Life Hacks

How to adapt to the new hybrid
work world — and stay sane

As you toggle between the office and WFH, here’s how to establish a healthy, happy work-life balance in the new year.

Even though remote work is here to stay, 2022 is looking like the year we may go back into the office. As we start dabbling in office life again, how can we keep our work-life balance in check by holding onto some of the comforts of working from home? How can we make the most of our days at the office? Here are five of our favorite tips for adjusting to life in this new hybrid reality.

1

Reframe what you disliked about office life

It’s true there are negative aspects of going back to the office, but we all know that being stuck at home 24/7 is no picnic either. Take a moment to step back and identify your anxieties about going back, then try reframing them. If you hated your pre-pandemic commute, maybe think of it as “me time” for catching up on your favorite shows on your Galaxy Z Fold3 5G.¹ Or consider a return to in-person meetings as an excuse to be more daring in your personal style by trying out some new looks. You could even think about going into the office as an opportunity to try a new restaurant for lunch every day. After two years, you’ve absorbed some work-from-home tips. Now you can apply those same strategies for breaking up the day while working in the office.

2

Make going into the office a social event

If there’s anything you missed about the office at all, it’s probably your co-workers and the spontaneous social interactions. When you go into the office, treat it as an excuse to catch up with people. Set up at least one in-person meeting every time you’re in the office, and don’t be afraid to hold it at a café or over lunch. Going back to our first tip, you can even meet at that new restaurant you promised yourself you were going to try.

3

Zone out to music or silence

After so many months in the relative quiet of your home office, you might get distracted by the hustle and bustle of working around other people. Embrace technology and invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones like Galaxy Buds2. Even if you don’t like to listen to music or podcasts while you work, the Active Noise Cancelling feature can be switched on to make even the busiest workplace seem relatively peaceful.²

4

Get in the habit of walk and talk meetings

No matter where you’re working, don’t fall into the pattern of sitting at your desk all day. Sedentary habits, after all, can be linked to all sorts of physical and mental health problems down the line. Instead, have your less strenuous meetings while you take a walk through the park, grab a coffee at a neighborhood café or stroll around the block. You can even combine this approach with our second tip and take a colleague along. No matter how you approach your walking meetings, don’t forget to use your Galaxy Watch4 to get credit for your steps.

5

Create a third workspace

Working hybrid isn’t just a choice between your home and your office. To truly be successful as a hybrid worker, you can — and should — feel comfortable working anywhere. Find a place like a sunny coffee shop, a park with Wi-Fi, a shady backyard or anywhere else you like to work. Log some work hours there. Or go the other direction and get ahead of the curve by becoming a metaverse explorer. With so many companies working hard right now to make the metaverse office the next big thing, try out one of their products. You can even hold a meeting in a 3D avatar gathering place like Samsung 837X in Decentraland to prepare for the next frontier of work while keeping things novel and fun.

  • 1Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with your carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.
  • 2Features including Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient Sound require a Bluetooth connection to a compatible device.

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