Nadine Mustafa 
After a few months of lock-down, the world plans for a tomorrow post-quarantine. With many countries set to resume daily-life activities and re-open commerce, most people are going back to their offices, but conflicting feelings come up with the loosening of lock-down. Reality is, life has definitely changed, and a new notion of normal is ahead. We sat down with Dr. Anne Justus, Senior Clinical Psychologist, as she spoke about anxiety management and mental health stability as people return back to the office.
What concerns you the most in regards to people’s mental health during these difficult times?
Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to engage in self-care. If we don’t look after our own mental and physical health, we frankly cannot help others. As such, taking care of yourself is incredibly necessary and a responsible choice. People, especially women, often feel guilty when doing things just for themselves. Society has groomed women to believe that they must be regularly self-sacrificing to be “good.” That is mostly not true and actually doesn’t work in the long run.
Most people have been working from home the past couple of months. What impact do you think that has on their behavior?
The shift to online work is an immense shift in total. The lack of in-person interaction with people other than family members has been significant and detrimental for many. We are not meant to live in isolation. We need new interactions with different people regularly to keep our minds sharp and engaged. The usual workplace banter and bonding that happens with colleagues does not exist in the same way now.
Additionally, the lack of in-person feedback in the workplace can increase anxiety. Many people gauge how they are doing at work from their supervisor’s body language and casual verbal feedback. That is not easily attainable working online. Similarly, some people worry that while working from home, they are not as productive as they are in the office. They fear that since no one is seeing them in an office that they may appear to be slacking on the job or since they no longer commute to work, they should be available around the clock.
What do you think leaders should do in order to pave the way for early re-opening and possible office return?
That is a tricky one. We are in a pandemic, and there are definite economic consequences. My gut feeling says that if the situation permits, people should be given the option to work from home for as long as possible. Having said this, many jobs are not feasible through online work. Anyone working directly with customers will not have the flexibility to choose. Hence, the office must have open discussions about health precautions taken to reassure the priority of their employees’ safety. Transparency and open feedback are paramount.
How do we balance social distancing when transitioning back without emotionally detaching ourselves?
There is no magic answer; I wish there was. Try to identify specific things that are causing stress at work and strategize to identify feasible solutions with colleagues. Always remind yourself that this is a highly unusual situation and that most are doing the best they can with limited resources.Make sure you are up to date on the latest Covid-19 facts from reputable sources. Talking openly with employers and colleagues about how the pandemic is impacting the workplace, and being clear what the “new normal” is will be helpful. Knowing what the workplace expectations are will help decrease anxiety and smooth the transition. If your employer provides mental health resources, now is a terrific time to use them.
What tips would you provide to maintain general mental health and stability in and out of the office?
Again, self-care is vital. Increase your feelings of being in control in this out of control situation. Maintain a routine sleep schedule, do mindfulness exercises, do things that bring you joy outside of working hours, and make sure to stay in touch with nature. Also, try to maintain regular working hours, and during the working day, take breaks to check in with colleagues, family and friends. Keeping a sense of community helps us feel more in control and raises self-esteem. Use video chat, social media, messaging, email and telephone to do quick check-ins. Finally, try to take quick breaks during the workday to do some stretching or go for a quick walk.
