by Darryl Gordon
As the world opens up after the COVID-19 pandemic, how are employees going to transition back to office life after months of working at home?
Some companies have answered that question by stating that their employees will work from home until 2021. Some companies are making it flexible so you can come into a work building when it is convenient. And depending on the state, some companies still have employees working from home.
At some point in the future however, we will all need to work our way back into the building. What practical steps can you take to transition smoothly back into work?
The reality is that, until an effective vaccine is found for COVID-19, it is still a real threat and so it looks like we are entering a “new normal” as far as work is concerned.
So what can you expect in a post-COVID-19 work world? We’ll talk about what you can expect and provide suggestions on how to cope as you transition back to work in a post-COVID-19 world.
Transitioning Back Into the Office After COVID-19
Take it One Day at a Time
This season has been trying for everyone. Hearing of soaring infection numbers and death rates has been traumatic.
It’s alright to acknowledge your raw emotions as you return to work. Speak with a counselor or mental health professional to get the help you need so that you can be in the right frame of mind to work.
There will be a lot of adapting we all have to do in a post-pandemic world. Preparing your mind for this and getting the help you need to cope, will make you successful at transitioning.
Virtual Work May Still Be a Large Part of Your Day
By now, you have seen the color of your co-workers’ walls and know they have an adorable dog named Chewie. It is likely that virtual meetings are going to be another post-pandemic norm.
With that comes a lot of sitting at a desk and staring at the blue light coming from your computer for several hours a day. Researchers have shown that sitting down for long hours at a time can lead to heart problems.
If you will be sitting at your home desk for long virtual meetings, in addition to doing your regular work, we recommend you schedule physical activity into your day. This is something you have to be intentional about. And while it may be harder to motivate yourself to getting exercise every day, it is an important part of staying healthy.
Physicians recommend 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week. Move around to get your heart healthy.
Continue to Protect Yourself
While we may be cleared to go to work, COVID 19 spread is still real. Thus, you should continue to protect yourself. Most institutions were going through different disinfection protocols leading up to the pandemic.
From the look of things, it seems these types of “deep-cleaning” exercises may continue for a while. But nothing should stop you from carrying your own hand sanitizer, gloves and face masks.
Different Work Models
As much as we would like things to go back to how they were before the pandemic, things will be different going forward.
For instance, you may find that your company institutes a “shift model” even in industries where this did not exist before. In order to reduce the numbers of people in buildings and to continue to prevent the spread, some companies may move to this.
Going back to the first point about making sure you take care of your mental health, moving to a different model of working may create some friction for you at first. If your company gives you the opportunity to participate in Digital Coaching, or virtually through a call-in or video service, don’t be shy to take them up on that offer, especially if you are feeling stressed, depressed or have anxiety.
With the right tools and counseling, this type of new territory can be traversed.
Learning and Adapting to New Software
With companies making sure that people are properly socially distanced, you may have to learn new software that allows you to continue to work with a team. By now, we are all getting to be experts at Zoom and other video conferencing tools, but what about other collaborative work-lace software?
Nobody enjoys learning new software. It is time-consuming and can take away from your regular work.
Thankfully, we live in an age where Google and YouTube exist. Both can offer you very quick overviews of popular software and quickly. If you’re in a pinch for time, this can help you.
(Darryl Gordon has over 20 years of experience focused on health and writing for numerous publications. His passion about health, wellness, fitness, wellbeing and diet is evident ion hi SoCal lifestyle. His Super Bowl promotion was named “Best New Idea on the Super Bowl” by Advertising Age magazine.)
2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks