Returning Full-Time to Work is Probably a Good Thing

A flood of emotions came over me when I learned that my job wanted everyone to back in the office full-time with no option to work from home. Astonishment turned to anger that turned into severe anger, then turned into slight understanding morphing to utter disappointment. However, given a month of a heads-up made me realize a few things.

If I was ever angry about this news, the month-ahead heads-up we were given provided clarity; I’m not angry at my management, I’m angry at myself for not truly taking advantage of my truly enhanced personal time - at home. Instead of taking advantage of my surroundings, I found myself working more; I’d start work at 8:20. I’d sometimes forget to take lunch; I’d blink and it’d be 5pm. Doing that, rinse and repeat for 16 months actually resulted in MORE stress, even though I was doing it all in PJ’s most of the time.

I now realize that the return to office life will result in the return of BOUNDARIES: Work vs. Life boundaries that existed in The Before Time. No more taking calls at all hours, no more reading emails at all hours, no late night meetings “because we know you have your computer there and you’ve got nothing else going on.”

There’s a bit of stress slightly lifted also with the understanding that everyone is required to be vaccinated prior to returning to work (religious / medical exceptions of course). So let’s see how this goes. Regardless, though it’s going to take a long time before we all truly get “back to normal” - even if it is now a ‘New Normal’ for some - it was always bound to happen.

I’m prepared to make the most of it.