Wellness: How to Ease Back Into the Office After Working From Home
Believe it or not, leaving your home office might actually be better for your health. Many of us are returning to the office after over a year of working from home. The transition can be jarring, but a little preparation can help boost your physical and mental well-being.
Meal prepping is your friend.
As it turns out, having a full kitchen just steps away isn’t the best thing for your waistline after all. Banish the boredom snacking and try packing healthy, filling meals to enjoy at work. It doesn’t have to be all raw veggies and overnight oats (though those are great options). You can pack a whole bunch of protein and greens in a good mason jar salad.
Don’t forget to include some treats and beverage options. You basically want to erase all the reasons you may have for getting takeout or fast food because there’s nothing else to eat.
Take a break (or two).
When it’s time for a bathroom break, stretch your legs and walk around a bit. If you have some extra time during lunch, do the stairs or practice some mindful meditation. Even if you’re just listening to the sound of crashing waves in your headphones, these mini-breaks will help make the day go by faster. Just don’t fall asleep!
The early bird gets the worm.
Hear me out. Part of the strangeness of 2020 was the extremely abrupt shift to working from home. All of a sudden, our commutes went from being something we hated to something we almost missed complaining about. One way to combat a shift back to pre-COVID routines is to get up a little earlier and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Try to leave home earlier, before rush hour really gets going, and you may find you have time to run errands in the morning. It’s surprisingly easy to pop in and out of a grocery store when it’s not crowded.
Dress for success.
Now that we’ve all gotten used to attending meetings on screen, it may be hard to go back to pants with zippers. If your dress code isn’t formal, try incorporating more relaxed clothes and shoes you’re not aching to take off at the end of the day. Stretch is the name of the game when you’re looking for new pants or skirts.
Your new business casual outfits don’t have to look sloppy just because they’re comfortable. Keep a black jacket in the office for unexpected meetings, along with a pair of shoes that aren’t Crocs, and you should be fine.
Mind your manners.
We all have varying degrees of comfort with social distancing and office etiquette. Make sure to use proper face coverings that meet your employer’s guidelines, and have your hand sanitizer at the ready. While we’re still not out of the woods, our return to the public doesn’t have to be in a giant hamster ball.
After endless months of being at home, it’s time for many of us to return to work in person. With a little preparation and a good outlook, this can be a whole lot easier than you think.
What tips do you have for returning to work? Share them with us in the comments.