Back to Office Work After One Year Working From Home

I count myself lucky to have kept working during the pandemic. In fact, when the opportunity came along, I chose to work from home. However, it was a one-year contract position, which meant I would have to return to the office eventually.

Wearing work shoes again

I never thought I would say this, but it took me a while to get used to wearing shoes all day again. Oh sure, at home I wear shoes to work out and for outdoor walks. On my once-a-week grocery trips, I slip my feet into something comfortable for a few hours.

However, wearing even a moderate heel for more than an hour again felt strange. All I wanted to do was slip on some bedroom slippers. I have to admit, though, it felt great to be more than 5 feet off the ground for a little while.

Driving again

Another thing that I had to get used to again was driving – particularly highway driving in the winter. I think my anxiety went through the roof. It felt like everyone was a crazy driver. It took a few weeks for me to loosen my grip on the steering wheel and relax. I even ran low on fuel a few times because I forgot I had to buy gas.

Forgetting my CPAP power cord

Speaking of commute, mine was an hour each way. See, I had moved during my 1 year off from the office. So I decided to stay with a relative during the week and return home on the weekends.

The first weekend I returned home, the unthinkable happened. I was so organized with my lists to make sure I didn't forget anything, including my CPAP. However, when I arrived home and unpacked my CPAP supplies, my power cord for my CPAP was missing! It was then that I remembered I unplugged it from my device but forgot to unplug it from the wall. Needless to say, it was an awful night.

I have been using CPAP to treat my severe obstructive sleep apnea for 6 years now, and it's rare that I go without it. Thankfully, I was able to retrieve it the next day and had a good night's sleep again.

Office culture

I have to admit, it was nice chatting face to face with others again. I think I spent the first couple of weeks just catching up with my coworkers and their lives. I even realized that I missed the coffee runs and group lunches. To be honest, I probably goofed off more in the office than I did at home. Although, I have taken the occasional afternoon nap a few times.

Interacting with others

My role at the office was client-facing, and it felt great to be recognized by many long-time clients. It was a huge boost to my self-esteem for sure. Even though I'm an introvert, working from home full time is actually not ideal. It tends to make me feel more anti-social and increases anxiety in social situations.

Overall, I was happy to be back at the office, getting dressed up every day and interacting with others face to face. I learned one important lesson: always double-check to make sure I have all my CPAP supplies.