Two years have passed since the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus and it is almost time to get back to the usual normal. Since everything is going the way, it used to be, people are finding it hard to cope with the changes once again. More than half of the working population is concerned about getting back to the office after two long years. And let us face it the people looking forward to returning to the office seem to be in the minority. This transition is quite difficult for a lot of people and thus, so many people are leaving their jobs searching for the ones that offer work from home instead. Therefore, below is the stress-free way to go back to the office after COVID.
Start by focusing on the positives
The first and most important aspect of going back to the office is looking at the positives. Well, working from home has been so easy; one could work at his own pace, wearing whatever one likes, and lying-in bed. No matter how difficult it is to give up flexibility there are some positives to doing the same. For example- building social connections and curbing the loneliness many of us experienced during the lockdown. Apart from that, working from the office means you don’t have any of the fewer distractions we had while working from home.
Get rid of the mixed feelings you have
Working from home ensures that you have a fixed income while being safe. Now that the COVID restrictions have been pulled off and the cases are going down with each passing day, there is no doubt that you will be equally safe. Yes, one might get anxious before taking public transport and traveling with strangers but one must consider the fact that more than half of the population is already vaccinated. Also, adhering to the rules like wearing a mask and frequent sanitization can further lower the risk of infection.
Easing the transition back to the office
Yes, the transition is scary, wearing formals and office apparel is scary, and getting up early in the morning is super scary. But if you start thinking from a career perspective, it will show your commitment to your work and your flexibility to go through another transition which is your job indeed. Returning to work may feel overwhelming at times but slow and steady steps can make this journey better.
Do not feel guilty
Since work from home lasted for a while, everyone is loving that. Most people do not even want to go back to work. So, if you are one of those people there is no need to feel guilty. This will just put pressure on you and will make your anxiety grow. There will be some desirable things absent and it is okay to feel some sense of loss. Moreover, the adjustment period can last longer than most people expect.
Try to be prepared
As soon as you get to know the date of your office re-opening, make sure you make routines for yourself as there will be in the office itself. Try to wake up before time, dress up, and then start working. This will make you adjust to the changes that you will have to go through once you are in the office. Remind yourself that this change is a part of your life. Getting ahead of time and getting back into the habit before you return to the office can help you a lot.
Get rid of the rituals ahead of time
We must all agree that working from home gave us some really bad habits that one should get rid of. For example, all through the pandemic, we made this habit of hitting the snooze button more and more. Once you start going to your workplace this is something you should avoid.
And since no one has purchased anything suitable for the office in two years, maybe now you can purchase some things for yourself. This can also help you to serve as a small positive distraction in what might otherwise be a stressful scenario for you. I am pretty sure most of us are also feeling a little bit anxious and that is completely normal. Once you start your journey again, you will feel a lot better.
Office life has its perks and challenges. Nevertheless, we cannot forget the fact that we still get to see our colleagues with whom every day seems worth it. Also, that is a place where you can focus on your job-related responsibilities. No wonder our homes became the place where one could feel safe but since everything is getting back to normal this work from the office will bring you a lot of opportunities.
The work from the office will give you more space at home since we all had to turn our homes into a home office. The past two years were tough for everyone and no surprise returning to work might trigger some of the pre-existing anxiety. But once you adapt to that change, you will see that this is something that was missing throughout.