First published on Medium https://leadtogrowthexeutivecoaching.medium.com/how-to-cope-with-your-back-to-the-office-blues-d89d1b7e70fe
Over the course of the pandemic there has been quite a lot of talk about remote work. Some people love it. Others are less fond of working outside an office. When Covid-19 burst into our lives the work from home mandate was sudden, very clear, and across the board across the globe. Especially since the work from home mandates were coupled with domiciliary confinement, there was really only one thing to do: adjust the best you could. Now that many companies are gradually planning a return to the office in some shape and form, employees have time to think about the changes that will come and have time to leisurely bathe themselves in the massive ocean of uncertainty that surrounds the what, when , how, and the all so important WHY of a return to the office.
Whether you like working from home or not it certainly comes with some positives. A return to the office could mean a tradeoff or tradeback of some “quality of life” that we have gained over the past 20 months. More time with the family, less commute, home cooked meals, coordinating household chores, more time for hobbies, living and working in places you love without the need for those two things to share a physical location are all things we might not be willing to give up.
A survey by Harvard Business School found that 81% of professionals “either don’t want to go back to the office or would prefer a hybrid schedule going forward.” The pandemic brought about a paradigm shift in terms of what people expect of their workplace. Companies that show empathy towards employees are those that will be better positioned to handle #thegreatresignation and to engage employees in a new model of work that actually works for everyone.
As an Executive coach I talk to a good number of successful professionals who fall into that 81%. Many have found that the flexibility of remote work has allowed them to be more productive and perform at higher levels than before. Just thinking about what tradeoffs in particular they might be asked to make and the impact it could have on both their own happiness as well as their ability to perform for the company has left these employees feeling a bit blue.
If you are still unclear as to where your organization will fall on the move to hybrid or remote work and you are feeling a little bit blue about the prospects of a return to the office now is the time to take control of the situation. To cope with the stress, anxiety and uncertainty here a few simple, fun things to raise your spirits that you can start implementing right away.
5 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOURE FEELING BLUE
1. Do something that makes you laugh. There is truth to the saying “Laughter is the best medicine.” Laughing triggers healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. A good laugh will strengthen your immune system, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. It is a fast and reliable way to bring your mind and body into balance. This article by helpguide.org is the best resource I have seen to date to learn all about the positive benefits of laughter.
2. Put on some good music and get dancing. Both music and movement are two quick and effective ways to better our mood. Getting groovy releases endorphins and the emotional high we get from dancing allows us to reduce stress and anxiety. It´s time to get shaking and shimmy off some of those negative feelings.
3. Get nostalgic. Remembering happy times will bring back some of the happy feelings you had in that moment. Sift through old pictures or videos. If they make you laugh or smile, even better(getting back to the importance of laughter). Playing games, watching movies or a TV show you enjoyed as a child, re-reading on of your favorite book and then sharing these experiences with friends and family can be a great way to get into a positive mindset.
4. Get Creative. Right brain activities can help you find the right mindset and keep you from feeling blue. Meditation is one popular example of a right brain activity. There are many other creative activities that are too: painting, drawing, sewing, photography, crafting, playing, listening to or composing music, dancing, fashion design, make-up artistry, and creative writing are a few. Spending time on right brain activities will increase your wellbeing and skillset, and it will help to silence the left brain, the machine that generates all our unhelpful and self-deprecating thoughts.
5. Sleep, eat and exercise. Feeling tired and hungry can reduce our ability to cope and therefore lead to the flourishing of negative emotions that we could have in different circumstance kept in check. Mental and physical health are not two separate things. They are two components of the same thing, our overall health. Keeping your body healthy by getting the right nutrients, the right amount and quality of sleep and exercise will keep you strong, healthy and fit overall.
