Love it or hate it, but the UK workforce is slowly starting to return to the office. On the 19th of July, the government ended the legal obligation to work from home, leaving the decision up to employers instead. While it’s still recommended to stay remote throughout the summer months, many business owners have already begun to filter workers back into the workplace. So, for those of you who struggle with the thought of ditching fluffy slippers for a 9-5 and busy commute, now is the time to mentally and physically prepare yourself for this transition.
While many businesses need to consider getting a flex loan to stay afloat, workers also need to be prepared for returning back to their offices. Here are 6 simple tips for settling back into the office with ease, whether it’s a hybrid or full-time return to the workplace.
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Reset Your Body Clock
While we all try to stay on the 9-5 grind, when you’re working from home, it’s easy to let old habits slip in. So, to prepare yourself for earlier work days, it’s recommended that you try and re-wire your body clock before your return to the office. The easiest way you can do this is by setting your alarm a little earlier every day until you reach the desired time. This allows your body to adjust to this new rhythm gradually, which generally delivers better results.
To make this process easier, it’s recommended that you do what you can to drift off earlier at night. Whether this includes cutting out caffeinated drinks or blue lights after a certain time or exercising daily, there are lots of ways this can be achieved.
Dress The Part
Like the rest of the work-from-home (WFH) population, you’ve probably become accustomed to working in comfy casual loungewear over the last year. While this attire will be sorely missed, it’s time to shift your focus to smarter attire as we return to more formal office environments. By sorting out your clothes and prepping your outfits before your return, it’s a great way to get your head in the game in advance.
Depending on the vibe of your office, the clothes that you will choose will vary. At the same time, no matter how formal or informal your workplace dress code is, it’s important to prepare outfits that make you feel comfortable, confident and powerful. In fact, maybe you can consider treating yourself to a few new office staples to make sure you’re feeling the best you possibly can for your return to work!
Declutter Your Workplace
As the old adage goes, a clear space equals a clear mind. While this is true for many things, it’s definitely correct when it comes to your personal workspace. Returning to work to a pile of documents and unopened letters is enough to make anyone feel anxious, so to make sure going back to the office is as stress-free as possible, we recommend organising this space as soon as possible.
Whether you pop in before your official start date or turn up on the day, ditching clutter that doesn’t serve a purpose is a simple and effective way to put your best foot forward at work. This will not only help to clear your mind but also help you to be more productive, so it’s a win-win all around.
Keep Lines of Communication Open
After working remotely for so long, it’s easy for communications to become severed. But as we gradually begin returning to the office, it’s common to have a lot of questions. Therefore, to make sure you’re as informed as possible on your return, communicating your thoughts openly is critical. From health and safety concerns to queries about flexible working models, now is the time to address any issues you may be unsure about. Not only will this give you precious peace of mind, but it might also lead to management clarifying these topics for the whole team as well.
This open communication shouldn’t just stop between you and your employer. Connecting to your fellow employees through this time is vital, as many of them may be sharing the same concerns as you. Whether this means grabbing a bite to each together at lunch or contributing more to the workgroup chat, there are loads of ways this can be put into practice.
Prioritise Your Mental Health
Life changes can be stressful, and with all the commotion that accompanies returning to work, it can be too easy to forget to look after your wellbeing. Therefore, one of the most important tips for returning to the office is to prioritise your mental health before anything else.
There’s no one way to do this, and different methods work with different people. However, carving some time out of your day for some precious ‘me time’ is a good place to start. By allocating this time to yourself, you can escape the stressors of everyday life to reflect, relax and decompress. You could use this time to meditate, exercise, read or do anything that makes you happy. On top of this, communicating with friends and family is another valuable way to look after your mental health throughout this time.
Set Healthy Boundaries
After spending so much time working remotely, it might feel natural to work long days at the office to make up for a lost time. However, if you spend too much time working and don’t spend enough doing things that are important to you, it can severely disrupt your work-life balance.
To prevent this from happening, we recommend that you implement boundaries that dictate when you should be starting and finishing work. By setting out these limits, it will prevent you from working overtime and will actually help you to be more productive when you’re on the clock. So, if you’re looking to re-enter the workplace while mastering a healthy work-life balance, this is the perfect place to start.
One last thing to remember when returning to the workplace is that you’re not alone. Millions of other workers will be adjusting to a new routine at exactly the same time as you. Whatsmore, after the initial period of adjustment, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll be able to settle back into old habits. With this in mind, we hope these 6 tips can help you to make this process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
