Office life includes its own set of benefits and disadvantages. The benefits include:
- Visiting your favourite employees.
- Socialising with team members and learning from each other.
- Simply having a spot to focus on your professional duties.
The difficulties are dealing with oversharing coworkers, crusty coffee mugs in the sink that no one wants to clean, and that individual who insists on microwaving salmon every other day. That’s just how things continue at the office.
A few people adjusted well to the transformation when it was taken away last year, while others struggled. However, as the pandemic progressed, one thing became clear: our houses were the only location where we felt safe despite the chaos that surrounded us.
If you have a return to work date approaching, you may be feeling anxious about having to leave the comfort of your home to work in an environment where there are so many unknowns.
1. Make the most of your home office space by repurposing it.
Reclaim the space you’ve been using for work if you’re completely back in the office and don’t require a desk or specific area to work from home. Create a workstation for a new pastime or add photographs, flowers, and decorations. Create a setting that provides you joy and allows you to unwind after a long day at work.
2.Consider getting up earlier in the mornings.
Working from home allows you to sleep in a bit longer in the morning because you are not commuting. Once you’re back in the workplace, you’ll need to schedule time for your commute into your morning routine, which means getting up earlier. You can gradually compensate for this by waking up 15 minutes earlier every day for a week so that it has less of an impact on your sleep routine when you return to work.
3. Become reacquainted with your surroundings.
If you have favourite spots to eat or drink while at work and feel comfortable doing so, go back to them. Going to restaurants or places where you have fond (pre-pandemic) experiences will help you feel more enthusiastic about returning to work. You will also be supporting local businesses, which is a bonus.
4. Take pleasure in your journey.
Even though your morning travel will be lengthier than the one from your bed to your kitchen or home office, it can still be pleasurable! If you’re driving, make a playlist or download podcasts; if you’re on public transportation, use that time to relax and recharge.
5. Put your best foot forward.
Try on your work clothing before returning to the workplace. If you’ve been working from home in sweatpants and a t-shirt, plan out matching ensembles in your closet to make getting dressed easier and faster. It will make you feel good to return to work appearing professional.
6. Talk to a few trusted co workers ahead of time.
Some of your coworkers and friends may have the same reservations and anxieties as you. They may also have suggestions that could benefit you, such as how they’ll get to work and keep themselves healthy and happy while they’re there.
Speaking openly with individuals who understand your situation will also make you feel less alone. When you come back to work, make plans to meet for coffee, sit at each other’s desks, or otherwise catch up so you may engage in “soft” social interaction like a small conversation, which is uplifting, generates happy emotions, and reduces feelings of burnout by researchers. Spending your first days back at work with someone you know will be less stressful than conversing with a stranger or a coworker you don’t know well. You might even plan your schedules so that you’re both at the office simultaneously if it makes sense.
Conclusion
Maybe you’ve developed a strategy to take on the office, but you’re still worried about how you’ll react when the time comes. If an in-person meeting doesn’t go well, or you feel like you didn’t advocate for yourself as effectively as you could have, or you “messed up” a talk with a coworker, understand that mistakes and failures are inevitable.
After all, you’re just human, and this has been a trying period for you. The folks around you are very likely to share your feelings. When you’re ready, talk openly with individuals you trust about your stress. Recognize that you’re doing your best and that what you’re doing is sufficient.
