After working 100% remotely for nearly four years, I recently returned to the office full-time, and let me tell you, it’s been a bigger adjustment than I was prepared for or even imagined. Everything shifted: my morning and nighttime routines; the cost and time of commuting; meal planning; household management; family and friendships; sleep patterns; even how I organize my day. How did I used to do all of this before there was remote work?
I’ve tried to be creative in making the transition smoother – – listening to audiobooks during my commute, adding meaningful personal items to my workspace, etc. – – but I quickly learned that surviving (and thriving) in this new routine takes more than a few small tweaks.
If you’re preparing for your own Return-to-Office (RTO) or you’ve already started and are still finding your groove, here are some practical, real-world tips that might help.
- Make Your Commute Work for You
I live in a semi-rural area, but my office is in an urban area. The commute is about an hour long each way and gets pretty intense once I hit the major interstate that connects me to where I need to go. I’ve had to get creative and find ways to mitigate the stress as much as possible so that I’m not a ball of nerves by the time I get to the office or get back home.
- Change it up – – test alternate routes or modes of transportation to find the least stressful option.
- Use the time for something enjoyable: audiobooks, podcasts, guided meditations, or even voice-notes to yourself for brainstorming.
- Give yourself a 15-minute buffer in the morning so you’re not rushing and starting the day on edge.
- Personalize Your Workspace
After the last four years of my home environment being my work environment, I found that I really missed that when I returned to a formal office setting. A little familiarity goes a long way in making the office feel like your space. Bring in photos (I have a digital photo frame that has vacation photos, pictures of peaceful or memorable scenes, family, friends, and my fur babies), small plants, and my favorite mug. I have to say, I must have done a good job personalizing my space because everyone who comes by my office comments on how “Zen” it is – – mission accomplished!
- Keep a comfort kit with tea, snacks, lip balm, soothing hand lotion, and even a soft, fuzzy throw blanket to keep on your office chair.
- If you’re in an open office, noise-canceling headphones can be a sanity-saver.
- If you’re able to play music at a low volume or through ear buds, this is a true soother.
- Simplify Meals and Snacks
My days of leisurely kitchen access are gone, so now I try to plan ahead.
- Themed Lunches (i.e., Leftover Mondays, Ramen Tuesdays) to help me with the endless decision of what to have for lunch.
- Stock a desk drawer with favorite snacks and things that can be used for a quick meal (instant noodles, beanie-weenies, chicken/tuna pouches, rice pouches, peanut butter, etc.).
- Prep quick breakfasts – – overnight oats or egg muffins – – so mornings are smoother. This is also where your desk drawer comes in handy for things like instant oatmeal, cereal cups, protein/breakfast bars, and dried fruit.
- In my kitchen at home, we have a fruit bowl, so I have started keeping a small bowl of fruit on my desk at work. This helps me to eat healthier, not be so tempted to grab something from the vending machine in the lunchroom, and it’s another reminder of what I love about my home.
- I keep a favorite bowl, plate, and utensils in my snack drawer so that my office meals don’t feel so impersonal.
- Guard Your Energy
The shift from home to office can be physically and mentally draining, especially when you throw a full day of legal work and two hours of commuting into the mix. It makes for a long day, and it can take a toll on you.
- Bookend your day with short walks or other ways to decompress before and after work.
- Get up and move! Schedule stretch breaks – – even two minutes every hour helps.
- Try a “no email” or messaging commute. Resist the urge to start working before you actually get to work.
- Don’t work through your lunch break (unless it’s absolutely necessary). You need this time to disconnect and relax. There are times when I take lunch at my desk instead of going to the lunchroom, but when I do I minimize everything on my computer screens so that I’m only looking at the pictures on the screen saver and not at my email inbox or calendar. I also put my office phone on “do not disturb.” You could even take this one step further by covering your phone and keyboard completely while you’re on your lunch break. And of course, wear your headphones so that what you hear is something you choose rather than the sounds of the office.
- My office happens to overlook a river and there are balconies where employees can sit and relax outside on their lunch or work break. I love just watching the flow of the river or the boats that pass by. Your office may not have a river next to it, but hopefully there is a peaceful spot in or around the building that can be your workplace “happy place.”
- Reconnect with People, Gradually
I’m fortunate that my new office workspace is relatively private, so that has helped with my RTO transition because I am a person who really values quiet (and I do appreciate how rare that is in a law office setting!). However, that also means that unless someone is actually coming to my area for a reason, I don’t get a lot of contact with the rest of the office. So, it’s up to me to make that intentional effort to walk around and say hello to folks or take my lunch break in the employee lounge. If you’ve been working remotely, going back to in-person socializing can feel overwhelming, so start off slowly but be intentional about it.
- Start with one lunch or coffee a week (or every two weeks) with a colleague.
- Create a brief “morning hello” habit with those around you.
- Look for shared-interest groups (walking club, book club) to join.
- Adjust Your Home Routines
This one has taken me a bit longer to figure out because the time and energy cost of commuting means rethinking how I handle things at home. Some of the ways I am learning to manage:
- Picking out a few days of work outfits ahead of time – – one less decision I have to make in the morning!
- Using a grocery pickup or delivery service to save time.
- Keeping dinners low-effort or simple – – slow cooker, sheet-pan, pre-prepped, or takeout. This one has been hard for me, I’ll admit, since I love to cook. I also feel a sense of pressure (whether real or perceived) that I am supposed to cook and that I am responsible for the meal preparation in my house. But, since I’d rather not be eating at 8:30 or 9:00 PM, it just makes sense to reserve my big cooking for the weekend.
- Shift Your Mindset
I heard someone on a podcast recently who said that RTO is not just going “back” – – it’s moving forward into a new phase of your career. If you think about that, it’s so true, and it really resonates with me.
- Focus on what in-person work adds: collaboration; mentorship; spontaneous problem-solving.
- Recognize and use the skills you gained during remote work: self-management; virtual communication; new technology skills.
- Give yourself permission to feel tired at first. Acknowledge that transitions take time. Then decide what you want to bring to this new path in your journey as well as what you want it to do for you.
- Don’t forget: 1) You’re still in charge; 2) If things never change, then nothing will ever change; and 3) If you think you can, then you will, and if you think you can’t, then you won’t – – either way, you’re right.
Final Thought:
The return-to-office transition is as much about mindset as it is about logistics. With a little planning, some intentional comfort, and a willingness to shift your approach, you can find your rhythm and maybe even enjoy the parts of office life you didn’t know you missed.
Categorized in: General
| << previous | next >> |