1. Show compassion to yourself and others.

According to Meagan O'Reilly PhD, a Stanford psychologist and cofounder of Inherent Value wazamba Psychology Incorporation., the shift to home working was abrupt, and that kind of change was psychologically jarring and thus negative for most people. Furthermore, this shift was accompanied by uncertainty about the future; the loss of autonomy, freedom, and connection that came with lockdown; and an unprecedented level of grief and sadness for many of us.

On my wazamba blog, I wanted to share with you the different thoughts: Being at home all the time and losing familiar structures and routines caused some of us to overwork — possibly by taking up new hobbies with unrealistic expectations — while others struggled to focus. "If you take pride in your work ethic, that may have impacted your sense of self and self-esteem,"

"I believe people were unfairly blaming themselves for their difficulties. There is no limit when you're going through something unprecedented."

Consider what has changed for you this year and decide which aspects you want to keep.

Aside from these major societal issues, there were the minor details: cancelled holidays, birthdays celebrated via Zoom rather than in person, not being able to hug loved ones or even stop by a coworker's desk to say "hello" in the morning.

We lost or had to adjust the little daily routines that comprise our lives, and now that many of us are out of crisis mode, it's time to assess both what your life is like now and what it used to be like.

2. Be deliberate with your time and energy, and set realistic goals.

If you have to commute to work, your time will most likely be limited during this transition. "We have to accept that we can't be everywhere at the same time,"

"Stretching, hustling, and attempting to be everywhere is not only futile, but also exhausting. And it's attempting to solve the incorrect problem."

Instead, she encourages people to consider which projects, teams, activities, and individuals they would like to be more involved with.

How do you get to where you want to go? How will you strategically distribute your limited energy and time? Are there any activities in which you have invested time or energy that you would like to continue?

Companies are taking different approaches, but one thing is certain, according to Rebecca Henderson, CEO of Randstad Global Businesses in the United States. "We're not going back to how things were before the pandemic. There will be restrictions on how people can come together." This could mean that lunch break areas, meeting rooms, and even restrooms will look very different than they did previously.

3. Create a new routine (and get up early enough to do it!).

You've probably mastered the art of hopping on Zoom at the last minute if you work from home. A morning routine may seem like a distant memory to you.

Consider how you can connect your current routine to the one you require. Determine what time you need to wake up and what assistance you may require at home. "Begin thinking about incorporating small pieces of the routine into your current schedule so you can scaffold up to what you'll need to do,"

This return to the office allows you to set your own boundaries in terms of availability, communication, and when and where you work.

During your working day, you may encounter new layers of routine. Perhaps you need to reserve a specific time or day to work in the office, spend an extra few minutes signing in to your building in the morning, or undergo a health screening.

And, if your workplace employs a staggered staffing strategy, you may need to plan ahead to reap the benefits of socializing once more.

Henderson suggests coordinating with someone you usually work with.

"I strongly advise people to develop a routine - a well-defined schedule that they can potentially match up with their coworkers. Otherwise, you risk returning to the office while still feeling lonely."

4. Establish your limits

Working from home blurred many lines. It can be difficult to separate work from home when you're sitting at a makeshift desk in your bedroom or kitchen. "You could be eating dinner with your family and still be working," "Because people can email you at any time, the boundary is blurred." This return to the office allows you to set your own boundaries in terms of availability, communication, and when and where you work. Do you want to disable email at certain times?

Do you prefer Slack or video calls for communication? Are weekly check-ins the most efficient?

Consider what works best for your productivity and mental health, and share your findings with your employer and coworkers.

“ Being suddenly surrounded by a large number of people may shock the system. “

You may believe that working from home is more convenient for you. Employers are open to new approaches, which can make it easier to establish new boundaries.

Working from home is a trend that has been increasing in the UK since 1981, reaching a peak of 43.1 percent of employees in April 2020, according to a Welsh Government report. According to the Work After Lockdown research project, it will not be completely reversed.

"Certainly, employers' attitudes toward home productivity have shifted," Henderson says. "For many years, many employers disliked the work-from-home scenario because they didn't feel they could obtain productivity metrics. "I don't believe any employers believe that any longer."

5. Remember that when you reconnect with people, they have also been through a lot.

Socializing is an important aspect of work, but it causes a lot of anxiety for many people. You may be concerned about being socially awkward after spending more than a year communicating with colleagues through screens. Practice can help in this situation: Go out and make small talk with people you meet at the store or on the street. Take it slowly and with kindness to yourself.

10 Tips for Staying Happy at Work

It's difficult to focus or be happy at work when you're preoccupied with personal issues. Make sure you have your children covered in the event of an emergency, but understand that no one's personal life will ever be completely problem-free. Just as you must let go of work in order to enjoy your time at home, you must also leave personal concerns at home in order to focus and be productive at work.

If you have to commute to work, chances are it isn't as comfortable as your home. And, given that you probably spend more time working than sleeping, why not tailor your physical surroundings to your requirements?

Find your tribe. Spend time with colleagues who share your values and interests. This can relieve a lot of stress at work. Sharing your feelings and concerns with people who understand is a great way to reduce stress.

When you feel good physically, your energy level and attitude will improve dramatically. Drink plenty of water (not just coffee) and follow a healthy diet.

Make a manageable schedule to deal with your workload. When you accomplish something, no matter how small the victory, you will feel empowered. If you are overwhelmed, you will be more dissatisfied with your job. Being proactive and organizing your tasks can lead to increased satisfaction, confidence, and motivation.

Working in an office can entail sitting at a desk for long periods of time, so it's critical for your health and happiness to take breaks during the day to stretch your legs and go for a walk or two.

Take a literal breather if you so desire. Place your feet together and your arms at your sides. Deeply inhale, then exhale and bend forward. Repeat this movement ten times.

Find the things at work that make you happy, even if they are as simple as your coworkers or the nice view from the conference room window. You have control over your own mindset. Orienting yourself toward the positives can help you enjoy your job more. Being preoccupied with the negatives may lead to burnout.

Working from home is fantastic, until your cat pukes on your computer.

And across the street, your neighbor, who you can only assume is building a time machine, starts firing up all sorts of power tools and loud machinery.

Of course, you might be working from home but still have "company."

Make sure any roommates, family members, and dogs (well, maybe not dogs) respect your space during work hours. Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you're home.

If you share space with another work-from-home adult, you may have to lay ground rules about meeting times, shared desks and chairs, and quiet times.

I hope you liked my article on wazamba live blog.
Next article in March 2023