As things start to improve and more people are getting vaccinated, many companies are opening up the doors for their staff to return to the office. However, because most people have become used to working remotely, this has made it hard for them to go back to in-person work. If you’ve been having feelings of anxiety, stress, or nervousness about working amongst your peers, here are 5 tips for mentally coping with this problem.
Look at this Return in a Positive Light
Strive to see this return to a brick-and-mortar building as a good thing. Identify some new changes that could make it a good thing. These changes could be working with new people. Or there could be some new safety standards the company has set in place. Whatever these changes are, look at them as a positive fresh start for your in-office return.
Establish a Transition Plan
The second tip is to have a plan when starting your work transition. Consider discussing some things with your boss about taking baby steps with working in-person. Share with him or her about starting off working once or twice a day in the office. This slow transition could help you get used to working with people again. Once you have felt comfortable with working once or twice a week, you could then work your way to working a full week in the office- if you please.
Converse with your Team
Another way to mentally cope with working in person is by keeping the lines of communication open with your team. Let them know exactly how you’re feeling with this transition. Are you comfortable with it? Do you need some more time to get used to working in the office? Whether you feel ready or not with working in person, it’s worth also asking your boss and team about what is expected of you. These conversations give you a lot of information to work with when thinking about your return.
Maintain the Conveniences You’ll Miss Working from Home
There are a lot of things you’re going to miss about working from home. Being able to do your laundry, run errands during the day, or cook more often. However, there is a way you can still enjoy those conveniences while being back in the office.
Depending on your schedule, consider running your errands in the evening or early in the morning before work. Maybe you could squeeze out sometime during lunch to run them. Hire a laundry service to wash your clothes if you can afford it. If not, consider hand washing some of your clothes or using your apartment building’s washer and dryer. As for your meals, do your prepping for that every Sunday and you should be good to go. Follow these tips to maintain some of the conveniences you’ve experienced while working from home.
Think Positive Thoughts When you Start to Feel Negative
When you eventually go back to working in the office, it’s natural to start thinking negatively. You may start thinking about all of the things that could go wrong, like having a disagreement with a co-worker or showing up wearing flip-flops. When you start to feel that way, try to turn things around in your mind by doing something positive. Get on the phone with a friend or start organizing some things in your kitchen. Doing something constructive to take your mind off what could or could not happen on your first day could help you cope with the in-person jitters.
Many companies are transitioning into going back to work in person after two years of remote working. If this is your company, consider following these tips if you find yourself stressing about going back. Share your thoughts in the comments section below about working remotely or in person. As usual, be sure to like or share this post with someone you care about.
