So I’d been working from home since Covid, up until a few months ago when we got the RTO mandate. After spending a couple of months in the office, I thought I’d share what it’s really like, as someone who’s now gone through all three setups: full WFH, hybrid, and fully back in the office.

Clear pros and cons

WFH pros

  • Flexibility, of course
  • Better morale and well-being. Having my family around made a big difference. When I felt stressed, I could have a quick chat with them, or step out to the little park across the street for some air and shade.

WFH cons

  • Less social interaction. I barely talked to anyone during the day.

Office pros

  • I get to talk to more people.
  • Feels a bit more “real”. Seeing teammates in person helps build connection.
  • There is a clear line between work and home. When I leave the office, I actually leave work behind.

Office cons

  • The commute. I waste about 1.5 hours every day just commuting.

The love-hate zone

My routine got a bit messed up.

  • Napping. When working from home, I didn’t nap midday, but I often took a short nap right after work to recharge before diving into another round of personal work or hobbies. Going back to the office killed that routine. Then again, that routine wasn’t perfect either, sometimes I’d nap too long and mess up my bedtime.

  • Morning routine. At home, I’d have my morning coffee and those first two hours would be my most productive window of the day. Now, a great portion of that time goes into commuting. On the plus side, maybe it’s a good thing I don’t rely on caffeine that much anymore.

  • More talking. Communication is definitely better. It’s easy to just turn around and ask someone something instead of scheduling a meeting (though we still have online calls sometimes for screen sharing).

But it also means more interruptions:

  • Noise. It’s tough to get into the flow state when people around you are talking. Even the sound of a keystroke can pull you right out of it.
  • Constant disruptions. Better communication sometimes means sacrificing focus. People can just tap me on the shoulder anytime. I’ve started sitting in the far corner, hoping folks only walk up to me if it’s really necessary.

So yeah, both worlds have their quirks. For now, I’m just trying to survive the commute and figure out how to make my coffee actually do its job again.