July 19th marked the start of a gradual return to the office for many. Some hope to return full time to the social and collaborative office environment, while others hope to maintain the productivity and work-life-balance benefits of working from home.
Over the upcoming weeks, we'll be running a series of blog posts - from Arun Aggarwal (Lloyds Banking Group), Jack Barrett (PwC) and Will Banks (Bank of England) - where they will share their perspectives on how the gradual move to hybrid working has affected their wellbeing.
Jack Barrett – Senior Associate, PwC
The return to the office and new ‘hybrid’ working model elicits a wide range of emotions and opinions. For me it is something I have been able to embrace and enjoy despite the initial feelings of uncertainty as to how it would work in practice.
During the pandemic and fluctuating lockdowns, I interviewed for and moved roles within PwC. This added a new dimension to my return to work, having only met much of my team virtually. Being able to work from the office has allowed me to begin building strong working and personal relationships with these individuals, ask questions more easily and absorb knowledge on an ad-hoc basis, creating a sense of ‘team’ that was often missing when working from home
Initially I was concerned about the impact returning from the office would have on my sleep and ability to exercise, both vital components for keeping my mental health in check. Whilst this now definitely requires more forethought and planning, thanks to the enhanced approach to flexibility now offered by the firm, I have been able to work from the office without sacrificing either.
A key part of the strategy I use for managing my mental health centres around routine which has been difficult to implement with the multiple lockdowns and changes in government guidance. With the gradual easing of restrictions over the last few months, I have benefited greatly both mentally and physically through building a habit of working from the office 2/3 days a week and making sure to catch up with different people each time.
I have also found the clear separation between working and non-working hours which the office brings immensely valuable for my mental health and wellbeing. The simple act of turning my laptop off and leaving it in my locker at the end of the day creates that important point of switching-off and enjoying my evening.
Tips & tricks on hybrid working
- Create a routine for when you will work in the office
- Try to combine days working from the office with colleagues
- Treat yourself when in the office e.g. buy a coffee or nice lunch
- Use the saved time when working from home to complete life admin tasks such as washing, freeing up time on the weekends and in the evenings