Transitioning Back to In-Person Work: Optimizing Your In-Office Workspace

While work-from-home set-ups offered their own unique set of challenges, the return of in-person work may be a daunting idea. As more companies begin to enforce #RTO policies, you may have to consider something that you haven’t had to for the past couple years: a shared workspace.??

Although remote work was never immune to distractions and interruptions, many of us have learned to adapt accordingly or ultimately resolved these issues. Working from the office may not offer the same flexibility as #WFH , but the return to in-person work comes with its perks.?

Top Tips for Returning to the Office?

1. Lean into the structure. A major challenge of remote work is boundary setting. The physical separation of work and home can be a helpful side effect of working from the office. Zone into your time at the office to be as productive as possible and keep work off the table at home.?
2. Bring a little bit of home to work. Working from home may have meant more time with the kids or a four-legged friend—ease your separation anxiety by hanging pictures in your space. If your home office is filled with plants or paintings, bring a house plant, succulent, or framed print to jazz up your space. ?
3. Don’t be a stranger. Coworkers exist beyond the confines of Teams calls, Slack threads, and email. Harness the energy of being together to your advantage. Get in a conference room, whiteboard, or chat around the water cooler—you know you missed it a little bit. ???

Office Must-Haves?

Noise-Cancelling Headphones – Depending on the type of office you work in; you may need to invest in some noise-canceling headphones (if you haven’t already). If your workspace utilizes an open floor plan or you just have loud coworkers, this gadget can be a big productivity hack.?

A few of our favorite noise-canceling headphones:?

• Best: Apple AirPod Pros ?
• Better: Sony Over-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones ?
• Budget: Beribes Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones ?

Paper Calendar or Planner – While a physical copy of your schedule and outstanding tasks may not be for everyone, many find it to be a game changer.??

Our picks for best planners/calendars:?

• Best: Agendio Customized Planners ?
• Better:? Moleskine Large Weekly Agenda ?
• Budget: Canva templates – customize to your heart's content!?

Healthy Snacks – For better or worse, your kitchen is no longer around the corner. To avoid unexpected hangry-ness, be sure to keep a handful of healthy snacks within your workspace. Granola bars, apples, and even instant oatmeal packets are easy to keep tucked away in a desk drawer and will help keep you full and focused.?

BONUS: Perhaps the most important thing to consider and have each day when you return to the office is patience. Coming in with an attitude of grace for yourself and your colleagues will help you maintain perspective and stay positive as we all readjust to our new work schedules. ????

Explore in-person, hybrid, and fully remote positions at www.eccoselect.com/careers . Find your perfect fit today!?