Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

By Imogen Clarke

Are you feeling anxious about getting back to work now that the coronavirus lockdown has eased? You’re not alone. According to one study, around two thirds of Brits are also feeling concerned about the idea.

However, it’s not just the extra stress of having to wear a mask, adhering to new hygiene rules and social distancing that is likely to be causing you sleepless nights. It’s also the thought of facing that mountain of work that is waiting for you after months away.

So, how do you deal with it? What can you do to ease your transition back into the office and regrow your business without tearing your hair out? Here are some tips.

Check your finances

Before you do anything else, get clear on the state of your business finances. This will help you understand whether you need to make any changes to the way you run your business and give you a better chance of keeping your head above water during this difficult time.

Fire up your computer, pull out those financial documents and ask yourself questions such as, do I have enough money to cover the essentials? This might include paying wages, paying your taxes, paying your suppliers and so on.

If not, how could you cover the costs? Consider options such as:

-Chasing up clients for payment

-Looking for ways to cut costs

-Considering a business loan

Consider outsourcing

Getting your business back on track after so many months of disruption is going to take a lot of hard work. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you’re likely to feel tempted to try and do it all yourself, especially if your budget is limited.

However, this often does more harm than good. You just end up busy and stressed, trying to juggle it all and heading straight towards burnout. You’d be better off outsourcing some of those essential tasks to a freelancer. Not only will they free up your time so you can concentrate on more important tasks, but a freelancer is also likely to be highly skilled at that particular task, so they will get the job done much faster.

If you decide on this route, it can be a good idea to use a psychometric test like the ones offered by Arctic Shores. These will help you streamline the hiring process and find the best fit for your business from the outset.

Get organized

Are you feeling overwhelmed with everything you need to tick off your to do list? Then you need to get yourself organized. Spend a couple of hours going through everything you need to do and coming up with an action plan.

Although this might seem like a complete waste of time, it will actually help you prioritise your tasks, get back into the flow of things, become more productive and get you and your business ahead faster.

Get up to date with paying your bills, make sure you’re clear on any project deadlines, ensure you have enough stock, do a deep clean of the premises, and so on.

Avoid distractions

If you’ve been working from home for a while or you’ve been furloughed, it can be hard getting back into the old routine again. At home, you’ve been able to put a task on hold because your child needed help with their homeschooling. Or you’ve been able to check Facebook because there’s no one to keep you accountable.

However, this can burn into your productive time and prevent you from getting your business back where it needs to be.

For that reason, resist the urge to check your social media every few minutes. Don’t get drawn into watching a YouTube video when you should be figuring out your accounts. Try to stay focused and you’ll get more done in less time.

If you’re really struggling to stay focused, you can download tons of software to help such as Focus or Mindful Browsing.

Build your online presence

Post-coronavirus, more people are going to be relying on digital media than ever before. They’re ordering their groceries and medicines online, enjoying entertainment online, getting an education online and even signing up for their next yoga class online.

That means it’s absolutely essential that you too start building a stronger online presence. If you don’t already have a website, get one. Then learn everything you can about internet marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to help grow your business virtually. Don’t forget that social media can be a powerful tool to promote your business for free, so you shouldn’t neglect it.

If you’re not so tech savvy, this would be the perfect time to hire an expert who can help you get it done.

Conclusion

Returning to work after lockdown needn’t feel as stressful or overwhelming as you might think. Take it step by step, reviewing your finances, creating a plan, resisting distractions, hiring help and building your online presence. You’ll be back in control before you know it, and helping your business thrive again.

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Imogen Clarke is a freelance writer who specializes in topics surrounding small businesses and start-ups. She can usually be found with her head in a book or walking her dog, Charlie.

Sources

‘Two thirds of UK workers feel uncomfortable returning to work, research claims’ – Workplace Insight – https://workplaceinsight.net/two-thirds-of-uk-workers-feel-uncomfortable-returning-to-work-research-claims/

‘Apply for a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan’ – Gov.uk – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan

‘Psychometric Tests’ – Artic Shores – https://www.arcticshores.com/psychometric-assessments/

‘Conquer Distraction & Digital Addiction’ – Focus Me – https://focusme.com/

‘Beautifully interrupts mindless browsing and gets you back to life’ – Mindful Browsing – https://www.mindfulbrowsing.org/