Many of us will soon be returning to work in the office (as opposed to WFH) as life gets back to a ‘new normal’.
Some of us feel anxious about the germs on the tube or in the office, or simply fitting into our work attire after months of regular tea and biscuit breaks.
Other women who I’ve been speaking to are pleased to have some ‘separation’ between work and home and are looking forward to Pret sandwiches again.
Whether you’re continuing to WFH, doing a ‘blended’ WFH and office arrangement, or heading back to the office full time, how can you feel more calm and confident, adjusting again to another change in your life?
Create a capsule wardrobe with bright colours
Getting out of our comfy joggers is going to be a challenge, however it’s time to dust off our office based attire.
Rather than thinking about what fits, start with colour. Yellow is often worn as a sign of optimism and hope; red for passion and energy; or blue for calm and contentment.
From this, you can create a capsule wardrobe, with around 10 outfits to wear in your first couple of months back in the office.
It’ll save you time and stress in the mornings and that dreaded feeling, “what am I going to wear today?” as you stand in front of your wardrobe, filled with clothes but with nothing that feels ‘right, or want to portray your personal brand.
And pull out some of your favourite accessories, like your sparkly earrings that don’t quite feel appropriate to take-away dinner on the couch with your partner.
The power of a charm as a mood booster
Wearing a piece of jewellery or a charm that reminds you of a special person or moment can be effective at boosting your mood too.
Athletes often use charms to put them into a positive mindset ahead pre-game or race.
Research by Psychologist Lysann Damisch found that using charms can boost how we feel about ourselves, including a confidence boost and ability to be more persistent.
It’s these little touches, from the colours you wear to the ritual of putting on a charm necklace that can make a big difference to your overall confidence.
Negotiate to continue to work flexibly
Every business will have a view on where and how they’d like their employees to work and that may no longer be flexibly and from home.
You may like to think about whether you’d like to work more flexibly long term and so it may take negotiating with your manager or HR team.
You may need to prepare a business case, or see if you can arrange it as a trial.
Your Personal Brand
Relying on your work to speak for itself or being worried about coming across as arrogant are common beliefs that hold us back from actively considering our personal brand.
Returning to the office is a perfect catalyst to think about your personal brand.
You may like to think about the words you can use to describe your strengths and what you’d like to be known for.
Sharing stories is a great way to portray either your career defining moments or something that you’re passionate about - and come across authentically.
Book in a coffee meeting with your manager to share some of your achievements of the last year - and don’t forget to ask them theirs too!
Have a buddy
Often when we are under stress we look for social company or human connection. It is called ‘social buffering’.
So why not find yourself a work buddy when you return to the office?
Be each other’s confidant through this further change in our lives. Grab a quick cup of tea or simply check-in with each other daily.
Suzy Reading, Psychologist and Author of Self-Care for Tough Times adds,
“Rather than being a burden to others, sharing our experiences, letting our colleagues in to how we are feeling can deepen our bonds and promote the health of our relationships, helping our colleagues feel trusted and valued.
“In being open, we invite others to do the same and the shared experience can be deeply validating, especially in these tumultuous times.”
Give yourself time to adjust
According to a study last year from Bupa Health Clinics, 65% of Brits were anxious about returning to the workplace; and one in seven Londoners ‘stressed’ about their return.
If you’re feeling anxious about commuting or being in the office - that’s totally normal. This year has been challenging and we’ve had to be more resilient than ever before.
It’s going to take time to adjust and you can use mindful techniques to feel less anxious like meditation and breath work techniques.
You can access both free and paid-for apps like Nourish for Mums; Insight Timer or Headspace.
The next few months as we return to ‘normal life’ are going to be both exciting and overwhelming too.
Now is the time to consider what things you can do to help you to feel calm and in control.
Olivia Bath is Founder of The Women’s Vault, helping professional women to accelerate their careers and achieve work/life balance, including providing free mini coaching sessions. She also delivers wellbeing workshops for businesses, including returning to work after maternity leave and returning to the office.