How to prepare yourself to get back to work

Last updated: February 10, 2025
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Ashley Wilson
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Content Manager at Jobcase
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How to prepare yourself to get back to work
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If you’re headed back to work it’s normal to feel a little bit nervous or apprehensive, but like anything else in life preparation is key! The Coronavirus is certainly something to be concerned about, but there are ways that you can stay safe, feel adjusted, and pick up right where you left off.

Wear a mask

Cloth face masks should always be worn in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. So unless you are consistently six feet apart from your co-workers wearing a mask is suggested.

Here are a few pointers from the CDC for putting on and taking off a cloth mask:

  • Place your mask over your mouth and nose and tie it behind your head or use ear loops and make sure it's snug.

  • Don't touch your mask while wearing it.

  • If you accidentally touch your mask, wash or sanitize your hands.

  • Remove the mask by untying it or lifting off the ear loops without touching the front of the mask or your face.

  • Wash your hands immediately after removing your mask.

  • Regularly wash your mask with soap and water in the washing machine using hot water. It's fine to launder it with other clothes as well.

You can even find masks for free!

Receive 10 free masks at Flexispot but just know that you will need to pay for shipping.

Receive 1 mask at Ghvani that is reusable, washable and made of 100% cotton. It also has adjustable ear loops to accommodate faces of all sizes, including children.

You can even make your own which is surprisingly simple! Check out a quick how-to video here and as a bonus, you do NOT need to sew anything!

Keep your hand sanitizer close

Treat your environment as you used to in the past with any normal cold and flu season and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth while at work. When you cannot wash your hands make sure to sanitize them. Hand sanitizer is particularly helpful if you take public transportation and are unable to wash your hands. Take your lunch outside and get some fresh air or eat in your car to avoid coming into contact with others if you are overly worried.

Don’t have any hand sanitizer?** Learn how to make your own.**

Get back into your morning routine

We’ve seen all the jokes on the Internet about people waking up 5 minutes before their Zoom meeting and diving in front of the camera as they rub the sleep out of their eyes. But, unless your commute to work is 5 minutes, you’ll have to get back into the swing of a “normal” routine. Start setting your alarm clock and give your body some time to readjust to the earlier wake-up call.

Keep your work area clean

Take the time to regularly disinfect frequently touched objects in your work area. This includes keyboards, phones, doorknobs, steering wheels, kiosks, keypads, etc. If you don’t have access to disinfecting wipes, you can make your own!

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 roll of paper towels or small reusable cloths
  • ⅓ cup of bleach
  • 1 gallon of water
  • tall airtight container large enough to fit a paper towel roll

Simply pour water and bleach into the container and place your paper towels or cloths in the solution, ensuring they’re fully submerged. Allow your “wipes” to soak up the bleach solution for at least 5 minutes. Pour excess liquid into a spray bottle to use on surfaces or make more disinfectant wipes!

Stay honest with yourself

Things have been really crazy lately, so allow yourself time to get back on track at work. If you feel overwhelmed, seek help. Speak to your family and friends or a professional. If you are concerned you can also reach out to your employer or manager and have an open and honest discussion with them. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. Mental wellbeing is crucial and feelings are always valid, especially in response to a major life event such as a global pandemic.

Are you or someone you know going back to work?

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