Just as several countries, states, and organizations continue to lift COVID-19 restrictions occasioned by the outbreak of the pandemic, employees are beginning to return to work, whether partially or fully.
Both large and small companies are opening up their office to workers in different capacities because they have deemed it safe to do so. However, some people are still anxious about getting back to work due to several factors.
A survey by PwC showed that 70% of workers gave several reasons for their unwillingness to return to work. For some, the fear of getting sick is palpable, but for others, getting exposed to public transportation is a challenge. Some parents are also concerned about the possibility of homeschooling and the absence of trustworthy childcare solutions.
Whether or not you have these concerns, if you need to return to work, this post will offer tips to help you make the transition back to work.
Revamp your workspace
A lot has changed resulting from your absence from the office and the outbreak of the pandemic, and having a comfortable workspace can help you adapt better to the change.
Uncluttering your workspace and adding pictures of your loved ones can make your space feel more inviting and conducive. Uncluttering also ensures that you spend less time looking for one document or the other. In view of the pandemic, it is also easier to maintain hygiene and COVID-19 prevention guidelines in an uncluttered office.
So, throw out all the things you don’t need or send them to storage.
Rework your sleep schedule
The lockdown period and the time spent working from home will most likely have affected your sleep schedule. Most people working from home in the past months created convenient schedules and different sleep schedules including daily naps and later wake-up times.
But if you’re returning to work, you’ll need to revert to your old sleeping habits to ensure you make it to work on time and still get good amounts of rest. It might take a while, but your internal clock will eventually adjust.
Handle stress and get support
Returning to work might stress you out, especially if you still have worries about resuming work amid the pandemic. Having an anti-stress oil diffuser or a stress ball in your office can help you cope better in the office.
However, if you’re dealing with major issues like PTSD, anxiety, or depression, it is important to let your employer know and also talk to a mental health professional for assistance.
Practicing self-care can also help you ease the stress and tension and settle in better.
Preparing your kids for your return to work
It is one thing to prepare yourself to return to work, but it is another thing to prepare your children. If you have been home with your kids in the past months, it’ll be a major change for them to have you return to work.
Hence, it is important to inform your kids in advance that you will be returning to work. Listen to their concerns, allow them to express their emotions, and help allay whatever fears they might have about your return to work.
Discuss how important it is for you to return to work, and share thoughts with them. If you have more than one child, spend some personal time with each of them. Assure them that you care for them, and make them feel better about the impending change.
Decide on a means of communication when you’re away so that your kids can reach you when they need to. It is necessary to take some time to talk to your kids frequently in the first few weeks of your return to work so that they don’t feel your absence too much.
You can also get your kids involved in your preparations for work and communicate with them about what you look forward to upon resumption.
Make plans for a Nanny
If your children will be home alone when you return to work, you might need to assess whether you’ll need a caregiver to look after them. Depending on their ages, the child protection policy in your locality, and your children’s level of independence or responsibility, leaving your child home alone can either be good or bad. If your kids are not old enough to care for themselves, then you should hire a nanny who will look after them while you’re away.
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