I’ve just finished my first two weeks in my first job, which has also been my first two weeks of hybrid working.
Here are some jumbled thoughts!
Positives for the office
- It gets me out the house! I had been starting to feel isolated for 3 years of WFH. It is nice to have a reason to go out into the world twice a week and feel like part of humanity.
- It is handy to be in the city centre again for popping to the shops at lunch and trying on clothes before buying! (I’m in the market for new trousers which involves a lot of trying on).
- Being new it is good to get face to face with the friendlier new co-workers at lunch when people are in the office.
- This hasn’t happened yet but it should help get me into a better routine…
- That amazing feeling of getting home after a long day and putting on my pyjamas!
Negatives for the office
- Everyone except for 2 people work hybrid so the office is mostly empty. The most people I’ve seen so far is 8!
- This means it’s eerily quiet and not much chitchat is happening or any efforts to be social, which makes me question why I need to be there!
- I find it much harder to concentrate with all the noises I’m not in control off, like heaters and phones and other people.
- The temperature is also over the place! One day last week it was 15 degrees because the building heating hadn’t been put on!
- Office chair and desk are less comfortable than I have at home.
- I am overall less productive and am exhausted by about 4pm.
- I have to spent 45minutes each way on commuting time and take longer to get ready in the morning (pack lunch etc) and create more stress.
- Increased exposure to germs on the bus and office! It’s been two weeks and several colleagues have been off sick.
- In bad weather it is miserable to commune. In Friday’s heavy downpour I got soaked and had to sit with wet legs all morning.
But On Balance it is Good
I might have more negatives but overall I think it is good for me mentally and socially to go in. I am going to have to go to an actual office Christmas party for the first time this year so I need to have some face time beforehand with some people for that not to be a terrifying experience!
Because I only have to go in for two days a week I think it should remain a more positive than exhausting experience, and I have my WFH days to recover!
