I went into the office twice this week, but have decided to put off the inevitable return for a little while longer. Despite soaking in this serene view on my run, I felt out of sorts and exhausted after my two 3/4 days of work in D.C.
The Reflecting Pool shows off its stuff.
Putting Off The Inevitable
Monday was the first time since March 2020 that I packed my computer bag, my lunch bag, and my gym bag and headed in to the office. The weather was great for a run around the monuments and the ducklings and goslings around the Reflecting Pool were so cute. My keycard worked on the door of the recently-reopened fitness center, and I had the women’s locker room to myself.
Don’t worry mamma, I won’t mess with your babies!
So why did I find myself feeling like this?
I never used to be one who worried about touching surfaces in public spaces and I know scientists no longer think that’s a major risk factor for transmission of Covid-19, but I was freaking out at all the things I had to touch! I couldn’t stomach using a gym mat, so I only did standing stretches. But there was no avoiding door handles, shower faucets, or sink faucets. Luckily, I had Clorox wipes in my car ….
At least I don’t feel the same way in my office. I know the people there, I know very few people have been there, and I know the surfaces in the common areas are cleaned throughout the day. What I did struggle with was background noise. My brain has gotten used to working in the quiet of my basement and had a hard time blocking out conversations I could overhear and music wafting up from the restaurant patio below my window.
I also was struck by the indisputable costs of commuting. Between parking ($22), breakfast at Starbucks ($8), and lunch ($20), I spent $50 going into the office on Monday. The breakfast and lunch were unusual expenses–my rewards for going in–but the parking costs are inevitable–although not quite as expensive at the monthly rate.
While I was at the office on Monday, the official “reopening” plan was announced, with an expectation that everyone will come into the office at least two days a week starting in August. While waiting until then is just putting off the inevitable, it will let me save time and money just a little bit longer.
Weekly Wrap
Our weather was AMAZING this week, with temperatures in the low 60s most mornings. That was particularly welcome because our A/C is on the fritz. 😛
I hit two major Peloton milestones this week–my 300th run and my 700th strength workout.
I ran on my own Monday (5.25) and with Scooby Wednesday (5.2), Thursday(4), Saturday (4.15), and Sunday (3.5). Saturday the humidity was back, so I did 1/2 my “long” run with Scooby and 1/2 on the treadmill.
Weekly running miles: 22.8 (with two days off)
Peloton premiered two new strength coaches this week–Callie and Rad. I made sure to jump into their premiere classes at 6:30 pm Tuesday (Callie) and Wednesday (Rad)–another benefit of working from home. 😉
I’ve got a Core Power Yoga (at home) class planned for later today.
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down link up.
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
So you know that COVID is spread through the air, right? It dies when it hits surfaces. It’s really hard to catch it from touching things. I just want to reassure you! I’m still nervous about COVID too, but I just wash my hands and don’t touch my face. But that’s been my practice forever–working in healthcare, there are so many germs and I don’t want to get sick.
I would think it would be weird to go back after so long. I am kind of ready for my husband to go back (don’t tell him). Maybe that women who used to bug you in the locker room won’t be there the days that you are!
She disappeared pre-Covid — I assume she got a new job. 🙂
I can imagine how odd it felt to be back in the office. It’s funny my husband was just mentioning to me how distracting it will be to hear other people when he returns to his office in the fall. It’s interesting what you get used to.
I used to love the hubub of the office — I’m sure I’ll get used to it again.
I am still wary of surfaces and sanitizer all the time. It’s not just COVID, I think the pandemic made me realize just how germy the world is in general! I want to live without terrible colds if I can 🙂
2 days a week isn’t terrible but YIKES commuting is expensive isn’t it? And so much more planning and stress. Exhasuting!
Listening to all the news stories comparing covid to other viruses, I learned that other viruses do live on and get transmitted via surfaces much more than I thought!
One of the major hurdles for going to my mom last year, when we couldn’t go inside, was where to go to the bathroom. I’m not really a germaphobe, so I got over that pretty quickly & still always carry wipes with me (which I never did before).
I really like quiet. This a bone of contention between Mr. Judy & me. It can be a real problem for me when he’s home all the time.
Glad you can slowly ease back into going to the office.
300 runs! Wow! I’m not even up to 100, but then again, I only use it for inside runs.
I will use a porta-potty if I need to, but the key is not thinking about it — and having something to clean my hands with!
At my Dad’s burial I used the really big portapotty to change out of my skirt after. It was like a double wide! I didn’t use it as a facility, though. I usually have the little single pouches of wipes with me when we go places.
It does feel weird to be out in the world again at first, but you’ll get used to it. I agree with Wendy- wash your hands and don’t touch your face! If you do that, you’ll cut way down on your risk of catching most things.
Wow, that commuting cost is high! So, starting in August will you still be able to work from home three days a week? That would be nice.
Sounds like a nice week of running for you and Scooby!
Yes, they are going to let us ease back into things and ramp up over a few months. 😉
I can imagine how weird it felt to be back at the office. That is how I felt when I went in January but at the same time actually liked it. While I enjoyed working from home, I was tired of it. I needed my routine back. It is hard to not touch anything but definitely washing your hands and sanitizing them will reduce the risk. Congrats on your milestones! I am about to hit 250 runs tomorrow!
Maybe the routine is part of it. Going in to the office, I still worked at home once I got home (because I didn’t want to stay through evening rush hour), so it was the worst of both worlds!
Congrats on 250!
Congrats on the two fitness milestones! Heading back to the office is another milestone. I’m sure it felt totally weird. While I enjoyed the flexibility of not having to do everything in person during the pandemic, this introvert is finding joy in engaging with people IRL again.
Yes! Seeing people again definitely was a highlight. And the fact that few people are going in now is a main reason I’m ok with waiting a bit longer too.
I’m kind of on the opposite end of the spectrum…I’ve been going to the office all along (except for the two weeks of quarantining in November), so now I’m dealing with a full parking lot and all kinds of chatter around me while at work. I really like the skeleton staff we had onsite LOL
Hah! So true! You’ve got to deal with everyone invading “your” space again.
I can totally understand how going back into the office would feel kind of weird, especially dealing with the background noise and he commute. Does your job reimburse you at all for the parking expense? I sure hope so! I don’t blame you for treating yourself to Starbucks and lunch on your first day back – I would have done the same thing.
I really like both of the new strength instructors. Huge congratulations on your Peloton milestones this week – those are huge!
Sadly, no, they don’t cover parking. It’s a huge expense that I don’t usually notice because monthly parking comes out of my direct deposit before I see it.
Great to see you running with no Achilles pains, Coco!
The cost of commuting is insane. Besides parking, coffee and lunch there are all the hidden costs as well: gas, clothes, car…not to mention your time! But if you will only have to go in 2 days a week as of August that doesn’t sound too bad. Better than 5 days!
Love the ducklings!
I dread going back to work. Three days starting July 6 and five starting Sept 7.
Happy that your Achilles is no longer an issue.
Love your DC pix. One plus of running in the city.
I hear you on going into the office. Suddenly all the things we never thought about are right there in front of our face. I had to do it a bit last year and even my colleagues were all piling in the elevators, not masking, hanging out in the kitchen together… like… did you guys not hear about the pandemic and the office rules that go with it??? UGH. These were colleagues I knew and didn’t know (there are 300 of us in the building so I just don’t know them all). And yeah I bet commuting is expensive. With my “new” job/ company I will have to commute to the new office probably later this year. I haven’t commuted in 7 years… at least it’s close to where Ron works so we can carpool until the city where he works and then I’ll just take a quick train ride further.
Glad you are having less trouble with your achilles! congrats on your peloton milestones!
I’m with Jessie on the hyper awareness of the germy world, but yeah super squicky even if we know they’re safe.
I’m trying to hold on to lower costs as well for just that little much longer. Yay on the milestones and also loving this weather
I am still struggling to be back in the office and I’ve been going in a few days a week since Feb. Working from home is so nice, with no background noise (well, when my son is in daycare), no commuting, no need to plan ahead for lunch. I’m glad we get to ease back in.
Sorry about the anxious feelings. I’ve been at the office all this time and now we are bringing people back into the office. It must be such a weird adjustment – just like when all of a sudden everyone was separated from each other and sent home! It is nice that you will not have to go in all of a sudden. I’m so used to not wearing a mask anymore it’s a bit of pain when we do have to wear one and follow COVID guidelines!