You can always count on the government to come in and ruin a good thing. But to be fair, that would depend on which side of the work-from-office vs. work-from-home debate you are on.
You see, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has decided to create changes in the way tax deductions can be claimed.
The implication seems to indicate that work from home (WFH) employees might lose over $1300 a year if they choose to continue with WFH life.
We are probably going to see a lot of people begrudgingly get back to office life in the country, and the change can be a painful one for those who got comfortable working from home. Let’s look at 3 tips on how to make the transition as pleasantly as possible.
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Get Back into An Organized Work Life
Many people have spent close to two years at home and getting used to the life of being their own boss (effectively). During this process, they have developed a sense of responsibility and agency that they never had in an office.
However, change is a part of life, and whether coming back to the office was your choice or by circumstance, you need to be able to adapt to the sort of organization that is relevant to office life once again.
Here are some helpful strategies:
The Pomodoro Technique
A world-famous technique that involves splitting your work time into chunks of 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. Benefits of this method include flexibility in choosing your own time ratios and getting used to increasing your concentration, starting from short bursts to longer periods of time.
Personal Schedules
A disorganized lifestyle is par for the course for many WFH employees. Working with a personal schedule allows one to increase productivity significantly. It can reduce the stress you face as you have a clear and concrete idea about what your day is going to look like.
Get into the Habit of Digital Clean-Up:
This is particularly relevant for those who use a work laptop. You may have gotten lax about keeping your files organized. Downloading files and getting your desktop cluttered can be extremely messy. Getting into a habit of keeping things clean on your devices will help you settle back into office life much more easily.
Take Care of Your Back
It wouldn’t be inaccurate to state that one of the main benefits of WFH life was that people could work in a relaxed manner, both physically and otherwise.
You may have enjoyed working on your bed or lounging on a bean bag. You might have enjoyed getting up and taking coffee breaks that sometimes turned into TikTok and Instagram breaks.
After getting used to such a lifestyle, it can come as a shock to your body when you suddenly need to spend long hours sitting in a chair the majority of the day.
One of the best things you can do in such a situation is to invest in an ergonomic office chair that can make the experience of sitting for long hours a little more merciful on your back. What kind of office chair should you consider, though? Well, the best ergonomic office chairs available in Australia are ones that have the following qualities:
- They offer Lumbar support
- Have adjustable seat height and depth
- Breathable material
- They have adjustable arm-rests
- Tilt Adjustability
- Are compatible with your specific Height and Weight
- A good warranty
You can find more information about these ergonomic chairs here: https://www.experteasy.com.au/blog/best-ergonomic-office-chair-australia/.
These are but some of the important aspects to keep in mind when thinking about ergonomic office chairs. If you are interested in learning more about ergonomic office setups, ExpertEasy is a great source. They have a number of articles on chairs and unique office work setups such as standing desks and more.
Some people might balk at the prices of more premium options like chairs by Herman Miller. However, good ergonomic chairs often pay for themselves by saving you from physiotherapy bills in the future. Since they can be expensive, ensure that you look up enough office chair reviews before making a purchase.
Reset Bad Routines and Habits
There’s no shame in admitting that you might have gotten a little sloppy with your habits during WFH life. The freedom it brought really encouraged a lot of people to let go and be not as disciplined as they might have been before.
However, it is time to now get back into the swing of things, and an important aspect of that is ensuring your routines and habits are back to normal.
Enjoyed staying up until 2:30 AM to watch youtube videos? You might need to cut that down now. Got used to waking up at 10:00 AM? Set that alarm clock a few hours earlier from now on.
Similarly, if your eating and hygiene habits have gotten random, it would be wise to get things in order before you start working from the office once more.
Conclusion
Going back to the office after a long period of WFH life can be shocking. However, trying to make the best of the situation and dealing finding ways to cope better with the change can make the experience more manageable.
Resetting bad habits, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, along with getting used to living an organized life can all help make the adjustment easier. You also want to ensure that you have a good ergonomic
