How to Cope with Heading Back to the Office

With the new pandemic measures in place, some of us may be struggling to adjust to yet another routine. And for those who are dreading the idea of working from the office, it may not be as bad as you might think.

According to the Harvard Business Review, people are mainly put-off by the long commute to and from the office. But while there are benefits to the organisation, working in the office will also help employees in the long run.

Not convinced? Think about the times you mulled over a thought or idea alone in your room. You may have felt like your plan seemed weak and not worth executing, resulting in you holding it off. But being in the office stimulates collaboration, which allows ideas to grow. If you’ve got a question or an idea you need to bounce off a colleague, all you have to do is turn around and ask.

Another group of people drastically affected by the work from home culture are the corporate newbies. A news article by Channel News Asia discussed how new employees felt that they couldn’t reach out to their teammates or supervisors for guidance due to working remotely. While being able to settle into a new job in the comfort of one’s home has its perks, being able to observe what happens on ground at the office can help new employees understand the company’s processes better.

To help you get into the groove of things, read on to find out what you can do to prepare for heading back to the office.

As you head back to the office, you’ll have to take a few additional factors into consideration. Don’t jump straight into a tonne of work without rest. The added travel time, office chatter and physical meetings may leave you feeling a little drained.

Ease back into the flow of things by not packing too many meetings into a day. Check your calendar in advance for upcoming meetings to make sure that most of your meeting notes or presentation is ready the day before. Rushing things last minute may cause avoidable mistakes like typos and faulty slides, making you feel demoralised.

You can also spruce up your office gear to make things a lot more comfortable for you. For those who are sensitive to noise (or you’ve gotten used to the peace at home), invest in a good pair of headphones. Especially one with active noise cancellation and long battery life. And if you’re sensitive to odours, a small essential oil diffuser will freshen up your work area.

It’s been a while since you saw your office mates. And it’s OK to feel a little awkward. But you shouldn’t let the wall between you and your colleagues stay. Break it down and start simple conversations. Ask them about how they’re adjusting to working in the office or check in if they want to grab lunch together.

On top of that, if you’re met with any work-related issues, get into a quick chat with your supervisor. Being in the office brings you closer to work processes. You’ll get to know the people whom you’ve only seen online and form new bonds in the workplace. Plus, you can contribute to your organisation’s ecosystem by improving the workflow through collaboration. 

This one’s for the self-proclaimed hermits. Previously, you may have found it rather tiresome to leave home to meet your friends after a long day of work. But now, it’s time to make TGIF plans. A dinner with some of your closest friends after a long week can really help you decompress and prevent work burnout.

Other than making plans outside of work, this is the perfect chance for team bonding activities. Initiate dinners or get-togethers after work with your team, especially the newbies, to get to know them better. While there are those who may not need a push to warm up to the organisation, there will be some who are just a tad shy. A no-fuss option would be to have drinks in the office to end off the week or celebrate a project’s success will make the newbies feel welcomed.

You may still feel a little drained as you adjust to heading back to the office. And yes, it’s true that some people just feel better WFH. Voice out if you know that your productivity will increase significantly if you remain WFH. Discuss alternatives with your supervisor and work out a timetable where you’re in office for important meetings or two days a week.

If you’re still feeling the inertia to leave home at all after reading this, don’t worry. Take your time to ease into the flow of things. It may feel foreign or weird at first, but just remember that there’s no harm in trying out a new routine – it may be beneficial to you after all.

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