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Covid

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Original poster

I went into the office yesterday...

17 replies

dellarossa · 07/04/2021 09:20

... for the first time since before Christmas and honestly, the impact it had on my happiness and productivity was incredible.

It was so nice to get up with a sense of purpose, put a dress and a bit of make up on, read my book on the train in for half an hour, chat to a few colleagues, treat myself to a lunch I didn’t make, be in a complete ‘work’ mindset without sticking a wash on or tidying up during the day, sit at a proper chair with a proper monitor, and have the satisfaction of walking through the door at the end of the day feeling like I’d experienced a tiny bit of life.

Compare that to this morning (wfh again) when I’m back to feeling unmotivated, haven’t bothered showering yet, am flicking through my emails and psyching myself up for all of my interactions to be through bloody Zoom... I feel really sad today, because it’s really made me realise how much of the tiny seemingly inconsequential details of our lives are still missing after so long. Previously I’d been mostly sad about social freedoms, not every day ones - not being able to see family & friends, my wedding being postponed twice - but yesterday I was happier than I’ve been in months and literally nothing happened other than going into the office and experiencing some basic human interaction outside of my household!

OP posts:

TransplantedScouser · 07/04/2021 09:27

Alternatively, I'm WFH today and would even if we were win the office.

I have four hours back to back of bloody conference calls I don't need to be on but which I have to attend so I can report back to the manager what is going on, It takes half a brain cell and there is no way I can focus for four hours....

So at home I can surf the internet on my other laptop and or fiddle about whilst keeping an ear open for the five minutes that is actually relevant to me.

In the office I'd have to pretend to be listening all the time whilst trying not to fall asleep

hilariousnamehere · 07/04/2021 09:30

Oppositely, I used to cry most days at having to go into the office to do work that could have been done anywhere, waste precious hours on a train, make small talk with colleagues, buy food I didn't like that much and look 100% busy at all times for a set amount of time rather than just getting on with my work till it was finished. I'm self employed now and never going back - we're all different! I hope you can continue to go to the office op, it sounds like it suits you better :)

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/04/2021 09:33

I feel really down today. I have no idea when I'm going to be allowed back to the office and I think it'll only be part time which means I'll probably end up looking for a new job as I can't work from home permanently. I love DH but I want to see other people and not spend ages typing out a bloody Teams message if I need to ask someone something!

Add to that it's looking as though I won't be vaccinated any time soon and I just want to go back to sleep.

MarcelineMissouri · 07/04/2021 09:37

Sounds fab. I work in a school now so am always in work properly but back in my office based days I loathed working from home. It didn’t suit me at all. I have been so grateful to have a job that has meant being able to be out of the house through this.

RosieLemonade · 07/04/2021 09:38

I love being at work. Before I had DD I hated the summer holidays and having six weeks off. I really feel for everyone working from home if it doesn't suit them.

puffinkoala · 07/04/2021 09:39

@hilariousnamehere

Amen to this!

We are all different and the best employers will be able to facilitate ways of working which allow their employees to play to their strengths.

LST · 07/04/2021 09:43

I am honestly dreading going back to the office. My life and mood has been greatly improved wfh. I hope employers take the approach to give everyone the choice when the time comes. I havent been in the office since September and that was only for 4 hours on 1 day to tidy up our office area for a huge sort out. Before that it was March last year.

CatherineCawood · 07/04/2021 09:44

I hear you OP. I go in once a week and prefer those days. I find it very very hard to stop working come the evening when I'm at home. If I'm at the office I stop and am much less likely to fire up my laptop in the evening. I need the break, the physical stopping, locking up the office and the journey home.

I also dress up on my days in the office and go to M and S for lunch.

Once the pandemic is over I'll go back to 3 days in and 2 days at home I think. Being at home does have its advantages sometimes, but my mental health prefers the office.

Puppylucky · 07/04/2021 09:46

I totally agree OP. I went into the office a couple of weeks ago and met up with my team for the first time since last March and I was so excited! It was just lovely to see and speak to them in the flesh and I walked home with a real spring in my step. London was great as well, with a bit of a buzz, but still quieter and easier to get around than before.

moochingtothepub · 07/04/2021 09:50

I love going into work. I'm not more productive though as I get disturbed by the public, in fact I can polish my job off in half the time at home

CatherineCawood · 07/04/2021 09:50

Totally agree. As the director of the company I work for there are 2 priorities. Firstly to make sure the office is covered for phones, deliveries etc. Secondly that as much as possible people can work from the office or home - whichever suits them as long as the business doesn't suffer.

Blurp · 07/04/2021 09:57

I love WFH but I do feel for people who prefer the office. For me, avoiding the commute is brilliant, I like being able to put a load of washing on during the day, I have a cafe round the corner if I want to get lunch out, and I can focus on work without being disturbed by colleagues (open-plan office where there's no option to block everyone else out).

Hopefully companies can offer flexibility in returning to work, and people can work in the place that suits them best.

bookworm1632 · 07/04/2021 10:11

Long before covid arrived I did long stints WFH and it was always great for a month, but then got problematic.

My ideal was 2 days per week at the office.

BootsScootsAndToots · 07/04/2021 10:15

Much prefer WFH and my commute is only 20 minutes in the car.

I'm just happier at home, school run is easier. Dh has started going in a few days and he seems happy with that and his commute is over an hour and via PT.

I think as a pp said, people will want flexibility to either be in the office or WFH - whatever their preference is - or they will start to look for new roles.

emmathedilemma · 07/04/2021 10:17

I'm so jealous!!
I am literally done with this life of isolation in my spare room!

psychomath · 07/04/2021 10:20

Your second paragraph made me smile OP. I'm happy for you that you had a nice day and hope you get to be back in more regularly soon!

eurochick · 07/04/2021 10:29

I had a day in the office last September and it gave me a similar lift. I don't find I'm more productive though - I get more done at home. But it was great to see (and in some cases meet) colleagues in person rather than on a screen.

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