Return to offices a cause for celebration or anxiety?

Shutterstock ID: 1720951744 by Girts Ragelis

​I read an article in the New York Times yesterday highlighting two possible responses to a return to the office. Many people will be eagerly anticipating the chance to meet up and chat face to face with their colleagues and begin to shake off any lockdown malaise. But there are others who have quietly enjoyed working from home and may be feeling a sense of dread over impending crowded, long, expensive commutes, overpriced lunches and coffees and making small talk.

I know that many companies have surveyed their employees and expressed an intent that flexibility would be the name of the game, but I was wondering whether people have thought about what was behind the choices they may have expressed in those surveys. Is there any underlying anxiety about your return to office. And if so have you discussed those feelings with your line manager - or anyone? If not - do you know what is stopping you from talking about it?

I wrote about this back in July last year with some thoughts on how to work through those anxieties - I hope some of this helps.

If you are struggling with anxieties as you return to work and looking for someone to support you then please get in touch at richard@newdaycoaching for a free, no obligation introductory chat to explore how I may be able to help you through this time. https://www.newdaycoaching.co.uk/121-coaching

If you are an employer and would like to talk about how to support people through anxiety and stress then drop me an email at the same address to discuss the benefits holding a session or series of sessions to do just that. https://www.newdaycoaching.co.uk/public-speaking