9 Tips to Make Your Return to the Office Suck Less

Here are 9 random yet impactful tips that have enhanced my experience.

Before Work

1. Tomorrow Starts Today

I hate waking up early. Now I have to wake up even earlier and get dressed for work.

Rather than go back to the habit of rushing, I’ve been embracing the idea of prepping the night before.

I set my watch for 9 pm to run through a checklist called “Tomorrow Starts Today”. I do these four things.

• What am I wearing? (work clothes)
• What am I eating? (lunch)
• What does my day look like? (a quick look at meetings and reviewing my priorities for tomorrow)
• Is my pour-over coffee station set? (I am sort of a coffee snob)

Doing a few things the night before makes mornings more pleasant and less chaotic. It’s the difference between greeting the day versus fighting it.

2. Keep Travel Size Kleenex in your Personal Effects

Am I the only one who sneezes at the first sight of the sun?

Do yourself a favor and buy a pack of travel-size Kleenex and place them into your bag/purse, coat, or wherever so you have them ready when on the go.

3. Mindful Commute

When I take the train to work in the morning, I keep my phone in my pocket. It gives me a moment to pause and let my mind wander. It ends up generating some good ideas.

It would be nice to jot down thoughts and ideas but good ideas resurface. You just need to turn off inputs and ponder.

4. Delete Social Media Apps

It’s hard not to observe others on the train. Everyone is staring at their phone. But I’ve categorized 3 types of phone usage. Those listening to a podcast/music, general phone scrolling, and the ones swiping on Reels/TikTok.

I can tell someone is watching short-form content just by observing the way they are flicking up and the dopamine hit on their face. I would be in the same boat if I had them on my phone.