Preparing for the Return to 5 Days in the Office

by Deniece Smith

As we move toward a return to five days a week in the office, many are carrying a mix of emotions. Some are excited to see familiar faces again and return to familiar rhythms. Others are worried about how this change will affect family life, commute times, or personal energy. Both reactions—and everything in between—are normal. This transition isn’t just about logistics. It is, at its heart, human. And as with everything, there are the challenges and the benefits.

Shocked reaction to the prospect of returning to a five-day office workweek.

One of the first challenges to acknowledge is that full-time office work can bring back commute fatigue. The time spent on the road or train will reclaim hours that many of us had folded into family, rest, or personal projects. It’s natural to feel this loss, and helpful to prepare—planning routes, finding small rituals that make the time nourishing, and being patient as your body adjusts to the new rhythm.

Another adjustment is the reduction in flexibility. Remote work allowed many to weave personal tasks into the day with ease. Coming back to the office removes that freedom, and while planning ahead can soften the impact, it’s important to simply recognize this as a shift, not something you have to fight against. Acknowledgment makes it easier to adapt.

The return also means a heavier dose of social energy. Offices hum with conversation, interruptions, and activity, and while this can feel enlivening, it can also be draining. Knowing your own limits and building in short pauses—a walk outside, a few deep breaths, a quiet cup of tea—will help you stay steady. When you can, also ask for what you need. Most others will understand because they can relate. "Just need to take a quick second to better focus on what you're saying. I want to hear you."

Perhaps the most significant change will be visibility. With everyone together again, how each of us shows up becomes more noticeable. Beyond simply being present, management will naturally observe productivity, collaborative input, and engagement. These observations may shape opportunities, promotions, and in some cases, decisions about staff reductions. That reality can feel intimidating, but it also offers clarity: this is a time to be intentional about how your contributions are seen and valued.

A few guiding practices can help: show attentiveness in meetings, not just by speaking but by listening fully. Deliver reliably on what you promise, and communicate early when challenges arise. Share resources and encouragement with colleagues—generosity is memorable. Offer ideas, even small ones, to show that you’re thinking about solutions. And balance productivity with humanity: results matter, but kindness, patience, and a steady spirit leave just as lasting an impression.

Alongside the challenges, there are also real gifts in being together. The quick hallway conversations, the laughter over coffee, the chance to ask a mentor a question in real time—all of these reweave the fabric of connection that remote work sometimes thinned. Creative sparks often emerge in these unplanned encounters, and working side by side can generate a collective energy that renews motivation. These are not minor benefits; they’re the elements that make work not just efficient, but meaningful.

The truth is that five days back in the office will stretch everyone in some ways and strengthen in others. By noticing both—the pressures that can wear down and the opportunities that can lift up—this chapter can be navigated with resilience and grace.

This change is not about perfection. It is about presence. Show up authentically. Do your work with care. Stay connected to those around you. Protect your own well-being as you also contribute to the well-being of the team. In doing so, you strengthen not only your own position but also the spirit of the community we are building together.

You matter. Your contributions matter. And the way we show up for one another matters most of all.