How To Prepare for The Return To Office Work
How do you prepare for the return to office work?
- Be aware and plan ahead
- Reestablish your sleep schedule
- Revitalize your working space
- Exude positivity
Remote work has been the norm for most workers during this year’s long pandemic period. Most of us have been accustomed to working from home that we may not be ready for the return to office work. While infection rates are still fluctuating here and there, and it’s still impossible to project when the return to office work will happen, it’s still crucial to be prepared for when it happens. By knowing how to prepare for the return to office work, you won’t be taken by surprise by all of the changes you would have to face.
For some people, the transition might be difficult or anxiety-inducing. We’ve prepared some tips to help you with the preparations that you need to do before going back to work in the office. Keep reading to learn more!
Be aware and plan ahead
To gain as much control of the situation as you need, you need to get as much information as you can. Without enough information, our worries might start to spiral out of control and we start to overthink. The simple way to avoid this is to ask questions and be aware of what your company plans to do regarding the transition.
With this information, you should plan ahead to what you want to do during the first day. What time should you wake up? What things should you bring? Do you have company property that you need to return? What work tasks will you accomplish that day?
Moreover, planning even the basic decisions should take a load off of your anxiety. What will you eat for lunch that day? What shoes will you wear? Create a concrete plan and follow it for the day to lessen the things you have to think about.
Reestablish your sleep schedule
When people work from home, they tend to not follow a strict sleeping schedule as they once had. At the very least, that schedule will have changed over the course of the year. You may be sleeping less, sleeping more, maybe you now enjoy an afternoon nap. No matter the case, you need to be prepared to follow a stricter sleeping schedule when you return to the office. You wouldn’t want to be dozing off on your first day back!
Revitalize your working space
We expect that it’s not just your sleeping schedule that has changed but you, as a person, have too. The pandemic posed more challenges for everyone and the experience has left us changed for the better. If you haven’t been back to your office since the start of the pandemic, chances are that it still looks and feels like the old you. Make it your first step to revitalize your working space to fit the new you better. This way, you’ll be able to work more comfortably.
Exude positivity
As we mentioned earlier, this transition may be a stressful time for some of your coworkers. That’s why every bit of positivity in the office will go a long way. Try to start light conversations, make jokes, and encourage a positive working atmosphere overall. People who are still feeling anxious will find comfort in how easy it is to fit back in despite all of the uncertainties.
Try to keep the people still working from home in the loop as it is easy for them to feel left out once you’re back in the office. And while it’s important to exude positivity, you shouldn’t force it if you feel like it and focus on handling your own emotions.
Key Takeaway
If you know how to prepare for the return to office work, then you should remember to help others with their transition as well. Embrace the change, prepare for the uncertainties, plan ahead, and try to follow the tips in this article!
Another way to prepare for the office is to ease into it. Before working back at the office, try working at a co-working space first, like Workplays! We cater to freelancers, startups, small businesses, or anyone who needs to get work done in a healthy environment! Inquire now to learn about our pandemic protocols or read more about our answers to frequently asked questions!
