Being locked in our homes was a mixed bag for us...while for some it meant a break from the long hours of driving to work, for others it meant the uncomfortable news of being holed up inside our houses devoid  of shopping sprees. But for most working professionals, the initial few weeks of the lockdown were a welcome break since it meant working from the comfortable confines of the home, rather than getting up early, getting dressed and rushing off to work with packed lunches.

But now with new orders, offices have started to open  and call employees back to their workstations. For those who have become comfortable WFH, the idea of getting back  to the grind of life seems to be unpleasant and unwelcome. But, then when duty calls, you answer it. Here are a few ways to make your transition from WFH to WF  office smoother.

1. Acclimatize yourself to the routine again: Start by making small changes to your routine once again that will help you slip back more easily into your earlier lifestyle. This includes getting up early again, getting ready into proper clothes on time as if for office, and following office hours of work and breaks.

2. Keep away from unnecessary scare: There are too many rumours doing the rounds which might make  you very wary about stepping  out for office. Learn  to sift rumours from genuine news. And focus on that. Prepare yourself with masks, portable sanitizers etc., for going back to work.

3.Let go of the control at home: For most women, WFH was a good chance to be more in control of their kid’s studies and their houses, but with offices reopening, they need to once again learn how to let go of the control. Set routines, schedules as you would earlier; bring back the online tuition classes, re-train your household staff if any, to once again operate without your supervision.

4. Focus on what can be done and not on what cannot be done: Build your mental strength and dive back into the rigmarole albeit with precautions. There is no point  in over analysing things, building fatalistic scenarios, or worrying excessively about it. It will just add to anxiety and make you hate your office and work. Rather focus on what can be done—following COVID norms, preparing children that you will be off to work, setting your house back on the auto-pilot mode—rather than what cannot be done.

Before you develop any negative feelings for your office, management and work, remind yourself why you took the job in the first place, what benefits and highs it brings to you, and what made you happy about going there everyday. Focussing on positive memories will help you stay on track. Avoid comparing notes on how your office is being unfair by asking  you to come to work while your neighbour’s is allowing WFH still.

 While at work as well

1) follow the protocols of social distancing, try and stay away from groups gathered around coffee machines, rather carry your own coffee and food too.

2) carry portable sanitizer, sanitizer wipes, and toothpicks to be used for elevators, ATM’s etc. Use your foot or elbow to push open doors.

3)Focus on digitalising processes: Skip papers in favour of online documents. The  lesser paper floating around, lesser the chances of contamination.