I spend a lot of time working remotely, pretty much on my own. In the last week I’ve been out and about a bit for various things and here are a few of the things I didn’t realise still happen when you work in your own.

Lanyards. Everyone has one. On the Tube, in buildings, outside where people are smoking. It’s the 21st century uniform – the ID card and security tag attached. We’re connected by nylon loops in a range of colours; if you’re a visitor you will get a red one though. That’s the rules.

Conversation and just how loud it can be. I love spending time in conversation with people. So do other people. When they’re having conversations near me and making it hard for me to hear, part of me wishes they weren’t ‘quite’ so loud.

Learning names. I can read names on a screen at home and – even if I have a mind funk – can still see the names in front of me. When you don’t know people and they’re not holding a card with their name on, remembering who they are, let alone what they do, is tough.

The view. The view from the 11th storey is always better than from the ground floor. Cherish the view and never let it become wallpaper.

Commuting. I will never enjoy commuting. Having to take time to get somewhere, in London, like sheep funnelled through tunnels and gates will never be fun. People who tell you it’s the journey not the destination have never used the Tube in the summer with signal failures.

What are the things which you notice in your workday now? Let me know in the comments.