It’s alright to be concerned about the uncertainties when you get back to the office. Sometimes, the social, professional, and logistical anxiety incapacitates you when thoughts of returning to work cross your mind.
Whatever your reason, returning to the office can be a positive and productive experience if you are open to tools to help with the transition. This starts with understanding why it is essential to return to the office.
- Individual happiness and fulfillment
The most important reason for returning to work is not productivity or efficiency. Instead, it is the feeling of belonging and social identity that employees get when in the workplace community. Paradoxically, some of the things employees are looking for in a hybrid world include:
- Flexibility in office and remotely workplaces
- Excellent use of physical office space
While overlooked, human connections significantly impact how we perform as individuals. We are made for relationships and companionship. A workplace allows employees to positively connect and contribute to a more extraordinary cause with their talents.
Research also shows that employees are more likely to get a sense of social identity with their colleagues than with their gym or investment buddies. So, if you need a good reason to get back to the office, contemplate the happiness and fulfillment you get from solving problems with your teammates.
2 Technology only helps to a certain level
Technology has enhanced the capabilities of human connection, but talking on the phone every day doesn’t compare to face-to-face interaction.
Isolation results in increased health and well-being issues, and technology fatigue can lead to exhaustion. That said, being in the office gives you a break you need from zoom calls and the face-to-face interactions you need to keep you healthy.
Moreover, research shows that socializing makes people smarter because it improves their mental function. This means that the more you interact in the office, the more you improve your cognitive performance because your mental processes emphasize, listen, respond, and think.