The COVID-19 pandemic turned everything we thought we knew upside down, practically overnight. Whether you have spent the past 15 months unemployed or working remotely, you may be wondering whether now is the right time to return to the office. While remote work is best for some people, others can gain some tremendous benefits from going back on site. Here are some mental health advantages to returning to work that you may not have considered.
Resuming Normalcy
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that fully vaccinated people can safely resume normal activities (assuming that you’re not immunosuppressed). Fully vaccinated means that at least two weeks have passed since your second dose of a two-dose vaccine series or since your single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. For fully vaccinated people, going back to work can be a huge marker in return to a feeling of normalcy and the mental health advantages that it brings.
If you’re not yet vaccinated, you are still at high risk for contracting COVID-19. You’ll need to continue masking, and social distancing, and indoor spaces are considered risky. It’s best to go ahead and get your vaccine, and then return to work once you are fully vaccinated.
Separating Personal from Professional
Working from home blurs the lines between personal and professional time. You’re never able to fully escape from either the demands of home or the pressures of work. Returning to the office can help you draw a sharper line between your work hours and your off-hours while providing a sense of structure that may have been lacking in the past months.
Likewise, not everyone who suddenly started working from home last year has a private home office. If you’ve been working from the kitchen table or shoved a small desk into your bedroom closet, you may be grateful to return to a designated, purpose-built workstation.
Interactions with Those Outside Your Home
The COVID-19 pandemic drove us to shelter around the clock with our immediate household members. Maybe your spouse has also been out of work or working from home. Perhaps your kids have been going to school remotely. You may be feeling the effects of too much togetherness. Returning to work gives you the opportunity to socialize with your coworkers and gain a new perspective.
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