It’s the night before you are headed back into your office to work for the first time in a year and a half… what are you supposed to wear? Or bring with you? You feel nervous and unsure. Does this sound familiar? You are not alone.
There are thousands of staff members in all industries getting ready to go back to the office to work, either a hybrid model or a traditional schedule of 9-5 pm. How is everyone preparing for this? What was life like before living and working in the same place?
We understand how pressing these questions are, many of our clients are dealing with these questions every day. We have worked with our expert life coaches to create a strong morning routine that anyone can start to work with to ensure that their back-to-work experience is positive and functional.
Keep reading and enjoy!
Wake Up Early
Our first recommendation is known by everyone, but hardly anyone practices it. If you have a little extra time in the morning you are more likely to feel prepared for the day, which will offer you a more positive and confident approach to the day.
When you have extra time in the morning, you can have some time to stretch, do a body scan, or do meditation. This will offer you more oxygen which will make you feel more awake. As well you will be able to connect your body and mind which helps you be in the moment engaging in a more focused and positive way.
Give yourself a small reward when you wake up extra early, whether it is a special coffee, reading your favourite publication, listening to your favourite song. This will train you to associate positive outcomes with earlier wake-ups. We’ve spoken about morning routines to help boost emotional and mental well-being which is a great place to start.
Prepare your Day the Night Before
This one is a super helpful tool that is often overlooked. Make sure you have done the laundry and that you have a few clothing items that are available and work well together. If you have tech that you need, prepare it, ensure you have all your cords, etc. all bundled into your case.
Also, have a small bag prepared for all of your masks and hand sanitizer that you are going to need. This is the “new reality” that we all have to get used to. Ensuring that you are keeping yourself and others safe will require that we all remember to bring these items out to wherever we go.
Get Ready for Delays
As everyone is starting to find their rhythm for getting back to work, it is inevitable that the roads will feel more congested and there is an awkward learning period. What time does the train come again?
Download a couple of good transit apps, to help you navigate traffic, delays as well as offer you options, like alternative routes, or simply uber.
Try as much as you can, not to book your meetings first thing in the morning for the first while as you start to build your morning routine again. Avoid this by blocking out your calendar, or simply request a start time of 10 am to ensure that you will be in the office.
Give yourself a buffer. Until you can gain a true gauge of what it takes to get to the office and how long that takes, leave at least 30 minutes earlier than you need. It is always more comfortable to start earlier than to race into the office late.
Clean the Night Before
The worst way to start the day is with a sink full of dishes. Make sure that you have done a standard clean to your space, so that you can start your day with a relaxed and happy state of mind, as well as setting yourself up for a productive routine.
Motivate yourself to clean your space the night before by scheduling it in so that you are prompted and become used to it.
Use scented candles or cleaning products so that doing the chores of cleaning can be pleasant and leaves an attractive aroma. For those that are comfortable doing so, getting a cleaning service is also a great way to access cleanliness but delegating when you are too busy.
Take it Easy
As you start this new transition back into office work, ensure that you offer yourself grace, and there are going to be rough mornings.
Make sure that you communicate any struggles or challenges with your boss ahead of time so that they understand what you are going through, in case you are late some days.
Sharing team contact information can be a good option depending on the dynamics in case there is a need to advise of delays or other issues.
If you have had a rough morning, try to take a moment to catch your breath and take a pause. Don’t let a bad commute to work ruin the rest of your day. Try to keep a light approach on the experience. The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding mindfulness technique is a good one to try.
It is good to know that we are all going through this, and everyone has different challenges and struggles. The best advice is to take it one day at a time and remember that you are doing the best that you can, and everyone understands.
If you are struggling with transitioning back to work and looking to work with a therapist or life coach, please contact us we are here to help.
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