- I always dreamed of working from home, but when I got the chance, I hated it.
- My company issued an RTO mandate, and I was happy to get back to office life.
- When I quit and went freelance, I had to find ways to work with others in real life.
As an account manager in medical recruitment, I idealized the work-from-home life, imagining the time I would save without sitting in traffic, packing lunches, or getting office-ready.
I fantasized about the workouts I could do instead of the 40-minute commute and the laundry I could run during meetings. It seemed like the dream life.
But when I was finally granted work-from-home privileges during the pandemic, I quickly realized that remote life wasn't as great as I had imagined. It became even more complicated when I decided to freelance full time — without an office.
Working from home became a nightmare for me
Previously, I visited coworkers' desks for questions. We would share funny events as they happened, and coworkers visited my desk to problem-solve an issue or to brainstorm. Our working relationships had become authentic friendships.
But in WFH mode, everything was done via video and messages. A few weeks into the WFH situation, I found that most of my time was spent in my bedroom where I had my office set up.
I didn't feel nearly as connected or collaborative with my fellow employees as before. Online interactions have benefits, but they aren't the same as in-person ones. A few calls and video meetings throughout the day didn't compare to having their offices next to mine.
I was also less active throughout the day, with no need to leave my room. I also struggled with the motivation to get ready in the morning when I didn't have Zoom calls where I would be seen.
But more than anything, I was lonely.
My company issued an RTO mandate
Months later, my CEO sent word that we needed to return to the office. Productivity hadn't been an issue and our jobs were accomplished well remotely. Still, he valued the visibility and deeper collaboration that can only happen when people are alongside each other in the same space. I was relieved.
My loneliness had reached a new depth. Although I had wonderful friends and didn't live alone, spending most of the day working in solitude was not good for me.
My normal work-life quickly resumed after the RTO mandate. We took up having lunches together and working on issues side by side. We went back to team-building sessions, like playing cards in the breakroom. My overall motivation rose again.
Working from home became a requirement when I went freelance
Fast-forward a year, I left that job due to a medical issue. Instead, I've taken on freelance writing full-time and love what I do. However, having learned how I best operate from my WFH and RTO experiences, I created my own version of RTO in this remote field.
I established set days where fellow creatives and I have work sessions side-by-side, bouncing ideas and editing each other's efforts.
One is a graphic designer and I'm inspired by watching her process, which opens new avenues for me. When we run into a wall, we have someone to talk through the problem with and to celebrate each win together. I'm also constantly moved by their progress, which I get to see in real time.
We work at each other's homes and coffee shops, wherever best fits our schedule that day. This motivates me to get ready and helps me move more than I would at my desk at home. It's not conventional, but it perfectly fits my working style.
I now know I can create the environment I need in any job I do in the future — whether it's remote or not.
While I always hoped to work from home, when it finally happened, I couldn't wait for the RTO order to come through. Now that I can work as I wish, I choose my own version of working "in the office" — which is simply with others.
