Struggles with Readjusting from WFH to Onsite Work

As the government places lesser restrictions in place for human mobility, the conversation about bringing people back into the workplace has already started. But similar to how workers felt displaced from the norm when they started working from home because of the pandemic, such are the hesitations and fears of many going back to onsite work. After all, we’ve gotten so used to staring at our laptops all day inside the safety of our own homes that it will take some time for us to adjust back to our pre-COVID routine.

Here are some struggles that people go through in transitioning to onsite work and some tips on how to cope with them!

You need more time to prepare for work.

Have you ever checked your phone minutes after waking up only to realize that a work meeting is happening in five minutes so you rush to get out of your bed and turn on your computer? After seconds of completely typing in the wrong password to your work email, you finally log in successfully and click the meeting link. You sigh in relief as you make it to work on time… then the feeling ends almost immediately when your team leader asks everyone to turn your cameras on. You panic because you literally just woke up, your hair is still a disheveled mess, and your clothes are definitely NOT work-appropriate.

For most of us, this was our reality for the past two years (even if we’re scared to admit it). But now that we’re going back to onsite work, we simply can’t wake up five minutes before our work. We need to start the day hours before the start of our shift because we have to keep into consideration the time we need to shower, eat, dress, workout, and commute.

This readjustment process is definitely overwhelming, so it’s important to take it one step at a time. Instead of using your first day of onsite work as the start date for building your new routine, why not practice re-learning your previous onsite work habits the week before? You can start setting up your alarms earlier, dressing for work even when you’re still at home, and commuting to the office. All of these can definitely help you become more prepared before your first day back.

You’re anxious about being around people again.

Experiencing a bit of anxiety near people after some time of being socially sequestered due to a pandemic is to be expected. Human beings are inherently social animals and being uprooted from the practices that we’ve been doing for so long will certainly impact us. Because of this, you don’t need to stress too much about being clueless about what to do in social situations. Sure, you might be an extrovert but social skills are skills regardless and we need to constantly practice these skills so we don’t completely lose the knack for them.

What you can do about social anxiety is to insert yourself into social situations starting with simple ones. While walking outside, greet the taho vendor. When getting an online shopping purchase outside your house gate, spark a simple conversation with the rider! These actions may be small but they will certainly help you become more and more comfortable being around people again until you eventually get to the office. However, remember that you should go at your own pace. Don’t push yourself too hard because there’s a tendency for people to give up before they could actually get started.

You have a fear of getting COVID.

Getting COVID is not a joke. Aside from obvious adverse effects to your health — the coughs and sneezes, the body pains, the brain fog — having the virus can deprive you of being productive and efficient in the workplace. In the WFH setting, it’s much easier to not worry so much about viruses as you’re working from the comfort of your own home. However, now that you’re going back to the office, you’re going to be more exposed to your surroundings and to the possibility of getting infected. Because of this, the fear of coming back to the workplace due to COVID is valid. Even in a world of vaccines that offer protection from unseen forces, this technology is not yet perfect and we’re still vulnerable to catching COVID.

What can help ease your fear is continuing to practice minimum safety precautions such as wearing masks, washing your hands well, and practicing social distancing. By doing so, you’re able to give yourself the assurance that you’re doing the right things by following the guidelines set by the proper health authorities.

Aside from that, try to take your mind off it; don’t fixate on your fears. Getting COVID is already bad enough — don’t spend your days without the virus inside your body thinking about something that you can’t control. However, in case you do get COVID, make sure that you have a plan in place. Have some medicine prepared, a thermometer, and a copy of work memos that detail what you should do when you get the virus.

All in all, these are just some of the struggles professionals face when readjusting from remote work to going back to the office. What’s important is that we acknowledge these struggles and understand where they’re coming from. We might be prompted to simply ignore our feelings and try to live past them but that wouldn’t help anyone. This is definitely a big change so it will take time before anyone could adjust. Just know that you are not alone and that there is a community of professionals who share the same sentiments as you do. Breathe. You can do this.

However, in the case that going back to onsite work has really affected your mental and physical health, you could share these anxieties and stress with your employers. You weren’t thrust into this world just to work — your health should come first. If possible, negotiate with your supervisors a set-up that will work for you. After all, it’s proven that a flexible work environment increases productivity and most importantly, the satisfaction of the employees. Aside from that, don’t hesitate to ask for professional help if you’re comfortable with it. As mentioned earlier, your health comes first before anything. Talking to professionals can help lessen the burden that you’re carrying.

Kalibrr is a recruitment technology company that aims to transform how candidates find jobs and how companies hire talent. Placing the candidate experience at the center of everything it does, we continue to attract the best talent from all over, with more than 5.5 million professionals and counting. Kalibrr ultimately connects these talents to companies in search of their next generation of leaders.

The only end-to-end recruitment solutions provider in Southeast Asia, Kalibrr is headquartered in Makati, Philippines, with offices in San Francisco, California, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Established in 2012, it has served over 18,000 clients and is backed by some of the world’s most powerful start-up incubators and venture capitalists. These include Y Combinator, Omidyar Network, Patamar Capital, Wavemaker Partners, and Kickstart Ventures.

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