Before the pandemic, the office was where we spent most of our time. We worked 8+ hours of the day in the company of our coworkers and it seemed that juggling non-stop schedules was second nature.
We worked hard to find balance in everything. That is until the pandemic suddenly cut off our daily ebb and flow, and work from home became the standard. For many, the pandemic took time to adjust to. Parents had to navigate online schooling for their children while managing their own jobs. Others had to draw a brand-new, (very) fine line between work life and home life.
Eventually, many came to enjoy this version of work — and some even hoped they could split their time 50-50 when their offices reopened. But almost as fast as that lifestyle became the norm, many companies are now welcoming their employees back to part-time and, in some cases, even full-time in the office.
Although this was once our daily routine, it can truly seem an unfamiliar thing of the past. Some may even experience deep feelings of anxiety surrounding the thought of heading back to the workplace. And without a smooth transition back to the office, it can be easy to slide into unhealthy habits like overworking, undereating, or not taking care of ourselves emotionally.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to maintain a solid work-life balance, manage stress, and prioritize your wellbeing as you return to office life. Here are our four tips for maintaining mental wellness in the office.
1.) Ask your boss for what you need
Returning to the office can be a big shift, especially if you’ve gotten the hang of a new routine. Maybe you’ve found more time to cook and clean or maybe it’s the convenience of running errands and spending time with your family. No matter what changes you’ve made to your everyday life, it can be anxiety-provoking to think about reworking this schedule.
One of the best things you can do to alleviate some of the stress is to make a list of things that could be done to improve your work environment and overall performance. Whether you ask for a partially remote setup, clock in and clock out adjustments, or things that will improve the atmosphere of your workspace, all these requests can make a drastic difference for your mental wellbeing.
It may feel uncomfortable asking your boss for what you need, but it’s so important. The more understanding and communication there is between managers and team members, the better off you, your productivity, and your mental wellness in the office will be!
2.) Limit distractions
To maintain your mental wellbeing, it is essential to limit distractions throughout your day. This includes phone calls, emails, social media notifications, meetings with colleagues or clients — anything that might divert your attention from getting things done. It might sound counterproductive to avoid emails and meetings but if you do this in moderation, you’ll be able to tackle everything else on your list with more efficiency and accuracy. Plus, you’ll likely have time for those tasks afterward and can take them on with less stress.
3.) Take breaks and actually schedule time off
Does it ever feel like when you take time off, you’re never truly on vacation? Despite the desire to be available and ready for any questions that arise while you are out, this can actually defeat the beneficial purpose of using your PTO. Being accessible 24-7 never allows you to fully reset and focus on your wellbeing. It can also bring about additional stressors and anxiety.
A good rule of thumb is to solely respond to emergencies and urgent inquiries that absolutely cannot wait until you return. Another great tip is to compile a task list with status updates and any to-do’s that your coworkers might need. Other than that, simply turn on your out-of-office auto-replies and enjoy that time to unwind!
If you aren’t able to take an extended amount of time off, requesting a flex day, planning a mini staycation, or simply taking small breaks throughout the day should do the trick!
4.) Space out your calendar as much as possible
If you have a schedule that seems to run at hyper speed, the best thing you can do is plan. For many, Mondays are a particularly busy day full of emails, morning meetings, and playing catch-up. When this happens, it can feel impossible to get everything done, which can ultimately carry over into the rest of the week.
We recommend taking on a few tasks each day and tackling them in smaller increments. For example, if you need to catch up on emails from last week and complete five different reports for next week’s meeting, complete the emails and then move onto a new task. Small steps will help you ease back into the swing of things.
Plus, spacing out your calendar also frees up time for other things! That impromptu meeting at 11 a.m. on a Monday morning? You can fit it in. Happy hour with your coworkers on Thursday night? You’ll be there!
We hope that this blog post has left you feeling more confident about returning and prioritizing your mental wellness in the office. We encourage you to take these tips and put them into practice in your life so that your transition back to the office will be as seamless as possible.