2020 was a tumultuous year. People were sent home to work or were laid off entirely. All of us have gone through some strange and perilous changes in the last year, but believe it or not, going forward may be even more difficult.
Returning to some sense of normalcy, where people are allowed to gather and work from the office, will be exceedingly more challenging than staying home and doing little or nothing. Some workers were practically given a free pass to slack off, and the culture seemed to reward it. Now, as we go back to life post-pandemic, many people are hesitant and anxious about what’s to come. Here are five tips to acclimate back into a steady work-life.
State Your Comfort Level
Since the COVID-19 virus has affected everyone differently, it is vital to know your comfort level but also be clear about it with your management and coworkers. The virus impacts those who are older and more predisposed to immune systems deficiencies, obesity, and other preexisting conditions. If you’re one of these people, you should think about getting vaccinated to avoid any complications should you contract the virus back at work.
You know better than anyone how comfortable you are with distancing, mask-wearing, and everything else that comes with going back to work.
Ease Back Into It
A lot of people loved working from home. The most overwhelming part about going back to the office is how much we build it up in our heads. It’s pivotal to take it as it comes, one day at a time. Millions of people will be going through a similar struggle.
It takes time to adjust to anything. There will be some pressure. It might help to throw yourself right back into hard work, but others will need to take their time. Do your best to avoid anxiety and you’ll be less stressed about returning to what feels like normal life.
Make a Solid Schedule
Whether you’re going back to a job you are familiar with or are starting something new, creating a solid schedule will take the guesswork out of going back to work. You will know where you need to go and what you need to do throughout the week. Eliminating any extraneous thoughts mitigates stress and gives you a clear path forward. Your life before the pandemic was probably much busier; making a schedule and sticking to it will facilitate the process of getting back.
Be Ready for Job Competition
Are you going back to your old job? If not, it is important to keep in mind that so many people are going back to work and many of their employee benefits will run out at the same time. There will be millions of people trying to find a new job and competition will be fierce. Companies will be running an employee background checks on most of their applicants to thin the herd and narrow down candidates. You might want to ride your unemployment benefits out, but the better option is to secure a stable and lucrative job before everyone else starts looking at the same time.
Change Your Situation
As post-pandemic life becomes a reality, things will progress and move forward. If you’ve been meaning to change your situation, now is the time to do it. This can be in many ways. Have you been meaning to change your career? Do you want to go back to school for a new vocation? Are you thinking about making that big move across the country? There has never been a better time than now because the world is in flux. Take this opportunity to change your life; you likely won’t regret it.
The slow, inevitable return to what feels like normalcy won’t be easy for anyone. A lot has changed and it will continue to change. There is an ebb and flow to the transition to post-pandemic life. Of course, progress isn’t a straight line. Arguably going back to the rat race could be more difficult than sitting at home for a year, with less pressure to succeed and stay productive.
Now everyone has a new look at life that they will take into work life this year and beyond. It’s in your power to make the most of it.
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