Working from home has become a common practice for many employees, depending on their role. But as lockdowns ease and life resumes a bit more normality, the option (or directive) to return to the office has arisen for many. Have you become so used to WFH that going back to the office is hard to imagine? Or perhaps you miss the office banter and chats over coffee with real-life people?

If you're wondering whether to stick to the WFH, go back to the office, or do some sort of hybrid, keep the following things in mind when figuring out your work week.

Some people who WFH get more stuff done without the distractions of the usual office shenanigans. Others get too easily distracted by surfing on Reddit at home since there's no one to tell them to get back to work! Then you have those who can work well at home, but need some actual face-to-face interaction to really flex their creative chops. We're all different, so try and figure out the right mix that will give you the best of both worlds in terms of productivity and working environment.

WFH is great for convenience and rocking up to work wearing pyjamas. However, the number of working hours has increased for many employees due to a blurry line between work and home. Longer days, combined with blurred work/home boundaries and difficulty "unplugging" is a recipe for burnout. So keep your mental health in mind as you figure out your ideal WFH and office balance, and practice healthy work/home boundaries no matter what balance you decide on.

The jury's out... commuting sucks. The extra time wrestling with fellow commuters is not most people's favourite. That being said, some people do enjoy the downtime between work and home, and getting out of the house can really boost your step count for the day! And the reality is that some form of commuting is the only option for those who like the office environment. So keep in mind your lifestyle and preferences when deciding how much commuting you're willing to do each week.

As nice as it is to be at home with your cat/dog/plant/insert pet of choice, humans need interaction with other humans because it's just how we're designed. Some folk need to socialise more, while the lone wolves need it less, so it's a matter of getting the right amount for you. Throw in the benefits of in-person team building and potential loneliness from too much WFH, and you have another factor to ponder when figuring out your weekly WFH/office schedule.

Some employers have introduced formal policies around WFH/office requirements for staff. This can depend on your role and any specific in-person duties you need to fulfil. If you feel uncomfortable about your employer's WFH policies, chat with your line manager or HR department, and your doctor if you have any medical concerns regarding changes to your current routine.

Adapting to change can test our resilience, so reach out to your support networks or Sonder to talk through any concerns.

If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app.

Information sourced from: HBR, UNSW, and PPLPRS.

Image credit: Sex In The City

All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional.