After weeks of working from home, leave or unemployment, we will return to the workplace once the COVID-19 restrictions disappear. The transition can cause fear and anxiety. It is important to take precautions to avoid infection, but also to deal with the stress of transitioning to work after a long period of isolation.
To reduce anxiety, you should ask your employer what will change at work to protect you. Ask your employer how you are protected? What precautions have been taken? How is the work environment set up to protect everyone from getting infected? Handshakes, things we usually do to show each other physical support, are also not allowed. So we will have to find new ways to connect in this new work environment.
Here are some tips for safely transitioning to a post-COVID-19 work life:
Manage stress
Many people already have a lot of stress and anxiety during this time, and adjusting to the weather in the workplace can amplify these feelings. Using stress reduction apps, practicing mindfulness and self-care that calm your breathing and nerves, and creating a plan for you and your family to manage the transition to work can all go a long way in building resilience and help you feel better about returning.
Keep your guard up
Just because there is a limitation doesn't mean the threat is gone. You still need to take precautions – wash your hands for 20 seconds while taking five deep breaths, keep disinfectants and disinfectant wipes handy, and clean surfaces often. Wear a face mask and avoid shaking hands in common areas, meetings or interacting with customers.
Keep your distance
Avoid crowds in conference rooms and keep your workspace at least 1.5 meters away from your nearest colleague. Continue to hold virtual meetings and limit direct contact. Many adjustments have been made to help employees work from home during the coronavirus outbreak. Health experts recommend continuing remote work or determining which employees are in the office, if possible.
Stay fit to be healthy
Make changes to help strengthen your immune system and fight disease. About 80 percent of chronic conditions are preventable by participating in some lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise, eating at least five fruits and vegetables a day, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption. If you drink, one drink a day if you're a woman and two a day if you're a man. Those small changes can make a big difference in fighting the virus if you are infected.
Watch out for the health of your colleagues
Stay home if you're not feeling well and, if a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available in the future, you should take it too. With workplaces reopening, many are monitoring workers' health with measures such as daily temperature checks. If your employer isn't taking precautions
necessary to prevent the spread of disease, speak up so everyone in the office can feel safer.
