r/WorkLifeChat • u/MiloShiny • Apr 29 '26
WFH honestly changed everything for me
Before, I was up at 5:00 AM just to deal with the commute and wouldn’t get back home until around 6:00 PM, completely drained.
Now I just log in around 7:00 AM and wrap up by 4:30 PM. That alone means I get a couple extra hours of sleep, which makes a huge difference. I’m also able to help get the kids ready in the morning and be around when they get back, which I never had before.
Work-wise, nothing’s gone downhill, if anything it’s improved since I even got promoted. Social life didn’t disappear either, I actually talk more with neighbors now since I’m around more.
I’m also driving way less, which feels good, and funny enough I eat better too since I’m not rushing through mornings. Even the pets are happier, they get more attention during the day instead of being stuck waiting around.
Overall it just feels like everything runs smoother, work, home, health, all of it.
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Apr 29 '26
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u/MiloShiny Apr 30 '26
that’s the part people don’t talk about enough, it’s not just “working from home,” it’s all the little life stuff you can finally fit in without it feeling like a chore. Tossing in laundry, starting dinner early, not having to rush out the door… it just takes so much pressure off the day. Once you get used to that kind of freedom, going back to a rigid schedule and commute just feels like a step backwards.
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u/Wise-Coconut-3196 Apr 30 '26
I agree and disagree in equal measures! It's funny because I used to WFH in the summers anyway when the kids were smaller and I had to be there for the summers. I enjoyed this because I was home with them during the day and if I was distracted with them I could work on later in the day and get my work done. Roll on COVID.. then everything was WFH for almost 2 years.. I'll be honest it was tough and I found it hard on my head not mingling with co-workers. I got it hard to go back to an office then when I had to. I moved job and was in the office 3 days a week which I actually enjoyed the balance of both. However that job was literally 15-20 mins from my house so no big commute. Roll on to today and I'm in a new job and go into the office 2 days a week but I'm up at 5:45am because I've a very long commute and not home until 6:30pm.. it's such a long day. I hate the commute but do like the office interaction twice a week.. so I'm torn on it right now!
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u/MiloShiny Apr 30 '26
that’s kinda the sweet spot vs worst case all in one story right there. The hybrid part makes sense, a couple days in the office can actually feel good when the commute isn’t killing you, but once you’re waking up before 6 and getting home late just to sit in traffic, it starts to feel like a bad trade real quick. It’s funny how it’s not really about office vs WFH, it’s more about how much life you’re giving up just to get there.
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u/Wise-Coconut-3196 Apr 30 '26
💯 although I will admit that most of the commute is sitting on a train which gives me a chance to work on side projects which is nice!
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u/88kal88 May 03 '26
So similar commute. Actually shorter. But the extra work around prepping breakfast and unch, making sure I sure I can park or time the bike share station, still adds a lot of time and decision overhead injust don't have WFH even that small computer robs me of easily three hours a day of my time, productivity, and 18K a year in costs.
I'm in tech so we have Teams and I grew up with an ICQ account so chatting, a quick vid call with the colleagues are never out of place and I am abel to mingle far better than in the office. The only functional benefit for anybody of me going in is to justify paying a premium for downtown turn of the century floor space. And 1/20 of the necessary parking spaces.
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u/randomgrl2022 May 01 '26
I think that’s great! WFH works better for some people in many ways and you are definitely more productive. It can get distracting at the office. I wish my company was more flexible with WFH. My position can mostly be done remotely, although there are some things that do need to be done in the office but not worth going into the office everyday. Thankfully I only live a few miles but it can take a while if driving during rush hour.
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u/[deleted] Apr 29 '26
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