Now that the lockdown has lifted a little, returning to work may not feel the same. The flexibility of working from home and attempting a solid transition can be tough.

Re-creating a healthy work-life balance is not impossible and you’re not alone in experiencing a shift. Here are some (hopefully) helpful tips to invigorate your change: 

1.  The Oh-so-Important Morning and Night Routine 

What better place to start than the moment you wake up? The way you begin and end your day really can affect your mood thought process, and sleep. Spend some time thinking about what is important for you to feel ready for the day, focused, and calm. If that means waking up two hours before leaving to shower, work out, eat, grab your coffee, and look over your day, then start working on making that a habit. I find that it’s been helpful to start and end my day with something I’m looking forward to. For example, research suggests that stretching before going to sleep can help your body reset overnight and over time, you wake up feeling more rested!

2. Take Your Break (and Time Off) Unapologetically

Don’t hesitate to step away from your workspace. Eat your entire lunch, go for a short walk or sit outside (if possible). Whatever you decide to do, don’t let anyone pressure you into believing the work is more important than you. And don’t burden yourself with those thoughts either. If you’re worried about not being ‘productive,’ try redefining the word itself. Piling five projects on the to-do list for today might feel more stressful than productive. There’s a difference between good stress and bad stress. Bad stress usually leaves you feeling rushed, boxed in, and exhausted.

3. Create Boundaries Between Work and Your Personal Life

One of the biggest barriers to a positive work environment is a person without clear boundaries. Choose a time to stop working on projects, checking emails, and receiving phone calls. Even if you have to set an alarm to remind you to stop, do it. If you’re working from home, find a way to create a workspace that isn’t as easily disrupted. If it takes you sitting at the kitchen table, then so be it. How many times have you worked in your bed or on the couch and were easily distracted because you were too comfortable?

4. Find a Mentor

As the workforce is changing, finding a mentor is becoming more crucial to implement. Finding someone who can help you navigate the workforce you entered can make your job A LOT less taxing and it’s always great to learn from someone else’s experience. 

Also, don’t hesitate to acquire multiple mentors! The goal is to have people with backgrounds different from yours (age, orientation, gender identity, race, etc.) Take it a step further and find mentors who have accomplished similar goals you’ve set for yourself (professionally and in everyday life).

5. Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Okay, the saying might be cliche but returning to in-person working can be taxing after being home for so long. What you had on your plate in any given week may feel like too much at this time, and that’s okay. Review your commitments and determine what (and who) you’re willing to be accountable for. The key here is to be honest with yourself about what is important to you. Don’t define your responsibilities by what you think others would be happy with. Do what you need to for yourself.

6. Imposter Syndrome is REAL

Don’t compare your strengths to someone else’s. Remember that “comparison is the thief of joy.” You are intelligent and clearly qualified enough because someone is paying you to at least seem like an expert. The only person you need to convince is yourself! One of my favorite sayings is “fake it ‘til you make it.” No, it doesn’t make you a fraud but think of it as smiling on days you feel crappy. Sometimes it’s helpful to change your outlook by doing the opposite of your fear/worry. For example, I used to hate weekly meetings because I felt that others were judging whether I deserved to be in attendance. I decided that instead of going in with the mentality of “‘I hate coming to these,” I would tell myself “I have 1 hour where I need to smile and find at least 2 positive things that I can walk away with from this meeting.” Over time, I began to look at the meeting as a way for me to gain more knowledge rather than an irritating chore. My outlook changed and so did my perspective. By the end of the month, I felt more excited to attend the meeting and participate as well. I was also more confident in my work because I stopped thinking about how others' perception of me could validate my intelligence.

Let us know what has worked for you since returning to the office!