Millions of people furloughed for months are now being recalled to work. Others, who have been working from home throughout the lockdown, are returning to the office. And some jobs have simply disappeared: many people are facing redundancy and will soon have to cope with job hunting. Going back to work after an unprecedented length of time at home is quite a challenge.
Some people may struggle to readapt to the structure of a working week. Others may be anxious that they will find they have lost some of their previous skills. Here, we take a look at some tips to help you reboot your mindset and prepare yourself for returning to the world of work.
If you've been furloughed or made redundant, you have probably spent weeks at home with little structure to your day. When preparing to return to work, your first step should be to create a few routines and give yourself time to adapt. Plan a timetable with regular periods for work and recreation. Establish regular times for going to bed and getting up in the morning and stick to them. While at home, many of us have seized the opportunity to spend the day in leisurewear or PJs. Reassess your wardrobe and start wearing your work clothes to get you back into a productive mindset.
Naturally, you will have some worries about going back to work. There will be new social distancing routines and other health and safety measures to follow. You may be worried that you won't perform as well as you did before the furlough. However, some people may find their feelings of anxiety and stress are overwhelming. Yoga or meditation will help you to relax. Build some time for exercise into your day, outdoors if possible.
If you've been furloughed, you might not have had much contact with your manager and colleagues. If you're worried about your job security or your performance, a return to work meeting with your boss should help to alleviate some of your anxieties. While everyone's experiences of being at home are different, It seems that younger employees are the most worried about being vulnerable to redundancy. And if they have been working from home, they will have missed out on opportunities for hands-on training and social networking with more senior colleagues. Make sure that your boss knows about any specific issues or training needs you have.
Perhaps you prefer not to return to your previous workplace full time? Many employees have enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of working from home. Contrary to expectations, productivity has not fallen. Working remotely allows employees to juggle child care and other caring needs; it also saves time and money previously spent on commuting. Perhaps there's no need to go back to all the old ways of working. Request a meeting to discuss a flexible working schedule, when you work in the office for one or two days a week, and from home the rest of the time.
Furlough has given us a chance to pause and reflect about our careers and how we live our lives. People responded to the challenges posed by lockdown in many, varied ways. Some learnt new skills and tried different hobbies, perhaps surprising themselves. As you return to work, try keeping a diary of your thoughts and feelings; this will help you to identify what parts of your job you enjoy and which you find challenging. You might even feel inspired to take a new direction in your career.
As we return to work, we all experience some good days and some not so good. Getting used to the "new normal" can take time. Human beings don't enjoy too much change, especially when they feel they have no control over events, so many people will be feeling anxious.
Brooding on a cycle of negative thoughts can lead to anxiety and depression. To support your emotional wellbeing during a stressful period, Bach Flower Mix 65 will help to banish gloomy thoughts and lift your spirits.
To get your day off to a good start, meditate for a few minutes to focus your thoughts on the positive aspects of going back to work. They could be anything from achieving your target at work to looking forward to coffee with your colleagues.
By replacing negative thoughts with positive images, you will increase your resilience and be able to meet all the challenges of returning to work.
Feeling blue? You're not alone! We all feel sad at times; it's a normal human emotion. Sometimes, it's clear to see what has triggered our depression. Common reasons for feeling sad include bereavement, the end of a relationship, losing your job or money problems. But it's not always so clearcut.
It happens to everyone at times: we start doubting ourselves. We worry about the decisions and whether we can face future challenges that life has in store. And sometimes we feel that we just aren't good enough.
Nowadays, it can sometimes seem almost everyone has a mental health issue or learning disorder. But, are we too quick to label people, or is it that we are more aware of the problems? This article looks at some of the issues surrounding these sensitive questions.
Motivation can be somewhat elusive - some days, you just can't seem to make yourself do the stuff you don't want to. But putting things off just leads to stress, frustration and a sense of guilt.
Headaches can be a real nuisance, especially if you get them frequently. Luckily, there are many natural ways to prevent and relieve headaches without needing to reach for over the counter medication.
Sometimes it’s hard to notice when we've become trapped in familiar routines. Take our quiz to find out if you’re stuck in a rut and what you can do about it.
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Do you sometimes feel your achievements are not the result of your hard work and skill but are just luck? And do you fear that one day, someone will reveal you as an imposter or fraud? You might have imposter syndrome!
Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety affect around 1 in 6 people at some stage of their life. Despite it being such a common problem, many sufferers wait months or even years before seeking help.
It is not always obvious when someone is experiencing depression. Some people with depression mask their symptoms, hiding their feelings behind a smile to convince others they are happy.
Your relationship ends, or you lose your job, and you get stuck in a rut of negative thoughts and suffering. How good are you at letting go of grudges and accepting that some things are beyond your control? Take our quiz to find out!
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