As workplaces begin to reopen and welcome back employees, many people will find themselves raring to go. However, research shows that two-thirds of the British public are left feeling anxious about the thought of returning to the office amidst the pandemic.
Many find themselves distressed over changes that have been implemented, while others are left contemplating how they can ensure that they remain safe as they leave their work from home environments.
For those that unfortunately found themselves made redundant during the peak of the pandemic, returning to work after lockdown may even mean starting a new role with a new company.
If you are now preparing to return to the workplace but feel somewhat distressed about the impact it will have on your mental health, we have provided our tips on managing your mental health when returning to work after lockdown here.
Address Your Feelings and Emotions Through Journaling
As you prepare yourself to return to the workplace, it is expected that you may feel somewhat overwhelmed or anxious about your new normal.
However, it is crucial that you express your feelings in some way and do not allow them to build up and consume you as this can have a crippling effect on both your physical and mental health.
If you find yourself feeling anxious or uneasy about travelling to work, being among other people or even starting a new job, journaling can help you to express your thoughts and control your emotions at any given time. By making note of how you feel and why you feel that way, you can later address and reflect on any triggers that come to light and create suitable solutions to control them.
For example, as you enter the workplace, if you feel overwhelmed by the number of people that are in one given area, make a note of this.
As you settle down to work or return home, you can look back at how you felt and why and make small adjustments. In this case, arriving at work slightly earlier may help.
Create A Routine
When suffering from mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, routines can be a vital way of managing your mental health.
As lockdown was implemented, many of the daily activities that we were once able to enjoy came to a halt and individuals across the world found that their typical routines and lives came to a standstill. From going to work to meeting friends and family members, daily routines became something of the past.
As you return to work, creating a new daily routine can help to manage your mental health. Your routine will entirely depend on various factors in your life such as children and your working hours.
Planning a routine and trying to stick to as best as you can will ease any amounting pressures that you feel throughout the day, in turn helping you to manage your mental health. Simple elements of your day such as waking up and going to bed at the same time can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
Confide in Your Manager
Talking to your manager about mental health may seem somewhat daunting. You may even worry about how they may respond to your discussing any mental health problems that you face. If this resonates with you, you are not alone. Over 50% of employees that suffer from mental health problems do not tell their employer.
Talking to your manager before returning to the workplace can also help you to address and changes that you will recognise in the workplace. Understanding the additional safety and hygiene measures that have been implemented may provide you with some reassurance that your employer is taking appropriate measures to prevent employees from contaminating COVID-19. In turn, this will help you to prepare yourself and keep your worries at bay.
Provide Robust Mental Health Training to Your Managers
As an employer, it is imperative to provide robust mental health training to your managers and/or employees. In the UK alone, over 30% of employees fail to discuss their mental health problems with employers due to concerns about how they will be perceived.
Throughout lockdown, there has been a sharp incline in the number of individuals suffering from mental health problems. To be precise, three-quarters of adults have reported that they have experienced mental health problems that have significantly increased. As a result, employers must ensure that employees have robust mental health training.
Across the UK there are several courses available that are aimed at managers, employers and HR teams such as;
– Mental Health First Aid Courses
– Mental Health Awareness CPD Accredited Courses
There are also many free online resources and e-learning courses available.
Seek Professional Support from Cassiobury Court
At Cassiobury Court, we offer comprehensive treatments for those suffering from various mental health problems. If, upon reading our tips on managing your mental health when returning to work after lockdown, you feel that you would benefit from seeking our support, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Through cognitive behavioural therapy and individual therapy sessions, we can provide you with various methods to manage your anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and agoraphobia.
Feeling anxious and overwhelmed from time to time is completely normal, especially at the height of a global pandemic. However, if you find yourself continuously feeling anxious or flooded with negative emotions, it may be in your best interest to seek professional help.
We are here to support you and provide you with tips on managing your mental health when returning to work after lockdown. Simply call us today on 01923 369 161 and we will provide you with a free mental health assessment to gauge exactly how we can help you.
