Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of technologists all over the world have demonstrated their resiliency in the face of uncertain (and often scary) circumstances. They’ve adapted to working from home and interacting with team members virtually. But many also miss the office.

What do they miss about office life, specifically? Blind, which anonymously surveys technologists about a variety of issues, recently posed that question to its audience. As you might expect, the majority of those surveyed missed the ability to interact and collaborate with their colleagues. There was also a significant amount of longing for the mentorship and career opportunities that come with a physical office. Here’s the full breakdown:

And yes, a significant percentage also missed the food, particularly at companies such as Google that are famous for their great cafeterias. At least relatively few reported wanting to get back to the office in order to get away from a spouse or partner driving them insane. 

As we move into the new year, it’s worth reviewing how to keep your career moving forward at full speed despite the communication issues that sometimes pop up with remote work. There’s no time like January to evaluate what you accomplished last year; while you’re doing that, you should tally up the skills you’ve learned recently, and think hard about your career goals. 

With all that data in mind, consider your company’s strategy and internal landscape. What is your team trying to accomplish? What blockers stand in the way of your company becoming bigger and better? Realizing these things can help you plot out a conversation with your manager over what you want to do over the next 12 months; when you sit down with them, you’re going to want to show how your accomplishments and skills can help them (and the company) accomplish their goals. 

And remember: With remote work, frequent communication is key. Make sure you check in with your manager, mentors, and team members on a regular basis; not only will this help boost your career, but it could help curb feelings of loneliness and isolation. You can use those meetings to proactively take steps to avoid burnout, which is a real danger for those who work from home. By setting your schedule (and making sure everyone knows that schedule), negotiating your workload, and expressing your opinions about upcoming challenges, you can keep everything running smoothly.