Three simple tips for effectively transitioning back to office working
23 November 2021
It can be a daunting task to once again venture beyond the four walls of your home office. If you were working at home for any length of time during 2020, you were part of the 25.9% of people in the UK who found themselves in the same situation.
There can be many aspects of returning to work that could be cause for apprehension amongst some workers. First and foremost, employees may be concerned about their personal health and safety, having to work in relatively close contact with colleagues again, after over a year of being told to keep their distance.
Furthermore, everyone will have settled into a new routine at home, which could have involved spending more time with family, or a greater focus on self-care. Having to contend with commutes once again in our daily routines means that it may be difficult to sustain the work/life balance we established over the past year. Whether you’re anxious about mixing once again within the office, or establishing a routine to cater for the ‘new normal’, consider our three top tips to make the transition as smooth as possible.
1. Take things at your own pace
Whether your employer has taken an all or nothing approach, or is happy to ease people back in gently, you should always feel in control about your return to the office. According to one guide, 65% of remote workers feel more productive when working at home. If you have proven yourself to be as productive when working remotely as in the office, it is worth using this as a bargaining tool with your employers to agree on a hybrid working model, if this would be more comfortable for you. With offices across the country welcoming workers back, so too are the pubs and bars which have waited many months to host after work drinks once again. As people return and start mixing again, you should not feel pressured into accepting invitations to social events in places you will not be comfortable. If you are afraid of missing out, consider suggesting a quieter spot, or book a table well in advance to avoid too much social mixing
2. Practice self-care
The chances are you’ve found yourself with more time to focus on your well-being outside of work when working from home. However, a return to the office brings with it other time-consuming commitments, from the commute to after work drinks. Ensure you continue to set some personal time aside in your daily routine – be it to exercise, read or simply do nothing at all.
Adapting to a new routine again can bring on feelings of stress or anxiety. To combat this, experts recommend stocking your desk with stress relievers, such as stress balls or perhaps your favourite snack.
3. Hit the reset button
With some people having last been to their usual workplace in March 2020, now is the perfect time to rid yourself of any bad habits, and implement positive changes to your professional life. Consider the elements you’ve struggled with whilst working from home, and think about how you will address these upon your return to the office.
Perhaps you’ve found communication with other employees or the company’s hierarchy challenging. If so, see if you can schedule regular meetings to reestablish these important relationships and communication channels. Or, you may have formed bad eating habits when last working in the office. See this as an opportunity to plan your meals more carefully, to both save you money and promote a healthier lifestyle. This is also all part of establishing a good routine, which can help make the transition a little easier.
