In the back of our minds, we had to know that it would end. After a year of working from home, employers have decided that the Covid-19 pandemic is over. Despite the increased productivity WFH has created, the bosses want us to return to the office. Many employees do not want to return to the office. Being forced to return to the office is creating stress and anxiety among employees.
Many employees have lingering worries about the virus. A survey released by the American Psychological Association found that 48% of vaccinated workers are uncomfortable with in-person interaction. Another return to the office concern is anti-vaxxer co-workers. After all, only 45% of U.S. residents have completed their vaccination A Harvard Business School survey found that 71% of workers would prefer to wait until everyone is fully vaccinated before returning to the office. More than half of those surveyed also still expect to social distance inside the office.
Return to the office angst
For many, the return to the office angst is the result of potential pandemic-induced changes to our brains. Normally, the amygdala region of the brain – that processes emotions, signals when a potential threat is present. Usually, the signal is tied to a negative emotion such as fear or anger, explained Crystal Reeck, an assistant professor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. That triggers a fight-or-flight response. “Think about it as an alarm system,” she said. “It helps draw your attention to a threat in the environment.”
Ms. Reeck warns, that during the lockdown, the amygdala may have gotten rewired. Your brain may classify events like a co-worker coughing, or standing closer than six feet, or not wearing a mask as a threat. She explained, “That’s helped keep us safe when we were supposed to quarantine and maintain a social distance.”
Return to work steps
To reduce your return to work angst, here are five tips to help you prepare physically and mentally for that psychologically jarring first week back at the office.
1 -Adjust your sleep schedule
Three weeks before returning to work, gradually adjust your sleep schedule. During the lockdown, many of us stayed up later to binge-watch the latest thing. No more binging, Go to bed earlier, so you can wake up earlier. We had the flexibility to roll out of bed five minutes before start time … no pants or shoes needed. Most workers have at least a 20-minute commute, plus a more appropriate grooming schedule, so leave yourself at least 40 minutes plus your commute time.
Why three weeks? Experts say that a new habit takes a minimum of three weeks to form. So go to bed a few minutes earlier in the evening. Then get out of bed a couple of minutes earlier in the morning. Increase the time every few days until you are back on the office schedule.
2 – Re-start your exercise routine
Many people gained the infamous 19 pounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Restart your exercise routine at least three weeks you return to work. Don’t head back to the gym the first week back to the office. Week one is going to be traumatic enough. Healthcare professionals emphasize starting off slowly with moderate walking, swimming, or biking.
3 – Pajamas aren’t appropriate for the office, and you know it.
Freshen up your business appropriate wardrobe before you return to work. Business appropriate attire matters for two reasons: First, one team member’s sense of what’s appropriate can be far from others’ perception of the same. Second, studies over the years have demonstrated that wearing business-appropriate clothing reminds you to work in a business-like manner
In the coming weeks, put on your work shoes. Many of us have been living in Chuckie T’s or Crocs – no more. Wear your work shoes around the house to get used to them. Give then a good polish.
Get a haircut. Feel like you’re starting a new job.
4 – Take control of your health. Don’t expect your employer to care. Here’s a short list of things to do:
- Wash your hands.
- Bring a personal bottle of hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes for your work area. Practice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, and doorknobs.
Bring your own water bottle and coffee mug. Wash them yourself to be sure it is clean.- Get a clean, new, well-fitting three-ply cloth mask exclusively for work that doesn’t have any logos or words. Even if you don’t need to wear a mask at work.
- Consider investing in an air purifier for your cube. Look for one that has;
- A five-speed model (quieter),
- A HEPA H13 activated carbon filter,
- UV LED light and Ion generator,
- AHAM Verified Clean Air Delivery Rate.
5 – Avoid Sharing Materials and Supplies
- Avoid using other employees’ phones, desks, offices.
- Avoid sharing work tools and equipment.
- Develop a protocol to clean and disinfect shared items.
6 – Get vaccinated!
The vaccine protects everyone, including those who already got it and those who can’t get it due to medical reasons.
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Others believe bosses are just eager to regain tight control of their minions. The C-levels are setting deadlines to return to the office and threatening those that don’t feel comfortable going back into the office.
Only 5% of decision-makers surveyed believe remote workers are more productive, and 70% said employees in the office are more trustworthy.
Stay safe out there!
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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.
2024 is here. We made it through another year. Some good, some bad, some questionable. 
The self-titled debut album from Aerosmith.
After the COVID-19 lockdowns, there is a “new normal” emerging in the workplace. The pandemic changed a lot of things, including the nature of office work. In the old workplace, the firm’s focus was worker productivity. However, the pandemic has shown that health is important as it allows staff to work better. One of the things that should change in the new normal work environment is music in the office.
