How to get back to the office after working from home?

At the time of the last update of this article, the discussion about going back to the office after working from home is more lively than ever before.

In most countries, things are almost back to normal (whatever that means at this point!). So, if you’ve enjoyed working from home, you might be wondering how to get back into the office after working from home. We bring you a few tips that will help you transition smoother.

#1 Take it easy

Yes, you’re coming back to the office – good for you! But, remember, the same way you had to adjust to working from home, it is completely expected to take time to adjust to working from the office again. It doesn’t matter whether you enjoyed working from home or not. Chances are, you will need that adjustment period. So, remember not to be too hard on yourself!

Communicate with your team and managers about what you need, what works for you, and what doesn’t. That’s the only way forward.

#2 Establish your old routine

Once you’re back in the office, things will start coming back to you. And this is a good thing! We are creatures of habits so it is more than welcome for you to establish your old routine when you get back to the office after working from home. It can be the route you take each morning, the chat you share with your colleague over the morning cup of coffee, to the way you organize your desk.

Again, things might be different now so don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t get back into it straight away.

#3 Talk about the change

After years of working from home, it is important not to ignore the whole thing happening. It is also important not to pretend the circumstances under which you took the work home were normal. Talk about everything that has happened during your working-from-home period, share experiences, see what your colleagues have to say. We all went through this change together so you are not alone.

You probably know what we’re going to say next: communicate. It’s better to overshare than not talk about your situation at all.

#4 Enjoy your time at home

The most important thing to take from this article is – do not take your work home! If you are one of the lucky ones who got the green light to go back to the office, then finish your workday in the office. Do not get sucked into working super long hours just because you know you can ask to take the work home.

Different people will face different challenges when returning to the office environment after working from home. Some may dislike it because they have built great home offices and got the routine down, while others may be excited by it. No matter which group you’re a part of, it is important to take your time and go step-by-step. And don’t forget to communicate your needs with your team and supervisors – anything that can affect your productivity concerns them.

For more topics on professional life, the impact of COVID-19 on career, CV writing, and many others, please, check out our other blog posts.

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