5 Tips to Ease your Return to The Office
New Paragraph
As mask-wearing and density restrictions lift around the country, many workplaces will be managing a return to the office.
Some people may be excited about the prospect of social interaction and a change of scene. Others will feel an intense case of ‘back-to-school butterflies’.
It is natural to have a range of emotions. Most of us will feel conflicted about the shift from remote to face-to-face working. Rest assured, there are many things you can do to improve your readiness and smooth the transition.
Read on for our five top tips on easing the transition back into office.
Expect and accept that there will be stress
Change is hard for everyone. Accept that a change in working arrangements is likely to cause some stress. This will help you to navigate it successfully. New Paragraph
You may find yourself experiencing volatile elements such as unexpected traffic delays on your trip in/out, or long lunch queues that weren’t part of your work-from-home routine. Crowded public transport and busy streets may also feel unwelcome. As an HSE professional, you are likely programmed to consider risks, but it’s important not to let these overwhelm you.
Before heading back to the office, practice stress-relief behaviours at home. Try to develop habits that can help you deal with the stress. Making a cup of tea, a short walk or a simple breathing exercise can be great techniques for reducing anxiety. Use mindfulness to deal with moments that feel a little overwhelming once you are back in the office.
Look forward to the positives
Take a retrospective look at your time in the office and think about what you missed most. Which of these things remain and how can you embrace them?
Going to a special lunch spot, or taking a coffee run with a favourite co-worker can help you adjust to a new rhythm and ignite some excitement for your new schedule.
Consider some of the practical benefits of office life. Communication and collaboration with colleagues can improve in a face-to-face environment. At the very least, you will get your home back for living in!
Be patient with yourself
Don’t expect to jump straight back into the old in-office rhythm. Transition takes time and requires patience.
Accept that you may struggle a little at first and avoid being too hard on yourself. Keep in mind that others may be struggling too. Everyone else is experiencing this transition right alongside you.
Planning a phased transition might help to build back to full-time in the office. Setting mini-milestones or considering a hybrid arrangement may help you set the right pace.
Ask for help and be helpful
Just because you might be going back to an office that feels familiar, doesn’t mean that everything is back to normal. Your team dynamics and professional expectations have undoubtedly changed.
There’s no shame in asking for help trying to navigate the new (new) normal. Mangers, work colleagues and mentors can all form a network of support for each other. Some organisations offer confidential counselling and Employment Assistance Programs (EAP) programs, which are often underused. Reach out for assistance, or speak to others who show signs of struggling.
Celebrate your resiliency
We have all become much more resilient during this pandemic. Through COVID-19’s ups and downs we have learned to expect the unexpected and take new information as it comes. This new-found strength is something we should acknowledge and appreciate.
Give yourself credit for your growth. Remind yourself that there’s probably nothing that’s going to pop up in your inbox that’s crazier or more unexpected than what we’ve dealt with this last 18 months.
How we can help
What if a feeling of dread continues long after you should have settled back in the office?
Perhaps the problem doesn’t lie with face-to-face work, but is a deeper-lying issue with the job itself.
Long-term unhappiness at work can lead to reduced productivity and health concerns. This can be damaging to you and your career.
It could be time to reach out to your Safe Step recruitment consultant for some advice about finding a role that’s the right fit for you.
Regardless of how or when you return to the office – good luck! We hope the transition goes well for you.
Ramtin Parvar is a Principal Consultant at The Next Step, Melbourne. He is passionate and innovative talent acquisition professional with a focus on mid to senior level recruitment of HSE professionals.
Other articles you might be interested in
