How Normal will be the "New" Normal

Will "the way we work" ever be the same again? Maybe not, it could be better!

Most of the companies are adopting permanent work from home for a few of its' roles. How will it look like after the pandemic is over and other people start resuming to the office? It will be having its own pros & cons. One can learn & experiment with new virtual ways of working & interacting with your colleagues, which we are already used to doing by now.

But, can virtual interactions be effective for a longer period of time? Small tasks can be easily accomplished and small issues can be quickly resolved when people are sitting together and working. Can a team establish a strong connection while interacting virtually? We are used to making friends at our workplaces. Can we create such bonds while working virtually? Will people have experiences to share with others if they're following the same routine every day working at home, without being able to commute, meet new people, new things to talk about every day? Perhaps, not.

Humans are social animals. For most of us, it's indeed possible to “survive” for short periods of time without human interaction, but it is not a condition that we are able to endure indefinitely.

Going without human contact for too long can literally break your heart. That's according to a new study of social isolation published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in May, which tracked more than 1,600 people living with heart failure.

Looking at the positive side of it:

• Increased flexibility & you can be in your comfortable setup/clothes/stay with your loved ones for a longer period of time
• No commute needed, so in cities with a huge amount of traffic, it saves a lot of time, and that time can be invested into something productive- work/family/"me time"
• Save huge amount of costs (house rent, travel, etc.) by staying in non-metro cities or tier-2 cities in case your family stays there

There can be a boundary which can be established between our work and personal life. We will be able to cherish people outside of our work which we might be doing already but as we tend to share most of the time with the people at the work, it becomes difficult sometimes.

One can change the locations of working. Working from a new place once in a while, also termed as "workation" can definitely help to remove the void for daily travel, and helps to create new memories & having new experiences. One can even take a time off for a day or two to be with family and plan some activity. Staycation is a popular term being used nowadays which means an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within day-trip distance of their home and does not require overnight accommodation.

I changed my team & my role during July last year, it's been one year I haven't ever met my manager and colleagues in person. Initially, I was in a state of panic & felt lost on how will I learn the nitty-gritty of the role and how will the transition happen without having people around to support me. But, with time, I got accustomed to the virtual ways and was able to perform my responsibilities well. It took some time though but thanks to the amazing team members and due to regular interactions with them, I have been able to make good friends as well. So, it requires an extra mile of effort & regular interactions in case you want to create a good bond with people virtually but as per my personal experience, it can be achieved.

So, with the change in the work norms for some, there needs to be a change in the ways we are used to working. And, one can definitely convert the permanent work from home opportunity as a basis for a balanced life.

The views expressed are my own and would like to know your perspective.

Thank you!

Bhavna Manocha