The corporate world was for many, perhaps most, something they enjoyed a now almost two-year break from. But as things have opened back up and companies have requested their workers return to a formal office setting, people find themselves wondering “how am I going to survive the corporate world again”? Returning to the office will be like riding a bike in some ways and will entail major culture and lifestyle shocks in others. Below is a guide on how to survive the corporate world after having gone remote for so long.
Get into an Office Routine Before Going Back
Do you have a long commute ahead of you every morning and evening? Then it’s time to get back into the habit of getting up and going to bed earlier. A lot of people got used to the extra time they had in the evenings and mornings to take it easy, but a return to the office will change that. A good way to ease into the transition is to set your alarm a few minutes earlier each day until you’re getting up when you need to for your commute.
It isn’t only a matter of getting up early; your food habits may also need to change. If you’ve been eating dinner earlier than usual since you’ve been at home, try rescheduling your meals to when you’d normally eat after your work commute. That way, when you return to work, you won’t be as hungry when you arrive home.
Revisit Your Budget
You may have found other ways to spend your money in lockdown, or you may be enjoying the extra cash, thanks to the money saved on commuting, the lunches out and after-work drinks. Prepare yourself mentally and physically for changes to how you spend your disposable income by reviewing your budget and making sure you have enough money set aside for commuting costs, morning coffees, and lunches out.
Learn to Identify Signs of Slipping Mental Health
Mental health issues are more prevalent than most people think. Around one in four adults in the United States suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder in a given year. The past two years have been hard on mental health, and many people have either learned self-care or learned to bottle things up. They may even be ignorant of the signs of diminishing mental health and not realize there is a problem until it is too late.
As you return to the office, spend some time learning about self-care and especially how to identify the signs that you may be suffering from anxiety, depression or PTSD. The best way to prevent any of these from getting in the way of a successful return to the office is to inform yourself on how they manifest so that you can take steps to address the causes and mitigate the symptoms.
Take it as an Opportunity for Change
Returning to work also implies a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reevaluate your career choices and how you work. You can make the most of the transition back by prioritizing tasks and activities that were difficult or impossible to complete remotely. These things include face-to-face meetings or catching up with coworkers over lunch — interactions that will also help you get back into the social rhythm of the office.
If you are dreading your commute, try to find ways to use that time constructively. Learn something–whether professional or personal. Get a head start on emails so you can relax and enjoy your coffee when you sit down at your desk.
And what about when you get home in the evening? It is important to know when to put the laptop away and turn off notifications. Returning to the office is an excellent opportunity to recover some of the work-life balance that may have been lost during your time working remotely.
Conclusion
Despite remote work being relatively young when compared to the amount of time we have spent working in offices, two years away from that routine still necessitates some readjusting. You might not expect it, but there will likely be a learning curve as you transition back into the traditional corporate world. Keep the above considerations and recommendations in mind and make your return to office life as seamless and painless as possible.
PlatoAi. Web3 Reimagined. Data Intelligence Amplified.
Click here to access.
Source: http://hrnews.co.uk/how-to-survive-the-corporate-world-after-going-remote/
