The following is adapted from a news release published on May 18, 2021. 

As nearly 70 percent of Americans feel we’re emerging from the pandemic, more workers will be expected to return to work. And that can cause anxiety.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I shared six practices to help workers ease back into an onsite work pattern.

We are social beings. The year in isolation threw off our flow of sociality. When we embark on a new normal world, many will likely be a bit wobbly as we ease back into the office socially. We need to go easy on ourselves because it will all work out.

1. Slow Down and Breathe

First, slow down and breathe to soak in the moments you’re experiencing now.

2. Practice Self Care

Apply a healthy dose of self-care by wrapping yourself up in nature and connecting with experiences that matter most to you, whether that be with friends, family, or yourself alone.

3. Believe in Yourself

Believe that you are good enough, that you can do it. If you don’t believe in yourself, lean on my grandpa’s teaching: ‘Fake it until you make it.’ That’s a great way to gain confidence and propel forward with any task you face.

4. Live in the Moment

Enjoy the time you have now and plan for the future with confidence. From my experience, planning for the future is exceptionally smart, but worrying about the future yields no good thing. I even have a clock in my office to remind me of this.

5. Serve Others

Lift another person up, look outside of yourself and see who can use your help, your smile, and even your simple greeting today. When we lose ourselves in the service of others, we find strength and purpose.

6. Exude Optimism

Convince yourself that everything will work out for you just fine. I’ve quoted a poem in my book called, ‘Things Will Work Out,’ which posits that when we look back at our lives, we will realize everything has indeed worked out. To continue that success, we should focus energy on current situations to ensure positive solutions. It’s a simple and powerful concept.

Applying such practices can help today’s workers ease back into post-pandemic office work and live a life today in harmony with one’s core values.

All proceeds from All the Right Reasons are directed to feed two million meals to hungry children. Available on Amazon, the book provides 40 meals for every single purchase.