Musings | Why Returning to Work Provokes Anxiety
“One of the greatest discoveries we make, one of our great surprises, is to find that we can do what we were afraid we couldn’t do.”
Our exit from onsite work in 2020 was swift. Re-entry is coming slowly. We can see it coming a mile away and can contemplate and anticipate it. This is anxiety-provoking for most of us We have too much time to consider all the unknowns.
As the “first day back” looms ahead, some of us will feel excited about it, while others may feel anxiety and dread. Why is something you used to do all the time creating such an unsettling feeling? Why does it feel strange to think about being around people all day? What if the return does not last very long? These are some of the elements that may be making you feel uneasy - to understand why we turned to the experts at Harvard Business Review for insight.
Transitions naturally spike our anxiety. We are wired to view the unpredictable and uncertain as threatening. In our present circumstances, this can create an underlying unsettling feeling and contribute to fatigue. Even though we are all going to be doing the jobs we have been doing for the last while, we will be doing them in a different location and with other people close to us - the first few weeks may feel like we’re heading back to the first day of school or even starting a brand new job. Returning to work in the office is a big transition. Give yourself permission to feel uncertain (we all feel like that) and grant yourself grace to slowly figure out the new setup.
Whenever you’ve avoided something, you’ll feel anxious about returning to it. Think of something you stepped away from and came back to (a sport after being injured, getting on a plane, driving at night or in traffic, even riding a bike). Avoidance can be deliberate or, it can be imposed (like the pandemic lockdown). It’s normal to feel anxious anytime we get out of practice or routine. It has been almost two years since we got up, got dressed, and had to commute to work on time. This old, yet new again, routine will take some practice. We have not been avoiding going to work on purpose, but we will need to allow ourselves some time to re-establish our routines.
Social relationships and boundaries have changed. We know our colleagues in different ways now. Before the pandemic, we may not have known much about our co-worker’s families, what their homes looked like, and if they had pets. Now we have seen their families, met their pets, know the paint color of their walls (in some rooms anyway), and may even have seen the layout of their houses! Recognize that it will take time to reset the new norms in a hybrid setting - allow yourself time to adjust and accept that others need time to change as well.
How do I blend the best of working from home with office life? You may love your work-from-home routine and feel uneasy about how to transition or take those elements with you as you return to the office. It may be helpful to reflect on what you learned about yourself, how you work, and what you need to be productive as you set up your days between the office and your home office. Part of managing change and transition is being prepared and thinking about how you want to structure your day. Thinking about what works best for you will help you anticipate the change and also what needs you will want to share with others.
Change can create anxiety. Anxiety thrives on transitions and the unknown. As we prepare to return to work, be comforted by the fact that feeling unsettled is normal and should be expected given that we will be transitioning to new routines and adapting to new norms. In the coming weeks, we will be providing more tips and tools to aid you in getting ready to come back to the office. For now, take comfort in the fact that there are solid reasons for feeling unsure about what is ahead. It is normal and 100% acceptable to be a bit nervous or excitedly unsure.