every time i open LinkedIn (which is maybe once/wk at best), there’s at least one post discussing this WFH era.
i clearly stand on the side in favor of remote work, but even moreso now that it has become my only option. i’ve been in-office full time -> remote during COVID -> hybrid -> and ultimately “voluntarily in office.” i’ve managed a team during all phases of this, ending the last with all remote employees and me as the only local. i can honestly say that as a manager, i never worried about anyone on that team. now that i WFH, i wonder if they’ve ever thought i was crazy for deciding to not do it more often when i had the chance. without getting into the same conversations that are everywhere on LI, i’ll just say this:
remote life has changed my perception of work from “this is who i am” to “i have a life outside of my job.”
i’m fortunate to have a dedicated home office - extra workspace is one of the many reasons we chose this home. so i’m aware that my situation may be different than others, and given a different scenario, i might’ve been someone who looks for a local coffee shop or shared space to work from if i didn’t have a desk i could sit at every day.
what has truly shifted my outlook is that the type of work i’m doing has in some sense changed, but also afforded me opportunities that in-office work would very likely restrict me from. yes, there is more flexibility, but i’m not completely burnt out from being in a controlled space all day. i enjoy the quiet (sometimes too much,) i get some time back, and i’m able to decompress when needed at almost any point during my day. i’ve been able to manage more projects, work while traveling, and sometimes still work nights or weekends because i moved my schedule around to make room for something else (or - i hate to admit - i cant let something go and need to work.)
i would likely still choose to go into the office if that were an option, but it wouldn’t be every day. at this point i dont know how often that would be, and it would probably depend on my need for social interaction. i’ve gotten accustomed to satiating that through gym, golf, and travel. i guess being a social-introvert is a pro when you WFH.
it’s strange to recall so many days that i thought “my job is me, i am my job.” lol - while i do still feel accomplished and proud of the work i do, it’s not all-consuming anymore. i have friends who have been able to leave work at work, and not be phased until its 8am the next day. that’s unforunately something ive always struggled with and have been jealous of. i still lean that way at times, but the WFH lifestyle has renewed my sense of self-enjoyment and reminded me that there is more to life than just a job.