I have been working from home ever since the beginning of the pandemic in March of last year. Recently there has been a move towards getting people to come back into the office. I don’t necessarily agree with this move but I do understand it and however I might feel about it I know I can’t change it.

I have however realised how in a relatively short time frame I have gotten completely used to working from home. To the extent that I am finding the transition back into the office (even if not full time) to be a difficult one.

Firstly, none of my usual office clothes fit me anymore because I have put on a bit of lockdown weight. I guess that is what happens when you go from being very active to only being able to leave your house once a day. It isn’t really a surprise but lets just say I have to kick my arse into next year before I end up living in yoga pants and baggy t-shirts permanently.

Secondly, being in an office is massively tiring for an introvert. Even on days where I get a lift into work (so I don’t need to factor in cycling) I am hugely exhausted by the time that I leave for the day. I am guessing that it is because of all the little interactions that you have in the office but you din’t need to worry about when you are at home. Whatever it is, I have no idea how I used to be able to cope with this on a daily basis because now by the time I get home all I want to do is sleep.

This week I had to go into the office for three days in a row (for the first time since lockdown). By the end of the third day I was so tired that I was stumbling through my dog walk in zombie mode and tripped over the kerb. Yes I am that clumsy. I managed to cut one knee open and bruise the other. So now I am actually pretty glad that the government has ordered a work from home order again because I am clearly not cut out for office life anymore!

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