Any type of change can be unsettling, especially if it alters our routine. After a prolonged period of remote work which lasted over 18 months, the idea of working in an office with multiple people in close proximity can feel overwhelming. With the virus still looming over our heads, the uncertainty of our return to ‘normal’ continues to weigh heavy.

“The fact is that whatever normal we might be returning to doesn’t exist yet because Covid is very much present. People who work in courts meet tons of people every day, so even using the elevator becomes an extreme sport,” shares Pooja Gowda. The 26-year-old lawyer stayed away from courts during the lockdown but has been adjusting to the return with some unease. “How are you supposed to put your best foot forward with the fear of Covid hovering over your head? A partner at my workplace is paranoid about getting Covid--she wears a mask, shield, eye goggles, and a hair scarf--but she is still expected to come in to work and put herself at risk to perform the job.”