Prior to COVID my opinion on this was more or less that of the author's, but now
I regularly chat "hello" to folks just to literally say "Hi"... as in - "I am a human working today, and you are a person working today, so Hello!". I've opted sometimes for the "Happy Monday!", but this often is received (not shockingly) as sarcasm...
I think the shift for me was (1) not being in the office physically, and realizing I was missing the simple "hello" conversations to acknowledge folks, and (2) I just care a lot less about productivity these days. Or rather, maybe, I've come to appreciate more how much productivity depends on healthy human interactions. I'm not a work robot, and I don't really need to "optimize my life" to the point of being one. My time isn't so valuable that replying with a "Hello back! How was your weekend?" kills me - and for an colleague who needs or wants to talk, a simple chat "hello" might be the open door they need. That endless todo list can, and will wait... And it will be as full on the day I wake for the last time as it was this morning.
I think the shift for me was (1) not being in the office physically, and realizing I was missing the simple "hello" conversations to acknowledge folks, and (2) I just care a lot less about productivity these days. Or rather, maybe, I've come to appreciate more how much productivity depends on healthy human interactions. I'm not a work robot, and I don't really need to "optimize my life" to the point of being one. My time isn't so valuable that replying with a "Hello back! How was your weekend?" kills me - and for an colleague who needs or wants to talk, a simple chat "hello" might be the open door they need. That endless todo list can, and will wait... And it will be as full on the day I wake for the last time as it was this morning.