Ahsan Gardezi
As COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions begin to lift and pressure mounts to “reopen” mother-earth, workers will eventually return to their workplace. If you’re one of them – and feeling uneasy about the idea – you aren’t alone! Here’s how to prepare yourself for returning to your office.
Read more on going back to work: Overcoming Procrastination And Being More Productive
Mentally Rep Your Brain | Workspace Backlog
While some folks can’t wait to get back to the workplace, others have come to appreciate the benefits of working from home and are grieving for what they will lose as they go back to work.
As you prepare to go back, think about the aspects of your workplace life that you’ve missed while at home – such as:
- Socializing with co-workers
- Listening to audiobooks during your commute
- Picking up lunch from your favorite eateries
Visualize what you’re looking forward to. Practice extra self-care, and be hyper-aware of any effects your work return may be having on your mental health, such as depression or anxiety.
If you feel the return to work poses a serious threat to your mental health, seek professional help; ask if your employer offers any resources for workers who feel as you do. Also be sure your sources of information about the ongoing pandemic are accurate to keep your fears in check.
Expect New Protocols & Policies | How To Prepare Yourself For Returning To Your Office
Establishment and adhering to new procedures is automatically a given, after all we’ve experienced the unexpected pandemic. ‘What kind of protocols and policies’, we hear you ask? Well, something like the following:
- You will likely be asked to practice social distancing.
- Next, you may be asked to wear a mask or regularly wipe down your office equipment.
- You may be prohibited from using co-workers’ equipment.
- You may be asked to take a COVID-19 test or undergo a screening in which your temperature is taken, and you are asked whether you have symptoms.
Note: New rules regarding visitors at the worksite may be in place.
Now, let’s head towards how to prepare yourself for all that.
Stay Focused On The Bigger Picture
The transition to whatever the “next normal” is will be laden with unknown bumps and possibilities. Much of that is out of our control.
Further, the transition will feel different for each of us. Our highs and lows won’t always match those of others. What we can manage is our responses to our transition, and how we support others through theirs. When the transition feels discouraging, for example, have a prompt to restore hope.
According to Harvard Business Review, people should ask themselves: “A year from now, if someone asks how living through Covid-19 changed me for the better, how do I want to answer?”
Regardless of the difficulties you’ve suffered, you get to decide how this shapes the person you want to become. Ponder those possibilities every day, and allow them to bolster hope when you need it.
One Word | Fallacy | How To Prepare Yourself For Returning To Your Office
Remember, we are living through an unprecedented moment in history. This pandemic will change the world in ways we’ve yet to understand.
Many of the unknowns ahead represent extraordinary opportunity, and we each get to decide what part we play in that unfolding story. For the many moments during this epic story when the word “together” has taken on an entirely new meaning, our transition back to work will redefine it yet again. What part will you play in making it mean something extraordinary?
Don’t worry about the stickler-for-information mindset you fear turning into. Continue the common-sense hygienic practices you began while staying at home.
Keep washing your hands regularly once back in the workplace. Stay home if you’re sick. Tell your supervisor if someone at home has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Take care of yourself through nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
Well, there you have it guys! This was all about how to prepare yourself for returning to your office. We will be updating this piece in accordance with developments from world’s leading medical forums and business sites. If you have any questions, leave a comment in the section provided below.
Good luck!
