Picture retrieved from Baltimore Sun article "Maryland Colleges Planning For Return To Campus"
Preparing Yourself for The Return
According to an article by U.S. News, in April 2020, 70 percent of U.S. employees were working from home.1 Fast forward thirteen months later and many of us (56%) are still answering emails from our homes.1 But for higher education professionals in the Maryland and DC area that will all be changing soon as many colleges and universities prepare to return to campus this fall.2 Undoubtedly, faculty and staff emotions run the gamut regarding the return. So, I have compiled a list of tips that will make your transition back to the office a bit smoother. Whether you are joyful or apprehensive there is something here for you.
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Wake up earlier, Bathe, get dressed (don’t stay in your pajamas all day), and do all those things that will get you back in the swing leaving the house for work. Prepare your things the night before your first day back. 3, 5
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Communicate with your colleagues and supervisors about what you’re feeling. Keeping your fears and apprehensions bottled in can skew your perspective but talking with your peers may help you develop an outlook that gets you ready to return to the office.3
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Prioritize your mental health. Practice mindfulness techniques on the commute to work and if needed take a minute to ground yourself before going inside.3, 5
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Acknowledge the transitional period. Give yourself time to get centered, settled, and re-acclimated. Know that your productivity will likely decrease in the first couple of weeks back.4
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Be prepared for things to look different both physically such as barriers and sanitizing stations as well as processes. 6
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Know your rights. “If you feel as if your employer isn’t taking the necessary steps to ensure your safety or is discriminating against you for any reason, read up on federal, state and local laws.” (E.g. EEOC, FMLA, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, etc.). 6
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COMMUNICATION is key! Not only about how you’re feeling but regarding office policies and procedures. Top down, bottom up, and lateral communication is instrumental in insuring a smooth transition. Communication or lack thereof “could really make or break the total operation.” 4, 6
This article was written by CAPACRAO Communications & Legislation Chair, Danielle Worsham.
Have you returned back to campus? Are you returning soon? Connect with CAPACRAO. Let us know your thoughts or experiences with the return and how you've transitioned. Sign in and comment below.
Resources:
3https://www.abc4.com/coronavirus/how-to-mentally-prepare-to-return-to-work-according-to-an-expert/
4https://luxafor.com/preparing-to-return-to-work-office-after-covid-19-corona-pandemic/
5 https://blog.execu-search.com/returning-to-work-5-tips/
6https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/at-home/office-return-coronavirus.html
https://mountainside.com/blog/mental-health/going-back-to-work-tips-on-how-to-adjust/ (An extra resource)
