I know a lot of people have yet to return to work and some have. In my case I returned to work on April 24, 2020 and it was last minute. I was called and given two day’s notice to come to work. So, I was totally unprepared. It took a lot of rushing and throwing things together for me to be somewhat ready for work. Even when I returned to work, I was still unprepared. It took me about 3-5 days to get ready for work, after I had already been there for a couple of days. I took the time to compile a list to help you better prepare for your return to the office.
- Wash clothes now
- Under garments-I know a lot of women have been going commando since quarantine started. What is a bra? Lol!
- Carry Your Dresses, Suits, and Blazers to the cleaners now (yes some cleaners are open)
- Make sure you carry dresses, suits, and blazers to the cleaners because after hanging in your closet for a while they get stale and need to be refreshed.
- Pick out three days of outfits
- Go ahead and have outfits ready for three days that way you won’t feel rushed and you will have some cushion to get through the rest of the workweek.
- Iron those clothes if necessary and hang them
- Iron clothes if necessary, and then hang them up! That way one day one, two, etc. you can grab and go.
- Wash and prep your hair bi-weekly (especially naturals)
- If you are a natural, our hair needs a lot of love and prep to look just right. I would say to leave your hair in twists and refresh them every week or two. You can wash your hair with the twist in to make easier.
- Don’t Forget Lunch (or lunch money)
- I usually keep on the go tuna packs in my cupboard just in case, I don’t feel like getting lunch together for the next day. They are perfect because they with everything you need to make tuna salad. It also comes with Ritz crackers, a mint, and utensils. If everything else fails, lunch money will do!
- Don’t forget to pack your PPE
- Don’t forget a car package (Ziploc bag) filled with disposable gloves and masks.
- Don’t Forget the Mental.
- Returning to work is going to be hard mentally. You are now on a schedule and everything is structured again. This is completely different from #WFH! You actually gotta get up and get dressed for real girl! Working from Home, I worked in my pajamas and t-shirts. I rarely combed my hair and rarely went to be at a decent hour. So, coming back for me through me for a loop. I had to re-adjust my sleeping patterns and habits. That first week back at work, I was completely worn out and we were working extra-long hours too. It took about two weeks for me to acclimate myself to going to work every day and some days I still struggle.
Love,
Shanna C.
