After enduring lockdowns and quarantines and more than a year of remote work resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, employers are slowly planning on reopening their workplaces and asking members to return to the workspace.
The Reality of the Working Scene
For some, leaving the office and working indoors for over a year was a nightmare, and they would much rather go back to the ‘traditional’ working environment.
For some others, the idea of having to leave the safety of their home and their makeshift home office seems overwhelming, to the point where asked in a survey, 29% of people said they’d quit their job if remote working were not an option for their current workplace.
So it’s clear that the working norms have changed and will stay a somewhat gray area after the pandemic for both employers and employees, as returning to work has its pros and cons.
The Pros and Cons of Returning to Work
Working at Your Workplace
Pros: When you return to work, you can feel being more productive, less lonely, and can have firmer boundaries when it comes to your working hours—no working overtime while your family is having dinner in the next room.
Cons: On top of having to commute every day to work and leave a more prominent carbon footprint, things can get stressful when you think about going back to a place where more people will be gathered under one roof to work together.
That feeling is completely understandable, and there are ways you can ease your anxiety when it comes to going back to your workplace.
1. Visit your office before you jump back to work
Before you officially go back to work, dip your toes into the water. Go around your workspace and look around to make yourself more familiarized with the place.
After all, you’ve been away from a place you’re so used to for over a year, and there’s nothing wrong in taking the time to prepare for coming back to that space gradually.
You can tidy up your desk or surroundings while you’re there and add a plant or two to your decorations to make you feel better. The way your space looks has a huge effect on your mood while you’re there. So don’t underestimate the power of a well-kept working area.
2. Remember to have all the hygiene safety essentials with you
A great way to ease your mind when it comes to touching different surfaces and socializing with people again is to ensure you have all the fundamentals you will need.
Carry antiseptic hand sanitizers that kill germs and bacteria instantly, and try to use them before you eat something or after you’ve touched unfamiliar surfaces.
Many great hand sanitizers do the trick, one being Zylast. You can make sure of their quality and function with numerous Zylast reviews and order from their family bundles for you and your loved ones returning to the ‘normal’ life.
3.Get back into a better sleep schedule
Being able to sneak in a longer snooze instead of having to get up and commute to work has made all of us a little disoriented from our normal sleeping schedule.
Try to organize your sleeping hours before you officially go back to work to make the transition easier for both you and your family.
In the end, the most important thing is for you to feel comfortable with going back to work, and talking about problems you may be facing with this process is completely normal, so don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends, or professionals.