It is no secret that the emergence of Covid-19 created mass panic back in 2020. The pandemic led to increased stress levels as the world entered the unknown and had to figure out their new normal. In addition, the pandemic significantly changed the way in which we socialize and connect with other people because of social distancing and spending less in-person time with others.
With Covid-19 now slowly calming down and people starting to return to work and their normal lives, many have become accustomed to being isolated and not having to socialize on a daily basis. As a result, those who had previously battled with social anxiety had somewhat enjoyed remote learning, working and socialization. For those of us who had never had an issue with socialization may now have come out of the pandemic with increased anxiety and are unsure of how to interact in the work environment.
Millions of people are now suffering the consequences of the pandemic and are hesitant to return to social settings and their normal work environments. Although remote working is here to stay, returning to the workplace and having to re-establish relationships and routines can prove to be exhausting. Returning to the office also means that you are returning to noise and distraction. Another factor is that many employees changed jobs or positions and have never actually met some of their co-workers, which can add to the anxiety.
A good way to ease back into office working is to go out and grab a coffee or have a walking meeting in nature, even a fun team lunch can help you to ease back into face-to-face interactions. Concerns have been raised about a looming ‘mental health’ pandemic, as Covid-19 triggered a 25% increase in anxiety and depression across the world, showing that women and young people were the most affected.
If you are feeling anxious at work, try taking small breaks away from your desk and phone to focus on your breathing. You can even step outside for some fresh air and a different view, as by doing this for a few short minutes every day, it could help you overcome your anxiety. Social anxiety is a vicious cycle and can become tricky to manage, however, through acknowledgment, avoiding avoidance, and making use of tools such as deep breathing exercises, social anxiety can successfully be managed.
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