What kinds of things make working in an office 5 days a week most most manageable?

[Anonymous]

What I'm thinking most about is dinners. Losing that hour to the commute home will make getting dinner on the table a whole lot more challenging. The aspirational me is planning on doing lots of dinner prep on Sundays so it's quick and easy (and already planned out!) during the work week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I'm thinking most about is dinners. Losing that hour to the commute home will make getting dinner on the table a whole lot more challenging. The aspirational me is planning on doing lots of dinner prep on Sundays so it's quick and easy (and already planned out!) during the work week

I'm back to a meal kit. I pick quick and easy meals that can be made in 30 minutes. I don't have to think about anything, just pull out the ingredients and go.

I also went to a capsule wardrobe. The same (or similar) pants in mass quantity, plus stanard tops and sweaters + Rothys. I really don't care if it's super stylish. I can put it on and go.

[Anonymous]

Make sure to bring fish and popcorn for the microwave in the office.

[Anonymous]

make sure your productivity drops.

[Anonymous]

Getting there as early as possible and leaving as early as possible...gives you more of a day even if you have to go to bed earlier. 6:30-3 is better than 7:30-4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make sure to bring fish and popcorn for the microwave in the office.

LOL. Coworkers will *love* it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First thing to find out- will you have a dedicated desk/cube and/or storage? If you have to take all you need with you like a turtle, strategies will be different.

This is very true.

Since we are still hybrid, we don't have our 'own' desks. We pack in, pack out each day. It really makes it more of a hassle, IMO. I quickly realized I needed duplicates of some things to just leave in my work tote so I wasn't rushing to toss them in before leaving that morning or forgetting anything. The little things like lotion, tissues, Tylenol, snacks, etc.

When I had my own cubical pre-pandemic, I had things like a little heater, photos of my kids, wall calendar, teas I kept in my drawer, my own mug, etc. Most of those aren't practical to carry each day so they got eliminated. The office did buy about a dozen small heaters we can 'check out' for the day to use. But if you forget to return it, you lose your heater privilege for a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:make sure your productivity drops.

and do NO work during the commute. don't even knock out those tempting easy emails while on the Metro. only work AT WORK.

[Anonymous]

I used to walk to a metro stop further away from work in order to get in some exercise.

To pass time on commute:
Observe people -- you can stare because everyone is so involved with their phones
Write
Listen to podcasts
Read books on paper
Listen to books

At work, I'd do walk and walks with folks. If I was having a short 1-1 meeting with an internal client, we'd walk around the block while having our meeting.

Arranging lunch with a colleague at least once a week instead of eating at my desk.

May as well deepen those in-person relationships while in the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will get a work girlfriend again. Attention Hot Indian Woman down the hall--prepare yourself!

Hard pass (pun intended)

You smiled at me one time, so I know I have a chance.

[Anonymous]

I'm more intentional about my after work plans and loop in grocery shopping on the way home, gym, errands, social activities, etc. I find having a gym IN the building or adjacent to work is huge. I normally waste 30 minutes round trip going to the gym, and doing it right after work saves me so much time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been going in 2-3 days a week since 2022. I read, answer personal emails, sign my kids up for various school activities, camps, doctor appointments, etc.

As far as being in the office, I keep a collection of shoes there so I don’t have to lug shoes in and out, I make my lunch and pack my work bag the night before. I use the gym in the office before my TOD, so I keep toiletries, hair dryer, shower shoes, etc. at my desk. Every other Friday I take home my towel and bring in a fresh one the next Monday. I also pack my gym bag at night so all I have to do in the morning is move my lunch from the fridge to my work bag, put ton my coat and get out the door.

+1. I try to workout in the morning and then my husband and I drive our kids to school on the way to the train. During the drive I put my makeup on, which saves time. I listen to audiobooks, draft emails, do reading for work, and organize kid related to dos on my calendar while commuting. I also do guilty pleasure reading, which is money diaries from refinery29, the NY Post, and DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been going in 2-3 days a week since 2022. I read, answer personal emails, sign my kids up for various school activities, camps, doctor appointments, etc.

As far as being in the office, I keep a collection of shoes there so I don’t have to lug shoes in and out, I make my lunch and pack my work bag the night before. I use the gym in the office before my TOD, so I keep toiletries, hair dryer, shower shoes, etc. at my desk. Every other Friday I take home my towel and bring in a fresh one the next Monday. I also pack my gym bag at night so all I have to do in the morning is move my lunch from the fridge to my work bag, put ton my coat and get out the door.

+1. I try to workout in the morning and then my husband and I drive our kids to school on the way to the train. During the drive I put my makeup on, which saves time. I listen to audiobooks, draft emails, do reading for work, and organize kid related to dos on my calendar while commuting. I also do guilty pleasure reading, which is money diaries from refinery29, the NY Post, and DCUM.

I also do shopping on Amazon and grocery shopping on Amazon WF app and any target stuff during my commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been going in 2-3 days a week since 2022. I read, answer personal emails, sign my kids up for various school activities, camps, doctor appointments, etc.

As far as being in the office, I keep a collection of shoes there so I don’t have to lug shoes in and out, I make my lunch and pack my work bag the night before. I use the gym in the office before my TOD, so I keep toiletries, hair dryer, shower shoes, etc. at my desk. Every other Friday I take home my towel and bring in a fresh one the next Monday. I also pack my gym bag at night so all I have to do in the morning is move my lunch from the fridge to my work bag, put ton my coat and get out the door.

Oh my!

[Anonymous]

For newer employees, it is great to seek mentorship, which was hard to do during remote work. Having and seeking mentors brings great satisfaction to both mentees and the mentors. Setting up lunch/coffee times (even treating them for coffee), or casually going into a more experienced staff member's office for a few questions helps improve morale/make the day more enjoyable for everyone.