Returning to the office? Here are our helpful tips to ease the process

With COVID-19 lockdowns ending and restrictions easing, you may be facing the prospect of returning to the office or are already in the middle of this transition.

Whether you are returning full-time or returning under a hybrid work model, it is normal and completely rational to be feeling hesitant or somewhat stressed.

You may be worried about this transition as it meant you will need to make another adjustment in your life and your routine. Additionally, you may be hesitant to return if you have other commitments and responsibilities that are easier to manage when working from home. Regardless of how you are feeling, the below tips will help make your return to the office an easier process.

Establish a new routine

Easing back into a morning routine will make your return more manageable. It’s probably time to say goodbye to rolling out of bed five minutes before you’re meant to start. Instead, wake up earlier so that you have enough time in the morning to get dressed and prepare your lunch. I mean, unless you have the guts to travel into the office in your PJs, we’ll keep our advice to ourselves.

Reflect on the time you spent working from home and the habits you picked up that had a positive impact on your day. Maybe you replaced your morning commute with a morning run or swapped styling your hair for a 10-minute meditation session. Dedicate some time in your day for activities that you enjoy to ensure you maintain, or return to, a healthy work-life balance. Doing this will make the transition easier and prevent you from burning out.

Have a plan

Before you return, identify any specific causes of stress related to your return. Talk to your manager about these stresses and work together to create and implement a plan that will make your transition easier.

Worried about returning to the office full-time? Negotiate a schedule to work from home for half the week until you start to feel more comfortable and find your footing. This schedule can be changed as you ease back and may need to be altered a few times before you find the right balance.

If you have concerns regarding a transition into the office full-time, advocate for yourself and develop a long-term solution that demonstrates you are keeping the company’s needs in mind as well as your own. Maybe you have other responsibilities such as childcare or looking after your own health. Talk to your manager and discuss the possibility of having more flexibility to factor in childcare, school pickups, or any ongoing appointments. An example could be to leave work early and make up the hours by staying back late on other days.

Be safe

Despite government COVID-19 restrictions easing, your workplace probably has policies in place that will help keep you and your colleagues safe. Be aware of your company’s COVID-19 policies, such as social distancing requirements and hygiene practices. This will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and, especially heading into the colder months, the spread of the common cold and flu.

By following your company’s policies and being mindful of your own hygiene practices, you will make the transition easier and safer for everyone.

Setting boundaries

This is your chance to put some boundaries in place around your work and personal life. Focus on your own priorities. Maybe you prioritise spending time with your kids when you’re at home. In this case, you could ensure you don’t stay back late, or you could commit to not bringing work home.

You’ve just had months, maybe years, having all your communications limited to Zoom calls. Putting in the time to reconnect and strengthen these relationships will give you access to additional support around the office as well as an opportunity to make it a more enjoyable workspace through the friendships you form.

However, after the initial post-covid catch-ups, implement some boundaries to ensure you do not fall behind in your work. You don’t want to end up working late or bringing home work where it can be avoided!

Look after yourself

Returning to the office signifies a return to normality but it is still an adjustment that will take getting used to; much like when the world flipped upside down and you were forced to work from home! So, make sure you check in with yourself throughout the transition.

If you find yourself feeling burnt out, talk to your manager about your workload. Burnout will have an impact on efficiency at work as well as your mental health, leaving you feeling exhausted and emotionally fatigued. To prevent this, prioritise self-care and check in with how you are feeling, both emotionally and physically.

Look after others

Don’t forget to look out for your colleagues and the people around you. If you are feeling unwell and present with any COVID-19 symptoms, stay at home and inform your colleagues to prevent others from getting sick.

Be mindful that everyone experienced the pandemic differently so consider what your colleagues went through and be compassionate. They may have experienced personal loss, financial stress, and increased feelings of anxiety and depression. Or, have been personally impacted by the wider social issues and inequalities that were actively present. Check-in with the people around you to see how they are coping. If they are struggling, it may impact their mental health as well as their workload.

Whether you are feeling excited by the prospect of returning to the office or if you are feeling somewhat hesitant, it is important that you have a plan in place and are aware of your company’s policies to ensure you and your colleagues can safely return.

If you’d like more advice, ask us a question on this page or you can read through our other blogs here .