Why returning to the office isn’t an option for me anymore
Now that the pandemic is over, some companies are rushing to enforce return-to-office (RTO) policies, regardless of whether they actually have a valid reason behind it or not. At least, that’s how it seems to me because study after study shows that working from home makes us, in fact, more productive.
Especially that I’m talking about companies like Facebook, Zoom, Meta, and Disney – businesses that made big promises about remote work when the pandemic started, but are now expecting employees to abandon their home offices and show up in person, “or else” they risk losing bonuses, benefits, or, in some cases, even their jobs.
The new return-to-office mandates haven’t gone without backlash. Some employees are outright quitting – remember the nearly 2,000 Amazon workers who walked out last May? – while others are staying, but let’s be real. They’re probably already eyeing remote roles elsewhere…
I started working remotely in 2016 by (a happy) accident and haven’t looked back since. Sure, I still go into the office now and then for a workshop or a meeting, but the difference is, no one expects me to. It’s my choice.
Which brings me nicely to the number one reason I’d never willingly go back to working from the office full-time.
Flexibility
That’s a biggie for me. Yes, the work still needs to get done, and it does get done – often with more focus and efficiency than if I were commuting every day. But if I feel like staying in my pyjamas, skipping the morning rush, or starting a bit later because of a dentist appointment, remote work makes it possible.
This kind of flexibility isn’t just about comfort – it’s about making work fit around life, and not the other way around. I can get things done without forcing my day into a strict 9-to-5 mold, and honestly, that’s something the office just can’t offer.
People
I genuinely believe most people in the office aren’t out to make your life miserable – at least not on purpose. But people chewing loudly at their desks or, worse, taking their shoes off in an open space? Come on. These are things you just don’t have to deal with when you work remotely.
The office itself is a pressure cooker, with people randomly thrown together and expected to get along, even when everyone’s dealing with their own deadlines, moods, and personal challenges. It’s all too easy for tensions to flare, and I’d be lying if I said I never get snappy under stress. But having the privacy of my home office lets me decompress and gives me a moment to compose myself between difficult meetings without anyone watching.
Health
Working remotely has done wonders for my health and wellbeing, both mental and physical. In the office, there’s always someone talking loudly, random interruptions, and the feeling that you have to be “on” all the time, like anyone could walk over with a question at any second. It can be exhausting. And honestly, that kind of stress builds up and takes a toll.
When I’m working from home, it’s a different story. I can stretch, move around, or take a breather whenever I need to without weird looks or feeling guilty. No constant distractions, no feeling like I have to be in “presentation mode” every second of the day. Just getting that space to focus and unwind a bit between tasks has made a huge difference for my body and my mind.
Productivity
There’s this idea that working in an office somehow makes you more productive, but for me, it’s the opposite. In the office, you’re constantly interrupted – someone’s stopping by to ask a “quick question,” people are talking loudly nearby, or you’re pulled into a meeting right when you’re hitting your stride.
It can be impossible to actually get into deep work mode when your focus is interrupted every other minute…
But when I’m working from home, I get things done. I’m able to set up my day the way I need to, without people dropping by or random office noise breaking my concentration or rushing from meeting to meeting trying to squeeze in actual work. If I’m in the zone, I stay there. No distractions, no disruptions – just focus.
Bathrooms
I’m sure I’m not the only one with a nightmare story about an office bathroom. Don’t worry, I won’t share mine, and apologies for making you remember yours. But you know what I mean.
Just the thought of sharing it with co-workers from the neighbouring cubicles is enough to make you shiver. We all need to go, and sometimes it’s not exactly pleasant. It’s just one of those things you don’t want to know about the people you work with.
Now, compare that to working from the comfort of your own home, with your very own & private bathroom. No contest.
Commute
There’s something about sitting in traffic or crammed into public transport that just drains you before you even get to work. By the time you arrive, you’re already tired, and then you’re expected to dive straight into work like it’s nothing. And don’t even get me started on the trip back home – it’s like a whole second shift, just to get from one place to another.
The thing about commuting is that I never realised what a complete waste of time it was until I didn’t have to do it anymore. Sure, you can bring a Kindle or plug in your headphones and try to make it feel more productive, but… it’s just not the same.
Now, without the daily grind of commuting, I get to start my day fresh and jump right into work. And when I’m done – I’m already home.
When you’ve had a taste of freedom, the office feels like a step back.
After working remotely, going back to the office feels like rewinding to a time I don’t want to revisit. The flexibility to plan my day, the peace of working without constant interruptions, and even just having my own space – all of it makes a difference.
Commuting, cubicles, crowded bathrooms? No, thanks. I’ve seen how productive and balanced life can be without all that, and I’m not about to give it up. Once you’ve had the freedom of remote work, there’s just no going back.
