Youâve probably noticed that the Swedish Public Health Agency has now dropped its recommendation to work from home â which means many offices are gradually opening up again.
Okay okay okay. The honeymoon is over. Back to reality⊠or is it!?
No more sweatpants, lazy mornings, and lunch walks⊠OR IS THERE?!
Relax â no need to panic. In this post, youâll get my best tips on how to handle the transition back to office life like a pro.
Iâve personally chosen a rather humble approach to my own comeback.
I like to call it: The Return of the King.
Whether you see yourself as royalty, a queen, or the court jester â the contrasts between the home office and the physical office are worth some reflection.
đ My 7 Best Tips
1. Solve the logistics puzzle early
How often will you actually be at the office? Every day, sometimes, or just when you feel like it?
For everyone involved â your employer, your partner, your four-legged friend, your kids â schedules are worth gold. Sync up early so everyone knows whoâs picking up âyour little angelâ from daycare.
2. Relearn social codes
You get it. After months (or years) of isolation, you may have forgotten how to actually talk to your coworkers face-to-face.
Start with the classic:
âSo, did you do anything fun this weekend?â
Nod. Smile. Ask a follow-up question like âAh, tell me more.â
If you completely blank, thereâs always the timeless backup topic: the weather.
3. Avoid the âcinnamon bun meetingsâ
YES!! JA!! OUI!! I love this one.
If the pandemic taught us anything, itâs that meetings can be effective. Letâs not ruin that.
Just because there are 27 people sitting in a conference room munching on cinnamon buns doesnât mean the meeting needs to drag on forever.
Keep it short. Keep it sharp. Youâll thank me later.
4. Keep using video meetings
When you book a meeting, assume itâll happen over video.
Whether your colleagues are at the office, working from home, or halfway across the country doesnât matter.
Meetings should be on video. Anything else would be⊠well, silly.
5. You (hopefully) work in a hybrid workplace
Look in the mirror and repeat after me:
âI am a hybrid workplace. I will not create information silos. I will not stop chatting. I will not book physical meetings unless absolutely necessary.â
This is important. Donât slip back into old habits.
Keep sharing information in chats and channels with the right people.
Youâve been doing it for a while now â this part should be a piece of cake.
6. Respect your coworkersâ statuses
Productivity increased when we worked remotely â letâs not ruin that either.
Before you shout across the office,
âKAAALLEEEE! GOT FIVE SECONDS?!â
Check Kalleâs status in your communication platform.
If it says âBusy until 14:00,â Kalle probably doesnât want to be disturbed until 14:00.
Respect Kalle.
7. Stick with your new healthy habits
Did you pick up some good habits during the pandemic?
Maybe daily walks, meditation, or running at lunch?
Whatever it was â donât stop.
Keep doing it at the office too. Take breaks. Breaks are powerful.
âïž Closing Argument
Youâre now ready for your own version of The Return of the King.
Take it slow â going from zero to a hundred is overrated.
Find your balance in your (hopefully) hybrid workplace, where you can:
- Work remotely
- Meet colleagues in person
- Stay connected digitally
In other words: live your best life.
And for those worried â no, the sweatpants era isnât over.
But when you do go to the office⊠maybe throw on a pair of jeans?
End of transmission.
Kind regards,
The King. đ
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