Oakland Psychotherapy & Online Counseling

Post-pandemic transitioning

Returning to the office | WFH challenges | Mental health & burnout | Childcare & family role adjustments

Returning to the office

As life has slowly resumed closer to normalcy, many folks are being asked to return to the office.

This is a huge adjustment from the freedom and independence we got used to working from home during the pandemic. And while some prefer a hybrid schedule, there are multitudes of people who don’t have this option.

There are many benefits to physically being present with our coworkers that we missed during the pandemic. Connection with our teams, unexpected banter, casual conversations, and getting out of the house.

But if it’s a mandate that we must return to work in the office, it can feel like a threat to our comfort and safety. It is a change and change is hard no matter what.

If you find yourself in this uncomfortable situation and not sure what to do about it, I can support you through the transition. Having a safe, objective space to vent and voice your feelings and concerns helps you gain clarity and a framework for these changes.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy can provide the skills you need to be flexible in tough situations, as well as recognizing where you DO have control. Book a free consultation with Chloe to begin your path to adjusting to new expectations and challenges.

Challenges of WFH (Working From Home)

At first, working from home was a luxury. Something we had all wished could be possible someday.

No commute. Sweatpants. Less distractions. The comforts of home.

However we quickly learned its challenges: isolation, monotony, lack of connection, and screen-time burnout.

It’s much easier to procrastinate when you’re at home and could be doing laundry, cooking, playing with your cat, basically anything but working.

Being on screens all day in back to back meetings is exhausting. And as annoying as commuting can be, sometimes staying in your house all day working can cause cabin fever.

Then there’s those whose partners, roommates, kids, or family members are also home with them, which offers a whole other slew of difficulties.

Perhaps you thought a remote job would be ideal but it’s turning out to be much different.

Find balance and learn to set healthier boundaries with your time through therapy.

Explore options to make your life less monotonous and routine if you WFH.

Psychotherapy with Oakland therapist, Chloe Demisch, can provide the support you need to thrive as you work remotely.

Mental health and post-pandemic burnout

Improving mental health became more important than ever post-pandemic.

The pandemic forever changed the way we saw ourselves and the world. It defined new “normals”. It changed our identities.

What we thought was important may have been put into question. Our priorities shifted.

Perhaps you no longer want to be in the job you have.

Maybe you’re thinking about moving.

Or ending that relationship.

Our mental health suffered when the world around us was constantly shifting and everything we thought we knew was challenged.

We lost touch with our communities, friends, family, and coworkers. The support systems and routines we relied on we’re thrown into chaos.

Living in a state of anxiety and unpredictability can have long-lasting, psychological effects.

Burnout is common right now, both at work, and in the home. When you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone just to be able to survive, it can leave you exhausted by the end of it.

If you have doubts about your future, want help re-prioritizing your life, or want to explore how to find more fulfillment/balance, then therapy may be a good option to help you get started on a fresh path.

Code-switching & role adjustments

Another area that has likely changed for you post-pandemic is needing to be able to rapidly switch between the different roles you have in life.

One moment you are a busy mom taking care of her kids, the next you’re running a remote board meeting.

You just got off the phone with your boss and then your partner comes into the dining room.

Finishing up a day full of Zoom calls bleeds right into making dinner.

Wearing many hats throughout the day, in different locations, with different people, is a skill we learned during the pandemic.

It can make us reflect on our identities and personalities and sometimes may make us feel confused or like something is missing.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy helps solidify our values and what’s most important to us. It reminds us of who we truly are and strengthens our identities so we don’t get lost even when life is in chaos. Chloe Demisch, LCSW will teach you skills to gain resiliency, security, and confidence in whatever role you find yourself in. Strengthening your ability to be flexible and mindful will help you when code-switching is required.

Therapy can make sense of the new roles you took on during the pandemic.

Perhaps you became a full-time caregiver. Got a promotion. Or chose to take on childcare with the kids at home. Or graduated from high school or college into a world that was shut-down. Moving in with parents or a partner during the pandemic made sense at the time, but maybe it doesn’t now and you’re struggling to know what to do next.

The pandemic also created a lot of loss.

You may have lost your job. Lost your privacy. Your support system dwindled. Your future changed.

Being social after the pandemic might have been awkward which made you question your identity and social circles.

Get the support you need as you integrate into life after the pandemic. Regain your sense of self. Find direction and clarity. Build back what you lost.

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