Re-Adjusting to Office Life Post Pandemic

So, you’re back in the office post pandemic! It’s a little bittersweet. You’re happy to be back in some regards. The day to day personal contact with colleagues and friends is great but it also feels a bit alien to you. It’s a different environment. There are new rules around masks, social distancing and Coronavirus etiquette. You’re having to navigate all of the office changes at the same time you’re having to re-adjust your own habits. It’s going to take some time to get used to things, both emotionally and physically. Here’s a few tips to help you through the change.

Remember, you’re not alone.

When change comes, we inevitably feel like we’re the only ones suffering or struggling. It’s easy to feel isolated even when we’re surrounded by people. This is one situation though where we can be sure that everyone is in the same boat. The pandemic has been the great equalizer in many areas and, with few exceptions, everyone has been temporarily displaced from their offices and can empathize with what you’re feeling. Lean on your colleagues, friends and family.

Take the time to re-personalize your work space.

There are a lot of dead office plants out there. This is a good opportunity to re-do and re-fresh. You may want to swap out old pictures of your kids for newer ones or change out other personal items. This will help you reset your mental space and get excited rather than anxious about your return.

Seek out help if needed.

You may have fears about the virus even if you made the conscious decision to return to work. We all do. Use the resources available at your company including Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), your Human Resources department and your supervisor or manager. They are all there to address your concerns and help you adjust quickly.

Find your new normal.

It’s not going to be exactly the same. Recognize this and embrace it. Different doesn’t have to mean worse. As with any change you can choose to focus on the positives or the negatives.  

Monitor your work home life balance.

You’ve been working from home and let’s face it, you may not have been putting in the long hours of work you used to when you were tied to an office. Don’t expect to jump from the hours you’ve been doing from home to the 10-14 hours you had been doing at the office. And even if you have been working the same hours from home, perhaps now is a good time to evaluate if you want that trend to continue. We’ve been overwhelmed with changes in the last few months and it’s hard to think about even more changes. The truth is though, now is a good time to make adjustments in your life and in your work.

Above all, be gentle on yourself and others. This will take time and we’re all struggling. You’ll find your way, we all will.

Eliza is the owner of two successful pet related businesses; Preferred Pet Partners, a pet sitting and dog walking company, and The Pet Business Coach, offering coaching and resources to aspiring or current pet related business entrepreneurs. She maintains two awesome blogs. One for pet parents https://preferredpetpartners.com/blog/ and one for pet business owners https://thepetbusinesscoach.dog/blog-page/.  Eliza also supports various animal rescue and shelter organizations. Eliza, her husband, and their three pets live in Nebraska. Visit her websites: www.preferredpetpartners.com or www.thepetbusinesscoach.dog.