Robert Glazer, CEO of marketing firm Acceleration Partners and author of How to Thrive in the Virtual Workplace, says that the lack of a commute is something many work-from-home professionals will miss. But he also adds that it’s a good idea to develop a “virtual commute,” even when you’re working from home to make the mental shift between being at work and being on your own time. Take a few minutes to straighten your desk, plan your next day, or otherwise “close down” your home office to create some boundaries between work and home.
4. Disruption control
Even though there are interruptions at home, Taylor feels they’re more manageable and that she’s more productive overall outside the company office. The conversations around her or people dropping by her workstation to ask questions can be distracting. “It’s all work-related, but still, it’s an interruption,” she says. At home, she can find times where she can focus and get more done and doesn’t have to spend time figuring out where she left off on her last project, she says.
“I think one of the biggest things people don’t realize is how much they were distracted during the day [but] didn’t realize it before,” Glazer says. Of course, the difference depends on individual circumstances, but for many people it can be easier to find quiet time to focus at home.
5. (No) home office policies — or politics
Melvin misses the mask-free existence of working from home. Even as the guidance from federal and state authorities shifts, many companies are requiring additional safety measures in the office to protect employees and clients. “It is tough — wearing masks in meetings, and whenever [I’m] walking around the office,” she says. She doesn’t have to wear her mask in her own office but needs to put it on if others stop by. She finds that masks hinder her ability to see expressions, which can help her better understand what’s going on in meetings. Her small office has just 15 people, many over age 50 and roughly half of whom have been vaccinated, she says.
She also misses the escape from office politics that working from home can provide.
“I’ve done remote, work-from-home jobs in the past and really do prefer it so much better,” Melvin says. “I forgot about all of the office politics that continues to take place. You are so much more productive when working from home.”
6. Increased independence
Taylor, a self-described “morning person” used to be at her office desk at 7:30 a.m. and work through lunch most days. Now, she can get the same work done with a later start because she has more flexibility over how she structures her days, she says. She has Zoom meetings, but she keeps the camera off and can also take advantage of downtime more easily to finish up what she has to get done. All the tools and information she needs are right there at home.
Even if you have busy workdays, working remotely does typically offer more flexibility, Elton says. We also know that more autonomy on the job can lead to greater productivity, according to a 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology.
7. Expecting the unexpected
Let’s face it: There were some strange and even funny moments in the remote-work world. Who can forget the attorney who couldn’t figure out how to turn off his cat filter on Zoom during a legal proceeding, for example? It may be harder to have those moments of humanity or vulnerability in the office, Elton says. “People are going to miss a little bit of whimsy.”
Elton was on a Zoom call when his grandson ran into the room, which he says the other callers found amusing. That might be less so in an office full of people, especially with safety protocols in place, he says. “People are a lot more genuine,” he adds. Whether that shift remains after more people head back to the office remains to be seen, he says.
Gwen Moran is a writer and author specializing in business and finance. Her work has appeared in many leading business publications and websites, including Entrepreneur, Kiplinger.com, Newsweek.com, and The Los Angeles Times Magazine.
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