During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have had the opportunity to work remotely for your employer. Working from home rather than going into the office every day likely changed your schedule and your approach to tackling your professional responsibilities.
Perhaps your employer has recently instructed you to return to the office. After working from the comfort of your home for months, you might feel anxious about this change. It will likely take some time to get used to working from an office again. But there are plenty of things you can do to make this transition easier. Here are a few suggestions to ease your anxiety about coming back to the office.
Sharing Space
At home, you may have had a high level of control over your immediate environment. You probably don’t miss all the distractions that were present back at the office! But now, you’ll have to adapt to sharing space with your coworkers once again.
You may want to use time management tools to help you stay on task. In addition, don’t hesitate to set appropriate boundaries with your coworkers – if you need peace and quiet, let them know!
Commuting
When you were working from home, you did not have to commute to and from the office. This probably freed up some time in your schedule and eliminated a source of stress from your day. Now, as you head back to the office, you’ll be commuting again.
Take some time in the evening to prepare for the morning so that you won’t be rushing before work and start adjusting your sleep schedule to go to bed earlier. You can also make your commute more enjoyable with podcasts, audiobooks, or playlists with your favorite songs.
Office Politics
Sometimes, the last thing you want to do is deal with office politics. It’s normal to disagree with your coworkers once in a while, but no one enjoys listening to workplace drama. While working remotely, you could basically tune out office politics, which might have come as a relief!
If one of your coworkers starts gossiping with you, remember that you have the right to exit the conversation politely. While you need to be cordial to your coworkers, you do not have an obligation to participate in workplace gossip.
Social Anxiety
Perhaps you simply feel a little anxious about the idea of interacting with your coworkers and manager every day. It’s perfectly normal to feel a sense of social anxiety after spending so much time alone at home. In fact, there’s a good chance that many of your coworkers feel the same way. It’s okay if you would prefer to keep small talk to a minimum for now.
It may be a good idea to choose an activity that helps you relax and recharge when you get home. For instance, you could try doing yoga or reading a good book.
Changing Schedule
Working remotely allowed you to enjoy a more flexible schedule. Maybe you made appointments for the middle of the day, or maybe you were able to take more frequent breaks when you were feeling low on energy. Going the extra mile to stay organized will be helpful during this transition period.
Furthermore, you may want to talk to your coworkers about proposing a flexible work-from-home policy to your boss or manager. You might still be able to enjoy some perks of remote work, even when you’re typically at the office!
Are you feeling anxious about returning to the office after working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic? Career counseling can help. Contact me me today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.