For some people it has been months, if not over a year since the last time they stepped into the office. Your routine might have changed (if there even is one!) and perhaps you are not waking up as early as you plan to (or should!) and you are suddenly posed with the prospect of returning to the office.
People then fall into two categories; those that cannot wait to step back through those doors into normality or those that have some reservations. We understand not everyone feels the same way but regardless of how you feel, we have put together some top tips to help with the transition period.
Claim back your routine!
Building a routine sooner rather than later should help soothe the teething pains for your return to the office. However, we understand this is easier said than done! Setting alarms for the time you would normally get up, getting dressed into your office wardrobe and eating breakfast are all things that will start you on your way to perfecting your routine.
Prepare in advance
Mornings can be a rush! Preparing things like lunch, laptop, your bag, and even what you need for your morning coffee, the night before, sets you up well for the next day. Preparing in advance should take the pressure off yourself and I think we can all agree; we all strive for stress free lives.
Time Off
Make use of your annual leave and dedicate some time to rest and recover. Getting back into a routine can be tiring so it is important we recognise that and look after ourselves accordingly.
There are also a few ways employers can support employees back into the workplace so that it doesn’t become so daunting…
Encourage Time Off
Employers should openly encourage their staff to use their annual leave entitlements to rest and recover throughout the entire holiday year. This helps prevents a back log of annual leave come the end of the holiday year and means that employees are regularly resting.
Allow Flexibility
Allowing some kind of flexibility may take away pressure for employees travelling in peak times, especially when commuting on public transport. This flexibility can include allowing employees to either start early and finish later or vice versa in order to miss what would be considered ‘rush hour’, which will be a stress trigger for some employees.
Regular Catch Ups
It is a great idea to have regular catch ups whether on a 1:1 basis or as a team to find out how staff are feeling and provide support where necessary. This support can help ease people back into the office with a more positive outlook.
There is currently no right or wrong way of handling a return to the office but at HR Revolution, we can provide advice on best practise and support the return. For help on returning to the office, please get in touch today at hello@hrrevolution.co.uk and check out our free return to work series.
