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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been fully remote for nearly 5 years but will now be going in 5 days a week. I feel like I’m a little rusty. For those who have been going into the office in recent years, what kinds of things do you do to make commuting and working in an office most manageable? I’m talking about ways to pass the time during a long commute (I’ll be traveling about an hour each way, but on metro so that will help), easy lunches to pack, etc.

No snarky comments please! I know I’ve been extremely privileged to work remotely but that doesn’t mean it’s not a big adjustment to my day to day life, and I’d love some ideas for how to make the transition as easy as possible.

I like my quiet commute. I'm a teacher and a single mother and it's the only time during the day where it's quiet and I don't hear my name over and over again. I'd love if I didn't have to drive and could take a train/Metro. I buy fruit and yogurt and an occasional Lean Cuisine on sale for lunch because I'm too tired to make anything at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

This is the best thread I’ve seen in a very long, crappy week. Thank you OP for starting it and everyone who contributed.

[Anonymous]

Free toilet paper, free commute, free device charing!

[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.

My spouse and I have this split. From 5:30-7:30 I’m home with three children under 6 by myself. I make a few different dinners for the kids by myself while diligently entertaining an 18 month old so she doesn’t color on the couch, helping my kindergartner with homework (she has reading, writing composition, and math homework nightly - she’s in private), and trying to get my three year old to practice her speech homework with me. They have dinner, I clean up and feed our dogs, then it is upstairs for brushing teeth and washing faces before we get clothes out for the next day and choose bed time books. I usually nurse my 18 month old and put her down after we read a few books while my husband reads to and pits our older children to bed. The goal is everyone is in bed by 8, but it is usually closer to 8:15. We have dinner (usually eggs or oatmeal or something easy) at 8:30 or 8:45 if I don’t have calls at night, which I do at least once a week. It puts a lot of pressure on both spouses. It’s exhausting working all day and then doing the nightly routine basically alone. I’m lucky that we have a full time nanny who gives the kids a bath every night before she leaves. My husband is in the office five days, so I’m hanging on to my remote job for as long as possible. The politicking required is a nightmare, but I get paid very well and we would struggle to manage if we both were in office five days. We are outside New York, so a standard commute to and from the City is an hour on the train minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Same here and this is what worries me the most. There's not much time to adjust from full flexibility to none. Pretty certain we need to hire some extra help without the extra 2 hours a day that weren't commuting. Any tips there?

[Anonymous]

No tips on aftercare. I've gone into the office 5 days for years but I drive. I go to the store on Monday on the way in and get bagged Caesar salad, bread, cheese sticks, cans of tuna, bananas and oranges so I have lunch ready to go for a couple days.
I have my own office so keep all the stuff there, favorite mugs and plates, teas, candy my kids would steal at home. Extra loafers and nice heels just in case and a cozy cardigan/sweater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No tips on aftercare. I've gone into the office 5 days for years but I drive. I go to the store on Monday on the way in and get bagged Caesar salad, bread, cheese sticks, cans of tuna, bananas and oranges so I have lunch ready to go for a couple days.
I have my own office so keep all the stuff there, favorite mugs and plates, teas, candy my kids would steal at home. Extra loafers and nice heels just in case and a cozy cardigan/sweater.

Your office sounds like a dream! So cozy/comfy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the best thread I’ve seen in a very long, crappy week. Thank you OP for starting it and everyone who contributed.

NP, I agree. I guess the trolls weren’t interested in this thread because it’s been almost completely helpful and positive. And the few negative comments were pretty mild.