I’ve been promising “Curious” Claire that I would write a blog post for a long time. I’m Amanda, Claire’s sister. You know the computer geek, photographer, and all-around organizer behind the scenes of Midlife Curious.
I’ve been trying to decide what to write about, and recently I was inspired by several podcasts. So, in this post, I will share what I’ve learned, listened to, and experienced since I returned to work (in an actual office).
It’s been 17 months since my last regular workday – which, for those who don’t know me – means working in an office, in downtown Toronto, with a commute of more than two flights of stairs, in actual clothing (AKA not yoga wear.)
The night before I was going into the office was an unexpected ordeal. I had to figure out how to pack my laptop and charger, where I would park, and how much time I would need for the drive to the office.
I showered and styled my hair the night before because the thought of having to wake up an hour early was offensive. Just the idea of what to wear required a decision tree. I’ve gotten pretty good at looking presentable “from the waist up,” but yoga pants or shorts from the waist down weren’t going to cut it in the office. I knew I had to wear comfortable pants because I wasn’t ready for a suit yet.
How can a working woman who has commuted for 30 years be so overwhelmed by the simple task of returning to the office? I had forgotten how to make everything work. What used to be a natural routine now required extra planning and felt slightly overwhelming.
Please don’t fret; I did it. I went back to work, and it was okay.
This might not come as a surprise, but the great part about being back in the office was the people. I coordinated my days in the office around lunch meetings and it was lovely to meet work colleagues and friends face-to-face. In addition to the scheduled lunch meetings, I had a few lucky occasions where I converted a virtual meeting into an in-person chat.
Aside from the personal contact, my return to work was a letdown. The office was quiet, lonely, and barren. Even the kitchen, which is usually buzzing with activity, was dead.
I work for Deloitte, an awesome company with a people-focused and balanced return-to-work approach. It’s called the “Next Normal,” and you can read about it here. For me, that will mean planning my workday wherever it’s best for me to work. Throughout the fall, I will focus on scheduling appropriate and comfortable personal engagements as much as possible. This role is new to me, so personal interactions are a great way to grow my network. I foresee being in the office one to two days a week.
Here are a few podcasts I’ve listened to that provided perspective on return to work.
Brene Brown and Priya Parker in How We Return and Why It Matters. They talk about awkward moments when you don’t know if you should hug or shake hands, bump elbows or step back.
Michelle Obama, is always articulate and insightful in Working Women and the Importance of Mentorship. This podcast reminded me how important these relationships could be.
My closing thoughts are as follows: While the pandemic changed a lot about work, my slow return to work reminded me of the importance of human connections. Although we did our best to stay connected during COVID, nothing beats that face-to-face interaction I will continue to foster in safe and empathetic ways.
One more link to consider – Microsoft's study on loss of creativity and innovation due to remote work.