If you’ve been away from your workplace for some time, you may feel more reluctant about heading back to it. You may feel less motivated and miss the feeling where days were completely your own. Whether you've been working from home or have taken time off work for a while, if you find that you're struggling to get back into the flow of things, we’ve provided a few tips to help you out.

If you’re finding it hard to motivate yourself to return to the workplace, it’s time to start focusing on what you actually enjoy in your job. It might be the camaraderie with colleagues, the research you undertake, or the customers you interact with. Whatever it is, write down what makes you enjoy your job so you can refer back to it when you need a boost.

Make sure you ease in slowly and prioritise yourself, especially if you've been away from work for a while. Write achievable to-do lists with realistic time frames, break down tasks into manageable steps, and factor in time to review your inbox so you can prioritise and sort your workload. Take your lunch breaks, leave work on time, and make time for hobbies either after work or on the weekends. By focusing on ways to ease yourself back into work, you’ll be less likely to feel a sense of dread and you will achieve a sense of purpose and control.

If you're transitioning from working from home towards going into the office on a regular basis, it may be harder for you to get back into a routine. Ensure that your sleep schedule is adjusted to accomodate an earlier wake up time and that your morning routine isn't rushed.

Another tip which is often underrated is the process of cleaning up your workspace. According to the Association for Psychological Science, creating a tidy and more personal workspace can improve your mood. So, clean out those drawers you’ve been meaning to declutter for years and if you can, include more natural light as it’s said to improve your work environment.

You may think you’re isolated in the way you’re feeling, but no doubt if you chat to your workmates, you’ll realise that they might just be in the same boat as you especially as people start going back into the office. Chat to your colleagues or family and friends and see how best they can help support you.

If you’re still feeling down after some time and you can’t seem to shake those nerves about returning to the workplace, then it’s advisable to seek out extra support. You can contact Sonder or your GP, who will be able to help.

If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app.

Information sourced from: Centre for Emotion Focused Practice

Image credit: Christin Hume on Unsplash

All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional.