Businesses are preparing to reopen gradually and since Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland has said that she is all set to remove most of Covid restrictions on 9th August, we hope you’ll be heading back to the office next Monday.

However, even if she implied that social distancing rules will be relaxed, she also said that face masks will remain in place for some time.

As the businesses planning to reopen, employees will have to assure their 9 to 5 presence at the office. This could result in burnout. Most employees enjoyed the flexibility of working from the office as they were able to secure a work-life balance.

But, it won’t be the same now. Commuting to the office and dealing with office politics may end up in exhaustion, cynical detachment and a lower sense of efficacy.

However, it’s only a matter of time before you get back on track and things start to feel normal. Here are some tips that’ll help when returning to the workplace and put up with those strict work routines.

Returning to the workplace
Going back to the office and sitting at the same desk for long hours could make you feel anxious for a number of reasons. You may feel at risk of Covid or you may feel hesitant mixing with crowds after being in your small social circle for more than a year.

But, the key here is to focus on the positives and don’t let your nerves get the best of you. Finding a work-life balance isn’t going to be easy. But hang in there and you’ll find your way back to normal.

If you have any concerns about taking space in your mind, talk to your senior or manager. If you feel like you can’t do your job as good as you used to, brush up your skills with online courses. Take things lightly as it won’t get normal in just one day.

Look after yourself
Commuting to work consumes a lot of your time. You may find that you don’t have enough time to look after yourself. Set some time aside for activities that you find relaxing.

● Practice yoga and breathing techniques. It will keep your internal clock in check and your mind will feel at ease.
● Take part in activities you like such as reading or playing sports.
● Take a nutrients-filled diet so you are healthy and most productive at work.

We’ve all developed many bad habits during the lockdown, laziness and excessive screen time being some of them. All these bad habits have started to affect your physical health. Stay hydrated and use blue light glasses so your eyes are not bothered by the screen light. Take short breaks in between work to keep your body active and avoid muscle aches.

Start connecting
It’s normal to feel anxious when talking to a group of people, even more so after such a big break from social interaction. Take a gradual approach towards it. Start interacting with a small group of people rather than trying to address the entire team on day 1 post lockdown.

You can conduct meetings outside of the office to get that chemistry back with people. But do bear in mind that social distancing and face coverings are important even after the lockdown restrictions ease up.

Health screenings
Regular checkups are going to be even more important post lockdown. Although it’s the duty of the employer to conduct regular health screenings of their employees, you must watch out for any symptom or unusual change in your health and must report it to your office.

Upgrade your workplace safety measures so your employees feel safe coming to the office after lockdown. Apart from physical checkups, don’t forget to take an eye test to determine whether your vision has deteriorated due to your screen time habits during the lockdown.

More than 38% of Brits with high screen time during the lockdown believe that their eyesight has gone worse. If this sounds like you have an eye test. If you get an eye prescription, get glasses online or from a local shop for your specific vision needs.

Take care of your mental health
One of the most important things to consider when returning to the office is your mental health. The pandemic outbreak is stressful enough and now you’ll have to deal with the beatings of the office environment. But, don’t let these things get the best of your mental well-being.

Speak with an expert health professional to talk out your problems or speak with your employers. But most importantly, give yourself time. We understand that the end of lockdown seems liberating but things can get twisted and it may get in the way of your mental well-being.