Musings | How To Return To Work
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
Today we talk about how to take the first steps back into the office. If you are feeling trepidation about the first day, remember, this is normal and you are not alone. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Drawing on experts from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Forbes, we’ve created two short “how-to” lists to help you on your way - one for you and one to help you support others.
For Yourself
Be kind to yourself. New routines are being learned and we are entering spaces that are familiar but new. Mistakes will happen as you move through re-entry. Give yourself space to make errors, adjust and move forward. No one will nail this on the first (or even second) try.
Be Prepared. Take some time before your first day to think about what you need and anticipate how you may react to the process of returning to work. Think about ways you can manage your reactions to your new space and routine. Anticipating how you may feel and understanding what you need can help you acknowledge the components you can influence.
Talk to your coworkers and leaders. Returning to work is an experience you are sharing with others. Have conversations with your colleagues about returning to work. Ask questions and if you feel comfortable, talk to others about how you are feeling. If your team knows what you need, they can help you; if you know what they need, you can help them.
Remember to breathe. Some big breaths can help us feel grounded, calm, and controlled when we feel anxious or overwhelmed. Try snake breathing to engage your parasympathetic nervous system. Take a deep belly breath through your nose, so your tummy fills like a balloon. Then slowly exhale through your teeth - you will hiss like a snake, and your belly will deflate. Three or four breaths like this can help!
Gradually re-introduce yourself to pre-covid activities. Taking small steps can help us adjust as we get back to regular activities. Similar to mountaineers heading for a summit, take your time and allow yourself to adapt slowly. Before heading back to the office, maybe you meet with a co-worker or small groups of co-workers in person. In the next while, perhaps do some other activities similar to returning to work - going to a movie, visiting a mall, going to a play, or other activities that involve other people in larger groups. As you get more comfortable, these activities will feel less stressful.
Continue to follow health orders and seek support if you need it. The public health orders may continue to change, commit to continuing to follow them to stay safe. Finally, if you are struggling with the return to work or you are just not feeling like yourself, check in with a health professional (physician or counselor) and tell people close to you how you are feeling.
For Others
Be patient and kind with everyone and give people space. On your team, there may be several different perspectives around returning to work. Some people may be pleased, others may dread it, and there is likely a continuum of feelings between the two extremes. Some people may be returning to work quite refreshed; others will be exhausted given their extra responsibilities at home throughout the pandemic. Everyone will process their return to work differently. In addition, we will all be working together to create new norms of behaviour at work and in a hybrid environment. Be kind to everyone and give them space to adapt, adjust and get up to speed in their new setting.
Don’t ignore the warning signs. Some people may experience distress or severe challenges with their return to the office. Pay attention to how people around you behave; sometimes, the symptoms are subtle - watch for non-verbal cues. It is easy to say “I’m ok” even when we are not. Take time to check in with your colleagues to see how they are doing. If you think someone is having trouble, talk to them or your leader about it. Remind your team members that it is ok not to be ok during this time or to need additional support. Let your co-workers know you want to support them and that you care about their well-being.
Your leader needs support too. This time is unprecedented - none of us have done this before. It is ok (and encouraged) to ask questions, but remember, your leader may not always have all the answers right away. Remember, leaders are going through this transition with you; they are there to support and help you - but they will need your support and collaboration too.
Especially for Leaders
Overcommunicate. You cannot communicate too much. Even if you don’t have all the answers, speak often. Check-in, share what you know, encourage questions and ask people what they need. Often, in the absence of information, human beings will make up stories to fill the void, and often that information is not rooted in fact or reality - but it feels real and fuels anxiety. From Forbes, “People want to be a part of the process and feel in the know, so look for ways to actively include them in figuring out a path that works for the business and the diverse people on the team.”
It’s ok not to know - be honest when you don’t. Saying “I don’t know” demonstrates honesty and builds trust. It is ok not to know; part of this transition will be figured out as we go - to some degree, we’re getting on the plane and building it as we fly. Use this as an opportunity to engage in dialogue with your team and figure out the next steps together.
Keeping in mind that we don’t have a roadmap for this journey, and we are figuring it out as we go, the most significant takeaways here are
1) Be kind to yourself and others; 2) Talk– to each other, talk about how you are feeling and what you need, ask others the same and 3) Be patient, we don’t have all the answers - none of us have done this before. Check out the sources and additional resources below