How To Find Balance And Keep Your Sanity In Hybrid Work Life

1. Embrace the change.

When I had a hybrid work situation, it was super-annoying due to the fact that I was used to working anywhere I wanted to and on my own terms. I'd pretty much become quite anti-social, didn't really want to be bothered with in-person meetings, and wanted to be left alone. I'd pretty much become a mole of sorts, only really leaving the house during work hours to pick up my delivery order just a few feet away at my front door.

I learned at the time that the best way to really come to terms with the new setup is to roll with it, put my long-dormant social skills to work, and get back in the groove of things. To be honest, at the time, I needed the push to be more social, use my communication skills more, and, most importantly, get out of those sweats and into the office.

2. Lean heavy on tech so that you can stay organized.

Again, for some of us, working remote means being super-flexible with how we map out our day. There's a bit less pressure to be "on" all the time in terms of productivity and showing up as your best self. And when you've gotten into a routine that's a bit more relaxed, some things can fall by the wayside.

When you're working from home, you don't have to account for traffic or time to get dressed, for example. So you'll want to go ahead and rely on syncing your online calendars, making sure you're getting reminders about when you'll need to actually be in the office, and setting up automated email responses for when you'll be in the office or when responses might be a bit slow due to change in the way your day typically goes.

3. Plan your in-office attire ahead of time, and stick to go-to pieces that boost confidence.

When I work from home, I like to be comfy and might not even get dressed, so it's easy to fall into a pattern and end up scrambling around in the morning, trying to figure out what to wear to work. I found it helpful to pull out a few key staples at the beginning of the week that can be mixed and matched for when I have to go to meetings or be in an office. I'd wear the same chic but simple blazer so that if I needed to be a bit more dressed up or polished, I could simply add the blazer and be good to go.

It's a good idea to choose items that are comfortable, don't wrinkle easily, and, above all, boost your confidence. I love a good dress-blazer combo or some chic cargo pants, a tank, and, yep, that same blazer. Add a neutral shoe (which can be a print, by the way. I love zebra or leopard, and to me, those are indeed neutrals.)

4. If you can, schedule your most tedious or challenging tasks when you're working from home.

If you feel much more at ease and relaxed working from home (or anywhere remote), this is the best time to tackle everyday tasks that are necessary but minor or not-so-enjoyable. This can even apply to meetings when it's something you don't really need to spend extra time, energy, gas expenses, or transportation costs.

Also, maximize your time in the office to handle important things that you know should be said versus emailed, like salary negotiations, tough conversations about an employee's productivity issues, or opportunities to work with someone who could potentially be the voice pushing for your promotion.

Being in an office is a good time to get back to the good old-fashioned face-to-face interactions that lead to career advancement in many industries.

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