When the news came: “We’re returning to the office,” my heart sank. For over two years, I had been working from the comfort of my home. The commute was gone, the office distractions were no longer a concern, and my kitchen was only steps away from my desk. It felt like a sense of freedom and security that I had come to rely on. But as the date to return to the office loomed
closer, something unexpected started to bubble up, ANXIETY.
I had spent months perfecting my work-from-home routine. My home was a sanctuary, a place where I felt comfortable, in control, and, most importantly, safe. I had built a new rhythm: meetings on Zoom, quiet moments to focus, and no pressure to “perform” in front of my coworkers in person. The thought of suddenly stepping back into the hustle and bustle of the office felt overwhelming.
What if I wasn’t ready? What if I couldn’t adjust? What if it felt like a constant performance? These thoughts weighed heavily on my mind, and each day the anxiety seemed to build. I wasn’t the only one, many of my colleagues were feeling the same way. After years of working from home, the office had transformed from a familiar space into something almost foreign, like a place I no longer belonged.
The office used to feel like a space of collaboration and creativity, but now it seemed like a trigger for stress. The thought of commuting again, dealing with crowded spaces, and going back to the social dynamics of the office filled me with dread. The pressure to quickly get back to the “old normal” felt intense, but my inner self wasn’t ready for the shift.
It’s okay to feel anxious about returning to the office. After all, the pandemic changed the way we work, and it also changed us. The uncertainty of working remotely for so long has created a new set of challenges—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Here’s the truth I had to accept: It’s not about pushing through the anxiety or pretending everything is fine. It’s about recognizing the change and giving myself permission to feel uncomfortable. This is exactly what I help my clients navigate in my life and career coaching.
I work with individuals facing return-to-office anxiety and other career transitions, helping them to manage stress, rebuild confidence, and find balance in a new work environment. Together, we work on strategies to ease the shift, cope with the emotional side of the transition, and create a plan to regain control in both professional and personal life.
Returning to the office doesn’t have to be a source of anxiety, with the right tools and mindset, you can make the transition smoother, healthier, and more manageable. If you’re struggling with the thought of returning to the office, you’re not alone. Let’s work together to make this next chapter one of growth and empowerment.