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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oy, I just keep thinking about the burden these extra hours are going to put on families. The though of one spouse listening to book on tape for an hour on the metro while kids are in longer extra care, the other spouse is left doing the kid shuttle, cooking, homework, bath routine. WAH was really good for families who were able to do it.

One spouse can get a different kind of job.

[Anonymous]

I always brought a book when I used Metro.

[Anonymous]

Taking public transportation and using the time to read or listen to audiobooks and podcasts.

[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.

LOL I totally misread this as "If you have to take all you need with you, like a turtle, strategies will be different" and laughed and thought, why yes, yes having a turtle WOULD make life more manageable at work, brilliant idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

LOL I totally misread this as "If you have to take all you need with you, like a turtle, strategies will be different" and laughed and thought, why yes, yes having a turtle WOULD make life more manageable at work, brilliant idea!

I’m going to get an emotional support turtle.

[Anonymous]

Capsule wardrobe. Think Garanimals for adults. For instance, your favorite slacks - buy in every color then add solid jacket and maybe print top.

Get your entire outfit out and ready the night before - if you have extra time, select two days or the entire week. I hang my whole outfit facing out in the closet and include underwear, shoes, jewelry.

Keep a work bag packed with room enough for wallet, keys so you don’t need a separate bag or purse. ID, badge or work keys go in this.

Anything that must go to work with me stays at my front door or directly in my car the night before.

[Anonymous]

Rice cooker with a timer (I have a Zojirushi) has made the biggest difference for me.

Set it before you leave in the morning, and all you need to do when you get home is protein and some veg.

Bonus that you can cook steel cut oats overnight for breakfast to grab and go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oy, I just keep thinking about the burden these extra hours are going to put on families. The though of one spouse listening to book on tape for an hour on the metro while kids are in longer extra care, the other spouse is left doing the kid shuttle, cooking, homework, bath routine. WAH was really good for families who were able to do it.

So many WAH parents are just using screens as babysitters. Aftercare is probably better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oy, I just keep thinking about the burden these extra hours are going to put on families. The though of one spouse listening to book on tape for an hour on the metro while kids are in longer extra care, the other spouse is left doing the kid shuttle, cooking, homework, bath routine. WAH was really good for families who were able to do it.

There are plenty of remote jobs you can interview for. I think WFH made a lot of people staying at a job for too long and they are likely underpaid at this point.

[Anonymous]

Post-Covid, I have given up on Metro and drive in daily. Metro is too dangerous and dirty now that it's basically a mobile homeless shelter. No doubt it's costly to drive, though. Between parking, gas, and wear and tear on my car, I am paying about $500 a month. However, peace of mind is priceless.

I live an hour away, so I pack patience and listen to music and podcasts. Consider keeping snacks/beverages in the car in case you get stuck in traffic. Also, familiarize yourself with more congested days and plan accordingly. Currently, Tuesday and Wednesday are the worst days for traffic, but now that RTO five days a week is mandatory, I suspect every day will be a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People did this for generations! You'll get used to the new norm probably faster than you think. There's a virtue to getting out of the house.

I also see more flexibility after COVID. We go in office but we can come in late or leave early if needed and make up the work in the evening. Although I personally prefer to leave work at work.

Unfortunately that flex might be gone now but let’s hope we can keep it up because that is what makes going into the office more palatable.

We’ve been going in six days PP and I find that having my office stocked with healthy snacks is helpful. I find that in-office days go by very quickly so adding two more isn’t horrible but I will miss being home when it’s a beautiful day out and I can take sunny breaks outside-will have to figure out how to get some sunny times in while at the office. But on those in office days I do like chatting with people and being in person more-makes the time fly.

Going into the office makes me think more intentionally about my 5-9pm than before so I try to make the most of that time with getting dinner done quickly for the fam, walking the dog, squeezing in my workout if I didn’t get it in the AM. I am also rationalizing this change by planning to go in very early the days my DH is home and then doing my usual 9ish-5ish on the other three days. My goal is to wrap up very very early on Fridays if I can. I also will take some Fridays off and build that into my future schedules so I can get some time back into my life and have some days to look forward to. Whatever I can do to keep my own morale up I will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oy, I just keep thinking about the burden these extra hours are going to put on families. The though of one spouse listening to book on tape for an hour on the metro while kids are in longer extra care, the other spouse is left doing the kid shuttle, cooking, homework, bath routine. WAH was really good for families who were able to do it.

One spouse can get a different kind of job.

Well see that's what we did. Many of us took the guaranteed 40 hours a week fed job instead of leaning in to make more money. That's why feds are freaking out- this was our stable job. My family will be okay but this will be hard on coworkers. A few have disabled parents who live with them, or a disabled spouse. My spouse has always been a fed, but his job is extremely stressful, lots of travel, and 100% in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oy, I just keep thinking about the burden these extra hours are going to put on families. The though of one spouse listening to book on tape for an hour on the metro while kids are in longer extra care, the other spouse is left doing the kid shuttle, cooking, homework, bath routine. WAH was really good for families who were able to do it.

So many WAH parents are just using screens as babysitters. Aftercare is probably better

I think this is a good point. What kind of experience is your kid getting if you are also working during that time? Aftercare can be fun for them.

[Anonymous]

Reminisce about the 4 years you WFH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oy, I just keep thinking about the burden these extra hours are going to put on families. The though of one spouse listening to book on tape for an hour on the metro while kids are in longer extra care, the other spouse is left doing the kid shuttle, cooking, homework, bath routine. WAH was really good for families who were able to do it.

So many WAH parents are just using screens as babysitters. Aftercare is probably better

I think this is a good point. What kind of experience is your kid getting if you are also working during that time? Aftercare can be fun for them.

Np - I know this is off topic but a lot of feds use aftercare already. But ours only goes to 6 which means (for a school day starting at 8:15) we’d need a new plan if we needed to factor in commuting.