Change can spark anxiety for many people and few things have brought more uncertainty and changes than the pandemic, especially to the workplace. How and where we work has changed dramatically in recent years with more workplaces adopting a hybrid model which allows for in-person and remote work. While there are many benefits to working in a hybrid environment, including better flexibility and work-life balance, many workers are expressing apprehension about returning to the office on a regular basis.
It is common among employees to have mixed feelings about returning to in-person work a few days a week or month. Questions that cause concern center around tangible details like commuting, childcare, and what schedule makes the most sense. Other concerns center around anxiety about talking to people in person, losing some freedom and convenience that working remotely offers, or even as I just heard last week, “Will my work clothes still fit?”.
If you are having a hard time adjusting, managing your mindset around new ways of working can be the key to feeling more positive and in control about your situation. Here are three tips to help you manage your mindset and make the most out of blending in-person and remote work.
Tip 1: Expect the outcome you want, not what you don’t want. Visualize how you want to feel while working from home or in the office. In your mind’s eye, see yourself productive and connecting with others, whether virtually or in person. Think about your wins and successes in each scenario and decide how you want to feel each day. Do this in the morning and then check in at the end of the day. Notice if you start to feel better after you’ve tried this for several days.
Tip 2: Plan for things that inspire you about connecting with others, make in person plans and anticipate them. Reach out to others, make a lunch or coffee plan and embrace the face-to-face time together. Think of how nice it will be to have that team strategy meeting in person for the first time in a long while. Get the most bang for your buck when in the office and save meetings that can be done virtually for your at home days. Make a plan for the days you work from home and schedule time to do things that recharge and refresh you in order to maximize your productivity.
Tip 3. Gratitude. Aren’t you getting the best of both worlds? A few years ago, hybrid working models were not nearly as common and now almost every role has an opportunity to split time between virtual and in person. Deepen your appreciation for both scenarios. Write each out, meditate on them. You can do this by closing your eyes for a minute or two and focusing on what feels good about each scenario. Try using self-talk that promotes a positive outlook about your new situation.
Changes to your work location and routines can feel disruptive or even unsettling at first, but it’s important to check in with the story you are playing in your head as you manage the change. No matter how your workplace is adapting to the future of work, managing your mindset as you adjust to hybrid work can be the key to feeling more positive and in control about your situation.
Sharon Steiner-Hart, Executive Coach at Talking Talent.
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