Before the pandemic hit us, I used to enjoy working from the office, as many other people did. The commute may have felt a little daunting, but once you’re in your work-and-play zone, and you have that first cup of coffee in the morning, life felt good again. Meeting colleagues who turned into friends, being able to work without familial interruptions and enjoying a meant-for-productivity kind of infrastructure are things I miss about pre-pandemic life.
As the COVID-19 situation is progressively improving in India, many companies have begun to get back to work from office arrangement. Change is the only constant, isn’t it? But how do you not get overwhelmed when returning to work from office? Here are tips.
Don’t overestimate your body
After the pandemic, it took us quite a while to adapt to the new normal. And even till today, many of us are still disoriented to some extent. I personally, often feel like normalcy is rather displaced; right now, for me, it doesn’t exist because we haven’t completely adapted to either of the sides, be it staying home or going out, as some restrictions are eased.
So if your office has reopened or is set to start soon, you may want to avoid returning to the previous version of your autopilot zone. In that version, we’d go to work five to six days a week, and possibly have the energy to make post-work plans. Now, many people who have started working from office have been feeling they feel more tired than usual if they commute to their offices.
Meghna Jaisingh, a finance professional based in Mumbai says, “I started working from office just a few days ago. While I was excited to return to work, I overestimated my energy levels. I would make post-work to-do lists, only to realise that I am actually too tired to do anything but absolutely nothing.”
“During the pandemic, staying up late and sleeping in was the norm. Getting to work at a specific time may be a shock to the schedule. Work on establishing a routine bedtime and get that in place before returning to work. Seven to nine hours of sleep has been shown to help people be more productive,” psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD told Cleveland Clinic.
Monitor your feelings about it
Not everyone will feel anxious about returning to the office and not everyone will feel happy about it. Some people may want both, thus seeking a hybrid work arrangement. However, if your office is reopening, it’s best to monitor your feelings about it. Do you feel anxious about falling sick? Does it feel uncomfortable to have so much social interaction after a period of working in isolation?
Dr Albers explains, “The first form concerns safety. People are anxious that when they leave their house, they may unknowingly contract COVID-19 or possibly spread it. The second type is around social interactions. Over the past year, we have been social distancing and lost practice of how to meet with people in person, look them in the eyes and engage in everyday chitchat.”
If you’re getting drained, don’t feel guilty about taking it slow, and if you must, speak to your manager about it.
However, if you’re brimming with energy and feel super pumped about working from the office, remember to be respectful of others’ boundaries and still practice precautionary protocols.
Take mini-breaks
It may get overwhelming to be around people all the time, after working from home for such a long period. You may take small breaks for some quiet time to rejuvenate yourself from over-stimulation. Take a stroll, have a cup of coffee alone, or just sit in a quiet zone listening to music.
Taking breaks will also help you de-stress and manage your anxiety better.
Make changes to your home life
Whether you are living independently, with a spouse, or with your family, your home life will have to change, just like it did, when you started working from home. Meal preparation, your availability during work hours, and even the kind of energy you can dedicate to home duties after work will have to be altered. If not, it will only add to your stress when work from the office resumes.
Vishesh Gadh, a young media and events professional, has returned to on-field work after almost a year of working remotely. “It is tiring, undoubtedly. But I enjoy how having to go to work at a specific time has brought a set routine in my life. Not all families understand that when you’re working from home, you’re still working. Being away from that kind of interruption was refreshing,” Gadh explains.
“In fact, I love that I fall asleep within minutes of hitting the bed now. My family is being understanding and they have automatically modified what is expected from me at home,” Gadh adds.
Take it one day at a time
Alisha Nagar, an IT professional who has to work from office, but not every day, says that the hybrid arrangement is helping her get used to the new normal. “I got so used to waking up right before my morning meeting and having freshly-cooked meals. I even found time to take out 30 minutes to do a quick yoga session,” Nagar says.
She further adds, “When I go to work, none of these things is possible, and to be honest, those were the very things keeping me sane. So I just take it one day at a time. I breathe, and I try to keep a positive attitude through the many changes I experience. And it helps!”
Take it slow, focus on managing your routine and anxiety for that particular day.
Also Read: The Side-Effects Of Attaching Your Self-Worth To Your Career