Does remote work make me less creative?
This question is surprisingly charged, and your response often places you in a specific camp. Either you’re a manager who wants your team in the office, or you’re an “individual contributor” who instinctively protects your right to work remotely.
My experience with remote work is complex. Before the pandemic, the idea didn’t really cross my mind. I enjoyed going into the office and spending time with my colleagues. I looked forward to meetings and felt enriched by lunch table conversations or quick pool games during coffee breaks. The daily walk to work kept me healthy and energised, and I had a clear separation between work and home.
Then, remote work was forced upon me and my team. Initially, I expected it to be a temporary novelty, but nearly 5 years later, I haven’t returned to the office. The professional world I inhabit seems to have accepted remote work as a necessity. It’s now a standard requirement for job applicants, and if you don’t offer remote work, you’re missing out on a vast pool of exceptional talent.
However, over the past few months, I’ve realised that I genuinely miss the days of working in an office. It’s no coincidence that my best work was produced before the pandemic. I thrive on the energy of others and process my ideas more effectively when I can articulate them aloud during collaborative conversations. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to replicate this experience in an online meeting.
Additionally, I feel much more focused when there are people around. This is a well-known phenomenon for individuals with ADHD, to the extent that “body doubling” is often recommended as a “focus hack” for distractible minds. In my home office, alone, there’s nothing that prevents me from wasting hours in YouTube rabbit holes. While I can implement systems to prevent this, they’re exhausting to maintain consistently. For me, remote work has led to frequent burnout and a sense of isolation.
But this isn’t really a post about the advantages of working in an office. It’s more about a need to refocus the conversation. Any attempt to discuss this in a mature manner online invariably ends in a heated argument. I can acknowledge that, for most people, remote work offers significant benefits with minimal drawbacks. However, I believe it’s acceptable and appropriate to admit that this isn’t the case for everyone. For individuals like me, the proximity of an office within our daily commute is a substantial advantage. It could also be viewed as an important accommodation for individuals with ADHD.
This isn’t about a conflict between management and workers. It’s about accommodating individual needs and preferences. If you’re fortunate enough to be part of the majority, let’s remember to protect the voices of those who may feel they’re “incorrect” for wanting to return to the office, and provide them with accommodations if possible. This approach might be one of the most effective ways to support their success.