I try to find a silver lining in most things. If there's one good thing that came out of COVID, it's that remote and flexible work arrangements not only work, they boost morale because the employees are happier and employers are able to find talent from all over. I personally think it's a win-win situation!
However, I do think that there's a benefit to meeting your colleagues in person that can't be replaced by videoconferencing. A good compromise would be a hybrid arrangement where you can work part of the time from home (or at your favorite local coffee shop) and part of the time at the office.
So welcome to the world of hoteling! (which really is just a fancy way of saying that you reserve a space to work at for when you're in the office).
Here's my tips for becoming an expert at hoteling:
1. Leave a pencil cup or case at the office
Credit: Jarrod Reed
I admit it, I'm messy. I leave pens and pencils strewn all over the place, but I figured if the workspace is mine, well, I'm the only one who has to deal with it. But with hoteling, many employers now have a "clean desk policy". Yup, gotta leave your desk clean at the end of each work day because someone else will be using it the next day.
Pencil cups and cases are a must for me. I'm very protective of my pens (I get really disgusted when I see bite marks on my pens and they are NOT mine!) so I like to pack them up and hide them on a shelf somewhere. Then next time I'm back in the office, I can just take them to wherever I'm sitting for the day and don't have to worry about hauling them back and forth.
2. Decorate your workspace with neutral toned décor
Credit: Alexa Williams
If you can, try to find a work buddy to share your work space with. If you work Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, try to find someone who works Tuesdays and Thursdays. That way, you can coordinate your schedules and basically it's only the 2 of you using that same space every week. That'll give you a lot more freedom to personalize your space and let you push the "clean desk policy" a bit as no one will be complaining!
A cactus or a snake plant in a neutral toned pot will really brighten up your work space, and unless your work buddy has really outlandish tastes, should match with whatever they may want to bring in as well. If they're not pen chewers, you can even leave your pencil cup there!
3. Use a comfortable backpack
Credit: Slava Keyzman
Trust me, your arms and shoulders will thank you. A backpack is a must for lugging your mobile office back and forth. Unless your office lets you log onto their network from any computer, chances are, you're using your work-issued laptop and you're going to need to bring it in any time you're working at the office.
If you take public transit, I can't imagine it's much fun to hold onto a tote bag with all your stuff especially during rush hour. And those laptops may seem light at first, but try holding it for half an hour on a packed train.
Don't worry if you immediately have flashbacks of your college days with a ratty backpack slung over one shoulder. There's plenty of sleek and professional looking backpacks on the market these days. Perfectly suitable for the office.
4. Have a small empty food container handy
Credit: Quin Engle
Have you ever bought lunch, couldn't finish it, so you leave it in the fridge at the office thinking you'll have it the next day? Probably not a good idea any more if you don't intend on going into the office that often.
If you have space in your backpack, throw in an empty small food container in the morning. That way, if you do have any leftovers, you can just transfer them to that container and throw it into your backpack for your commute home. Much safer than trying to take them home in a takeout box with a top that never seems to fully close!
5. Pick out your favorite travel mug
Credit: Taylor Beach
Unless there's shared space in the kitchen where you can leave your mugs and dishes, you'll probably want to bring in a travel mug that you can wash at the end of the day and toss in your bag to bring home. Mine is usually filled with coffee on my way in, so I like ones with a sturdy lid that can withstand the occasional sudden lurch on the bus. If you can find one with a fun print that reflects your personality, even better!
It may feel a bit sad that you no longer have your own dedicated space, but hey, if that means I can save a couple of hours commuting every week, then I can live with that loss. The hardest will be to find room at home for all the shoes that've been collecting under my desk!
So how do you like to work? Entirely from home or office? A mix of both? Share your experience with us!
