Hello everyone,
So, the email I was always afraid of finally arrived in my inbox today. My company's mangment has decided that the work-from-home party is officially ending. Starting next month, we all have to be back in the office, at least for three days a week. And honestly, I have very mixed feelings about it. I am sitting here with my chai and trying to process this news. For the last two years, my bed has been my only commute, and my office chair has been a beanbag. It was a good life, I have to admit.
I started thinking about all the things I'm going to miss. The biggest thing is time. I live in an area that is pretty far from my office, and before the pandemic, I used to spend almost three hours every day stuck in thst horrible Bangalore traffic. Three hours! That is a whole movie every single day. With WFH, that time was suddenly mine. I started working out a little, I learned how to cook some new things, and I could even take a small nap in the afternoon. And lets not forget the money. I calculated it once, like a proper accountant. I was saving nearly 8,000 rupees a month on just petrol, office lunches, and all the unnecessary chai breaks. That money was a big deal for me.
but i am also trying to be honest with myself. Working from home was not perfect. Some days were very lonely. You just sit in a room and stare at a screen all day. You finish your work and there is no one to even say bye to. You just close the laptop. The small things you miss, like complaining about a difficult client with your colleague, or celebrating a teammate's birthday with cake, or just getting advice from a senior by walking over to their desk. On Zoom calls, everything feels so formal and planned. I feel like my connection with my team has become weaker, and its harder to learn and grow when you are just an icon on a screen.
So, part of me is a little bit happy to go back and see everyone again. But then I think about waking up at 7 AM, ironing a shirt, and getting on my scooter to face the traffic, and I feel tired already. I think this hybrid model of a few days at the office is a good compromise, but it is still a huge change for my daily routine. It feels like we are all starting a new job in a way.
What is the scene at your company? Are you guys back in the office or still working from home?