Most of us used to spend the bulk of a day at our workplaces. However, in the last two months or so, that had changed with the laws of the Circuit Breaker in Singapore.
Now that things are slowly going back to normal and we prepare to go back to the office, our habits and routines may have gone out of sync. It is indeed a great time to consider switching up our work lifestyles to achieve maximum efficiency at work.
In order to facilitate the time we spend to be most productive, some people may have created structures or routines they would like to follow. On the other hand, some may have just joined the workforce and could be struggling to make the best of their time.
To that end, here are some tips on how to ease back into work routines after the circuit breaker is over.
Prepare ahead
The first and most effective thing to do is to prepare for changes as you ease back into your work routines. Leaders will need to discuss and come to agreeable terms as to how they want to continue running their business as the pandemic has severely affected work patterns and styles all around the world.
Despite the end of the circuit breaker period, telecommuting should still be the preferred method of work as vulnerable groups of employees need to remain alert and vigilant.
In the event that telecommuting does not work for your business, ensure proper, frequent disinfecting and cleaning processes have been established at your workplace. Employ social distancing measures and consider making plans with regards to travel arrangements for your employees for easy and safe commuting to work.
Follow the government’s advice and stick to protocols to ensure overall safety of everyone involved. For those based in Singapore, this should involve staggered arrival and departure time slots for all employees, controlled access to workplaces through the SafeEntry system, and implementing shift or split team arrangements for colleagues.
As such, preparing ahead of time as we return to more confirmed working styles is one way individuals can ease back into their work routines.
Keep Communication Channels Open
The work arrangements from the past two months as a result of the Covid-19 situation could have displaced some of our communication skills slightly as we all shifted into a digitalised world that was void of the usual physical-social interactions.
A lack of proper communication could also potentially lead to misunderstandings or other conflicts too. The second way to ease back into work routines after the circuit breaker period is by keeping communication channels open.
Veteran communication consultant and managing director of Hong Kong-based lifestyle PR agency, Prime – Laura Derry Southwood, shared that one way to keep communication channels open is by “giving time and listening to your colleagues and staff to see how they are doing.”
The right communication plan during a crisis period is invaluable to avoid undue panic. This can also help to increase employee engagement and a stronger workforce in the long-run. As such, keeping communication channels open promises numerous benefits and is one way to ease back into work routines after circuit breaker is over.
Maintaining A Positive Attitude
As Ralph Marston once said, “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.” An optimistic attitude at your workplace can take you places and this is also one of the factors that you could work on as you ease back into work routines soon.
It’s no surprise that your attitude at work crafts a large aspect of your personality when others interact with you. According to an article published by The Business News Daily, having “a positive attitude will improve the way people view you as a person, and they may be more inclined to help you succeed and cheer you on”.
With all the uncertainty that has surfaced from the Covid-19 outbreak, there are a few things you can make changes to so as to reinforce your positive attitude in they office.
You can start by taking ownership of the work you are assigned to. Complete them responsibly and make sure you remain accountable when someone may have questions pertaining to your projects. Lending a hand to help those in need will always be appreciated too.
Additionally, creating a new routine can also help you to maintain a positive attitude at your workplace. This habit can help individuals to stay focused on their tasks and by extension, even contribute to the overall positive energy within the organisation.
These little things will build up your positive attitude to learn and excel at work. It is also one of many ways to help you ease back into work routines after the circuit breaker period.
Staying home as a result of the circuit breaker or lockdown may have thrown a lot of us off our balance and it may be a little tricky to readjust our habits when going back to work. However, it also provides us with the perfect opportunity to realign our work patterns to maximise efficiency and productivity at the office.
Now that you have some rough ideas to work with, get started on your way to changing your professional work routines for the better! Building yourself up through these simple steps will put you ahead in the road to success and who knows, there just might be a promotion waiting for you after all the effort you’ve put into improving yourself!
StrengthsAsia has helped many individual and corporate clients all throughout the region in empowering leaders by enabling breakthrough experiences for both leaders and followers. If you want to learn more about the Strengths Leadership Program, feel free to reach out to us here.
Reshma is StrengthsAsia’s content writer and research contributor. She enjoys spending her time writing anything from poems to screenplays, and everything in between. She also finds joy in reading novels, baking and catching movies with her family. Participating in creative activities helps her find inspiration and new ideas for her work.
Aly is StrengthsAsia’s marketing and communications guru and lead editor. She's over the top inquisitive and everyone in the company knows her as “The Googler” as she practically googles everything. Honestly, we all worry for her… She is also the Principal Trainer for our one of a kind ice cream team building workshops in Asia.
