of my partner and kids over the last 10 days or so. I’m —sort of— happy that my yr8 son is at home with me, to keep me “company” in his own way.

*WFH

I absolutely hated working from home full time (once or twice a week was great). Luckily I interviewed for a new job in NHS in February, so only was at home full time for about a month before starting the new job. I completely understand OP - part of what I liked about my old job (big city finance corporation) was working in a big office, lots of people, leadenhall market location.

I’m dreading it too. I’m going back to work in a nursery so Christmas knows what I’m mixing with after Christmas.

I get it, and I have a WFH job all the time, but normally I would travel to stores, to other cities, and that happened once since March.

But on the other hand the weather is rubbish, and I like my job, so I guess I am deep down ok with logging on in loungewear! Doesn’t mean I don’t also miss people, coffees, lunches with colleagues, general chit chat.

Not looking forward to home schooling. Roll on the nicer weather so walks are more appealing!

I’m ok about it. Love my job (and we have fantastic customers). I’ve been a bit bored the last two weeks too. The days will start getting longer soon and I’m waiting for the first daffodils to start appearing in the shops (usually Jan/Feb). Plus CTM should be back soon too. We’re now closer to the start of Spring that we are/were to the end of Summer.

I am dreading it. Been in my job 4 months but haven't clicked cos I can't actually meet anyone.

Totally agree OP and I feel the same. Also used to have a lot of travel too so missing that also. Appreciate having a job and wfh etc (of course) but for the love of god, living this way (tier 4) is SO tedious. Roll on the vaccines so we can all get some normality back.

I'm NHS, currently non-clinical, but being redeployed. Literally have no idea what job I'm going back to this week. I have been able to work from home since last April (corporate role) but I fear that's all about to change. Been feeling scared about it all over Christmas with some very dark days indeed

This is probably the worst I've felt since I had a non career type job when I was in my 20s. I have never felt so anxious and depressed about having to go back to work. I basically spent the two weeks I had off over Christmas fantasising about winning the lottery and handing my notice in.

My boss is one of those who can't switch off and is very very career driven to the point where it feels to me like it's her hobby and the only thing in life that gives her any satisfaction. She has been messaging me about work over Christmas on WhatsApp and I have purposely been ignoring her messages. Covid and wfh has made it 100 times worse because she has thrown herself more into work and just never seems to stop - she works when sick, cancels her annual leave because she's bored, works 16 hour days, etc. Because she knows I'm at home she doesn't respect any boundaries either. I would welcome going back to the office as normal and having the commute (even in the cold and dark) to create those invisible boundaries that separate work from home life.

It's the micromanaging too, I know I'm good at my job, I've been doing it for over 5 years but she wants me to message her at 9am every morning to tell her what I'm going to be working on for the day. If there is any hint of there being some downtime she will create work and projects for the sake of it that don't have to be done.

I've applied for a few jobs over Christmas but at the same time I don't want to be starting a new job in this climate with a probation period, trying to learn a new role remotely.