Houston Chronicle Sunday

Return to office can bring uneasiness

- By Lindsey Novak Email career and life coach at Lindsey@LindseyNov­ak.com. For more informatio­n, visit www.lindseynov­ak.com.

Q: The pandemic has been difficult for many, but for me, working remotely was like a vacation. I have been a bank executive for several years.

Many people joke about working banker’s hours, but it is silently stressful. When I work at the office, I have constant interrupti­ons with phone calls and in-person meetings. The situation allowed me to plan my work for days at home where I could work straight through and get everything done. I have an office that I set up at home, and I accomplish everything I need to do, regardless of the hours I keep. If I want to continue working until 10 p.m., I do so because I love the peace of my environmen­t.

The bank recently announced everyone would have to return to working at the office — no more working at home, despite the amount of work we completed. That means I have to return to a position filled with stress that can only be avoided by working at home.

I have become used to working in a quiet environmen­t without stress and interrupti­ons, so I now must decide to look for another job or stay with this one where I will be fully vested in the benefits in five years. I am not sure how to weigh the emotional benefits with the financial ones, which are straightfo­rward and easy.

A: It sounds like working remotely has opened a new world of opportunit­y for you; ironically, you have a tragic pandemic to thank for that. You now know what it feels like to work in peace and solitude for the past year or more. The best comparison of the two options may be once you return to working at the bank office, waiting to see if the previous stress returns to rear its ugly head again. Only this time, you will be able to recognize it sooner than before.

Stress takes its toll on everyone differentl­y. Some people develop headaches, perhaps to the point of experienci­ng migraines; some stressed-out employees may develop stomach ulcers and a multitude of digestive problems; others internaliz­e stress so that it breaks down their immunity to numerous and potentiall­y fatal diseases. According to the American Heart Associatio­n, chronic stress can cause emotional and psychologi­cal problems, which can produce physical symptoms such as “headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, low energy, and tense and aching muscles.”

Heart disease can also be a stressrela­ted problem. “Stress may lead to high blood pressure, which can pose a risk for heart attack and stroke. Stress also may contribute to such cardiovasc­ular disease risks as smoking, overeating and lack of physical activity.” A report from the American Heart Associatio­n Center for Workplace Health Research and Evaluation showed that approximat­ely 2 in 3 employees say “work is a significan­t source of stress . ... Job stress can stem from long hours, physical strain, high demand or job insecurity.” Because individual­s have their own physical sensitivit­ies and weaknesses resulting from a combinatio­n of their genetic makeup and their environmen­t, stress can be a serious problem that must not be ignored.

Had it not been for your workplace allowing remote work, you might have continued working, feeling the stress but not taking heed to it. You have experience­d both the good and the bad environmen­ts, and it is likely when you feel the stress building and remaining, you will decide its long-term effects are not worth enduring. If you choose to search for a new job, take into account your age, the number of years you have committed to your job, the options you find for changing your job and, of course, being as certain as possible you are not stepping into another stressful environmen­t.

Accurate research is the key to finding a more suitable culture. Don’t feel trapped in the same field. Join specific and general types of business groups to meet new contacts and become familiar with fields where your knowledge and experience can transfer. Networking is an important social skill, so this could take time. Whether you change just your job or industries, due diligence is the only way to ensure you are making a wise decision to leave.

Had it not been for your workplace allowing remote work, you might have continued working, feeling the stress but not taking heed to it. You have experience­d both the good and the bad environmen­ts...

 ?? Shuttersto­ck ?? If you decide to change jobs, it is wise to take stock of your situation and be as certain as possible you are not stepping into another stressful environmen­t.
Shuttersto­ck If you decide to change jobs, it is wise to take stock of your situation and be as certain as possible you are not stepping into another stressful environmen­t.

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