5 Tips For Returning To Office After Work From Home

Work from home / Work from office

The pandemic of COVID revived the only law of nature that is change. We were taught to be adaptable in a whole new way. The same pandemic also formed two groups of people. First is the ones who couldn't be happier working from home and the second are the total opposites of the first group. They hated working from home and couldn't wait to get back to work from their office.

Somehow both the groups made their peace with the reality. But now has come the time to go back to the basics again. Hence, again a shift is on the way. The change will occur again, and so will the adjustments with it.

During the period of lockdown, a lot happened for everyone. It was not only the change in the work model that everyone had to adjust to. A lot of other waves of change any individual had to sail through. Therefore, any individual's mental and physical levels of energy will have a drastic change. For some, it will be a transformation in a good way for a few the contrary.

Therefore, for any group, as discussed at the beginning getting back to the office will require a set of pre-planning and preparation. The list of tasks to be done is not long, not complex, just a few things you can do to make yourselves feel better about the idea of working from the office. Here is the list:

1. Get Vaccinated (If you have not still)

The fear of this deadly disease still persists. The employers and the employees must adhere very strictly to safety and precautionary measures to maintain the better scenario we have developed after a lot of struggle and loss.

Your moral duty as a citizen, employee, and human is not to go back to work without getting complete vaccination. Wear masks, maintain social distancing, take good care of your health, and be very alert about everyone surrounding you. It is the only way to protect yourself and your loved ones by coming into your contact daily.

If your employer lacks any of these safety and precautionary measures to be taken, be courageous and responsible enough to question them and demand your rights as an employee.

2. Remember Good Old Times

Before the pandemic, when you went to the office regularly like a routine, what was that one thing about your routine you liked the most. What was that one thing from your routine you missed the most while being locked at home?

It can be your partner on the way to the office during the commute; it can be the conversations you had during the breaks with your colleagues, it can be coworker’s lunch that you shared, it can be anything about your routine that you enjoyed the most. Think of all those good old times and get yourselves excited to get back to those.

3. Be Flexible & Have Patience

There must be a lot of change that must have happened in your working styles, pattern, and your day as a whole. Getting back on track can undoubtedly take time. Don’t force yourselves to hurry that process. Let it happen at its own pace but maintain self-discipline. Give your mind and body time to adjust to the change happening. Allow it to acknowledge and process change.

As a team working together, there will be a lot of change happening overall. The team members may have changed, or just their working styles, skills, patterns etc., may have changed. Everyone will have to be flexible to let work happen smoothly.

The remote style of working bought an evolution in many of us as a person, employee, and a lot of other ways. Be flexible enough to cooperate with yourselves and others in these challenging times.

4. Be Kind

Mental health was a buzzword and a serious issue throughout lockdown periods. Many people lost their friends, family, and loved ones in this pandemic. Many suffered financial losses. If any of your colleagues, boss, or a canteen service person maybe is not the same with you as they were before the pandemic, be compassionate enough to let them be.

Do not take things personally and judge people around you and situations impatiently. We can never know what one suffers in their personal life. So, choose to be kind to people around you at the office and with yourself as well.

5. Catch Up With Your Coworkers

Well, it may be the case that the team you before work from home happened is different than the team you came back at the office. There are high chances of subtractions and additions. Discuss your thought process during this shift with the colleagues you find your friends as well. Bring some lightheartedness to team conversations.

Hearing “Me too” will make you feel better about something you are going through. Socialize with the colleagues who joined remotely, and you are meeting in person for the first time. Discuss your stories of Working From Home with each other. Exchange the tips and tricks on increasing productivity. These conversations shall be fun, exciting and will relax your anxiety regarding coming back to the office after a long period of working from home.

As per a LinkedIn survey, 70% of people reported their job satisfaction to have a robust growth while working from home. 61% of employees find it easier to manage work-life balance effectively by working remotely. 66% of employees do not want to return to work from the office work model. The idea behind sharing these figures is that it is okay if, after a lot of effort, brainstorming, and regressive debate with yourself, you still don’t want to go back to the office for work.

There are a lot of companies offering hybrid models of work and even permanent remote working opportunities. It is ultimately your responsibility to take a call for your career and choose your employer as an individual. Go for what you are ready for!