Going Back to Office Post-Pandemic: How to Make It Less Stressful
Coronavirus in 2020 caused many changes in our working situations; many people lost their jobs, and most of the companies embraced the work from home idea. While turning our living space into a great place to work, there were many challenges.
Now the offices are reopening again as the cases of Covid-19 are finally dropping after the third wave. So now, for many, it can be a very challenging thing: transitioning back to Office work after making so many adjustments while working from home.
There can be several reasons that can make you feel anxious going back to office work. For example, how do you go back to the office world- mainly if there is some change that you have experienced, like dealing with disease or having a child?
Apart from the pressure of regular office life, people may be concerned about the safety standards if the cases start to rise again or if the other team members are serious about the Covid-19 or not.
These reasons can make it hard for anyone to go back to office life. But you do not have to worry about these problems as I am sharing with you some tips that would help your transition back to office work less stressful. So let’s get started:
#Ask Your Employer for Flexible Working Days
Returning to the office can be very challenging for many of you, especially if you are introverted and have to interact with more people. Maybe you have to manage your commute time and deal with the usual noise in the office. So this can take some time for you to get used to this kind of working environment.
In this case, you can ask your Employer to allow you flexible working days; visiting the office for a few days a week and for the rest of the week working from home can assist you in making your transition back to office work easy.
Dealing With Mistrust and Safety Issues
This may also happen that employees you are working with would not follow any pandemic safety protocols. If you do not trust your employer’s commitment, then this can also be hard for you. So, it becomes essential that you communicate your issues in these cases. You should tell your employer your expectations and ask for the Covid-19 safety policy.
You should comprehensively read the policy and see if your employer follows safety protocols. If they are not following, you can refer to the policy and say that it states that cleaning or sanitizing should be done regularly. You should also remember that you should not use an aggressive approach to these issues.
After all, health is what matters to you the most, and that is why make sure that there are safety measures in the workplace.
Embrace the Change
It is sure that after going back to the office, you would notice that your workplace is not the same. Covid-19 has impacted everyone to go through extreme changes, but it has also affected the workplace ecosystem to go through drastic changes.
There can be many things that may have been normal in the past but now are unnecessary. It may be difficult for you to adapt to these changes. So, you should rather embrace these changes instead of complaining about them. If your employer finds it essential to change certain things, then be part of these changes.
For example, your company can cut down on company expenses by removing the coffee machines in the cafeteria. So rather than being upset about it, you should think about putting yourself in employers’ shoes because they have to make such decisions to survive in this economy.
Practicing Self-Care While Going Through Change
When you are working to make your transition more accessible, there can be situations where you might feel difficult to return to the office. So, if you practice self-care, it would assist you in dealing with stress.
You should follow a healthy lifestyle by consuming your meals at the right time, having a sound sleep, and doing physical activities. You can add regular break times at work to refresh yourself during the working day.
Moreover, you can also have things at your desk that can help you relieve stress, like a comforting essential oil diffuser, stress ball, framed pictures of your loved ones, or you can also have your favorite snack.
Use Online Tools
While working from home, there may be many online tools you might have used, and if they help in collaborating with your team members, you should keep using these tools.
If you have not used it, you can try tools like ProofHub, which can help employees and project managers collaborate effectively. These online collaborative tools can improve team and businesses productivity, thus strengthening entire work systems.
Platforms like ProofHub can enhance work experience by enabling your coworkers to collaborate regardless of where they work.
Conclusion
Going back to the workplace post-pandemic can be great for socially engaging people, but on the other hand, it can be challenging for introverts who would suddenly have to mix with other team members after a long time. Employees may also be more concerned about safety while returning to work.
So, whatever the reason it is, if you feel anxious about going back to the office, you must follow a few steps. Asking your employers for flexible working days, embracing the change, practicing self-care, and using the best collaborative tools can help you adapt to new work norms, and you will feel comfortable going back to work.
Good luck!
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Also Read:
- How To Create A Hybrid Work Schedule To Meet Modern Work Requirements
- How Businesses Can Smoothly Manage Work Amid The Scare of Omicron
3. How To Set A Unique Vibe For Your Workplace?
Make It Less Stressful Going Back to Office Post-Pandemic was originally published in ProofHub Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
