Why Returning to the Office Feels So Hard | Mike Wixson with Sim Chhabra

The “back to the office” wave is here—and for millions who rebuilt their lives around working from home, that’s a massive change. In this episode, I sit down with psychotherapist Sim (Simranjit) Chhabra (Horizon Within) to unpack the real mental & practical challenges of Return-to-Office (RTO): lost commute hours, disrupted routines, pressure to “just adapt,” and why companies often miss the human math behind productivity.

We dig into:

• The change spectrum: where you sit (from “drag me by the nails” to “bring on the change”) and why it matters

• Turning non-negotiables (like commuting) into meaningful time—podcasts, audiobooks, mindful check-ins

• How leaders can design with humans in mind (asynchronous work, measure output not chairs)

• The pendulum effect of policy shifts and how to find your middle ground

• Practical steps to protect your time, energy, and sanity as RTO ramps up

If you’re anxious about going back—or leading a team through it—this conversation is your field guide.

Subscribe for more straight-talk on work, mental health, and real-world adaptation.

Drop a comment: What’s your biggest RTO challenge right now?

Guest: Sim — Horizon Within

This conversation is for education only and not medical advice.