Going Back to the Office? 5 Tips to Help You Adjust to the Change

Going back to the office after months of working from home is a huge change. Here are some ways you can make it easier for yourself

This story was first published on March 28, 2021, and updated on August 19, 2021.

From August 19, more Covid-19 measures will be eased in Singapore and companies will be able to bring more of their staff members back into the office. In fact, up to 50 per cent of employees who are able to work remotely will be allowed back to the office.

Working from the office has largely been the default for most companies since May this year so this marks a turning point in Singapore’s fight against Covid-19.

The news was met with mixed reactions as some people were excited to be going back to work and meeting up with their colleagues once again but just as many were anxious about the return after having gotten used to the extra time and independence working from home.

No matter how you feel, here are some tips to help you ease back into working from the office.

See more: Blue Light Exposure: How to Protect Our Skin as We Work From Home

1. Prepare yourself for hybrid working arrangements

Above Photo: Intel Corporation

Though companies can now bring in more of their employees, many of us have gotten comfortable and used to working from home which is why most of us will likely have to face hybrid working arrangements that involve some days in the office and some at home.

If that is you, the first thing you’ll want to do is to invest in a good laptop that you can use both at home and at work especially if your company does not provide you with one already.

Of course, this can prove difficult simply because there are just so many laptops out there in the market.

As you do your research, you’ll want to make sure that you look for laptops with longer battery lives, the latest Central Processing Unit (CPU) technology, a good Wi-Fi standard and a good design to enhance your productivity.

One easy way to do that is to simply look for laptops that come with an Intel EvoTM certification. Laptops with this certification ensure that all your needs will be met and that your laptop is durable enough to handle the rigours of working in a hybrid way without stressing you out more with tons of technology problems.

Some laptops with this certification include the Acer Swift 5, Asus Zenbook Flip S UX371, Dell XPS 13 or XPS 13 2-in-1, HP Spectre x360 13, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo

2. Be patient

Above Working from home

Though certain measures surrounding the workplace have been eased, there are still many limitations when it comes to meetings, team activities and events. Many companies are also still trying to figure out how to bring their employees back safely while taking their concerns into consideration.

Be patient as you wait for news as to what your next steps will be. Try to avoid speculating or assuming as that will only increase your anxiety and cause unnecessary stress.

3. Be vocal about possible challenges

Above Transitioning back to the office can be hard especially if you have young kids

Many people, particularly those with young kids, elderly parents or particularly challenging circumstances, may have found working from home a lot more convenient.

Without the need to travel to and from work, many enjoyed the extra time. Plus, parents and caregivers were certainly able to be more flexible when it came to balancing work and caregiving while at home.

Going back to the office might mean that you will need to engage daycare services or change certain routines or aspects of your life to accommodate the big change of returning to the office for the entire day.

As your office is preparing for your return, be vocal about these issues with your superiors and see if special arrangements can be made.

This also applies if you have existing health issues that might make you more nervous about returning to work and possibly being exposed to the virus.

4. Try to find the positives

Above Zoom meetings will soon be a thing of the past

While we will not be able to have full-scale team bonding activities or events any time soon, we are still allowed to meet in groups of 5 provided that everyone is vaccinated.

Try to focus on the positives of getting to see your colleagues again. The joy of going out for meals together or even just getting to have a quick chat with someone when you take a break from work.

Look at the experience as a great way to go back to creating boundaries between work and home and focus on all the new relationships you will get to cultivate during this new season.

It may be tough but remember when we were upset that we had no way to enjoy water cooler chat anymore?

5. Look at the bigger picture

Above Working from the office

This might be really hard to do but try to look at things long term. While right now you might be feeling stressed and anxious as well as unsure about how everything will go, remember that you will adjust and soon, working from the office full-time will become the norm.

In the same way that you adjusted to working from home, you will be able to readjust back to going to the office.

Topics

work from home covid-19 pandemic work from office tips mental health intel how to buy a laptop covid rules office