5 Ways to Deal with Stress as Workplaces Reopen
We are well into June of 2020, and many of us have reached or surpassed the three-month mark of shelter-in-place and coping with working from home. Some of us may even feel like working from our dining room tables or living room couches is the new normal, and the news of companies starting their transition back into physical office spaces can seem a little daunting - stressful even. Here are five ways that we can break down and ease the anxiousness of re-entering the workplace during these unprecedented times.
1. Reconnect with Coworkers
One of the basic experiences we have all missed since working remotely is our day-to-day interactions with our colleagues like casual conversations by the water-cooler or participating in in-person, team-building off-sites. Most of our recent interactions with people, especially coworkers, have mostly been through digital screens and speakers. Starting the process of reintegrating back into the physical workplace is a great time to get together to socialize and reconnect with your colleagues over a virtual or non-virtual happy-hour for the first time in what feels like forever.
Renowned psychologist, Susan Pinker, states that face-to-face contact is integral to learning, maintaining happiness, and longterm health for the human species. Person-to-person interactions stimulate our nervous system to release a mixture of neurotransmitters that are responsible for regulating stress and anxiety. You may not be able to shake your coworker’s hand or give them a cordial hug at this point in time, but taking the opportunity to mingle with your work friends and people who can directly relate to your new reality might help reduce any pressures or nervousness you feel about coming back to work. Set up a fun themed group call, play some team-building games, or even engage in meditation together!
Ready to Schedule a free session with your team? Go ahead now!
2. Reestablish Routine in Your Life
The original COVID-19 shelter-in-place mandates probably flipped your entire daily routine around as you may have had to migrate all of your meetings to be done remotely and change your work habits to fit the environment of your own home. It’s important to take time and re-assimilate to the old normal. You may have gotten used to staying up late to finish work projects and waking up less than an hour before your first meeting because you no longer had to drive to work or wait in line at your local cafe for your early morning pick-me-up.
Now that we all have to think about going back into the office, we need to mentally revisit all of the things we used to do to reestablish a sense of normalcy and consider the new habits we’ve learned during our time away and how they can be incorporated with what used to work for us. Now that you own a personal coffeemaker, you likely won’t have to stop for coffee during your commute to work in the morning… but it doesn’t mean you can’t stop for coffee if it makes you feel good to do it. Find a balance that makes you happy. It may not feel the same as the good old days, but we have the opportunity to make them even better.
3. Prioritize and Manage Your Time
Time management goes a really long way to reduce stress no matter what living or working conditions may be present, so it is always in good practice to map out your days efficiently. This can be challenging during this kind of transition, but everything will feel less overwhelming when you have a clear idea of what to do and when to do it. Having good time management skills can help you maximize productivity and make space for more leisure time and fun activities. Here are some simple tips for time management you can try out as stay-at-home begins to lift:
Sit down and plan your week out every Sunday.
Prioritize your tasks and sanction slots time to finish them.
Use a digital calendar to set up reminders for tasks you need to finish.
Finish your hardest task first thing in the morning so that it is done and out of the way.
Make sure to make time for relaxation (maybe try a Sukhi meditation!)
4. Eat Healthily, Sleep Well, and Exercise Often
These are some of the most tried and true pieces of advice that will help relieve stress and increase your overall quality of life. Studies have shown that these three things are essential in combatting depression and anxiety. There is no better way to make yourself feel good than to take care of your physical body by giving it all the attention and nurturing it deserves. Invest time in yourself by giving your body the fuel it needs to keep you strong, alert, and happy. Here are some clear reasons why:
Having a healthy diet is key to helping our bodies to regulate the physiological changes our bodies make due to stress.
Sleep deprivation can cause memory deficiencies, poor judgment, and mood instability.
Physical activity and exercise increase blood flow help your body release endorphins to make you feel good.
5. Be Kind to Yourself
The whole world is going to go through another transition just as large as the one that occurred earlier this year due to the mass pandemic, but almost in reverse of what happened then. Most people found that lifestyle change to be extremely difficult, and this one will likely feel very similar for different reasons. Just remember that it’s okay if you don’t immediately feel at home in your old office or workplace (because it literally isn’t your home). You do not have to be excited to see everyone at work on the first day, or even the hundredth day. You may even feel nervous and disoriented. These feelings are normal and valid. Try to stay present and be mindful of the fact that we are human and that we are built to adapt to change. This does not have to happen immediately, so try to enjoy the process and company (of the people you work with and the one you work for).
Just focus on yourself, hobbies, and the things that make you happy! Your mental health is the most important part to nurture so always pay attention to making yourself feel great. Definitely try some of these methods and let us know if you’ve been finding some of that lost motivation or feelings of success! Don’t worry, stay Sukhi.
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“27 Time Management Tips To Work Less and Play More.” Toggl, toggl.com/time-management-tips/.
JR;, Gonzalez MJ;Miranda-Massari. “Diet and Stress.” The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25455067/.
Madell, Robin. “Exercise as Stress Relief.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 13 Aug. 2004, www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/exercise-stress-relief#1.
“The Role of Exercise, Nutrition, and Sleep in the Battle Against Depression.” Family Health Psychiatric & Counseling Center, Pc, www.fhpcc.com/the-role-of-exercise-nutrition-and-sleep-in-the-battle-against-depression#:~:text=The point is important enough,Depression and in preventing Depression.
“The Village Effect.” Susan Pinker Author, 30 Jan. 2019, susanpinker.com/the-village-effect/.
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