In today’s evolving work culture, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to productivity. Whether remote, hybrid, or in-office, each setup brings its own rhythms, challenges, and rewards. Having now experienced all three firsthand, I wanted to find a creative way to contrast the dynamics I’ve encountered and read about.

So, I wrote this short scene—a fictional lunch reunion between three professionals, each with a different work style—to explore how we structure our days, find focus, and stay connected in the modern workplace.

Lunch Reunion: A Short Scene on Navigating Modern Workstyles

Act 1: The Reunion

(The scene opens with Dustin, Jesse, and James seated at a table, enjoying their lunch.)

Dustin: It's so great to see you both! It's been too long.

Jesse: Absolutely! I've missed our catchups. So, how's everyone been?

James: Busy, as always. My job keeps me on my toes. What about you, Dustin? How's life in Amsterdam?

Dustin: It's been interesting, to say the least. Working remotely from Amsterdam for a company in Raleigh means there's a 6-hour time difference. At first, it was a bit of a challenge, but I've turned it into an advantage. I dedicate my mornings to deep work—focused, productive time to create our company's product. Any roadblocks I encounter, I note down to discuss later when my colleagues are online.

Jesse: That sounds like a smart approach. How do you manage the rest of your day?

Dustin: Since my colleagues start work at 2 PM my time, I use the extra hour in the middle of the day to step out of my home office. I might run to the market, take a walk, or handle personal matters. When I return, I focus on shallow work—tasks that don't require intense concentration, like meetings, calls, messages, and emails. On days with fewer communications, I can extend my deep work into the afternoon. Even if it's interrupted, I've already made significant progress in the morning.

James: That sounds efficient. I wish I could say the same for my workday. My company requires all employees to be in the office five days a week. I live 40 minutes away, but on bad traffic days, the commute can extend to an hour. I listen to podcasts during the drive to make the most of the time.

Jesse: That commute sounds rough. How's the office environment?

James: We have an open office designed to encourage collaboration and impromptu conversations. I appreciate the setup because it breaks down the sense of hierarchy, but sometimes it's challenging to focus on deep work due to the inevitable diversions or distractions that come with a big open space. We rely heavily on instant messaging to keep communication flowing and ensure nothing slips through the cracks. The idea is great, but all the dings can make it harder to stay focused on tasks that need my full attention.

Dustin: That does sound like a lot to juggle. Have you found any strategies that help you manage notifications and meetings more smoothly?

James: I’ve thought it’d be nice to have the option to go elsewhere part of the time so I could have an easier time concentrating and considered setting specific times to check messages to give myself uninterrupted periods to get into a flow state. I also have the habit of taking on meetings whenever they fit into my schedule and don’t try to structure my workday around periods of focus vs periods of collaboration. Lately, it's been feeling a bit overwhelming—like I'm constantly reacting instead of proactively managing my day. I'm starting to think I need a better system to regain some control.

Jesse: That sounds tough, James. I've found a hybrid schedule works best for me. My company in Breckenridge emphasizes the importance of staff mingling and solving problems together but also understands that deep work shouldn't be confined to the office. They gave us the freedom to work wherever we feel most productive for part of the week.

Dustin: That sounds ideal. How do you structure your workweek?

Jesse: I know how much my environment impacts my productivity and how easily I can get derailed. So, I structured my work so that deep work is centered on my work-from-home days, Monday and Friday, while shallow work is focused on in-office days, Tuesday and Thursday. To keep things balanced, I dedicate Wednesday mornings to deep work in my building's community workspace and afternoons to shallow work in the office.

James: That sounds like a great balance. How do you handle unexpected office matters?

Jesse: Working in the community space has given me opportunities to meet other workers in the building and make business connections that wouldn't have happened otherwise. If any urgent office matters arise, I can easily head into the office since it's in the same building. This schedule strikes a great balance for me. I don't feel guilty about losing productivity to enjoyable sidebar conversations with coworkers and meetings because that's what my in-office days are for. Likewise, I don't feel guilty about limiting my communication to twice a day on my work-from-home days because those days are focused on deep work that produces tangible results for my company.

Dustin: That sounds like a well-thought-out plan. How do you handle deviations from your schedule?

Jesse: My structured approach to what work happens when and where has allowed me to feel in control of my week rather than being pulled in multiple directions by saying yes to every request. I'm not able to stick to my exact template all the time—sometimes a meeting must happen on a Monday, and I'm fine with that. For me, it's about following this biphasic mode of work as a general guideline, not a rigid plan, which helps avoid frustration when things don't go exactly as planned.

James: That’s a good line of thinking. Maybe I need to rethink how I structure my workday and handle distractions.

Dustin: It's all about finding what works best for you. I do wish I had some in-person days for the sake of teambuilding with co-workers. Jesse’s got the best situation out of us all!

Jesse: Absolutely. It's great to share our experiences and learn from each other. The hybrid schedule has been a great perk. Not everyone in my office takes advantage of it—some prefer being in the office every day, and that works well for them. The key seems to be in having the option for flexibility.

Dustin: It’s funny how different our setups are, but we’re all aiming for the same thing — finding a workflow that lets us thrive both professionally and personally to attain meaningful results over time.

(They nod in agreement, enjoying their reunion.)

End of Act

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