5 Ways to Make the Return to Office Easier
Originally Published on September 1, 2022
Over the winter months, my spouse started a new job. It was actually great for me, since I work in our shared home office and I was happy about having my space back to myself! As a change consultant, I work primarily from home, and there is something about having a nice quiet place to be. Over the years I’ve gotten used to having this quiet space just for me!
My spouse obviously felt the same, he couldn’t get out of here fast enough. His first week coincided with the first attempt at his company to entice people back to the office. On his first day, he walked in through the big revolving glass doors and was confronted with tables full of cupcakes and not a soul in sight. When he got home and told me about it I said: “It’s going to take a lot more than cupcakes”. (They haven’t hired me as a consultant, but I could have at least saved them that expense!)
Here we are. Sept 1st 2022, after 2 and a half long pandemic years, summer vacations and what finally felt like a break, we’re back to “school”. Well, for some folks, they never left, but I digress. Companies and their people are now facing the reality of new corporate policies around flex work and remote, and for many organizations that means, back to the office in many ways.
If you’re dreading back to the office this fall, you’re not alone. Part of why this is so hard is that we’ve developed great routines after 2 years, we don’t want to get kicked out of our comfort zones and we’ve adapted. Do you remember what it felt like in March 2020 when you had to stay home? We were feeling scared and uncomfortable! Staying home felt like a punishment. But now, (for work at least) there’s no place we’d rather be.
So how can we make this change easier for ourselves? Here are 5 things you can do from the perspective of a change expert:
Be kind to yourself: If you’re reading this article its likely because this is not a change you are looking forward to! Whatever the reason, you’re going back to the office, and while you may have had some choices, you probably don’t have the ability to stay working from home. Change is happening to you, and there can be mixed emotions with that. Be kind to yourself if you’re not feeling great about the change, and allow yourself to feel your legitimate feelings about it.
Make a plan: Pre-pandemic, the school drop, running to the train and making it to work and back in one piece was an exercise in military precision, that I executed daily with very little room for error! Things have changed since, and one way to not forget your lunch, (and your kid’s shoes) is to make a schedule, plan, and lay it all out the night before. It takes the decision-making out of the equation so all you need to do is execute. This takes away variability and any potential problems that arise can have the benefit of your attention. It's like learning a new dance. It will take a few times before you get all of the steps right.
Do something fun: Weren’t there some fun things that we actually liked about the office or commuting? In my conversations with people, some mentioned the time to themselves on the train or picking up lunch they didn’t have to make. Others mentioned coffee with colleagues that they miss. If this resonates with you, build a reward into your new routine. Rewards can be anything! But having something to look forward to as part of the process will help you adjust.
Build in breaks: There are some wonderful routines in the work-from-home world that I want to keep. One of them is taking a few minutes of break every few hours. I find that with breaks my attention improves, and I’m more productive. Back to the office no longer needs to mean “sitting at a desk from 9 – 5”. Working through lunch may have been rewarded in the past, but we don’t need to do that anymore. You probably have a better sense now of what makes a good balance for you. Don’t lose the things in your routine that work for “work from home” just because you’re in a different place.
Rest: The first few weeks are likely to be an adjustment and tiring. Earlier in the summer I went to a conference, and it was back to its full pre-pandemic form. But I had to admit that after a day, I wasn’t! I’ve realized that I’m accustomed to the quieter environment at home with fewer distractions and three days of the conference, with so many people to see and speak with, the constant excitement was overwhelming! Office environments are going to be similar with distractions, noise and interactions that we’re not used to. Give yourself time to adjust, focus on one change at a time, and make sure you’re building in rest.
I’m curious to know, what other tips would you add to this list? And how is the transition going for you?