After a long period of lockdowns, restrictions are starting to ease which comes as an exciting feeling of hope for many of us. As people start to return to their places of work, there is likely to be a mixture of emotions. Despite looking forward to working along side friends and colleagues again, you might find yourself feeling anxious about changes that may well have occurred during the lockdowns.

Beth Sear from Work to Wellbeing in Bournemouth, a local expert in workplace wellbeing, has put together 5 brilliant tips to help ease you back into the workplace successfully.

  1. Easy does it! - Try not to rush into taking on too much too fast. Remember, we are all going to need to get used to juggling working tasks again, and you don’t want to burn out. Smaller, sustainable changes are the key to returning to work in a manageable way.
  2. Bare with each other while we readjust to team working - If you notice yourself becoming frustrated by others, step away to cool down before you return to the conversation. If you feel relaxed while you communicate an issue, you are most likely to achieve your goal, while still preserving the relationship with the person you are talking to.
  3. Work-life balance - Finish your working day by writing up a list of jobs remaining for tomorrow, then shut your laptop and focus on enjoying your evening! Any work-worries can wait until tomorrow. With the rest of your time, consider the ACE goals: Have you got a sense of achievement yet today? Have you connected with a friend? Have you done something you enjoy?
  4. Continue to have regular breaks in the day as you return to your place of work. If you are sitting for most of the day, it’s even more important to stand up and have a stretch – ideally go for a short walk to relax your muscles and calm your mind.
  5. As your return to work, why not set yourself or your team a regular check-in to assess how you are readjusting. Is there anything from the lockdown period that you would like to bring with you into the next season? Is there something you feel you need more support with as you readjust?