Many of my clients have had concerns about going back to work after quarantine. Have you been anxious about returning back to the office too?
“It’s going to be weird’
“I’m kind of anxious about leaving the house’
“It’s exciting to get out but I feel awkward’
“What will it be like?”
Then all the signs of anxiety start to show up:
- Breathing quickly
- Sweating
- Heart beats faster
- Feeling dizzy or disoriented
- Can’t focus
Here are tips on getting back into the office if you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
Be gentle with yourself-In the beginning of quarantine we gave so much grace and understanding to other people. We were patient when tech issues happened. If only we had a dollar for every time we said ‘you’re on mute’ we’d all be millionaires. Now is a time to give grace to ourselves as we transition back. Notice your negative self talk and look at ways you can shift your mindset.
Be patient with others-It was a stressful time as we juggled childcare, elder care and worried about the ones we love. There are people in your workplace that lost a loved one to Covid. There are people who are returning to work completely burned out. Be kind and patient.
Relax-When you are feeling anxious you can lose focus on our breathing. It becomes shallow and rapid. To calm down and relax, focus on slowing your breathing down. Inhale and fill your lower belly, your diaphragm with air. Slowly exhale and form a circle with your lips, this will help to regulate and make breathing more deliberate.
Replenish-Instead of going back to the office, now is the time to not go back to the office. Yes, take a vacation! Take some time for yourself and your family. Just a few days away can make a world of difference. You’ll go back to work feeling replenished and refreshed.
Communicate-Throughout the pandemic I’ve worked with teams and encouraged them to put boundaries around their work. Teams decide when they will stop texting, email and connecting—no work emails after 7pm unless it’s an emergency. Then defining what an emergency is. Have a day where the team or the company doesn’t schedule meetings-Meeting free Fridays. Also, communicating how you and when you will text, email, call or use platforms like slack and asana.
Routine-At the start of the pandemic everyone was thrown out of their routine. Soon, it will happen again when we return. Plan out what your morning and evening will look like. Create your ideal situation and work towards following as a guideline, each and every day.
Get help-If your anxiety persists, reach out and get professional help. Your mental health and wellbeing is important. Do not shrug off the symptoms of anxiety if they continue. Anxiety can directly affect your physical health. If you feel you need support around creating a mobile office, getting things done and working better as a team, Set up a consultation today.
Margo Crawford is a Productivity Coach with Wave Productivity. If you are struggling with your workday and need to focus and get clarity, you are not alone. Margo works with entrepreneurs, small business owners and business professionals to help them get more focused, organized and productive in their workplace. Set up a consultation today. Margo coaches by phone nationally. If you want to get more organized in your office call 602-677-8275 or email [email protected]