Thousands of people in the U.S. had to deal with changes in the way they work every day. For many, that meant working remotely for well over a year. Now, some companies are encouraging their employees to return to work in person.
But, with so much uncertainty still circulating, it’s normal to feel uneasy and anxious about going back to the office. Our brains grow accustomed to working a certain way, and this change to a “new normal” can be overwhelming.
So, what can you do to manage that anxiety? How can you deal with the stress that comes with uncertain change?
Let’s cover a few tips you can use to manage your worries and cope with a new normal while focusing on your well-being.
Establish a New Routine
Everyone benefits from routines—from kids to adults. If you’re anxious about getting back to work, start establishing a new routine now so you’ll be comfortable with it by the time you have to get back to the office.
Your routine should include getting enough rest and focusing on your sleep hygiene. Try going to bed at approximately the same time each night and waking up at the same time every morning. If you’ll need to get up earlier for work than you’ve been doing, try getting up a bit earlier each day until you hit your desired time.
Working up to it slowly will make the transition easier. If you’re interested in learning about better sleep, visit our insomnia page.
Having a morning and evening routine will give you a sense of control and security. That allows you to feel less overwhelmed when everything else seems stressful.
Ease in Slowly
Talk to your boss about how you can gradually return to the workplace. You might start out by going into the office one day a week. This will give you time to mentally prepare, get through the day, and recuperate before you have to go back.
This way, your brain can get used to the fact that being at work is safe. When you adjust your thoughts gradually, rather than all at once, it’s better for your mental health and will ease some of your worries. At the very least, it can make it easier to keep them under control.
Think Positive
After a year and a half of working at home, it’s easy to let your mind wander to the worst possible places. You might think about all the things that could go wrong in the office. What will it be like to be around other people? Will the commute be challenging? Is it really safe to go back to work?
While it’s not always easy to banish negative thoughts, you have to actively fight back against them. Doing so will allow you to think more positive things and establish a clearer, happier mindset about returning to work in person.
If you’re struggling to do that on your own, or you can’t seem to shake your anxious thoughts, you’re not alone. Feel free to reach out to our office if you’re continuing to struggle. This pandemic isn’t over yet. While people might be “tired” of it, we’re still in the thick of it. It’s okay to be anxious about how going back to work will impact you.
We can help you get to the root cause(s) of that anxiety and give you the tools and techniques needed to manage it when you have to go back into the office and adjust to a new sense of normalcy.
