Working at the leisure of our homes is a thing of the past. Offices have re-opened after the pandemic, and people have been summoned back. It will be a delight for some who were trapped in their houses. However, a majority of people aren’t happy about this.
Being physically back in the office is quite a deal for 51% of individuals who fear getting sick while commuting. It is not easy to have a comfortable, homely environment and suddenly be struck by lightning when asked to return back to the workplace.
The fear of returning to the workplace isn’t irrational or even shocking; to some extent, we all imagined this. However, there could be some efforts to make things easier. Let’s get straight into the topic without further ado.
5 Things To Expect While Getting Back In The Office
Hvovi Bhagwagar, a therapist based in Mumbai, lowers his apprehension to the continuously uncertain state of mind in which people have been living. Returning to the office isn’t easy, so here are some common expectations you can keep:
Heightened Physical Exhaustion
Whether you commute for 15 minutes or 50, it is likely to take a toll on your health. Personal AC cars are no exception to traffic jams; physical exhaustion is not only a result of public transport.
It was a common mechanism for individuals working from home to stay up late, wake late, and ultimately not care for their health. Another point is socialization, which is necessary but also equally drains you out.
Thus, the very first thing you can expect is increasing mental and physical exhaustion. Things will continue to be a little overwhelming at first, so don’t worry!
A Massive Change In Team
Once back in the office, you might witness a massive change in your team. It is not necessarily within the people, but things ought to become different than they used to be.
For instance, a certain department might have been laid off during the pandemic, and free qualified team members are retained back. However, they now handle a different job role which might be surprising for you.
Having a wider perspective is crucial, and my personal suggestion would be to leave behind the ties that existed before the pandemic. This will help you to seamlessly move forward.
Health Screening Discipline
How can we forget this? Health screening has become an important protocol for various commercial complexes, and your office isn’t an exception. The CDC made it mandatory for employers to conduct regular health checks for employees.
It’s 2024 and we have left behind 2020. However, some health screening processes are still mandatory. As a matter of fact, a lot of employers have already started thinking about the mental health of their workers, too.
It is very common for employees to feel anxious or overwhelmed. Hence, in order to put them at ease, various mental health campaigns are conducted within office premises.
Regular Meetings To Decide Plans
Working remotely or digital nomadism puts you out of a working discipline. The flexibility that comes along with these two puts a person in their comfort zone, which might be difficult to change.
But aren’t managers experts in pulling us out of our leisure? This is exactly why industries conduct back-to-back meetings, seminars, and collaborative sessions to discuss plans for the future.
After all, we are humans at the end of the day. And changing psychology isn’t a piece of cake. So, have a friendly, informal meeting with your team members before joining the office to ensure things are going as you’ve planned.
Things Might Not Be The Same Like Before
Things change, people change. It doesn’t matter if an office resumes its WFO facilities after six months of the pandemic or two years. Restrictions are still going to be the same.
Slack co-founder and CEO Stewart Butterfield points out that the work we are expecting to return to is never going to be the same. There would be so many changes from teams to designations and even our bosses.
It is ideal not to get depressed by seeing fewer colleagues or a vacant cafeteria on Friday afternoons. The pandemic certainly has some after-effects on office ambiance.
6 Tips For A Seamless “Back In The Office” After Prolonged Remote Working
After reading the aforementioned expectations, you might get some panic attacks. But honestly, there’s nothing to worry about. Nobody embraces change, but it is deep-rooted in the corporate culture. Hence, here are some tips that will help you to settle down smoothly after a long break:
Check Things Up With Your Team
Managers see two resources working together, but we are people deep inside. We have feelings, and being on the same page gives us a heightened sense of security.
So, before you actually return to your workplace, have a small, informal meeting with your team. You might share a co-ride with them or ask them for lunch.
This will help you determine what they are feeling or thinking, or in some cases, you might also get some valuable insight. But the key point to remember here is that the meeting shouldn’t be at office premises if you want them to be transparent.
Re-Build Your Position
Remember how I talked about a change in a team or even your bosses? You can have a positive or negative impression before the pandemic, but this might be the best time to change that perception.
Do not be scared to take up some extra load in the first few days because things will eventually settle down. You can also seek help from your seniors or managers to get things done on time.
Our corporate positions somewhat define how we are as a person. A successful impression can take you to heights, so why not do it?
Taking Care Of Your Health
The daunting experience of coming back in the office shouldn’t always be the same. Make sure you can adapt to the environment by not compromising your physical or mental health.
You should remember one thing: the office work is never-ending. Even if we sit for 24 hours straight, it won’t end. So, why not take extra care of our minds and physical health alongside being more productive?
Find some leisure time for breaks, eat well, and most importantly, get enough sleep. All these tips will surely help you settle down seamlessly in the “old-yet-new” office surroundings.
Have A Broader Perspective
There are some changes we might bring within us as humans. Working from the office and working remotely are two different concepts. You can expect the same benefits in both ways.
People might be less in the office, and work might deck up a bit. So, don’t panic about new responsibilities or sometimes more. It will eventually add up to your personal skills, so there’s nothing to get overwhelmed or stressed.
Performing better in your new job role will prevent delays and conflict and will eventually provide you with a sense of relief. And what’s better than getting good at a job that you always dreamt of?
Help Other Colleagues
One of the greatest gifts we have as humans is the ability to help others. Make the most of it in your workplace by helping colleagues who are behind you.
Maybe someone has joined later, or someone is getting too anxious about new changes. Help such individuals by making them a part of your team. Socializing will help them get off their shyness or overburden themselves.
Your team leader or manager is bound to help you when you don’t find things right. And inculcating the same behavior within yourself eventually puts you at a seniority level.
Take Care Of Hygiene
COVID restrictions might have curbed down, but the fear does not vanish completely. If you take care of hygiene protocols right after you are back in the office, you keep yourself and others safe.
Seeing the bigger picture is important, which is why I am stressing about being as clean and hygienic as possible. Discipline comes from within, which eventually ensures everyone’s safety.
Do not forget to remind people around you about the same. After all, why should we be the only ones following the protocol? It is the same for all, right?
Summing It Up
Last but not least, working inside an office cubicle will not be the same as sitting with your laptop and a pillow at the back. In order to experience a smooth transition to a conventional workplace setting, it is important to follow the aforementioned tips.
Remember that we all are in this together; you are not alone! Seeking help from others and including people in your time does no harm. Socialization, of course, at a distance will eventually lead to productive and happy employees.
So, what’s stopping you from doing that? With this, the article comes to an end. Do let us know your journey of returning back to the office in the comment box below. Thank you for reading till the end!
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