If you’ve been happily working from home during the last (almost) two years, you might be worrying a bit about how to cope with being back in the office as an introvert.
Whether you’ve already been asked to head back in or not, the idea of being back in a busy, open plan office can be hard to deal with when you’re an introvert. The constant noise and interruptions can make it really hard for introverts to get their work done, and leaves them completely drained by the end of the day.
So here are a few ideas for things you can do to make the transition back to being in the office again a bit easier to cope with.
Create your own space
When you’ve been happily working in your own space for months, going back to life in a busy open-plan office can be a really hard adjustment.
If having your own office isn’t an option, see what you can do to create a bit of privacy around your desk.
You could use screens or acoustic panels to create a quiet area to work in and help you feel that your little corner of the office is your space.
Adding a few home comforts like framed pictures or a favourite mug to drink from can help too.
Ask about flexible hours
If your company insists that you start working from the office again, see if you can discuss working flexible hours instead of a rigid 9-5.
If you can head into the office an hour earlier than everyone else then you can start the day in peace and get on with important tasks before the noise levels start to pick up.
Get away from your desk for lunch
Give yourself some room to breathe on your lunch break and head outside for a walk. Stepping away from the constant noise of the office can help you come back feeling a bit calmer and ready to tackle the afternoon.
If you can’t get out (or just don’t want to that day) then pop on a pair of headphones and do something non-work related while you eat.
Schedule meetings with yourself
If there are times that you really need to focus on a task and not be disturbed at all, then try scheduling a meeting with yourself in your calendar. If your manager and colleagues can view your calendar they’ll know not to bother you during that time.
Book a meeting room if you need to, so you have somewhere quiet you can go to for an hour or two to get your head down and work in peace.
Block out distractions
It can be so hard to focus in an open-plan office, with colleagues chatting, phones ringing, even the noise of the printer running all day.
So do what you can to block out these distractions.
Get some noise cancelling headphones, put up a do not disturb sign on your desk, or ask your colleagues not to talk to you for an hour so you can crack on with your work in peace.
Take regular breaks
When the chatter and noise of the office gets too much, do what you can to step away from it for five minutes.
Go and get yourself a drink of water, pop outside for a bit of fresh air, or take the long way round the office to the toilet.
Hopefully these tips will help you feel better if you’ve been wondering how you’ll cope with being back in the office as an introvert.
Leave me a comment to let me know what you’ve appreciated most about working from home, or what you’ve actually missed about being in the office!
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post
