Making Your Return to Work Easy
Are you dreading heading back into the office? We’ve got ways to help ease that transition! Our focus today is on adopting a positive mental framework when it comes to returning to a normal pace at your workplace. You’re only human, so make sure you’re allowing yourself some flexibility amidst this change. The tips from the pros that we’ve assembled below will help you keep a sunny disposition that will impress any employer.
We love this suggestion from Alexandra Samuel at the Harvard Business Review: “Make work fun. Put your first week back to good use by doing neglected tasks you actually enjoy. I’m a productivity nerd, so (surprise!) my idea of fun is cleaning up my tech setup and adding to or improving the productivity tools in my toolkit. (The Apple app store always enjoys a little revenue bump the week I come back from vacation.)” We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again–you don’t have to try to tackle your goals alone! Let today’s technological innovations aid you even beyond working remotely by offering up a variety of fun productivity apps suited for any approach to conquering your to do list.
Speaking of tackling your professional tasks, in discussing an extended break, Cheryl Lock at flexjobs offers up a suggestion you can use no matter how long you’ve been out of the office or out of work: “Be gentle with yourself. Whatever vision you have for your return to work—whether you’re hoping to take it slow or jump right back into the fire—be as flexible as possible. Three months was a long time for me to be away, and I was expecting things to pick back up slowly over a matter of weeks, or perhaps even months. What actually happened, though, was that I received a ton of assignments all at once. While it was so exciting to know that my skills were still needed…I was surprised, and somewhat stressed, with all those impending deadlines. Instead of stressing completely, I paced myself, asked for deadline extensions where needed, and took a breath. Getting back to work after time off is bound to be stressful, so be sure to go easy on yourself.” A great way to be gentle with yourself while setting yourself up for career success is to break down your assignments into smaller, more manageable chunks. And writing out those steps is a great way to help you stay organized! Plus? There’s no better feeling than crossing off an item on your to do list–but to do that, you have to have a to do list! Let yourself take a moment to make one.
Find what fun you can find in returning to your work, even though it may feel difficult to do so amidst our current unprecedented circumstances. Even the darkest clouds have silver linings. Remember that you’re only human and that we’re all in this together. Try your hardest, but make sure to also remember that it’s okay to ask for help. Be gentle with yourself as you ease into the latest transition. And check back tomorrow for our Wednesday Wellness: Return edition.
This posting is brought to you by Contemporaries Inc., one of the best temp agencies in Boston MA. Also available for payrolling employees in Boston and Greater Boston
Recent Posts
Feel Good Friday: Return
Happy Friday! Think of “return” not just as turning back but a way to move forward--another “turn” in the game of life and thus another opportunity to forge new paths as you proceed. Take all of the experiences you’ve had during these uncertain times and use them to...
What To Do When Planning to Go Back
With the summer in sight, your return to your workplace is likely approaching. This may feel like an abrupt shift, especially after you’ve established new routines that have helped you succeed while working remotely--which is why today we’re focusing on what you can...
Wednesday Wellness: Return
As we move closer to summer, let the return of this sunny season inspire your return to work. Find joy in returning to your regular workplace rhythms while applying the new lessons you’ve learned in adapting to the unprecedented circumstances you’ve experienced. It’s...
Making Your Return to Work Easy
We know that if you’ve been working remotely, or if you’ve been unemployed during these uncertain times, the prospect of returning to an in-person professional environment might seem overwhelming. But don’t panic! We’ve got ways to help you ease into that transition....
Monday Mood Booster: Return
Welcome back! While it’s important to live in the present and be mindful in completing your work, it’s also necessary to think about the future. There will come a time when you’ll need to get back into the normal swing of things; take a moment now to start...
To the Class of 2021: Congratulations and Welcome!
You’ve spent the last several years working hard on your education, taking steps towards your degree, and finally earning the title of “Graduate.” Congratulations! What you’ve just done is a huge accomplishment. You should be enormously proud of yourself and all of...
Monday Mood Booster: Guidance
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful weekend with plenty of chances to connect with those in your life to whom you turn for guidance. This week, we’ll be focusing on just that: guidance. A helping hand can come from both sources familiar and those you might not...
Resilient In The Workplace And Beyond
Today’s examination of ways to expand on your resiliency takes a holistic approach, considering ways both in and out of the workplace to create a more resilient you. You don’t have to tackle that task alone--and shouldn’t be! Know that within your workplace, you have...
Wednesday Wellness: Resilience
As you practice building up your workplace resilience using the skills we’ve shared, remember that your knowledge and capabilities are growing with every step along the way. While these unprecedented circumstances may feel overwhelming, each and every day you’re...
Monday Mood Booster: Resilience
Welcome back! As we kick off the first full week of May, we’ll be focusing on resilience. Just as flowers survive the cold of winter to bloom again each spring, you have the strength to pull through even the most difficult of times. Let these warmer days reinvigorate...
Feel Good Friday: Community
Congratulations--you’ve successfully made it to the end of another week! And we know that even if it doesn’t feel like it, each day you’ve made a difference in your communities. All of the contributions big and small that you make in your workplace add up to important...
Creating Workplace Community Virtually
Amidst this week’s focus on community, we know that it can feel isolating to work from home, with your teammates located far from you. Today we’re looking at ways to establish a sense of connection with your colleagues and employers while completing your work...
Wednesday Wellness: Community
Welcome back to Wednesday Wellness! Whether already you realize it or not, you are a powerful force for change within your communities. Your presence impacts the lives of others. Though simply being there may not feel like doing much, remember that being an active...
Creating A Better Workplace Community
Our focus this week is on creating a better community, in both your workplace and beyond. While creating change in the world at large is an important task to tackle, today we’re turning inward for our first steps towards creating a better workplace community. Since...