As we rushed back to the office after months of lockdown, many of us were filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Some were excited to see their colleagues in person again, while others were secretly hoping they'd forgotten how to make small talk by the coffee machine. Flexible work arrangements and hybrid models have since become the new norm, and while they offer us a lot of freedom, they've also thrown some unexpected curveballs into the mix. We thought the hardest part would be figuring out how to wear pants again for Zoom-free days — but the reality is more complicated.

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One of the things we didn't realize we'd miss during the pandemic was the sense of community that naturally forms in the office. Let's face it: being part of a community isn't just about sharing a workspace. It's about those daily interactions that make work feel a little more human, the impromptu brainstorms or the much-needed venting sessions in the hallway (I've been there, too). These small, casual moments were the glue that held our relationships together, creating a sense of belonging and team spirit. Personally, I quite enjoyed being home — I'm a bit of a house rat, honestly. But in hindsight, I probably didn't even realize how much I was losing my sense of community while embracing that isolation.

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The Importance of Belonging to a Community

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Now that we're back in the office, we've become more aware of how essential these connections are to our mental well-being. Belonging to a community has profound effects on mental health. Research consistently shows that feeling connected to others is linked to lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. A 2018 study published in Psychiatry Research found that individuals with strong social connections are less likely to experience mental health issues such as loneliness and depression. On the flip side, a lack of belonging or feelings of isolation can contribute to higher levels of stress and even impact physical health.

‍Read more about this research on Psychiatry Research: The role of perceived social support on depression and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic

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When we belong to a community, especially in a work environment, we feel supported, valued, and seen. It gives us a sense of purpose and increases job satisfaction. Without that sense of belonging, we risk feeling isolated and disengaged, which can affect not just our productivity but also our overall happiness. And let's not forget that these connections foster the trust and collaboration needed for a thriving work environment.

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During the pandemic, the isolation many experienced while working from home took a significant toll on mental health. While video calls kept us connected in a practical sense, they didn't quite replace the everyday moments that helped us feel like part of a team. This loss of human connection hit hard, and for some, the impact is still lingering. In fact, a study published in the *Journal of Occupational Health Psychology* highlighted that the lack of in-person interactions during COVID-19 increased feelings of loneliness and decreased workplace satisfaction. 

Read more on this topic on Springer Link: Workplace Interventions in Response to COVID-19: an Occupational Health Psychology Perspective

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As we return to the office, the need for community has become even more important. But here's the catch: our needs have shifted. Some of us are eager to reconnect with our coworkers, craving the camaraderie we once took for granted. Others, however, have adapted to a more solitary work style and may struggle to find their place in a hybrid environment. Flexible schedules mean fewer people are in the office at the same time, creating a quieter, less dynamic atmosphere. It's as if the energy that once fueled spontaneous collaboration has fizzled out.

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This quietness can create its own challenges. Feeling disconnected from colleagues, even in a hybrid or flexible work setting, can lead to a greater sense of isolation. The impact of that isolation on mental health cannot be overstated. Belonging isn't just a "nice-to-have" — it's an essential part of maintaining our well-being, both inside and outside the office. If we don't actively foster these connections, we risk slipping into a fragmented workplace culture where people feel like strangers rather than teammates.

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The Impact on Office Culture

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Office culture has taken a real hit, too. Before the pandemic, culture was all about in-person experiences — whether it was team lunches, water cooler chats, or awkwardly singing "Happy Birthday" to a colleague you barely know. These little rituals helped build a sense of unity. Now, with fewer people physically present, the office feels like a place where you drop in and out rather than a space where relationships are built. Let's be honest: Zoom birthdays just aren't the same.

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Another fun new development? **"Proximity bias."** It's when the boss just *happens* to notice the people in the office more than those dialing in from home. And while it's unintentional, it creates a subtle divide between those who are in the office more often and those who prefer to work remotely. It's kind of like high school all over again — are you in the 'cool in-office crowd' or the 'remote rebels'?

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One company that has been tackling this issue head-on is **Automattic**, the parent company of WordPress (I have referred to this example before), led by CEO **Matt Mullenweg**. As a fully remote company, even before the pandemic, Automattic has always been at the forefront of building a culture that minimizes proximity bias. Mullenweg stresses the importance of transparency, asynchronous communication, and clear documentation so that remote workers are not sidelined. By ensuring that all communication happens in open channels and that decision-making is accessible to everyone — whether they're working from home or halfway across the world —Automattic creates an environment where being physically present doesn't equate to being more visible or influential.

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Mullenweg also emphasizes creating rituals that work for distributed teams, ensuring that the sense of community doesn't fade for remote employees. Instead of relying on the old "water cooler chats," Automattic has adopted deliberate strategies to foster connection, such as regular check-ins, remote team-building events, and an open flow of ideas that can be accessed by all team members, regardless of their location. This approach helps bridge the divide that proximity bias often creates in hybrid or partially remote workforces.

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Then, there's the issue of mentorship and learning. Remember when you could just casually ask your more experienced colleague for advice? Or even just overhears helpful bits of information? Well, now that people are scattered, these small moments of spontaneous learning are harder to come by. It's like we've lost the art of the quick "Hey, can I pick your brain for a second?" And, let's be honest, no one really wants to schedule a formal meeting for that.

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Rebuilding Community in the Hybrid Era

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So, where do we go from here? It's clear that flexible work arrangements, while offering more freedom, also present challenges in how we build and maintain our sense of community. We have to be more intentional — not just in how we design our spaces but in how we foster connections, share knowledge, and create a sense of belonging. In this new era, focusing on building community isn't just important for the workplace — it's crucial for our overall well-being and maybe the key element for success.

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A lack of community, both in work and in life, has a direct impact on our mental health. Research shows that social connections reduce stress and anxiety, while isolation has the opposite effect, leading to loneliness, higher stress levels, and even physical health issues. This is why prioritizing community-building in the workplace is vital—not just to support collaboration but to contribute to our psychological and emotional resilience.

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But here's the interesting twist: the complexity of our current work environment, with its hybrid models and flexible arrangements, can actually enrich our lives in unexpected ways. Psychological richness, the idea that a life filled with diverse and challenging experiences adds depth to our personal growth, applies here. The disruptions we've faced — adapting to remote work, dealing with fragmented office culture, and finding new ways to connect — have introduced us to novel ways of thinking and interacting. While it may not always be easy, these experiences help shape our cognitive and emotional landscape, ultimately enhancing how we engage with both work and life.

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In fact, balancing these new challenges with efforts to maintain community could make our work lives more psychologically stimulating. The workplace, once predictable and routine, has now become more dynamic and fluid. This unpredictability, while sometimes uncomfortable, invites us to rethink how we connect and collaborate, pushing us to grow. We're no longer relying on the old "water cooler moments" to bond; instead, we're finding new ways to keep the human element alive in a workplace where not everyone's around all the time.

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And maybe, just maybe, we'll get better at singing "Happy Birthday" on Zoom. Or not.

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In my next dive, I'll be exploring the concept of community even further — not just in the workplace, but in all scales and levels of our lives and society. Whether it's neighborhoods, social networks, or even virtual spaces, the need for connection is universal, and building strong, supportive communities is more important than ever.

Stay tuned, and stay connected.

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About Me

My name is Stina Stjärnstrom, and I've worked as an architect and civil engineer on some of Scandinavia's largest and most complex development projects for more than twenty years. Recently, my curiosity led me to study neuroscience to better understand how the built environment impacts humans. Now, I'm focusing on exploring and communicating the critical role of community in shaping society across all levels.

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